NBC News’ Ben Collins breaks down QAnon, the political pro-Trump conspiracy and its current effect on politics. He and Recode's Peter Kafka also discuss how Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube continue to allow the spread of misinformation on their platforms. Featuring: Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__), reporter for NBC News 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 t...
Sep 17, 2020•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stratechery’s Ben Thompson sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to unpack what Oracle's proposed TikTok deal actually means, and why removing China's oversight is a good idea. Featuring: Ben Thompson (@benthompson) author and founder of Stratechery 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...
Sep 16, 2020•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Recode's Peter Kafka chats with Morning Brew CEO Alex Lieberman about his ambitious path from business newsletters to full-fledged media company and why he's looking closely at models like Complex and Barstool. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 10, 2020•34 min•Ep 296•Transcript available on Metacast Writer, comedian, author, and commentator, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss his early pursuits in journalism at Harvard, his thoughts on athletes using their platforms to inspire change and speak out against injustices, and his views on the upcoming election. Featuring: Baratunde Thurston (@baratunde), writer and comedian Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industr...
Sep 03, 2020•43 min•Ep 295•Transcript available on Metacast How do you have a political convention when you can’t convene? New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about the virtual conventions the Democrats and Republicans have put on, and what they tell us about the state of politics and media. Then CNN’s Brian Stelter joins to discuss Hoax, his new book about the way Fox News and Donald Trump have melded — and what it’s like for him to become the subject of attacks from Trump and Fox News personalities and fans. Featurin...
Aug 27, 2020•56 min•Ep 294•Transcript available on Metacast Comedians, podcasters, and now authors, Desus Nice & The Kid Mero, have had an interesting path to becoming one of the hottest duos in late night television. The Bronx natives sit down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss how they got hosting Showtime’s first talk show, what you can expect in their upcoming book God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx (which is available for pre-order right now!), and what their plans are for the post-pandemic future. Their Virtual Book Tour kicke...
Aug 20, 2020•48 min•Ep 293•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 
