Rephonic
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Channels with Peter Kafka

Vox Media Podcast Network
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Sam Altman
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Donald Trump
Israel-Hamas War
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Media and tech aren’t just intersecting — they’re fully intertwined. And to understand how those worlds work, and what they mean for you, veteran journalist Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers - and gets them to spell it out in plain, BS-free English. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes575Founded10 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Elon Musk has spent the last year being quieter than usual — by Elon Musk standards.

That may be about to change in a very big way, as his SpaceX moves toward what could be one of the biggest IPOs in history. So what, exactly, is Musk selling? A rock... more

Prediction markets are suddenly everywhere: in sports, in politics, in the media business — and, depending on who you ask, they’re either a useful forecasting tool or just gambling with better branding. So what changed? And why is the federal governm... more

Lots of publishers are freaked out about “Google Zero” — the notion that one day, Google will stop sending them any traffic at all.

That’s more or less already happened at People Inc., says CEO Neil Vogel. Vogel says Google used to account for 70% o... more

Oscar season is supposed to be Hollywood’s lap. It is also, increasingly, a reminder of how shaky things are in Hollywood right now. And this one comes as one of the town’s most prominent players is about to be swallowed by a new mogul, backed by tec... more

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Recent Guests

Neil Vogel
CEO of People Inc.
People Inc.
Episode: How to Survive without Google: People Inc's Playbook
Matt Belloni
Chronicler of Hollywood business, Puck
Puck
Episode: Matt Belloni on the Oscars, the Ellisons, and Hollywood’s Next Chapter
Roger Bennett
Co-founder and host of Men in Blazers Podcast Network
Men in Blazers Media Network
Episode: The World’s Cup Is Coming to Trump’s America, with Roger Bennett
Adam Bhala Lough
Director of Deepfaking Sam Altman
Episode: How Odd Lots' Joe Weisenthal Turned Curiosity Into a Career, and a Hit Podcast
Erik Wemple
Media reporter at The New York Times and former Washington Post staffer.
The New York Times
Episode: Jeff Bezos Used To Be In Love with The Washington Post. What Happened?
Julia Alexander
Media analyst and reporter with expertise in Disney's operations and strategy.
Puck
Episode: Who is Josh D'Amaro and Why is He Disney's New CEO?
Kathleen Hennessey
Editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Running a Newsroom in Minneapolis + How to Make a Game of Thrones For Less
Ira Parker
Co-creator and showrunner of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO
Episode: Running a Newsroom in Minneapolis + How to Make a Game of Thrones For Less
Chuck Klosterman
Author and cultural commentator
Episode: Chuck Klosterman on Why Football Owns TV (and Why It Won’t Forever)

Host

Peter Kafka
Host of Channels, known for interviewing industry leaders and providing accessible analysis of media and tech. He brings journalistic expertise to discussions, ensuring a thoughtful exploration of complex subjects without jargon.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 947 ratings
  • 2 - down from 4-5

    Peter is going into becoming Tucker Carlson of media business

    Annoyingly long monologues and unproductive interruptions of guests are turnoffs for me.

    It used to be much better - podcasters tend to turn into TV talking heads , talking about themselves - little less me me me blabber, and a little more information is needed

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    igormax
    United States4 months ago
  • Don't talk over the guests!!

    Kafka's podcasts are always hit or miss for me but Channels has gone down to 20% hit 80% miss

    A recent example of why it's mostly miss is the October interview with the Guardian

    The difference between their model and typical US news models is intrinsically interesting, but Kafka just can't exercise enough discipline to shut up and let the guest talk without constant interruptions

    I can listen to aggressive mansplaining anytime, anywhere

    I don't want to hear it from a professional podcast... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Qwertiop8
    United States6 months ago
  • He does talk a lot

    I agree he should let the guests talk more.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Journalistikit
    United States9 months ago
  • 3 down from 4-5

    It used to be better - podcasters tend to turn into TV talking heads mostly talking about themselves - little less me me me blabber, a little more information is needed

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    igormax
    United States9 months ago
  • Quit interrupting

    Very interesting subjects and guests, but please let them finished their thoughts instead of continually interrupting with yours. Very frustrating to listen to. Also, Peter tends to trail off in volume at the end of his sentences which is annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Josh99876
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the variety of guests, which prevents the podcast from feeling repetitive.
High-quality discussions with insightful guests on media and technology.
Some find the host's interruptions frustrating and feel more focus on guests would be beneficial.
The host's engaging style makes complex topics accessible.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Survive without Google: People Inc's Playbook
Q: How do you manage a portfolio of many brands without a single clear winner?
We accept that not all content will perform, so we create across many formats and brands, but concentrate effort on seven to eight core brands that have proven resonance, while allowing teams to operate semi-independently to tailor to each audience.
How to Survive without Google: People Inc's Playbook
Q: Why did you move away from a Google-centric model?
We recognized early that the open web and search traffic could not be our sole source of growth; we built direct channels—email, social, apps, and events—and focused on brands that people care about, which let us weather Google's shifts and still grow.
Netflix Walks, Paramount Wins, and the Ellisons Take Hollywood
Q: Why didn't Netflix raise the bid further given Paramount's small premium?
Because the revised offer was only a dollar higher and there was concern about triggering a drawn-out bidding war, along with regulatory and political uncertainties that could complicate further moves.
Netflix Walks, Paramount Wins, and the Ellisons Take Hollywood
Q: Did you expect this?
Yes, there were expectations around a competitive bid, but the news ultimately showed Netflix walking away and Paramount stepping in as the likely buyer, with leadership weighing regulatory and strategic risks.
Janice Min on Hollywood’s Crisis; Reed Duchscher on the Creator Boom
Q: What challenges do creators face as they age?
Reed Duchscher explains that creators must decide whether to age up with their audience or continue targeting younger viewers, highlighting the difficulties some face in transitioning.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Channels

What is Channels about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations with experienced journalists, media executives, and creators drive discussions about the evolving landscape of media and technology, emphasizing how intertwined these sectors have become. The content spans topics like the influence of major personalities on media, the dynamics of traditional versus digital storytelling, and the challenges facing industry leaders amidst economic shifts. What sets this podcast apart is its commitment to straightforward dialogue, tackling complex issues in a way that is accessible for a wide audience. Episodes frequently highlight the nuances of leadership decisions within prominent companies, offering a unique vantage point on the interplay between media economics, technology, and culture.

Where can I find podcast stats for Channels?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Channels. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Channels and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Channels get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Channels, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Channels?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Channels, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Channels have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Channels has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Channels?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Channels:

1. Decoder with Nilay Patel
2. The Grill Room
3. The Powers That Be: Daily
4. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media
5. Pivot

How many episodes of Channels are there?

Channels launched 10 years ago and published 575 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Channels?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Channels?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Channels from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Channels?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Channels. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Channels?

Recent guests on Channels include:

1. Neil Vogel
2. Matt Belloni
3. Roger Bennett
4. Adam Bhala Lough
5. Erik Wemple
6. Julia Alexander
7. Kathleen Hennessey
8. Ira Parker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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