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
6 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 20min
Chuck Todd Unplugged
Chuck Todd, a former Meet the Press anchor and veteran NBC News political journalist, shares insights on his departure from the network after nearly two decades. He emphasizes the urgent need to revitalize local journalism to rebuild trust in media and connect audiences with politics. The conversation also delves into the changing dynamics of political interviews and the corporate challenges facing news organizations today. Todd explores how podcasts could evolve into captivating long-form programming, similar to ESPN's daytime shows.
Jan 31, 2025 • 39min
Amusing Ourselves to Death
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joins Dylan for a thrilling and sobering deep dive into how social media and smartphones hijacked our brains; how attention became the single most powerful currency in the political economy; and why Donald Trump is singularly effective at commanding it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 28, 2025 • 41min
The NFL's Chief Concern
John Ourand joins Dylan for an insider’s look at how the NFL is preparing for the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans—and whether the league is feeling the effects of small-market Chiefs fatigue. The duo also delve into the crucial role of live sports rights in keeping media businesses afloat, and explore how streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix are reshaping the future of sports broadcasting. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 24, 2025 • 48min
Can CNN Survive the Death of TV?
The New York Times’ Ben Mullin joins Dylan for a deep dive into Mark Thompson’s attempt to transform CNN from a cable television network into a digital and streaming juggernaut. After a round of mass layoffs, the duo contemplate whether CNN as a digital-first enterprise can maintain the network’s influence in a post-linear landscape, and whether Thompson actually has a plan to get there. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 17, 2025 • 40min
Inside the L.A. Firestorm
NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff joins Dylan to share his unique experience covering the devastating Los Angeles fires, which destroyed his childhood home in Pacific Palisades. Then, as Trump’s inauguration looms with ambitious deportation plans, Jacob provides an inside look at his extensive reporting on immigration at the border. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 14, 2025 • 45min
Elon’s Biographer Predicts the Future
Ashlee Vance, a former Bloomberg tech reporter and Elon Musk's biographer, discusses his bold venture, Core Memory, a new sci-tech media startup. He shares insights on transitioning from legacy media to harnessing AI's transformative power. The conversation explores AI's impact on jobs, creative storytelling, and the relationship between tech leaders and politics, particularly in the wake of figures like Trump. Vance emphasizes the need for innovative journalism that balances technology's promise with ethical concerns.
Jan 10, 2025 • 49min
CNN's Digital Dreams & WSJ Hunting Season
Jon Kelly joins Dylan to ruminate on a handful of developments across the media landscape: Will Lewis’s fantasy subscriber number for The Washington Post; Emma Tucker’s stalwart leadership at The Wall Street Journal; the latest on Mark Thompson’s CNN digital transformation strategy; and the impending A.I. newsroom revolution. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 7, 2025 • 40min
Is Netflix the New ESPN?
Ian Orefice, founder of EverWonder Studio and former TIME Studios president, joins Dylan to dig into how live sports has become the next front in the streaming wars. Then they kibitz about EverWonder’s role in producing the record-breaking Netflix Christmas NFL games and whether the Tyson vs. Paul fight represents the future of sports media rights battles to come. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 snips
Jan 3, 2025 • 41min
Trump Media Anxiety & The WaPo Exodus
Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, dives into the media landscape's shifting dynamics as 2025 approaches. He discusses the challenges news organizations face with Trump's potential return and the implications of recent talent departures at The Washington Post. Smith also explores the rising significance of newsletters in media distribution and the innovative fusion of events and journalism, highlighting how these changes affect audience engagement and adapt to evolving political climates.
Dec 31, 2024 • 50min
Troy Story 2
In this discussion, Troy Young, former Hearst Magazine president, shares his insights on the future of the media industry. He emphasizes the transformative role of A.I. in changing how news is consumed and the urgent need for media companies to adapt to shifting consumer behaviors. The conversation also explores the blending of traditional and modern media, the challenges of maintaining authenticity, and the evolving landscape shaped by new platforms. Young highlights the importance of innovation to ensure relevancy in a rapidly changing environment.
