
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 560 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TechnologyNewsBusiness News | |||

Craig Finn makes music — as the head of the Hold Steady, and on his solo records — about grown-up lives and bad decisions. Back in 2017, we talked about his life as a working rock musician — and how touring actually works, how the band found a secon... more
PJ Vogt helped invent modern narrative podcasting with “Reply All.” Now he’s running “Search Engine” with a much smaller team and a lot more control. We talk through what he gave up this time around, what he gained, and how he actually makes the show... more
The backstory here is that weeks ago, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw agreed to join me for my 2025/2026 look back/look ahead episode. And then things got way more compelling, because Paramount and Netflix got into a truly unprecedented fight over the future ... more
I chat with lots of media reporters. Lachlan Cartwright is a different beast: An Aussie who started out working for Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids in London and New York, and then on to the National Enquirer — yes, that National Enquirer — back when it wa... more
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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
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
I agree he should let the guests talk more.
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
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #30 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #82 | |
Apple Podcasts | #38 | |
Apple Podcasts | #50 | |
Apple Podcasts | #85 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This podcast frequently tackles the intertwining nature of media and technology by engaging industry professionals and thought leaders in insightful conversations. Topics often include the challenges facing traditional media and how they adapt in the digital age, the impact of AI on journalism, and the evolving role of public media in funding landscapes. Through interviews with executives from major companies and innovative startups, listeners gain an understanding of the dynamics that shape the future of media, such as funding models, audience engagement on social media platforms, and the influence of technology on content creation. The host's approach provides a refreshingly candid perspective on significant issues, making it a compelling... more
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.
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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.
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5. Pivot
Channels launched 10 years ago and published 560 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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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.
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Recent guests on Channels include:
1. PJ Vogt
2. Lachlan Cartwright
3. Paula Kerger
4. Tony Haile
5. Kevin Reilly
6. Charlotte Silver
7. Alex Sherman
8. Sarah Longwell
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.