Podcast · 71 episodes
Mixed Signals from Semafor Media, page 3
by Semafor Podcasts · English
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.
All episodes, page 3
David Remnick on 100 years of the New Yorker, Netflix stardom, and why Trump was late to meet himEditor-in-Chief of The New Yorker5 Dec 2025 · 44 min
Trump’s war on public media, with PBS CEO Paula KergerMax Tani (Media Editor) and Ben Smith (Editor-in-Chief)28 Nov 2025 · 36 min
Can the Supreme Court keep its secrets? With Jodi Kantor of the New York TimesInvestigative reporter for The New York Times, known for breaking the Harvey Weinstein story, currently investigating the U.S. Supreme Court.21 Nov 2025 · 40 min
Derek Thompson on why everything is becoming television, and whether democracy can survive itDerek Thompson, Co-author of "Abundance," Podcaster, and Writer at The Atlantic14 Nov 2025 · 51 min
GQ Editor Will Welch on masculinity, celebrities, and staying cool as he agesIn this episode, Will Welch, the Global Editorial Director of GQ and former Editor-in-Chief of its US operation since 2019, discusses the evolving landscape of men's media, GQ's approach to…7 Nov 2025 · 44 min
Ken Burns on the future of PBS, the new age of media, and why documentaries will outlast TikTokRenowned American filmmaker and documentarian known for his historical documentaries.31 Oct 2025 · 44 min
The inside story of Sydney Sweeney's 'Great Jeans' — and why American Eagle ignored crisis commsIn this episode, co-hosts Max Tani and Ben Smith discuss American Eagle's summer campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney, which sparked unexpected controversy.24 Oct 2025 · 42 min
Governor JB Pritzker on Chicago, ICE, and the information war with Trump’s White HouseMixed Signals from Semafor Media17 Oct 2025 · 49 min
Alison Roman on cookbooks, food influencers, and the surprising way AI is changing her recipesIn this episode, host Max Tani and Semafor Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith discuss food media with Alison Roman, a renowned chef and author known for her viral recipes and her latest cookbook, "Something…10 Oct 2025 · 49 min
Blackbird Spyplane’s Jonah Weiner on Substack, resisting selling out, and Obama’s pants legacyBlackbird Spyplane’s Jonah Weiner on Substack, resisting selling out, and Obama’s pants legacy3 Oct 2025 · 49 min
Can MS survive without NBC? Inside CEO Mark Lazarus’ efforts to save cable’s great brandsMark Lazarus, CEO of Versant (the NBCUniversal cable spinout), explains how 11 former NBCU cable brands—MSNBC, CNBC, The Golf Channel, USA, and others—will be run as “vertical” businesses to survive…26 Sep 2025 · 55 min · 19 chapters
Malcolm Gladwell’s theories on podcasting, America, and Joe RoganMalcolm Gladwell discusses why narrative podcasting still matters, how audio journalism can extend a creator’s career, his optimistic-but-cautious view of American politics, and his “melancholy…19 Sep 2025 · 54 min · 22 chapters
How AI is reshaping media, with Google’s VP of marketing, Josh SpanierHow AI is reshaping media and advertising, with Josh Spanier (Google VP of Marketing) discussing what’s changing in marketing practice, measurement, and creative work.12 Sep 2025 · 38 min · 17 chapters
How to be elite in the age of populism, with the FT’s Roula KhalafHow the Financial Times maintains “elite” credibility during global populism, while tackling the economics of expensive journalism, adapting to TikTok/Instagram, and covering Trump and Gaza without…5 Sep 2025 · 44 min · 12 chapters
How media drove America crazy, with Thomas Chatterton WilliamsThomas Chatterton Williams discusses his book The Summer of Our Discontent, revisiting summer 2020 to argue that media-driven “crazy making” helped fuel left illiberalism, which then set the stage…29 Aug 2025 · 46 min · 18 chapters
Don Lemon on Elon Musk, Chris Cuomo, and why YouTube is better than CNNDon Lemon discusses leaving CNN for independent creator media, why he thinks YouTube is better than CNN, his views on CNN’s audience decline and editorial compromises, his legal dispute with Elon…22 Aug 2025 · 40 min · 17 chapters
Mark Cuban on AI in politics, running for president (or not), and why he hates the media businessMark Cuban discusses AI’s impact on politics and media, why he dislikes the media industry, how “living in public” and visibility work for investors, advertising risks in AI assistants, and who he…15 Aug 2025 · 47 min · 17 chapters
Pablo Torre on ESPN, investigating LeBron, and becoming the New York Times' first 'creator'Pablo Torre discusses how his sports investigative podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” blends entertainment with reporting, his move from DraftKings to a New York Times/The Athletic licensing deal, and…8 Aug 2025 · 1 h 4 min · 26 chapters
Emily Maitlis on Epstein, Prince Andrew, and why American journalists can’t do interviewsEmily Maitlis discusses her move from BBC television to her podcast News Agents, how podcast interviewing changes tone and rigor, and why American TV interviewers ask weaker follow-ups.1 Aug 2025 · 52 min · 18 chapters
Scott Galloway on money, marketing, and masculinityScott Galloway discusses building a podcast/media empire, why podcasting is a winner-take-all ad medium, and his “masculinity” project aimed at politically homeless young men.25 Jul 2025 · 44 min · 12 chapters
Director Ari Aster on ‘the movie that Twitter wrote’Ari Aster discusses Eddington, a surreal thriller horror set in a small New Mexico town during COVID, using the pandemic as backdrop to critique “the movie that Twitter wrote”: algorithm-driven media…18 Jul 2025 · 46 min · 12 chapters
Why YouTube’s favorite doctor won’t stop talking about politicsDr. Mike (Mikhail Varshavsky) explains how he built a YouTube medical brand, why he thinks pandemic-era health communication damaged trust, how to debate vaccine skeptics respectfully, and why legacy…11 Jul 2025 · 45 min · 12 chapters
The secret to Zohran Mamdani’s winning media strategy is simpler than you thinkHow Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral campaign won by using internet-native media—especially vertical short video, podcasts, and rapid online posting—to shift the conversation around affordability and…3 Jul 2025 · 47 min · 17 chapters