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Artwork for Mixed Signals from Semafor Media

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media

Semafor Podcasts
Advertising
Donald Trump
Youtube
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Kamala Harris
Digital Media
Tiktok
Elon Musk
Podcasting
Marketing
Ozy Media
Creator Economy
Joe Biden
Fraud
Twitter
Trump Administration
Media Industry
Carlos Watson
Creativity

Every Friday media reporter Max Tani and Semafor Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith pull back the curtain on the most important stories about media, revealing why you see and hear what you see and hear. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media is supported by Think with Google.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes125Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryBusiness NewsNews

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Artwork for Mixed Signals from Semafor Media

Latest Episodes

Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Mixed Signals to talk about his four-hour film on Elon Musk. Max and Ben ask Gibney how he built an AI avatar of Musk using only his actual words when Musk refused to participate, what Elon’s first wife, Justin... more

Actor and producer Kasey Esser joins Mixed Signals to explain the multi-billion dollar "microdrama" industry, and why he's become one of its biggest stars. Max and Ben ask Kasey how a werewolf Romeo-and-Juliet show that shot in just a week for a hund... more

Liquid Death founder and CEO Mike Cessario joins Mixed Signals (with Semafor business editor Liz Hoffman filling in for Max) to explain how he built a billion-dollar water company by treating his ads like SNL sketches. Ben and Liz ask Mike why he thi... more

Pangram founder and CEO Max Spero joins Mixed Signals to explain how his AI detection tool actually works, and why he thinks the escalating cat-and-mouse game between AI detectors and "humanizers" is a fight worth having. Max and Ben ask Spero about ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Alex Gibney
Prolific documentary filmmaker and director
Gibney Media
Episode: Alex Gibney on his Elon Musk documentary and why the doc business has never been more scared
Kasey Esser
Actor and producer known for microdramas
Crazy Maple Studios / RealShort (producer/creator)
Episode: Kasey Esser on being the "Brad Pitt of microdramas" and what's next for the booming vertical video format
Mike Cessario
CEO and founder of Liquid Death; marketing innovator
Liquid Death
Episode: Liquid Death CEO Mike Cessario on selling water like a punk band, and why comedy is the one thing Coca-Cola can't buy
Max Spero
CEO of Pangram, developer of AI-detection technology
Pangram
Episode: Pangram CEO Max Spero on why human touch is about to become the scarcest thing on the internet
Salman Rushdie
Novelist and subject of Knife documentary
Independent
Episode: Salman Rushdie on what he's learned about media after a lifetime of being trapped by it
Jessica Tarlov
Co-host of The Five, author of I Disagree
Fox News/The Five
Episode: Jessica Tarlov on being the lone Democrat at Fox, what she knows about Pete Hegseth, and why she defends her conservative colleagues
Taylor Lorenz
Independent journalist covering technology
Independent journalist
Episode: Taylor Lorenz on the moral panic around kids and phones, and how she logs 17 hours of screen time
Rachel Karten
Leading social media consultant; former social media editor
Lincoln Bio, consultant to brands/media companies
Episode: Social media consultant Rachel Karten on the death of the follower, micro-dramas, and being “algorithmically ungovernable”
Robert Kyncl
CEO of Warner Music Group, former Chief Business Officer at YouTube
Warner Music Group
Episode: Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl on AI, streaming power, and why music royalties are the safest asset on Wall Street

Hosts

Max Tani
Co-host and media reporter affiliated with Semafor; known for navigating media shifts, industry trends, and high-signal interviews across the show.
Ben Smith
Editor-in-Chief; veteran media journalist who co-hosts, anchors conversations with industry guests, and provides broader editorial perspective.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 396 ratings
  • Slightly bizarre approach

    Great calibre of guests. But god - Ben thinks we’re all utterly thick. I really dislike the “here’s what you’re going to hear” and “hear’s what you’ve heard” intro/ends. Just let the interview speak for itself!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Miscellany 86
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • 5 Star

    FANTASTIC!!! Content is always great. Max is quick on his feet, articulate, & overall very good host. Ben is Ben: connected AF, the OG young-guy in the newsroom, now Perfect in role as the Wise Owl. He is the Godfather of The New-News. Can we make this a 3 times a week Podcast release? Need more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tommy2Floor
    United States9 months ago
  • Enjoyed the smart discussion, but suffers from NYT syndrome

    I had to take a break for a bit after a host claimed NPR had “down the center” journalism takes. Such a statement requires a certain type of bubble to believe, and frankly you lose people’s respect when you say it. I will try again in the new years. One mishap won’t turn me away, I don’t mind challenging myself, but the hosts shouldn’t either.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Miriad
    United States10 months ago
  • A-List media guests, D-bag media hosts

    The hosts really bring smarmier-than-thou, death-to-traditional media energy. The Google interstitials are 100 percent skippable. I listen to the show in spite of Ben and Max, not because of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BBQ Calendar Guy
    United States10 months ago
  • Always interesting

    I really enjoy the broad scope of your guests. They are always interesting and provocative. I also like that you treat all the guests with respect, yet still ask the tough questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Californiaal
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Cross-promotion with major tech brands is visible and sometimes polarizing.
Some listeners dislike the hosts' tone but still value the depth and guests.
Interviews often feel candid and business-focused, with clear takeaways for marketing and sponsorships.
Guests are consistently high-caliber, with a strong reporting backbone.
The guest diversity and probing questions keep the conversation provocative and insightful.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Pangram CEO Max Spero on why human touch is about to become the scarcest thing on the internet
Q: What are the most obvious hallmarks of AI-generated writing?
Common tells include overuse of certain phrases like load-bearing language, cataphoric teasers, lack of forward-looking structure, and a tendency to make every sentence seem like the most important one; the model looks for a combination of weak signals rather than a single flag.
Pangram CEO Max Spero on why human touch is about to become the scarcest thing on the internet
Q: Can you explain what Pangram is and how it works?
Pangram is technology to detect AI-generated content by training models on large corpora to distinguish AI-written from human-written text using subtle signals in style, word choice, and structure across text, and soon video, not just text.
Jessica Tarlov on being the lone Democrat at Fox, what she knows about Pete Hegseth, and why she defends her conservative colleagues
Q: Why do you agree to go on a show and get yelled at in front of millions of people multiple times a week?
Because the show is a space to discuss difficult issues with a large audience and to present a measured, data-driven perspective, even when it provokes strong reactions; it's about the chance to influence how people think by offering context and a civil counterpoint.
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl on AI, streaming power, and why music royalties are the safest asset on Wall Street
Q: What is a record label in 2026, given the democratization of distribution?
A record label now functions as a facilitator and platform that distributes music globally, uses technology to break artists, manages catalogs, and monetizes through streaming, licensing, and AI-enabled services while providing infrastructure to independent artists.
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is more worried about your phone than your body
Q: What are the problems you're hearing from people regarding AI and isolation?
Many young people use AI companions for emotional support, but there are serious safety concerns when these interactions can encourage harmful paths and replace human relationships. The core issue is balancing the benefits of accessible AI with the need to protect vulnerable users and ensure safe, meaningful human connections.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mixed Signals from Semafor Media

What is Mixed Signals from Semafor Media about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, industry-forward show that dissects the media landscape through interviews with executives, creators, and journalists. Recent episodes center on AI's impact on creativity and monetization, the economics of streaming and catalogs, the indie creator ecosystem, and the evolving dynamics between legacy media and platform power. Notable threads include how royalties, licensing, and AI are reshaping business models, plus real-world case studies from music, advertising, tech, sports media, and public broadcasting. A recurring strength is pairing seasoned newsroom instincts with deep dives into strategy, making it valuable for PR pros, marketers, and sponsorship buyers seeking practical takeaways and high-signal guests. A standout feature ... more

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1. The Grill Room
2. Channels with Peter Kafka
3. The Powers That Be: Daily
4. Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Mixed Signals from Semafor Media are there?

Mixed Signals from Semafor Media launched 2 years ago and published 125 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Mixed Signals from Semafor Media?

Recent guests on Mixed Signals from Semafor Media include:

1. Alex Gibney
2. Kasey Esser
3. Mike Cessario
4. Max Spero
5. Salman Rushdie
6. Jessica Tarlov
7. Taylor Lorenz
8. Rachel Karten

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