Outgoing New York Times CEO Mark Thompson talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about the eight years he spent transforming the paper from an ad-based business to one supported by subscribers; his views on big tech platforms like Facebook and Google; and the high-profile departure of opinion editor Bari Weiss. And IAC CEO Joey Levin talks about his company’s billion-dollar bet on gambling. Featuring: Mark Thompson, CEO of The New York Times Joey Levin, CEO of IAC Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Edit...
Aug 13, 2020•58 min•Ep. 292
Author Kurt Andersen sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History. Andersen argues that starting in the 1970s, a small group of men made a concerted, and successful push to move the US to the right. Now he wants the country to correct course. Featuring: Kurt Andersen (@kbandersen), Author Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's m...
Aug 06, 2020•49 min•Ep. 291
Sports are back! Kinda. With the return — for now — of baseball and basketball in the U.S., Recode’s Peter Kafka sits down with some of the best sports journalists for an update on the state of the games. First, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explains how the NBA plans to run the rest of the season, and how they’re thinking about next year. Then, Yankees reporter Lindsey Adler of The Athletic details her current experience reporting on the return of baseball and how the recent outbreak of the Florida Ma...
Jul 30, 2020•58 min•Ep. 290
Substack is a service that helps writers created paid newsletter businesses. It’s also finding lots of writers — like Andrew Sullivan — who want to go to work for themselves. CEO Chris Best sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about his rapidly growing startup, and what it means for the media industry. Later, The Verge’s Julia Alexander calls in to give her thoughts on the recent launch of NBC Universal’s newest streaming service, Peacock. Featuring: Chris Best (@cjgbest), CEO and Co-Foun...
Jul 23, 2020•44 min•Ep. 288
Hank Green and, his brother John Green, have been on the internet for a long time. Initially gaining fame from their YouTube series The Vlog Brothers. They later created Youtube shows like Crash Course and Sci Show, one of the biggest online video conventions VidCon, and written young adult novels such as A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor. Hank Green sits down Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss life as a content creator and the current state of YouTube. Featuring: Hank Green (@hankgreen) Author and Vi...
Jul 16, 2020•53 min•Ep. 287
Running a newspaper in 2020 is hard. Running a newspaper in Hong Kong will be really challenging: Gary Liu, CEO of The South China Morning Post, talks to Recode's Peter Kafka about what it’s been like to operate his publication in an uncertain environment that just became more fraught. Liu, who came to the paper after stints at Google, Spotify and Digg, says his publication can provide a crucial window into China, but new Chinese rules about the way Hong Kong operates may change all of that. Not...
Jul 09, 2020•41 min•Ep. 286
Tubi CEO Farhad Massoudi just sold his streaming video company to Fox for more than $450 million. Now he sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about how he built Tubi; how his free, ad-supported service fits in an era dominated by Netflix’s ad-free service; and what it’s like to sell your startup in the middle of a pandemic. Featuring: Farhad Massoudi (@Tubi), CEO and founder of Tubi Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, P...
Jul 02, 2020•38 min•Ep. 285
Recode’s Peter Kafka and Rani Molla give you a sneak peak of Vox’s latest season of Land of the Giants, — a seven part series on the rise of Netflix. They give some background on what it was like developing the show during the pandemic, and look ahead to Netflix’s future. After the break: A look at Netflix’s biggest blunder, and how it shaped the company. You can listen to Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect here on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are distributed. Featuring: Ra...
Jun 25, 2020•28 min•Ep. 283
Comedian and host of CNN’s United Shades of America, W. Kamau Bell, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Bell shares his thoughts on how how major news networks and social media companies are meeting the moment, how white Americans can educate themselves about racism — and why he doesn’t mind doing that work. He also discusses Dave Chapelle’s recent performance addressing Floyd, and what comedy will look like in the future. Featuring: W. Kamau ...
Jun 18, 2020•47 min•Ep. 282
Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez, whose company specializes in long-form, narrative podcasts like “Dirty John”, talks with Recode’s Peter Kafka about the state of the podcast industry and how his business has weathered the pandemic. He also discusses the impact of recent federal wire fraud and money laundering charges related to his last job, as a Fox TV executive. Later, The Ringer’s Alyssa Bereznak, swings by to discuss her new podcast Boom/Bust, which details the rise and fall (and rise again?) of th...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 281
Paddy Cosgrave is the co-founder of one of the most popular tech conferences in the world, Web Summit. With its Toronto iteration “Collision” approaching quickly, this year, as a result of the global pandemic, the event must be held online. He sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to detail how his team is pulling that off. Later, Rafat Ali, CEO and Founder of Skift, gives some insight on how his business and travel publication is adapting to the times as well. Featuring: Paddy Cosgrave (@paddycos...
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 280
Writer at large for New York Times Opinion, Charlie Warzel, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss his thoughts on how social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are handling how their users are utilizing their platforms in response to the most recent protests following the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Featuring: Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel), writer at large for New York Times Opinion Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to exp...
Jun 01, 2020•50 min
Chairman of WarnerMedia and head of HBO Max, Bob Greenblatt, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss this weeks big launch and what differentiates HBO Max from the field. Featuring: Bob Greenblatt, Chairman of WarnerMedia Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media land...
May 26, 2020•37 min•Ep. 280
Have you seen Extraction? More than 90 million Netflix viewers have, making the violent thriller the service’s most popular original movie to date. Stuntman-turned-director Sam Hargrave, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss his action movie starring Chris Hemsworth. Hargrave talks about learning how to make action movies on the set of Marvel’s Avengers series, working with the Russo brothers, and the power of Netflix’s global platform. Featuring: Sam Hargrave (@thesamhargrave), Directo...
May 21, 2020•42 min•Ep. 279
Recode’s Peter Kafka and Vox Media Podcast Network senior producer Zach Mack, discuss the recent deal to bring The Joe Rogan Experience exclusively to Spotify and what it means for the podcast industry. Featuring: Zach Mack (@zachthemack), Senior Podcast Producer at Vox Media Podcast Network Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journali...
May 20, 2020•16 min
Ben “Dr.” Lupo always works from home: He’s a professional video game player. And he’s a star, with 4 million Twitch subscribers. This week Dr. Lupo sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to break down a day in the life of being a full-time Twitch Streamer, how he and his fellow colleagues are handling creating content during the pandemic, and what he plans on doing in the upcoming future of his career. Later, The Verge’s Bijan Stephen joins Peter to give some insight as to why there has been a hug...
May 14, 2020•55 min•Ep. 278
Vox.com’s Laura McGann and Recode’s Peter Kafka discuss Tara Reade, her allegations of sexual misconduct against Joe Biden, and the way the media has treated her. McGann, Vox’s politics editor, discusses her attempt to verify Reade’s allegations in 2019, and why the story has resurfaced now; the discussion also includes Reade’s decision to tell her story to former TV personality Megyn Kelly, on Kelly’s YouTube channel. https://www.vox.com/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-acc...
May 11, 2020•41 min
Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls are profiled in ESPN's 10-part documentary series The Last Dance. Director Jason Hehir chats with Recode's Peter Kafka about the complex process of telling this story in 10 parts, interviewing Michael Jordan and the '98 Bulls and wondering how MJ would handle the digital era. Featuring: Jason Hehir (@jasonmhehir), director of ESPN's The Last Dance Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Pe...
May 07, 2020•35 min•Ep. 277
Writer Greg Daniels and Recode’s Peter Kafka discuss discuss 'Upload' and 'Space Force,' his upcoming series for Prime Video and Netflix and what its been like launching two TV shows in this moment. Later, Vulture’s Craig Jenkins talks about how the pandemic has changed the way we see live music and how recording artists are taking advantage of Instagram live to conduct friendly battles and engage with their fans. Featuring: Greg Daniels, writer and co-creator of Upload and Space Force Craig Jen...
Apr 30, 2020•51 min•Ep. 276
Analyst Matthew Ball sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss how the coronavirus is changing the landscape on how SVOD’s are currently conducting business, why Hollywood is choosing to delay some big feature releases, and how the video game industry is thriving. Featuring: Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew), Analyst Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to ...
Apr 23, 2020•58 min•Ep. 275
The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jefferey Goldberg, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss how his publication became a must-read during the Coronavirus pandemic, how he is converting new readers into new subscribers, and what it’s like to run a media outlet owned by billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs. Featuring: Jeffery Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg), Editor-In-Chief of The Atlantic Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter ...
Apr 16, 2020•45 min•Ep. 274
Quibi is here. Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg chats with Recode’s Peter Kafka about launching a new product during a pandemic, how he thinks his service differs from other bigger streaming platforms, and his vision for Quibi’s future. Later, The Verge’s Julia Alexander reviews some of Quibi’s new and original shows. Featuring: Jeffery Katzenberg (@Quibi), Founder of Quibi Julia Alexander (@loudmouthjulia), Reporter at The Verge Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Su...
Apr 06, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 273
Taylor Lorenz, who covers the internet for the New York Times; Campbell Brown, who heads up Facebook news partnerships; and Sarah Larson, who writes about podcasts for the New Yorker, chat with Recode’s Peter Kafka about the way the pandemic is affecting their industries. Lorenz discusses the way social networks like TikTok have responded — and why Zoom is a new social network; Brown discusses Facebook’s $100 million plan to boost local news outlets; and Larson talks about the way podcasters are...
Apr 02, 2020•53 min•Ep. 272
Two chats with people who make you laugh for a living: Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett talks about making his shows — including one that’s supposed to happen with a live audience - from home during the pandemic, what’s happening to his podcast business during the economic disruption, and how to help people get through a very rough time. Then, in an interview taped as the pandemic was beginning to hit the U.S., improviser Jon Gabrus explains how podcasting has allowed him to build a loyal aud...
Mar 26, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 271
Stratechery’s Ben Thompson, Lightshed’s Rich Greenfield, and Crisis Text Line’s Bob Filbin join Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Thompson talks about the pros and cons of social media in a crisis - and what it’s like to live in Taiwan, where he’s based; Greenfield discusses Hollywood’s move to let us watch new movies at home instead of theaters; and Libin explains what we can do to help people in crisis. Featuring: Ben Thompson (@benthompson), founder of...
Mar 19, 2020•54 min•Ep. 270
In a conversation taped hours before the NBA suspended its season, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Recode’s Peter Kafka discuss how the Coronavirus could affect the NBA, and why the league could cancel games — including its playoffs this spring - entirely. Windhorst also discusses the NBA’s TV problems, its dust-up with China last fall, and how LeBron James kickstarted his career. Featuring: Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN), ESPN Reporter Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to e...
Mar 12, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 269
Vulture Senior Editor and host of the Good One podcast, Jesse David Fox, sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss how social media and streaming has had an effect on the comedy industry and specifically how Netflix has revitalized the hour long standup comedy special. Featuring: Jesse David Fox (@JesseDavidFox), Senior Vulture Editor Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclai...
Mar 05, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 268
ViacomCBS just announced new plans to do… something in streaming video. CNBC’s Alex Sherman explains how the newly merged TV company sees itself competing with Netflix, Apple and everyone else, and how that might actually work. Also: Who wants to spend billions and billions of dollars to buy NFL rights? The answer might surprise you. Featuring: Alex Sherman (@sherman4949), CNBC Media & Tech reporter Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to R...
Feb 27, 2020•31 min•Ep. 267
Food writers Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs turned a book deal into a digital publishing and retail company. Then they spent 10 years turning that company into something worth more than $100 million. They tell Recode Media’s Peter Kafka what they learned along the way — and why he was wrong to count them out years ago. Plus: A conversation with Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer about the state of the 2020 race, the media strategies the candidates are using, and what they did and didn’t learn fro...
Feb 20, 2020•54 min•Ep. 266
John Thornton went from venture capitalist to founder of The Texas Tribune. He sits down with Recode's Peter Kafka to discuss his latest plans to empower local news organizations via the American Journalism Project. Featuring: John Thornton (@thorntonaustin), Founder of The Texas Tribune, Co-Founder of American Journalism Project Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed report...
Feb 13, 2020•47 min
