The Grill Room
Audacy | Puck
Finally, a media podcast about what’s actually happening in the media—not the over-sanitized, legal-and-standards-approved version you read online. Every Tuesday and Friday, join Dylan Byers, Puck’s veteran media reporter, and Julia Alexander, a longtime media analyst, as they sit down with TV personalities, moguls, political pundits and industry executives for raw, honest, sometimes salacious conversations about the business of media and its biggest egos. “The Grill Room,” an homage to the exclusive dining room within The Four Seasons where a generation of media executives consummated deals and traded gossip, is produced in partnership with Audacy Podcasts. The Grill Room is an extension of In the Room, Dylan’s private email for Puck, where he chronicles the intrigue and inside stories behind what’s really going on in the media industry—from the board room to the newsroom to the green room and everything in between. Subscribe here: https://puck.news/dylanbyers
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 3, 2026 • 45min
Debt Men Walking
Bill Cohan, Wall Street commentator and author, breaks down the $79B debt and creditor dynamics. Matt Belloni, former Hollywood reporter and media analyst, brings the studio and creative perspective. They debate Ellison’s playbook, Netflix’s position after the sale, Hollywood’s reaction to leveraged deals, and whether heavy debt will squeeze future creative investment.
4 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 52min
Polymarket’s Press Test & WaPo’s Town Hall
They debate Polymarket's new tie-up with Substack and whether live prediction markets actually change how journalism works. They argue if betting-driven engagement is a gimmick or a lasting tool and weigh manipulation and insider-trading risks. They unpack The Washington Post's worsening economics after a town hall and whether big strategic bets or patronage can stabilize its future.
12 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 1min
The Post-MrBeast Creator Economy
Reed Duchscher, founder and CEO of Night Media who helped build MrBeast’s ecosystem, talks creator economy trends and Night’s $70M raise. He discusses why another MrBeast-scale star is unlikely. He explores long-form YouTube’s monetization edge, short-form discovery, Roblox and kids content shifts, and the tension between scarcity and constant output.
20 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 51min
Media’s Trump II Stress Test
A fast-paced breakdown of CBS turmoil and how the new political era is reshaping media decisions. They dig into Peacock’s early streaming numbers and why churn matters for retention. Conversation explores Colbert and Anderson Cooper’s controversies, corporate incentives that sideline journalism, and what big mergers could mean for legacy news brands.
10 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 58min
The Calm Before the NFL Storm
John Ourand, veteran sports media reporter and author covering league business and media deals. He breaks down NFL rights negotiations and who might pay for streaming. They tackle NBCUniversal’s “Legendary February” and Peacock’s subscriber challenges. Conversation also covers the NFL’s international push, the reworked NBA All-Star Weekend, and tanking versus load management.
9 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 51min
The Peacock Problem & The Post in Peril
A brisk roundup of media business moves, from Spotify’s strong numbers to NBC/Peacock’s subscriber headaches. A measured debate about AI hype versus sober, long-term effects. Discussion of discovery and product issues that hurt streaming services. A look at the Washington Post’s size, strategy, leadership and what its future might hold.
Feb 10, 2026 • 36min
Can Sports Save Peacock?
Rick Cordella, president of NBC Sports who oversees the Super Bowl, Olympics and NBA rights, discusses a whirlwind month of marquee events. He explains how live sports drive Peacock sign-ups and boost VOD viewing. He talks broadcast plus streaming for reach, the need to keep premium sports rights, and strategies to simplify fan experiences across platforms.
8 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 50min
Matt Murray on the Washington Post’s Mass Layoffs
Matt Murray, executive editor of The Washington Post who led newsroom strategy during major restructuring, discusses the recent mass layoffs and the scale of newsroom cuts. He explains the shift from a ‘third newsroom’ idea to reinventing the core newsroom. Conversation covers new editorial priorities, data-driven changes, leadership decisions, and how success will be measured going forward.
11 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 1h 1min
WaPo’s Extinction Event & The Dawn of D’Amaro
Mass layoffs at a major national paper and who gets blamed. Peacock’s aggressive sports push and whether a big February can turn the streamer around. The rise of Disney’s new C.E.O. and debates over spinning off ESPN and ABC. How sports rights, platform scale, and a shift from attention to experience are reshaping media business strategies.
Feb 3, 2026 • 39min
The Making of Tucker Carlson
Jason Zengerle, journalist and author of Hated by All the Right People, traces Tucker Carlson’s path from print reporter to cable star and media mogul. He discusses Carlson’s use of outrage, alignment with Trump, courting provocative and extremist audiences, and how conservative media metrics and strategies reshaped American political discourse.
