Steve Jobs co-founded Apple and infused it with his love of product design and attention to detail. His successor, Tim Cook, is widely perceived as lacking Jobs’ vision and innovation. But he managed to do something Jobs never could: make Apple the most valuable company on the planet. So who are these two men, and how have their leadership styles shaped the company that shapes our lives? Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Pet...
Oct 14, 2021•37 min•Ep 362•Transcript available on Metacast Five days after the New York Times’ Ben Smith wrote an astonishing piece about the fakery supporting Ozy Media, the digital publisher announced it was shutting down. What, if anything, does the fiasco tell us about media startups and investors? Smith teases it out with Recode’s Peter Kafka. Then Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch drops by for a progress report on his attempt to turn the magazine giant into a modern entertainment company - and an update on Apple’s News+ service. Featuring: Ben Smith (@be...
Oct 07, 2021•52 min•Ep 361•Transcript available on Metacast More consolidation in Hollywood - but this time it’s talent agency CAA buying rival ICM. Puck’s Dylan Byers sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to explain why the streaming boom has created another merger. Then, podcaster and game streaming expert Bijan Stephen joins for an update on Twitch and its new “hate raid” problem - and what the platform and the community are doing to fight back against trolls. Featuring: Dylan Byers (@DylanByers), Senior Correspondent at Puck News Bijan Stephen (@bijans...
Sep 30, 2021•32 min•Ep 360•Transcript available on Metacast Peter Thiel used to be a Silicon Valley investor best-known for early investment in Facebook. But in recent years he seems to have shifted into something different: A Trump-supporting billionaire who wants to remake American politics - and someone who nursed a years-long grudge against Gawker and ultimately bankrupted the publisher and its owner. Bloomberg’s Max Chafkin details Thiel’s story in his new book The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley’s Pursuit of Power; he talks about what an...
Sep 23, 2021•56 min•Ep 359•Transcript available on Metacast Instagram is no longer going to be a photo-sharing app, Instagram boss Adam Mosseri announced earlier this summer. So what is Instagram going to be instead? Mosseri talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about his plans to emphasize video and commerce for the service, competing with Tik-Tok, and looming regulation. Mosseri also talks about recent revelations in the Wall Street Journal about Instagram’s own research, which suggests the app could be harmful to a segment of its users, particularly teenagers...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep 358•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Gurman has been one of the best-sourced Apple reporters since he was in high school. Literally. Now he’s at Bloomberg, with deep insight into Apple’s new product line - new iPhones this year, new “mixed reality” headsets next year - and its political and philosophical ideology - why it's fighting regulation in courtrooms and capitols around the world. He talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about the future of the world’s most valuable tech company. Featuring: Mark Gurman (@markgurman) Tech Report...
Sep 09, 2021•43 min•Ep 357•Transcript available on Metacast Defector Media launched a year ago as a digital publishing experiment: What if the former staff of Deadspin built and owned their own site, fueled entirely by subscriptions? Now it looks like we have an answer: It’s working, really well. Editor in chief Tom Ley walks Recode’s Peter Kafka through Defector’s financials and argues that a site that runs on readers’ dollars instead of advertisers is more fun to work at and to read. Featuring: Tom Ley (@ToLey88) Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Defec...
Sep 02, 2021•38 min•Ep 356•Transcript available on Metacast What is OnlyFans, and why did OnlyFans abandon and then come back to its primary business model in the span of a week? MEL Magazine’s Magdalene Taylor joins Recode’s Peter Kafka to explain the rise of the NSFW platform, and why some banks are reluctant to work with a company that consumers seem to love. Then BuzzFeed News’ Joe Bernstein talks about his recent story on the disinformation/misinformation industry, which isn’t exactly what we think it is. Featuring: Magdalene Taylor(@magdajtaylor), ...
Aug 26, 2021•40 min•Ep 355•Transcript available on Metacast Nick Khan used to be a CAA agent who represented the WWE. Now he’s president of the pro wrestling company and is pivoting it from a direct-to-consumer strategy into a content studio for the likes of Peacock and Fox. Khan tells Recode’s Peter Kafka why the WWE has abandoned its pioneering streaming model, how he’s managing the company through covid, and what got him into the TV business. Featuring: Nick Khan, WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Reco...
Aug 19, 2021•35 min•Ep 354•Transcript available on Metacast The New York Times’ Shira Ovide, writes the popular and incisive “On Tech” newsletter, which means she gets to write about… everything. She sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss some her latest stories in her column like why “Tech Can’t Fix Everything”, how society rather than social media itself is more to blame for the spread of misinformation, and the pros and cons of writing a popular newsletter. Featuring: Shira Ovide (@ShiraOvide), tech writer for The New York Times Host: Peter Ka...
Aug 12, 2021•36 min•Ep 353•Transcript available on Metacast Puck News Hollywood expert Matthew Belloni sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss the biggest stories in the past week: Reese Witherspoon’s new $900M deal and the lawsuit between Scarlett Johansson and Disney. Then, The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson joins the show to discuss how the media has been reporting on COVID-19 recently, especially now that the concerns of the Delta variant begin to increase. Featuring: Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) Hollywood editor at Puck News Derek Thompson (@DKT...
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr•Ep 352•Transcript available on Metacast Stillwater was supposed to debut in theaters last fall, but the pandemic changed those plans along with everything else. Academy Award-winning director and writer Tom McCarthy explain how he used the extra time to improve the Matt Damon movie, why the film isn’t on a streaming service — and what it was like to play one of TV’s best villains in the final season of The Wire. Then, creator Kyla Scanlon joins the show to discuss her quick rise on social media from making short-form videos on finance...
Jul 29, 2021•39 min•Ep 351•Transcript available on Metacast Anthony Bourdain is dead. So how does a new documentary have audio of him reading his emails? It’s not him: It’s a deep fake. The New Yorker’s Helen Rosner explains. Then journalist Richard Rushfield takes us behind Hollywood’s closed doors to talk about the return of movies, the dominance of Netflix — and why he can more candid than ever because he’s writing about all of it on The Ankler, his subscription-only newsletter. Featuring: Helen Rosner (@hels) staff writer for The New Yorker Richard R...
Jul 22, 2021•47 min•Ep 350•Transcript available on Metacast Wall Street Journal’s Eliot Brown first became interested in WeWork back in 2014 after an encounter with founder co-founder Adam Neumann, who quickly told the reporter that he should not “think about his company as a real estate business, but as a community-building startup”. Fast forward seven years, Brown, along with his colleague Maureen Farrell, plan to release their new book The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion, which chronicles the infamous journey of one of...
Jul 15, 2021•43 min•Ep 349•Transcript available on Metacast When are we going back to the office? How often are we going back to the office? And what’s work going to be like when we get there? Kevin Delaney is trying to answer all of those questions — and really, every question we have about the future of work — with Charter, the new media company he launched by starting a newsletter. Plus we check in with NPR’s David Gura, who is hollering — from a distance — at the tech and media moguls gathered at the annual Sun Valley conference. Featuring: David Gur...
Jul 08, 2021•58 min•Ep 348•Transcript available on Metacast Roger Bennett is half of Men In Blazers, the entertaining podcast/broadcast duo dedicated to Americans who love soccer. So he’s an excellent person to talk to Recode’s Peter Kafka about the state of the world’s most popular sport, and why an attempt to create a “Super League” failed dramatically. Bennett, born and raised in Liverpool, is also a huge fan of America and Americans, which he describes in his new memoir: "(Re)Born In The USA: An Englishman’s Love Letter to His Chosen Home”. Featuring...
Jul 01, 2021•54 min•Ep 347•Transcript available on Metacast Twitch, the Amazon-owned streaming platform best known as a haven for gamers, wouldn’t be the first place you’d look for a left-leaning political commentator. But Hasan Piker, also known as “HasanAbi” is thriving there: He has more than 1.5 million followers, where he comments on the news of the day during marathon sessions. Piker talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about becoming a new kind of Internet famous. Featuring: Hasan "Abi" Piker (@hasanthehun) Twitch Streamer and Political Commentator Host:...
Jun 24, 2021•36 min•Ep 346•Transcript available on Metacast The newest publication covering tech is Future — a site owned and operated by Andreessen Horowitz, the powerful Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Partner Margit Wennmachers, who used to court press coverage for her company and its portfolio companies, now wants to go directly to readers, without relying on journalists to carry her message. She explains her strategy to Recode’s Peter Kafka. Featuring: Margit Wennmachers (@wennmachers) Partner at Andreessen Horowitz Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka),...
Jun 15, 2021•31 min•Ep 345•Transcript available on Metacast Jake Hurwitz & Amir Blumenfeld got their start on the internet when making content for sites like YouTube and Facebook was considered the Wild West. Then, after an iconic run on College Humor, starring in thousands of videos over the course of 10 years, they took another leap of faith: starting the podcast network HeadGum. The duo sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss their unorthodox career as entertainers and entrepreneurs, as well as their newly launched dating app, Orion. Featuring:...
Jun 10, 2021•31 min•Ep 344•Transcript available on Metacast Journalist Rob Walker sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss why he decided to go the independent route instead of writing for another publication after his buyout from Medium, his thoughts on the creator economy, and details behind his newsletter The Art of Noticing, based on his 2019 book of the same name. Featuring: Rob Walker (@notrobwalker), Journalist and Author Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, on...
Jun 03, 2021•35 min•Ep 343•Transcript available on Metacast The Information’s Jessica Toonkel joins Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss Amazon’s (planned) $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM. It’s the first time a big tech company has ever bought a big media asset. But why Amazon, why MGM, and what does this mean for the rest of the media world? Then podcaster pioneer Dan Taberski, comes on to discuss The Line — an Apple-commissioned series, as well as his journey into audio after a career in TV. Featuring: Jessica Toonkel (@jtoonkel), reporter for The Informati...
May 27, 2021•44 min•Ep 342•Transcript available on Metacast Jim Miller was finishing up a book about HBO and then… the story changed. He talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about what may change now that AT&T is handing the service - along with the rest of WarnerMedia — to Discovery. Then writer, producer, and director Alan Yang join to discuss his career, the upcoming season of the Netflix hit Master of None which he co-created with comedian Aziz Ansari, and what he thinks of the current state of the movie and TV industry. Featuring: Jim Miller (@jimmiller), ...
May 20, 2021•43 min•Ep 341•Transcript available on Metacast AT&T bought WarnerMedia three years ago for more than $100 billion, so it could chase after Netflix. Now it’s getting out of streaming, and every other part of the media business. What happened? And what happens next? NYT media reporter Edmund Lee has a reunion with Recode’s Peter Kafka to discuss. Featuring: Edmund Lee (@edmundlee), media reporter for The New York Times Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of ...
May 17, 2021•30 min•Ep 340•Transcript available on Metacast Antonio García Martínez used to work at Facebook, and wrote a book about it. In April, he started working at Apple, and weeks later he was gone, after Apple employees revolted. Martinez talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about why he went to work for Apple, why he left, and what he thinks of the criticism of him and his writing. Featuring: Antonio Garcia Martinez (@antoniogm) Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of ...
May 15, 2021•24 min•Ep 339•Transcript available on Metacast The concert business has been shut down for a year, which means that Live Nation, the world’s dominant concert promoter and ticket seller, has been shut down, too. CEO Michael Rapino sits down with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about the industry’s comeback, how his company survived without revenue, and how he’s figured out new tricks, like a subscription model. Featuring: Michael Rapino (@Michael_Rapino), President & CEO of Live Nation Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to...
May 13, 2021•44 min•Ep 338•Transcript available on Metacast Bloomberg's Brad Stone and Recode's Jason Del Rey report on all things Amazon and Jeff Bezos. They discuss how Bezos built his global empire and Stone's new book 'Amazon Unbound.' Featuring: Brad Stone (@BradStone), Tech writer for Bloomberg, and Author Guest Host: Jason Del Rey (@DelRey), Senior Correspondent 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...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep 337•Transcript available on Metacast The antitrust trial between Apple and Fortnite’s parent company Epic Games is underway, so Apple observer John Gruber talks about Apple’s App Store problem with Recode’s Peter Kafka. Then, historian Jill Lepore joins to discuss her podcast The Last Archive, which looks at the demise of truth and the rise of doubt in American history - and why it matters to us today. Featuring: John Gruber (@gruber), of Daring Fireball Jill Lepore, writer for the New York Times and host of The Last Archive Host: ...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 336•Transcript available on Metacast AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan checks in with Recode’s Peter Kafka to talk about his company’s pivot from TV to streaming, and what it’s like to be a smaller fish in the video pond. Featuring: Josh Sapan (@JWSAPAN), CEO of AMC Networks 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 ...
Apr 29, 2021•40 min•Ep 335•Transcript available on Metacast The Oscars are supposed to be a celebration for Hollywood, but this year it feels like a collapse: The pandemic has altered the slate of movies up for awards - and, crucially, seems to have removed most of the TV audience for Sunday’s show. Slate’s Allegra Frank and Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson talk to Recode’s Peter Kafka about what all of this means for the movie business and for moviegoers. Then The Ringer’s Rob Harvilla explains why he’s spending a year praising 60 Songs That Explain the 90s on hi...
Apr 22, 2021•55 min•Ep 334•Transcript available on Metacast Apple’s selling podcasts. Facebook wants to distribute podcasts - and take on Clubhouse, too. It’s been a busy couple days for big tech and audio, so Vox Media producer Zach Mack stopped by to talk to Recode’s Peter Kafka and sort through the news. What does all of this mean for creators? What about listeners? And what happens next? Featuring: Zach Mack (@zachthemack), Senior Producer for the Vox Media Podcast Network Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore: Subscrib...
Apr 21, 2021•24 min•Ep 333•Transcript available on Metacast 
