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Channels with Peter Kafka

Vox Media Podcast Network
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AI In Media

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

Nicholas Thompson runs one of the few media companies that can say things are going pretty well: The Atlantic is profitable, growing, and boasts 1.6 million subscribers.

But that's today. What comes next is the bulk of our conversation: Thompson — a ... more

Not long ago, most Americans had never heard of data centers. Now most Americans are actively opposed to them.

It’s a head-snapping change — one that is befuddling tech bosses, and forcing some politicians to quickly change their tune.

It’s the secon... more

Microdramas are the new phone-first soap operas: stories chopped into dozens of one-minute episodes: Low-budget productions filled with romance, werewolves, secret babies, and cliffhangers—and, eventually, a request that you pay to keep watching. Sur... more

Sports teams keep selling for more money because, in theory, their media rights keep becoming more valuable. But the companies that actually pay for sports TV are starting to push back.

John Ourand of Puck joins me to break down Bob Iger and Josh Ku... more

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Recent Guests

David Weigel
Semafor political reporter
Semafor
Episode: Data Centers, Elon Musk, and the New Politics of Tech, with David Weigel
Ali Albazaz
CEO of Inkitt, CandyJar, Iron Blood
Inkitt
Episode: The Weird, Big Business of Microdramas
Hernan Lopez
Founder of Owl & Co., former Wondery executive
Owl & Co.
Episode: The Weird, Big Business of Microdramas
John Ourand
Sports media maven, formerly at Sports Business Journal, now at Puck
Puck
Episode: The $12.5 Billion Lakers, the NFL’s TV Fight, and Sports Media’s Big Split
Joanna Stern
Former Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist, now creator of New Things
New Things / NBC News collaboration
Episode: Joanna Stern on the New Siri, OpenAI’s Weird Gadget, and Life After the Wall Street Journal
Oliver Darcy
Founder of Status, media reporter, entrepreneur
Status
Episode: Oliver Darcy on Status, Bari Weiss, and Why Media Reporters Are Too Soft
Tyler Denk
CEO and co-founder of BeeHiiv
BeeHiiv
Episode: Substack Wants To Become A Social Network; Beehiiv Wants To Stay Invisible
Chris Balfe
CEO of Red Seat Ventures, creator services firm
Red Seat Ventures
Episode: Inside Podcasting’s Fight Over Netflix, YouTube, and Creator Control
Joe Kahn
Executive Editor, New York Times
New York Times
Episode: "We’re in a Race Against Time," Joe Kahn on Running the New York Times in the Age of AI Slop

Host

Peter Kafka
Host of Channels with Peter Kafka; guides conversations with industry leaders in media and tech.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 955 ratings
  • Still enjoying

    Highly enjoy! Keeps me informed and think abt different angles

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LibbyAPierson
    United States3 months ago
  • shillout

    why did bankoff sell to murdoch? money. everything else is just corporate shilling at its worst. vox has an penchant for platforming that. … maybe ad kickbacks who knows.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    familieheinzbecker
    Germany4 months ago
  • 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 States9 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 Statesa year ago
  • He does talk a lot

    I agree he should let the guests talk more.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Journalistikit
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Critiques frequently target pacing and host balance but recognize quality guests.
Many praise breadth of topics spanning media, AI, and creator economy.
Some listeners note the host's interruptions can detract from guest conversation.
Listeners praise deep industry knowledge and high-profile guests.
Overall sentiment highlights valuable insights and strong interviewing when guests are allowed to finish thoughts.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Data Centers, Elon Musk, and the New Politics of Tech, with David Weigel
Q: What role does on-the-ground reporting play versus online discourse in shaping opinions?
firsthand conversations and local observations often reveal mood and attitudes that polls miss, showing how voters react to real-world conditions beyond what appears online.
Data Centers, Elon Musk, and the New Politics of Tech, with David Weigel
Q: Do you think the data-center stance will decide elections this fall?
It could sway certain races where data center policy is a salient local issue, especially in competitive districts, but it will be just one of multiple factors in voter decision-making.
The $12.5 Billion Lakers, the NFL’s TV Fight, and Sports Media’s Big Split
Q: Is the NFL still the dominant driver of TV deals, or is its power waning?
The NFL remains central, but the dynamics are shifting as networks resist pre-committing large sums in a rapidly changing distribution landscape, potentially reducing the upside of future rights while maintaining demand for live sports.
The $12.5 Billion Lakers, the NFL’s TV Fight, and Sports Media’s Big Split
Q: What does the Lakers deal mean for the future of sports ownership and media rights?
It underscores how ownership groups with tech and media ambitions are using marquee assets to influence media rights value, while also illustrating the fragility and complexity of valuations that hinge on future rights deals rather than current cashflows.
Oliver Darcy on Status, Bari Weiss, and Why Media Reporters Are Too Soft
Q: Why hire more people if you can do it solo, and what does expansion get you?
The guest argues that building a small, scalable team reduces key-man risk, enables broader coverage, and supports multipronged content (newsletter, podcast, YouTube, events) that deepens audience reach and revenue diversity beyond a single person.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Channels

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

This show centers on media, technology, and business strategy, featuring conversations with editors, founders, and executives shaping how content is produced and distributed in a digital-first era. Episodes frequently examine media consolidation, platform dynamics, AI implications, creator economies, and the evolving role of traditional brands in a fragmented landscape. Notable strengths include access to high-profile guests across journalism, tech, and entertainment, plus a clear focus on practical implications for publishers, advertisers, and creators seeking to navigate disruption. The format tends to balance big-picture industry shifts with concrete examples and strategic takeaways, making it useful for listeners who want actionable ins... 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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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. The Grill Room
2. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media
3. Decoder with Nilay Patel
4. The Powers That Be: Daily
5. Ankler Agenda

How many episodes of Channels are there?

Channels launched 11 years ago and published 599 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.

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What guests have appeared on Channels?

Recent guests on Channels include:

1. David Weigel
2. Ali Albazaz
3. Hernan Lopez
4. John Ourand
5. Joanna Stern
6. Oliver Darcy
7. Tyler Denk
8. Chris Balfe

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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