Best semafor Podcasts (2024)

1
Vivek & friends talk Chevron Deference, Realignment, and the Plot to Replace Joe Biden 1:11:07

18h ago1:11:07

1:11:07

It’s been a hell of a week. Biden’s debate disaster left Americans wondering who’s really pulling the strings, and a pair of Supreme Court decisions gutted the administrative state. I joined my old classmate Paul Davis and political law attorney Steve Roberts to discuss these events and game out exactly how Democrats might replace Biden on the ball…

1
Inside Hearst's New Data Play 25:12

2d ago25:12

25:12

In a session recorded at the Cannes Lions, Hearst Magazines CRO Lisa Ryan and Jen Dorre join the show to discuss how the publisher is responding to the shifts in advertising to performance-focused channels, including retail media and platforms. Skip to topic: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 Realism in Publishing and Growth Strategies 04:45 Focus on Audien…

1
Vivek and Semafor’s Ben Smith on Buzzfeed, Assange, and Media Bias Ahead of the Trump-Biden Debate 1:17:02

8d ago1:17:02

1:17:02

Description: How will media failures in the lead-up to the 2020 election affect their coverage of the 2024 race? Vivek talks to Semafor editor-in-chief Ben Smith ahead of the first Trump-Biden debate. They cover the Julian Assange plea deal, Vivek’s shareholder activism at BuzzFeed, and the revival of institutional purpose. It’s a rapid-fire, high-…

1
The Math is Mathing 45:01

9d ago45:01

45:01

In this episode recorded at the Dotdash Meredith villa in Cannes, Dotdash Meredith CEO Neil Vogel and Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer discuss the impact AI is set to have on the publishing business. Skip to topic: 00:00 Introduction 03:04 Challenges and Opportunities in Publishing 05:44 The Role of Algorithms in Media 13:02 AI Deals and Le…

1
Pastor Jim Davis on Fixing America's Crisis of Purpose | Truth | S3 E8 1:02:57

15d ago1:02:57

1:02:57

Vivek and Pastor Jim Davis investigate the crisis causing Americans to abandon their churches -- dechurching. Our hearts have God-shaped holes. In today's episode, we learn what else Americans are using to try to fill those holes right now and discuss how to restore meaning and purpose to our nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon…

1
Can ads support news? 32:34

17d ago32:34

32:34

This episode from Cannes of The Rebooting Show, presented by Outbrain, features David Kostman (CEO of Outbrain), Kate Scott-Dawkins (Global President for Business Intelligence at GroupM), and Johanna Mayer-Jones (chief advertising officer of the Washington Post). They discuss the ad market's growth contrasted with the decline in ad revenue for news…

1
Consequences of a Legal System that Encourages Political Subversion of the Law | Truth | S3 E7 1:10:21

22d ago1:10:21

1:10:21

Vivek and law professor Jed Rubenfeld unpack how the ambiguity and laxness of the American legal system has permitted partisan legal practitioners to interpret laws in favor of political objectives, as seen in the recent conviction of former president Donald J. Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Semafor’s Ben Smith on Newsroom Wars 45:12

23d ago45:12

45:12

Semafor editor in chief Ben Smith sees a fragmenting media landscape and impatient owners running headlong into the peculiarities of newsroom culture, where bosses have never had an easy time. Enter the hard-charing Brits. Also: check out Ben’s new podcast, Mixed Signals, in which Ben and co-host Nayeema Raza unpack the real conspiracies of modern …

1
Re-Defining Luxury : The New Virtue Currency of Today’s Elites | S3 E6 | The Truth 1:18:01

29d ago1:18:01

1:18:01

U.S. Air Force Veteran and award winning author Rob Henderson joins Vivek to discuss his take on the current class system in the United States and how many of today’s social movements end up hurting the very people they profess to stand up for. A Ph.D. from Yale University, Rob coined the term, “luxury beliefs”, which refers to the elitism we see i…

1
The Washington Post’s Turnaround Plan 1:02:25

1M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

In the wake of Jeff Bezos buying The Washington Post in 2013 and the heady “Democracy Dies in Darkness” days following the 2016 election, The Washington Post was considered a credible rival to The New York Times. That’s no longer the case. New CEO Will Lewis is embarking on a turnaround at the Post, which lost $77 million last year. As Lewis put it…

1
Dr. Vinay Prasad on How FDA Gatekeeping Makes Us Less Healthy | S3E5 | The TRUTH Podcast 1:09:48

1M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Vivek and Dr. Vinay Prasad discuss whether American patients are better off or worse off today because of the existence and the mandate of the FDA, or any other health-focused agencies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Vivek Ramaswamy

1
Philip Goff on The Religion of Scientism | S3E4 | The TRUTH Podcast 1:12:24

1M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Vivek and Philip Goff discuss the rise of scientism–the framework that says that science or empiricism is the only means of accessing knowledge. How may humanity access knowledge? What is the core philosophy of scientism? What are the implications for accessing not only scientific but also spiritual knowledge? More from Philip Goff: Philip Goff’s b…

1
The Depth Era 47:11

2M ago47:11

47:11

Publishing is shifting from prioritizing breadth to rewarding depth. That starts with understanding the audience — and its segments — more granularly in order to create a more sustainable and varied business foundation. Cory Munchbach, CEO of BlueConic, shares her view of the next chapter. Skip to topic: 00:00 Introduction and Media Challenges 01:0…

1
Audio in the AI Age 1:03:17

2M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

Scott Porch, founder of Big IP, which operates the business side of several popular lifestyle podcasts like The John Campea Show, Happy Sad Confused, Star Wars Explained, discusses that state of podcasting, and how it is morphing. He acts as something of a talent manager in expanding these podcasts into more well rounded media companies, with reven…

1
Vivek's take from the Trump trial | S3 E3 | The TRUTH Podcast 54:22

2M ago54:22

54:22

By Vivek Ramaswamy

1
Ann Coulter on the N Word: Nationalism | S3E2 | The TRUTH Podcast 1:12:21

2M ago1:12:21

1:12:21

Vivek and Ann Coulter debate and discuss the n word: nationalism. What are the differences between civic vs ethnonationalism, and what does it truly mean to be an American? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Vivek Ramaswamy

1
Chaos in the SERP 53:10

2M ago53:10

53:10

Detailed.com's Glen Allsop breaks down the massive Google update roiling the publishing world as Google attempts to gain control of spammy results. Glenn breaks down the winners and losers, why big publishers have come to depend on SEO and often push the envelope with sub-standard content and brand arbitrage.…

1
The Weaponization of Government | S3 E1 | The TRUTH Podcast 1:04:59

2M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Vivek and Darren Beattie discuss some uncomfortable truths about Jan 6, where our MAGA movement may be missing the plot, and the larger weaponization of government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Vivek Ramaswamy

1
Crypto Expert Jarrod Dicker on the Future of Subscription-Based Media 35:29

2M ago35:29

35:29

NFTs, blockchain, and web3, oh my! If money never sleeps—then crypto has so much caffeine coursing through its veins, that it literally couldn't sleep even if it tried. But you still have to. So as a media company, how can you keep up with the rollercoaster ride that is crypto? Meet crypto expert Jarrod Dicker, lead partner and creator of TCG Crypt…

1
The Wall Street Journal's Emma Tucker on audience-first publishing 48:44

2M ago48:44

48:44

Emma Tucker was named the editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal (and Dow Jones Newswires) in early 2023. She was brought in with a mandate to shake up the Journal in a media market that Emma describes as changed “beyond recognition.” The Journal itself has its own challenges: an aging subscriber base that’s pushing 60, a stodgy internal cultur…

1
Car Dealership Guy Steps Out of Anonymity and Into a New Era 43:42

2M ago43:42

43:42

Meet the anonymous man behind the revolutionary Twitter account that’s making the automotive industry more transparent than ever before. That's right—Yossi Levi’s finally stepping out of the shadows of anonymity and sitting down with Adam to share his personal experience and insights into the automotive industry. From starting an anonymous account …

1
NYU's Jay Rosen on the economics of news 44:50

3M ago44:50

44:50

Jay Rosen, a professor of journalism at NYU, discusses the diminished state of the industry, promising nonprofit models and new funding models that subsidize public service journalism since the economic foundations supporting it have crumbled, and The New York Times has strayed farther into progressivism since Trump’s ride down that escalator. Get …

1
The pivot to intentional audiences 50:47

3M ago50:47

50:47

I’m joined by Matt Cronin, founding partner at House of Kaizen, which works with publishers and other companies with recurring revenue businesses to align their business goals with audience needs through customer experience frameworks. Some highlights of our conversation: Shift to audience-centric approaches: There's a significant shift towards und…

1
How 6AM City Became the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Newsletter-First Local Media Company 27:47

3M ago27:47

27:47

How does the co-founder of the nation’s fastest-growing newsletter-first media company think about scaling, investing, and running a local media company? Adam sits down with Ryan Heafy, the CEO of 6AM City, to discuss the ins and outs of local media and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Ryan shares how his passion for the local economic…

1
Investigating the influencers 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

On this week’s episode of The Rebooting Show, I spoke to writer John McDermott about his recent expose of self-help guru Jay Shetty and what it says about the chaotic Information Space. We delve into the paradox of influencer culture, where authenticity is a currency, even if the influencers themselves are as flawed as the general population. There…

1
How to Build a $300 Million SaaS Company, with Craig Fuller, CEO of FreightWaves 41:20

4M ago41:20

41:20

Discover the fascinating story behind FreightWaves and its founder, Craig Fuller, who scaled the niche media company into one of the most authoritative voices in the supply chain industry. Craig shares insights into the challenges of running a founder-driven business and the importance of building relationships with direct revenue. What was the pro…

1
The bootstrapped path 52:28

4M ago52:28

52:28

Stephanie Kaplan Lewis founded Her Campus in 2009 with Annie Wang, and Windsor Western as college undergraduates. They saw a need for college women to have a publication made for them by other college women. Her Campus has grown since then as a profitable, growing media business with 85 employees. Stephanie says Her Campus expanded revenue by 50% l…

1
A Candid Conversation with One of Sports’ Fastest-Growing Media Companies, with Adam White of Front Office Sports 20:57

4M ago20:57

20:57

Think sports media is mainstream? Meet the company that believes sports media isn’t nearly mainstream enough. It’s Adam v. Adam as Adam White, CEO and founder of Front Office Sports drops by the pod to discuss the future of sports media and reveal how FSO is creating a unique and engaging media experience by merging the brand with the power of its …

1
Audience-first publishing 54:43

4M ago54:43

54:43

Matt Cronin is a founding partner at House of Kaizen, a consultancy that works with publishers and other companies on recurring revenue growth. House of Kaizen, which is a sponsoring partner of The Rebooting, uses research-backed experiments to foster audience-first engagement. This allows clients to turn total reader revenue into cumulative gains.…

1
The YouTuber Who Scaled Epic Gardening into a $27 Million Empire 38:00

4M ago38:00

38:00

How did the internet’s most successful gardening content creator go from homesteading in his backyard to garnering a multi-million dollar investment deal? Kevin Espiritu, founder of Epic Gardening, chats with Adam about building an ecosystem of content and finding ways to focus on the core pillars of your business that matter most. Learn how Kevin’…

1
The Secret Formula to Building an Authentic, Niche Media Empire, with Michael Bosstick 48:29

4M ago48:29

48:29

Discover the secrets to building a successful media network and one of the largest female marketplaces in audio with Michael Bosstick, CEO of Dear Media. In this episode, Michael shares his insights on managing hybrid environments, the importance of authenticity in media, and the value of niche content. Learn how Dear Media has navigated the changi…

1
Mosheh Oinounou on elitist bias in news 52:29

4M ago52:29

52:29

Mosheh Oinounou, a broadcast news veteran, started posting summaries of the news of the day during the early days of the pandemic. He found they were resonating, and over the past few years, Mo News has amassed 440,000 followers on Instagram for news delivered mostly through Instagram Stories. Mosh has since expanded to a daily podcast, a membershi…

1
Print Media Isn’t Dead, with Community Impact CEO John Garrett 34:15

5M ago34:15

34:15

Discover the story behind Community Impact, a hyperlocal news source distributing information by print and email to millions of local residents in the Austin area. John Garrett, the founder of Community Impact, chats with Adam about his entrepreneurial journey and the critical moments that shaped the business. John shares why risk-taking is essenti…

1
The Power of Podcasting: How Wildcatters is Building the Next Generation of Energy Professionals, with Collin Mclelland 39:37

5M ago39:37

39:37

Meet the man responsible for giving the oil and gas industry a much-needed reboot. Collin Mclellan drops by the pod to chat with Adam about how he’s changing the way the world thinks about energy, starting with his company, Digital Wildcatters, a community-based organization dedicated to connecting energy workers to other professionals. Collin shar…

1
Building a Newsletter Business for the Godfather of Fantasy Sports, with Eliot Crist 29:40

5M ago29:40

29:40

How do you build one of the most successful fantasy football newsletters around? According to Eliot Crist, CEO of Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life Newsletter, it’s all about recognizing strengths within each individual and understanding your growth goals. Eliot sits down with Adam to share his insights on maintaining engagement with your audience, leve…

1
Introducing The Rebooting memberships 55:53

5M ago55:53

55:53

The Rebooting is launching paid memberships. All the details are on therebooting.com. In this episode, I speak to my collaborator Reid DeRamus, founder of Caddie Labs, which is working with me on implementing and growing memberships. Rather than discuss the benefits, we talk through the strategic and tactical decisions we made. Among the topic we c…

1
Keeping It Weird with SXSW Co-President & CPO Hugh Forrest 30:18

5M ago30:18

30:18

SXSW is quintessential Austin. So how did this main staple of Austin culture grow to its astounding 36 years of festival success since its initial conception in 1987? Join Adam Ryan as he interviews Hugh Forrest, Co-President & Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, to learn how the organization thinks about creating lasting, impactful cultural moments…

1
Life after the pageview 45:26

5M ago45:26

45:26

Digital media veteran Scott Messer discusses the structural changes to the publishing business, from the deprecation of the third-party cookie to the critical role search plays in many publishing businesses. Scott is a longtime digital media exec who understands the mechanics of the digital ad industry as well as anyone I know.…

1
The Ultimate Fighter | S2 E8 | The TRUTH Podcast 53:01

5M ago53:01

53:01

00:00 Introduction 00:26 Putting Team First 02:54 The Rise of UFC 07:22 Pandemic 08:45 The Power of Relationships and Shared Interests 24:22 The Importance of National Pride and Unity 26:32 The Expansion of UFC into China 26:55 The Influence of Martial Arts and Asian Culture 27:38 Introduction to Weili Zhang 27:52 National Pride 28:02 Critique of A…

1
The Juggernaut’s bet on subscriptions 47:27

6M ago47:27

47:27

This week on The Rebooting Show, I spoke to The Juggernaut’s founder and CEO Snigda Sur. We discussed the need she saw for a publication focused on South Asians, going through Ycombinator as a media company, using subscriptions as a base of a business model and more. Listen on Apple, Spotify and other podcast services.…

1
SparkLoop and beehiiv Go To War on Twitter 11:58

6M ago11:58

11:58

The newsletter world stopped being polite and started getting real this week, and TBH this is the moment Adam’s been waiting for his whole life. He breaks down the Twitter feud between SparkLoop’s Lewis Nicholls and beehiiv’s Tyler Denk, which ended with Tyler responding, “Didn’t you sell your failed company in a fire sale?” to the SparkLoop Co-Fou…

1
Tastemade's twist on the cable model 42:18

6M ago42:18

42:18

This week, I caught up with Larry Fitzgibbon, the CEO of Tastemade. I think of Tastemade as an original digital video brand, ahead of its time in many ways since it was founded back in 2012, before streaming was even a thing. This was an era when online video was still mostly about webisodes nobody watched and YouTube’s famed dog on a skateboard vi…

1
The year ahead for the media business with Sara Fischer of Axios 22:45

6M ago22:45

22:45

The media business in 2024 To kick off the year on The Rebooting Show, I spoke to Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer about the main themes of the year ahead. Among the topics we covered: The value of identifying patterns from the torrent of news The unrealistic expectations of the ZIRP/scale era Cyclical challenges vs structural changes The w…

1
Is the New York Times Lawsuit the Beginning of the End for ChatGPT? 5:12

6M ago5:12

5:12

The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, claiming the language learning model stole thousands of its articles to train its machines, and allowing millions of other sites to profit off of the backs of its employees’ hard-earned labor. So what happens next if the New York Times wins their suit? Adam’s back, and he’…

1
Building lasting subscriptions programs 57:14

7M ago57:14

57:14

I spoke to Matt Cronin, founding partner of House of Kaizen, a consultancy that works with publishers on their subscription and recurring revenue products. Among the topics we covered: fixing misaligned incentives in publishing whether peak subscription exists subscriptions as a force function to be customer centric what publishers should and shoul…

1
Podcasting as 'nuance media' 46:55

7M ago46:55

46:55

Matt Reustle, CEO of Colossus, a business-focused podcasting network that’s home to Invest Like the Best, Business Breakdowns and Founders, sees podcasting as an antidote to many of the ills of algorithmic media. “To me, it's the highest trust media. I think everything else now lacks nuance. And I actually still care about nuance. There are shorter…

1
Big Cabal's Tomiwa Aladekomo on building mobile-first media in Nigeria 46:10

7M ago46:10

46:10

On this week’s episode of The Rebooting Show, I spoke to Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO of Big Cabal, a Nigerian digital media company that’s home to a pair of properties: Tech Cabal, which I describe as similar to TechCrunch but with more memes and Zikoko, a BuzzFeed-like culture publication. Big Cabal has raised $2.3 million in venture capital as it build…

1
Subscriptions in the age of ARPU 38:22

7M ago38:22

38:22

The Rebooting recently wrapped up its second research project in collaboration with BlueConic. Patrick Crane, vp of sales at BlueConic, joined me on The Rebooting Show to discuss the state of subscriptions at publishers and the maturation of the market. “One of the reasons I call it a forever business is to call out the fact that there is going to …

1
S4 BONUS EPISODE: The Secret B2B Formula for Conquering Multiple Verticals, with Endeavor Media GroupCEO Chris Ferrell 33:46

8M ago33:46

33:46

Figuring the right marketing fit as a B2B can feel like throwing spaghetti at a wall—sooner or later at least one strategy has to stick… right? But how can you optimize the path to finding the right verticals in the meantime? Join Adam Ryan as he sits down with Chris Ferrell, CEO of Endeavor Business Media, to discuss the ins and outs of the media …

1
Hearst's Bridget Williams on a 'thoughtful mercenary' approach to the local news business 47:44

8M ago47:44

47:44

Bridget Williams is a veteran of the industry. I first got to know Bridget when she was at Business Insider prior to heading to Food52 before landing at Hearst Newspapers in tk, where she is chief commercial officer. On this week’s episode of The Rebooting Show, we spoke about the progress toward a sustainable business model for Hearst news outlets…

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