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Channels with Peter Kafka

Vox Media Podcast Network
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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.

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Latest Episodes

Dhar Mann’s videos look simple, because they are simple: Someone acts badly, someone learns a lesson, everyone gets a moral by the end. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy these, but it helps.

The business behind them is complex. Mann has built a scr... more

I think of Dow Jones as The Wall Street Journal, because that’s the part I know — and the part I used to work near/around/inside. But Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour has built a much bigger business around the Journal: risk and compliance, energy data, Fa... more

Jim Bankoff has spent nearly 20 years building Vox Media. Now he’s selling a big chunk of it to James Murdoch, who is acquiring Vox Media's Podcast Network - the same one that produces this podcast - along with New York Magazine and Vox.com.

We do a... more

Versant is the new company Comcast created when it spun off CNBC, MS NOW, USA and other cable networks it no longer wanted inside the mothership. That makes Mark Lazarus’ job pretty simple to describe and very hard to do: take a business built around... more

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Recent Guests

Jim Bankoff
CEO of Vox Media
Vox Media
Episode: Vox Media's Jim Bankoff Explains Why He's Selling to James Murdoch
Mark Lazarus
CEO of Versant (spun out from NBCUniversal/Comcast)
Versant
Episode: Versant CEO Mark Lazarus is Running a Post-Cable Cable Company
Roger Lynch
CEO of Condé Nast
Condé Nast
Episode: Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch on AI, the Met Gala and His Secret Succession Plan
Charlie Warzel
The Atlantic writer and observer of media/tech culture
The Atlantic
Episode: The Internet’s Let-It-Rip Era, With The Atlantic's Charlie Warzel
Paul Ford
coder and writer who discusses AI in software
Co-founder of Abord, ftrain.com
Episode: AI Can Make Software Now. That Changes Everything, with Paul Ford
Jason Blum
Producer, Blumhouse Productions head
Blumhouse Productions
Episode: Jason Blum Built a Hit-Making Movie Machine. Does It Still Work?
Ronan Farrow
Investigative journalist, New Yorker contributor
The New Yorker
Episode: Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz on Sam Altman’s Trust Problem
Andrew Marantz
Staff writer, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
Episode: Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz on Sam Altman’s Trust Problem
Jonathan Glatzer
Creator and writer of The Audacity, known for Succession connections
The Audacity (AMC)
Episode: What Happens When a “Succession” Writer Takes on Silicon Valley

Host

Peter Kafka
Host of Channels with Peter Kafka

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 949 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 States6 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 States8 months ago
  • He does talk a lot

    I agree he should let the guests talk more.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Journalistikit
    United Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 breadth of topics and depth of industry context.
Overall positive reception for strong guests and industry insight; host style is a frequent point of critique.
Some listeners feel interruptions and host emphasis on politics can detract from guest conversations.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Versant CEO Mark Lazarus is Running a Post-Cable Cable Company
Q: Why spin out the cable networks from Comcast and what's the strategic thesis now?
Spinning allowed two focused businesses to pursue distinct strategies: one cash-generating, legacy cable assets and a second, growth-focused portfolio leveraging brands and new digital ventures to transform into a broader media company.
Vox Media's Jim Bankoff Explains Why He's Selling to James Murdoch
Q: What changes for the folks who work for the properties that aren't getting acquired?
Those brands remain strong with their own strategies and audiences, reporting into a leadership structure that maintains the core values and independence of each brand while benefiting from scale and cross-market opportunities in sales and distribution.
Vox Media's Jim Bankoff Explains Why He's Selling to James Murdoch
Q: You are selling the Vox Media Podcast Network, New York Magazine and vox.com to James Murdoch's holding company, Loopa Systems. Why is this a good deal for Vox and its shareholders?
The deal enables two focused entities: a talent-based, premium media network and a broader consumer media platform, each with its own capital structure and growth trajectory. It preserves editorial independence, leverages patient investors, and aligns with a disciplined operating approach that aims to grow profitability while expanding the creator economy and brand strength.
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch on AI, the Met Gala and His Secret Succession Plan
Q: What is the strategic approach to AI deals with platforms and license content rights?
The goal is licensing agreements that reflect copyright and specify how content can be used, including rights granted and restrictions; negotiations focus on both money and usage terms rather than just payments, ensuring content is not used verbatim without constraints.
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch on AI, the Met Gala and His Secret Succession Plan
Q: Have either Anna Wintour or David Remnick said who could replace them, or how are you approaching succession planning at Condé Nast?
Lynch explains there is a formal, annual process for succession planning with emergency successors and long-range lists, and that Anna Wintour and David Remnick participate in the process; the aim is to have a broad pool of potential successors and to revise the lists every year.

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?

This show centers on the intersection of media, technology, and business, hosting top executives, journalists, and industry observers who dissect strategy, platforms, and industry shifts in candid, no-nonsense conversations. Episodes frequently cover media company pivots, AI's impact on publishing and entertainment, platform dynamics, and the evolving economics of content creation, with occasional forays into politics and culture as they intersect with business. Noteworthy are insightful guests, sharp industry context, and a consistent focus on how leadership decisions reshape the media landscape for creators, publishers, and advertisers. The format often blends strategic storytelling with practical takeaways for those building or promoting... more

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?

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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. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media
4. The Powers That Be: Daily
5. Pivot

How many episodes of Channels are there?

Channels launched 10 years ago and published 585 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?

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What guests have appeared on Channels?

Recent guests on Channels include:

1. Jim Bankoff
2. Mark Lazarus
3. Roger Lynch
4. Charlie Warzel
5. Paul Ford
6. Jason Blum
7. Ronan Farrow
8. Andrew Marantz

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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