Channels with Peter Kafka
Vox Media Podcast Network
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting — they’re fully intertwined. And to understand how those worlds work, and what they mean for you, veteran journalist Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers - and gets them to spell it out in plain, BS-free English.Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 20, 2019 • 1h 21min
Vimeo’s Anjali Sud shifted the company’s strategy — and became its CEO + The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson on the limits of the ‘attention economy’
Anjali Sud, CEO of Vimeo talks to Peter Kafka about how she changed things up at Vimeo, working with Barry Diller, and how she came to the top job. More content on this episode: a conversation with writer Derek Thompson about why Google, Facebook are looking for new markets beyond media; also, his new podcast Crazy/ Genius. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 13, 2019 • 31min
New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger at the Code Conference
A.G. Sulzberger talks to Peter Kafka about the ‘Trump bump’ for the New York Times, how it’s subscription-first model is doing, and the future for local news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 11, 2019 • 39min
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki at the Code Conference
Susan Wojcicki talks to Peter Kafka at Code Conference, defending YouTube’s controversial decision not to ban Steven Crowder for slurs against journalist Carlos Maza. She talks about YouTube's use of humans, software and rules to police the videos its 2 billion users upload, and says the company is improving its ability to remove objectionable content. After a 30 minute on-stage interview, Wojcicki answers more questions from the Code audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 6, 2019 • 60min
Matthew Ball on Amazon vs Apple vs Netflix vs Disney, and how he built a digital media career by writing for free
Analyst/writer/investor-to-be Matthew Ball gives his predictions on how Disney, Netflix, Apple and Amazon are faring in the ‘battle royale’ - the streaming wars. He gives Peter Kafka his insight on Amazon Video from his time there, and talks about why he's bullish on Disney but skeptical about WarnerMedia. He also explains how he used the internet to transform himself from anonymous consultant to in-demand-strategy guy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 30, 2019 • 54min
ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro on how he’s reshaping the network
Jimmy Pitaro is president of one of the most powerful programming networks on TV - but how does ESPN stay competitive in the streaming era? He talks to Peter Kafka about how he got the job at ESPN, and how he’s reshaping the network. Also: building relationships with the NFL and NBA, and sports journalism at ESPN: where sports and politics intersect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 23, 2019 • 52min
YouTube’s Neal Mohan is trying to police the world’s largest video site + Game of Thrones is gone. What’s next?
Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube talks to Peter Kafka about how YouTube deals with problematic content: how it enforces the site’s community guidelines, and deploys machines to detect, and humans to evaluate this content. YouTube users upload 500 hours of content every minute, and YouTube has no plans to slow that down, so the job won't get an easier; the site takes down 8-9 million videos every quarter. They also discuss the strategy around YouTube's subscription service and its TV service. Also on the show, Vox’s Todd VanDerWerff’s take on Game of Thrones, and his new podcast, Primetime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 16, 2019 • 1h 1min
Eugene Wei explains why we’re all ‘status monkeys’ on social media
Amazon and Hulu veteran Eugene Wei has a really smart take on how status determines our use - and the success - of social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He talks to Peter Kafka about why we’re all status monkeys on social media, how young influencers use it differently than the rest of us, and how our mental models of these networks are changing. Also: his thoughts on working in the Amazon bubble, and the failed HQ2 in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 14, 2019 • 40min
Nick Hornby on writing for TV, 10 minutes at a time
Author Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy) talks to Peter Kafka about his newest project: Sundance’s “State of the Union” a 10-part series that unfolds in 10 minute episodes. Hornby, who became famous writing about obsessive fans, also talks about trading vinyl for Spotify, and why that’s not a bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 9, 2019 • 1h 9min
Game of Thrones is down to its last dragon + Hulu CEO Randy Freer
Two conversations in this episode: Vanity Fair writer, podcast host, and Game of Thrones expert Joanna Robinson talks to Peter Kafka about the end of GOT, and what that means for HBO, and the media ecosystem that has built up around the show — and what it says about the state of TV. Plus, Hulu CEO Randy Freer, talks about the fast-growing subscription service, which has become a key part of Disney's video strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 7, 2019 • 1h 3min
Digital media pioneer Jason Hirschhorn on Netflix vs. Everyone Else
Jason Hirschhorn, digital media pioneer and CEO of news aggregator REDEF, comes back for this third visit with Peter Kafka. They talk about streaming and ‘direct-to-customer’: what this means for Disney and Netflix. Also: how tech is changing movie-making, and the evolution of Hulu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
