On today’s episode, Bill O’Dowd, founder and CEO of Dolphin Entertainment, offers a deep dive into the art and science of the creator economy. The leader of the parent company of PR heavyweights 42West and Shore Fire Media explains how the heat among social media personalities is changing everything about marketing and advertising, and how it has bulldozed traditional barriers to launching consumer products. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 28, 2026•22 min
On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Jon Brockett, executive producer and showrunner of Sunday’s Actor Awards. The kudocast veteran discusses producing a live event without strict time limit considerations for Netflix, showcasing host Kristen Bell, paying tribute to Harrison Ford’s long career and invoking vintage Hollywood glamour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 26, 2026•14 min
On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety ’s Brent Lang takes a long look at Disney’s incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro and the challenges that await the parks and experiences veteran as he takes the helm of the Mouse House next month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 25, 2026•13 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Michael Schneider speaks to “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking” exec producer Bill Lawrence on the relaunch of “Scrubs” on ABC and Hulu. Lawrence explains how he’s busier than ever in his career – after surviving “a couple of five- and eight-year gaps when I couldn’t get anything going on TV.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 24, 2026•15 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin explains why Sony Pictures’ family film “G.O.A.T” topped the box office and how Elvis in Imax can still pack ‘em in. And Aramide Tinubu discusses some of the overlooked gems on her list of the best Black-led TV series of the past 10 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 23, 2026•17 min
On a special episode of Variety 's "Strictly Business" podcast, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos speaks out as the streaming giant fight to complete its quest to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, even as Paramount Skydance has secured a seven-day shot at impressing the WBD board with a better offer. Sarandos, in a wide-ranging discussion, is not shy about calling out what he sees as “misinformation” spread by the Paramount Skydance team. “It's probably cheaper to make noise than it is to raise your bid,” he ...
Feb 21, 2026•33 min
On today’s episode, Sheila Ducksworth, executive producer of the CBS daytime soap “Beyond the Gates” and president of the CBS Studios/NAACP content venture, explains why the partners were determined to launch the first new daytime soap in decades and why it has taken root as "Beyond the Gates" marks its one-year anniversary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 20, 2026•21 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Jazz Tangcay explains how she pulled off the “Kpop Demon Hunters” summit held Feb. 17 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood in tandem with the publication of Variety ’s standalone special issue on the animated musical smash. Includes highlights from the screening and panel that brought together the six actors and singers -- EJAE, Ji-young Yoo, Audrey Nuna, Arden Cho, May Hong and Rei Ami -- for the first time to discuss how the Netflix-Sony Pictures hit has touched ...
Feb 19, 2026•16 min
On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety ’s Todd Spangler on the latest developments in the three-way M&A love triangle between Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix and Paramount Skydance . And Owen Gleiberman pays tribute to the “symphonic” talent of Robert Duvall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 18, 2026•17 min
On today's episode, Variety 's Rebecca Rubin breaks down a solid weekend at the box office with a diverse mix of new titles, led by Emerald Fennell's buzzy "Wuthering Heights" from Warner Bros. and animated family film "GOAT" from Sony Pictures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 17, 2026•16 min
Josh Simon, the Netflix alum who took the reins of Funko as CEO in September, discusses his vision for growing the pop culture brand and collectibles maker. The company aims to improve its speed-to-market on timely trends, pursue new markets in Asia and Latin America and generally expand the scope of Funko's thinking as a business. "How do we turn every product into a canvas for storytelling," Simon tells Variety 's Jennifer Maas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 13, 2026•30 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Gene Maddaus offers the latest on SAG-AFTRA’s contract negotiations with Hollywood’s largest studios and streamers. And Emily Longeretta pays tribute to James Van Der Beek , an actor who came to help define his generation of TV and movies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 12, 2026•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Michael Schneider discusses “The Simpsons” reaching another astounding industry milestone, Episode No. 800. He details his reporting with producers and longtime cast members on how the beloved animated series defies the gravity of its years to stay strong in Season 37. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 11, 2026•14 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Elsa Keslassy explains the significance of the big move by France to expand its national production tax incentive and why it matters to the U.S. And Jazz Tangcay reports on Variety ’s Artisans Awards that were handed out at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 10, 2026•18 min
On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down a typically weak Super Bowl weekend at the turnstiles in the U.S. , and she examines “Zootopia 2’s” staying power at the international box office . Marc Malkin presses Netflix’s Ted Sarandos about the fate of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal at the Directors Guild Awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 09, 2026•18 min
On today’s episode, Russell Hollander, national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, gives a wide-ranging interview as Hollywood contract negotiations begin Feb. 9 with SAG-AFTRA sitting down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Hollander addresses the precipitous drop in TV and film employment, efforts to secure a federal production tax incentive, "raging healthcare inflation," what the guild wants to achieve on AI and why the DGA is not first up at the...
Feb 06, 2026•38 min
On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety ’s Daniel D’Addario details his behnd-the- scenes reporting on “Love Story,” the latest installment of the FX franchise, this time focusing on the romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. And Jennifer Maas explains how she pulled off a meeting of great minds of D&D -- Brennan Lee Mulligan and Matthew Mercer -- for a video that is burning up Variety’s YouTube page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 05, 2026•19 min
On today’s episode, host Cynthia Littleton unpacks the big leadership transition news out of Disney and what it means for Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden . Plus, highlights from Ted Sarandos’ politically charged grilling in the Senate as the Netflix co-CEO fights for the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 05, 2026•21 min
On today episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety 's Rebecca Rubin breaks down the weekend numbers with “Melania” surprising , “Send Help” leading and “Iron Lung” setting a new bar for DIY creator films at the multiplexes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 02, 2026•15 min
Luminate analysts Andrew Wallenstein and Tyler Aquilina break down the Luminate Year-End Film & TV Report 2025 , examining the viewership numbers and trends for streaming originals on Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon, Peacock, Disney+ and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 30, 2026•28 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Joe Otterson explains the recent burst of pilot orders at NBC and why the network is returning to a TV tradition. And Luminate’s Andrew Wallenstein gives a preview of Friday’s “Strictly Business” podcast episode, which goes deep on Luminate’s just-released Year-End Film and TV Report tracking viewership of streaming originals across all major platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 29, 2026•17 min
On today’s episode, Natalie Portman, Rob Lowe, Daniel Kwan, Kiernan Shipka, Judd Apatow, Salman Rushdie, Gregg Araki and more sound off on industry issues in interviews conducted at Variety’s Sundance Film Festival studio, presented by Audible. Music legends Kim Gordon and Kathleen Hanna also talk about the music business then and now in connection with Tamra Davis’ Sundance doc “The Best Summer.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 28, 2026•15 min
A message from "Daily Variety" host Cynthia Littleton about the episode for Monday, January 26. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 26, 2026•36 sec
Stuart Ford, chairman and CEO of AGC Studios and a longtime player in the global movie business, offers a blunt assessment of the problems facing independent film, and he offers thoughts on the adjustments to financial models for production and distribution that would greatly help the sector. Ford explains how AGC has managed to grow over the past seven years with investments in original ideas with commercial potential, and by expanding into television. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Jan 23, 2026•27 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Todd Spangler breaks down Netflix’s Q4 2025 earnings report and what the numbers reveal about the streamer’s business momentum. And he reads between the lines on what co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters had to say about the status of Netflix’s $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 22, 2026•14 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Rebecca Rubin and Clayton Davis break down the art, the science and the bottom line of Academy Award nominations and how box office receipts influence film awards season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 21, 2026•20 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Brent Lang, Peter Debruge and Owen Gleiberman discuss getting ready as film pros for the Sundance Film Festival, which begins Jan. 22 . These Sundance veterans give us the long-term view of the festival and its profound impact on the film industry as the annual gathering in Park City, Utah prepares for a big move to Boulder, Colo., in 2027. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 20, 2026•18 min
Creator Hannah Stocking and executives from Tubi, Smosh, Betches Media, RHEI and LV8 detail how digital natives hustle for clicks, likes and bucks. Recorded live on Jan. 8 at Variety's Business of Creators Summit held at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 16, 2026•34 min
On today’s episode, Variety’ s Jem Aswad analyzes the prospects for BTS’ massive world tour plans and other big treks in music. And in advance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, host Cynthia Littleton looks back at how King emerged as a media figure on the national stage , as covered by Variety . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 15, 2026•16 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Gene Maddaus breaks down the issues and the schedule for Hollywood union contract negotiations that are set to begin Feb. 9 when SAG-AFTRA sits down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. AI, health care benefits and streaming residuals will surely be on the agenda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 14, 2026•16 min
