Media Roundtable

If you want to understand the future of podcast advertising, spend 5 minutes with Bryan Barletta. This week, The Media Roundtable gives you almost an hour with the self-described “Podcast ad-tech by day, dungeon master by night.” Barletta is a towering authority when it comes to podcast ads. With an ad-tech background from Claritas and Megaphone, he founded Sounds Profitable, a weekly podcast ad-tech newsletter and podcast jam-packed with industry insights that are actually enjoyable to listen to. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Black History Month and if you want to learn from someone who has been on the front lines of advancing underrepresented Black voices over the past 3+ decades, you may want to tune into this week’s episode. This week’s guest, Kierna Mayo has played Queen and Kingmaker since the ’80s, in equal parts as a cultural critic, curator, and contributor. This conversation goes deep and offers levity at times, but is challenging to anyone who concerns themselves with living anti-racist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Serial entrepreneur Michael Bosstick has done it all. He’s sold beds for private jets and overcame his fear of public speaking to launch a hit podcast with his superstar wife, Lauryn Evarts Bosstick. But the reason we asked him to join us on the Media Roundtable is because of his tireless work as CEO of the podcast network, Dear Media, where he has created a platform for female podcasters to dominate the landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Media Roundtable returns with our 2022 season debut featuring an interview with a podcast host who is the walking embodiment of our values. Bari Weiss is an award-winning journalist and the author of How to Fight Anti-Semitism. Weiss worked as a staff writer and opinion editor for The New York Times until her 2020 principle-driven resignation letter (a must-read) sent her on a path toward independent journalism driving her to create the hit podcast Honestly, and her Substack newsletter, Common Sense. After more than a year of invitations, this week, Bari Weiss joins Media Roundtable to talk about her journey to save journalism and the free exchange of ideas in our democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this season of gratitude, Jennifer Laine, Head of Marketing at Oxford Road and Executive Director for Media Roundtable, joins Dan for this single episode recap of our Fall Season of Media Roundtable. Together, they look back at the changes we've made to the series, how we're living out the Media Roundtable Values within the Ad Industry, and debate/recap/highlight all ten guests from the last season. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Life is not about paper.” - Metta Sandiford-Artest Metta Sandiford-Artest, aka Metta World Peace, aka Ron Artest, is ahead of every curve. He was canceled before you could get canceled. He’s been a passionate advocate for mental health for over a decade. And it sure seems like Facebook’s rebrand is following in his footsteps. How did he do it? Maybe it’s because Metta embraces transformation. He’s a podcaster with a new show Mettaphorically Speaking, has multiple business ventures including Artest Management Group, he’s an author, and a grandfather. In other words, he’s come a long way since being at the center of the infamous Malice at the Palace brawl that he estimates cost him $50-100 Million in his career. For marketers shepherding their brands, or recovering from controversy, Metta is living proof that you can change the way people see you., But, it won’t just come throughbut it’s not through a quick rebrand. It’s through the kind of passionate, time-intensive focus, ownership of mistakes, and years of impactful actions that are impossible to fake. All of which makes his new podcast worth consideration for almost any advertiser, but especially those looking to connect with authentic influencers like Metta. Click below to learn why Metta had no problem auctioning off his champion ring for charity, how he used his math major for basketball, and the power of forgiveness in this positive, wide-ranging conversation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“If you’re not advertising in the Latino space now... in twenty years you’re just not going to be relevant.” - Julio Ricardo Valera Growing up bilingual and bicultural in Puerto Rico and the Bronx, Julio Ricardo Valera didn’t see media that was made for him by people who looked like him. Establishment media (and big advertisers) have long misunderstood that the Latino community is far from a monolith, and younger Latinos like Valera simply aren’t served by Univision alone. A Gen-X Harvard graduate, Valera’s desire for English-language Latino-focused media that catered to the younger generation of Latinos led him to create Latino Rebels in 2011. Because Valera has been able to build a loyal, underserved audience, that he can speak directly to through the audio medium he can now definitively state “our demographic is exactly the kind of Latino demographic that you want to be looking for.” And it’s paying off. His shows have attracted such big brands as Progressive, Miller Light, Don Julio, and Oxford Road’s own Indeed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If Media were Politics, Walk-Ins Welcome would be a viable third-party option for Brands. Host, Bridget Phetasy is a walking masterclass in branding, who has pioneered a new, balanced approach to politics and culture. Comedian, writer (Playboy, The Atlantic, Newsweek), podcaster (Walk-ins Welcome), and YouTube star (Dumpster Fire), Phetasy invented the word phetasy to mean “when reality becomes parody” and vice versa back in 2006 for her disruptive greeting card company. Authenticity like Phetasy’s doesn’t demand perfection, it just asks that you seek to act in a manner becoming of what’s truly important to you. Her intellectual curiosity allows for opinions to change, and that flexibility (even when unpopular) is one of the promises her brand makes to her audience, and one of her strongest assets. With so much content trapping brands into a forced alignment with extremes, Phetasy offers listeners and sponsors a third option, bringing wit, humor, and a non-judgemental approach to a world that so badly needs it. This is why the show appeals to so many performance marketers like Netsuite, Quip, Helix Sleep, and many more. Meet Bridget Phetasy and see if her content is right for your brand in this week’s edition of The Media Roundtable. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Dave Mays was a sophomore at Harvard, he started a single-page newsletter to serve the hip-hop community he loved with a pipe dream of becoming hip-hop’s answer to Rolling Stone. With millions of readers, a notorious annual awards ceremony, a nationally syndicated radio show, a clothing line, as well as being the first entrepreneur to introduce hip-hop to Madison Avenue, Mays’ fanzine The Source became an institution. Now, Mays turns his gaze to the world of Podcast with the new multi-media network, Breakbeat Media, built to serve the interests and perspectives of the hip-hop audience. For anyone who’s interested in authentically marketing in a way that will be embraced by a community, Breakbeat Media offers a point of entry to reach the hip-hop community and this episode is a great first step to find your way in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are plenty of talking heads in the media. But how many became part of the news cycle themselves, over and over again, on the largest stories of the last century? Enter former corporate-attorney-turned-journalist, Megyn Kelly. In this week’s episode, we’ll cover the good, bad, and ugly of Kelly’s career while she shares her perspective on which advertisers are and are not a good fit to sponsor her content, and how she goes the extra mile to make live reads her own… music to the ears of any advertiser. Whatever you think you know about Megyn Kelly, please set it aside and listen without prejudice. You will hear from someone who truly embodies the values of the Media Roundtable, and who just might be your next top spokesperson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can manners teach you about marketing? Based on this week’s episode, quite a lot. Emmy Award-winning journalist Nick Leighton and stand-up comic Leah Bonnema are the creators of the hit podcast Were You Raised By Wolves? a show about etiquette and manners in everyday life, and they join The Media Roundtable to connect what mamma taught you to a sound business strategy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Success has many fathers, but FOMO only has one. His name is Patrick McGinnis. Yes, he’s a venture capitalist, writer, speaker, and creator/host of the hit podcast FOMO Sapiens, boasting over 2 million downloads, but his true place in history has been secured as the literal inventor of the Oxford Dictionary-recognized word “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out), naming the psychological force that has shaped our feelings (and marketing strategies) for years whether we knew what to call it or not. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Years ago, advertisers could essentially run their commercials anywhere, as long as they hit their marketing objectives. But today, more and more advertisers demand far deeper insights than just what their ads mean to their bottom line. Marketing in today’s climate is about not only knowing if something “works” or not but, you want to feel good about the media you support. To that end, we’re excited about this week’s guest whose work through the podcast network she’s created and the shows she hosts is extremely purpose-oriented. Our guest this week is Amy Westervelt, an award-winning climate print and audio journalist. Westervelt is the founder and executive producer of the Critical Frequency Podcast Network, and also the host of the hit true-crime climate podcast Drilled, along with the upcoming podcasts Rigged and Damages. Westervelt is a podcast giant not only for the massive amount of thoroughly researched journalism she’s produced but for the sharp insight she has into her audience that makes her a case study for successful podcast marketing. Tune in to learn why lawsuits are the sign of a great story, why fact-checking on podcasts is so much less common than on radio, what it looks like when climate change deniers go after Big Oil, and why all the moderate climate solutions are no longer an option. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They say history repeats itself, so there may be no better person than American history aficionado and podcast mastermind, Lindsay Graham to show us what we have in store for the future of the medium. Lindsay’s podcast pedigree is unmatched, with nearly everything he touches worthy of sponsorship consideration for most advertisers. This week, he gives an insider’s look at the myriad of things it takes to make a great podcast, and what he desperately needs from the brands he endorses. Lindsay Graham (the podcaster, not the other one) has had a chart-topping rise to podcast prominence at the same time as the podcast industry itself broke into the mainstream. Over the last past few years, Graham has evolved into a podcasting titan. He’s the Webby Award-winning host of American History Tellers, American Scandal, and American Elections: Wicked Game. He’s also the executive producer of scripted podcasts 1865 and Terms and has worked on Dirty John and Dr. Death, among many others. Needless to say, Lindsay Graham has impacted tens of millions of listeners through his work. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our conversation begins in the 1960s, when Guiliani, then a promising young Democrat, meets two men he admires: John and Bobby Kennedy. Two decades later, Guiliani is U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York prosecuting the heads of the five families, when John Gotti motions to order his assassination. Fast forward to 2001, we all know Giuliani’s role on 9/11 as the picture of leadership during a crisis, earning him recognition as Time Magazine's Person of the Year, being Knighted by the Queen, and dubbed, "America's Mayor" by Oprah. The morning of our interview, he retraces his steps in Lower Manhattan, reliving his experience of that fateful day. Nowadays, Rudy describes how some people run up to hug and thank him for his leadership, while at the same time, others yell expletives that he is unwilling to repeat. For those of us who long to recreate an age where our leaders set aside personal differences to stand united in the face of an existential threat, Rudy Giuliani will not be of service. His podcast, Common Sense, features a steady stream of unfiltered claims against leading Democratic figures. Spoiler Alert: Rudy does not like the Bidens. As a podcaster, his goal is to provide information that The New York Times will not. While Giuliani’s placement on the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart ranks the show on par with Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper, advertisers who might consider alignment with his program must count the risks of his position on the right as commentator and participant. The search for a modern unifying figure in America feels like an acid trip through a house of mirrors. The Rudy Giuliani we see today is beleaguered, but defiant, resembling more of the New York Prosecutor of the 80's than the unifying figure we met on September 11th, 2001, but this time, without backing from the halls of power. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new season of The Media Roundtable will launch as our (dare we say) final iteration of the program, which will serve as a sort of “Unboxing” or “Buyer’s Guide” to personality-driven shows for brands and consumers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do T-Pain, Bill O’Reilly, NYT’s Ben Smith, and leaders from GARM, IAB, and 4As all have in common? They are all featured in our season finale of The Media Roundtable Podcast. We know you’ve been busy, so this should be a fun way to catch up as Dan guides you through curated clips. With American’s trust in media eroding and news consumption becoming more partisan by the minute, this podcast is a must-listen for media and marketers looking to balance brand values with business objectives. Please don’t just listen... GET INVOLVED with The Media Roundtable and help us mobiliz e marketers to advance truth and civility in media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Media Roundtable Podcast has been hard at work dismantling the Outrage Industrial Complex since early February. But the sun is shining, the vax is overtaking the mask, and while the work is far from done, it’s time for a break. For those of you who have been interested but haven’t gotten around to keeping up each week, we present to you our Cliff’s Notes guide to the first half of this season, featuring highlights from provocative interviews with industry leaders. You’ll hear premium samples from some of our top guests including David French, Carl Cameron, Eric Deggans, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Top-rated Cable News host for 16 years. Author of best-selling non-fiction series of all time. Love him or hate him, you can’t talk about the state of modern media without acknowledging Bill O’Reilly’s influence. As our guest on this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable, Bill O’Reilly provides a path to understanding how we got here, through the lens of his own career, and the strategies he employed to reach the top of his field, blending news and opinion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? Translation: “Who Watches the Watchmen?” This is the question posed in this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable by our guest, Will Phipps. Phipps is dedicated to charging Brands and Marketers with saving local journalism through his organization, Protect Our Press . We discuss the importance of local and reasons why we must unite to support this critical part of the news media ecosystem as it struggles for survival. While journalists, aka “The Fourth Estate,” are needed to hold the powerful to account, it now falls to Corporations to support and hold this critical institution to account.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here’s what happens when you interview a once-in-a-generation journalist to discuss the wildly divisive industry he helped to create. Ben Smith is the journalist’s journalist and has been described as one of the most powerful men in media. He was on the front lines as Politico turned political journalism upside down, eating The Washington Post’s lunch until Jeff Bezos rescued them. Then as Editor-in-Chief of Buzzfeed News, he converted the Startupy brand from a receptacle for listicles into a legitimate journalistic institution. Today, Smith is the Media Editor for The New York Times and this week’s guest on The Media Roundtable. The scope of this episode is wide and consequential. As a changemaker and working reporter, Ben holds court on a number of topics including cancel culture (or “bad faith” when spoken by liberals), holding brands accountable for living their values, the future of content moderation, including Zuckerberg’s “Star Trek global court...sitting around a glowing table in robes”, how corporations are “constantly getting baited” by social media to have an immediate response to cultural issues rather than a more methodical process for addressing concerns, adding that this is not just from customers but also feeling rising pressure from their own employees. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Entrepreneur, disrupter, and recent author, Kara Goldin is Founder & CEO of the fabulously successful Hint Inc., where she successfully created a category for unsweetened flavored water, transitioned from reliance on retail to opening D2C, and proved naysayers wrong at every turn. Everything about Kara and the company she founded shows that doing well by doing good can be wildly successful. As our guest on this episode of The Media Roundtable, she shares lessons from her journey that led to her publishing best-selling book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters. In this episode, she shares how the genesis of her company and the successes along the way generally came from organic experiences that led to organic products and later profit. One of the key takeaways is that to truly make an impact, you’ve got to pick your shots, instead of being all things to all people. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week’s guest, Steve Deace, is not exactly the poster boy for the Media Roundtable values. Particularly our values of Tolerance, Respect, and De-escalation. As Host of the Steve Deace Show through Blaze Media, he is an energetic, committed conservative that knows what he believes, why he believes it, and seeks to serve his audience with both entertainment and truth to the best of his understanding. His ideology that supersedes party affiliation and whereas recent guest, Hugh Hewitt openly shared praise and admiration for both Anthony Fauci and Mitch McConnell, Deace represents a different branch of conservatism. He aligns with what he sees as the future of the Republican Party, which is much more Josh Hawley than Mitch McConnell. Deace sees himself as a reluctant combatant in our modern culture war, which he believes he only joined as a last resort. “Do I defend my way of life or not? You are leaving us no choice but to fight back.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Media Roundtable, we are joined by Ciaran O’Connor, Chief Marketing Officer at Braver Angels, an organization founded after the 2016 election in order to bridge our divided country by engaging with communities directly. O’Connor knows we have deep disagreements in this country, but believes that's the way it's supposed to be; it’s how we interact with whom we disagree that needs to change. His organization aims to bring both sides together through media content, workshops, skills training, weekly civil debates, and local community alliances. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Media Roundtable has played host to multiple Emmy Award-Winning Journalists, Media Titans, Podcast Personalities, and a former Speaker of the House. Still, we’ve never had a guest like T-Pain. This Rapper turned Singer turned Entrepreneur has won two Grammys, has collaborated with everyone from Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift, and disrupted the music industry with his innovative use of Autotune. Then he lost everything. Years later, T-Pain has reinvented himself by expanding his record label Nappy Boy Entertainment into a multifaceted me dia company with revenue streams including a Record Label, Gaming, Drifting, and his newest venture, Nappy Boy Radio. On this NSFW episode, T-Pain describes his journey and POV on the media landscape today as it impacts culture. We cover the usual topics like the Attention Economy, Cancel Culture, and Social Media, and expand into how he approaches marketing, his own brand, and the lessons he’s learned going up the ladder of success, falling down, and going back up again. This is easily the most fun we’ve had on the show, but you will be even more impressed by his vulnerability, insights, and inspiration. T-Pain lives the Media Roundtable values, and based on how persuasive his lyrics are (you’ll have to listen to get this one), we may have to ask him to rewrite it in his own persuasive style. T-Pain is on the cusp of launching his own show, the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast, with our friends at PodcastOne. Once you listen to this episode, you’ll know why. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Media Roundtable, we are joined by Brad Berens, Editor in Chief at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), who’s membership accounts for 86% of online advertising in the US, including podcasts. Brad is not only one of the best informed minds in our industry, he also brings keen insights to bear. Among them, he describes a future where many corporations do not survive. This and many more insights are now available for free, in this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, on The Media Roundtable, we are joined by Emmy award-winning journalists Jill Wagner and Carlo Versano. Jill is an anchor for Financial News Network, at Cheddar, where Carlo is a Senior Producer. Together they Co-host Need2Know, a daily consumer-focused newsletter, and podcast. Jill and Carlo seem to have found a formula for reporting the news, sharing perspectives, but removing the vitriol that can so easily descend into division, and they do this every day on the Need2Know podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Dan sits down with; Marla Kaplowitz (4A’s ) and Rob Rakowitz (GARM ). Between these two masters of media, they support over 90% of global marketing spend including every brand you can think of. Tasked with addressing the largest problems facing marketers, brand safety is a primary focus. If you want a view from the top, this episode provides specific advice for brands and agencies and outlines the tools and resources to help companies live their values while protecting their brands.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt. In the world of political talk, Hugh is an enigma. On one hand Hugh is a Pro-Trumper, President of the Richard Nixon Foundation, and unabashed conservative. Yet he’s applauded by leaders on the “other side” like Al Sharpton, Joy Reid, and Dr. Fauci. How does it all work? Whether it’s behind the mic or in person, Hugh treats everyone with dignity and he makes a call for all of us to do the same. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two weeks ago, we announced the launch of the first ever Media Bias Chart for Podcasts. This week, we demonstrate what a 100% brand safe podcast sounds like. That’s right, a real content example that any creator can follow to unite our polarized nation while allowing zero chance of giving offense. We’re calling it, The Sound of Safety and we think you’ll be quite entertained. So sit back, and enjoy as we pave the way for both advertisers and content creators as we set another industry precedent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Media Roundtable, Dan interviews former NASA space engineer, youngest and first female Vice President for Rolls Royce, and current CEO and co-founder of the news comparison website Ground News, Harleen Kaur to discuss her solution to bias in the media. Kaur shares how she used her engineering mind to solve the problem of identifying media bias and evaluating news stories from a more diverse, global perspective. Between sending rockets to space and fighting media bias, she finds the latter to be much, much harder. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with NPR’s media critic, Eric Deggans. Much more than an “idiot box,” Deggans argues that TV is not just important, it is the “heartbeat of society”. Deggans shares why believes the medium “ultimately tells us things about society and the conversations we're having about family, romance, employment, race, and gender." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan interviews two guests who personify what we’re trying to achieve on this podcast. Jean Card worked as a top Republican communicator, including cabinet-level speechwriting in the George W. Bush administration, while Robert Schlesinger built a career as a journalist and Managing Editor for Opinion at U.S. News & World Report. On paper, their political views are miles apart, yet Jean and Robert are able to find common ground based on mutual respect and a 30+ year friendship since College. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Media Roundtable, we shift to a more traditional “roundtable format”, with Dan interviewing two veteran media practitioners; Radio Host Bill Handel and Marketing Guru Scott MacDonell who share the inside scoop on how to make radio endorsements work. The three also discuss how the respective approaches to their craft have changed over the years amidst shifting political climates and share practical ways to meet your business objectives while honoring brand values.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building on last week’s episode with Carl Cameron from Fox News, part two offers a behind-the-scenes look at journalism’s devolution on Media Roundtable, with Frank Sesno, the Emmy Award-Winning, CNN Washington Bureau Chief, and Director at George Washington University. Frank IS journalistic integrity in human form, and bemoans the current state of media, declaring, “It’s a Mess.” but suggests questions are the answer and offers a vision of possibility for values-driven brands. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s edition of The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with “Campaign Carl,” Chief White House Correspondent and 20 Year Fox News Veteran, Carl Cameron. Cameron takes us behind the scenes from 1996 when he started at Fox News and the change from an honest pursuit of “fair and balanced” to the present self-proclaimed, approach to “Standing up for what’s right”. Carl has interviewed every US President since Ronald Reagan, and pulls no punches in his candid and sometimes scathing retelling of his experience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Dan Granger sits down with David French, who in his eponymous movement: David Frenchism, has been vocal in criticizing his party and has suffered the consequences publically. In this episode, he opens up about threats he and his family received in the wake of being a Republican who publically denounced Trump, shows us how increased cultural fragmentation has ignited a sense of real threat to our country, and calls us to choose the kind of people and brands we want to support for reasons we can defend in the public square of today's society. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In episode two, Knights of the Media Roundtable, we assemble our Media Roundtable Founding Partners for a panel discussion about the divided state of our union, sharing our vision and plans to make positive change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we live up to the American ideal of unity? Following the inauguration of Joe Biden, Dan lays out his plan to bring the country together by mobilizing marketers to support truth and civility in journalism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We wanted to share one last episode before the end of the year. In this bonus episode, Dan Granger, Founder & CEO of Oxford Road, sits down with John Batchelor from The John Batchelor Show to make a special announcement. Today we are pleased to introduce to you our plan to create positive change in our culture through the formation of the Media Roundtable. Media Roundtable's purpose is to empower media and advertisers to advance even-handed reporting and opinion without malice. Our strategy is simple: shift the incentive structure that currently feeds our modern "Outrage Industrial Complex" and reward content that benefits its audience and treats its subjects with dignity, even if through disagreement, but always with respect. There is much to say about our efforts and we will continue to explain in the coming weeks. For now, we ask that you listen to this interview, visit MediaRoundtable.com to learn more and most importantly, sign our Pledge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Less than 24 hours from the polls closing, legendary NPR host and decorated journalist Bob Garfield joins us in a state he describes as "filterless and at my wits' end". Beyond being an award winning Radio Host, Podcaster, six time book Author, Bob is also the founder of the Purple Project for Democracy - a non-partisan coalition, campaign and movement to rediscover and recommit to our democratic values and institutions. During our conversation, Bob shared his exhaustion and disenchantment with seeking to understand and find common ground with those who support, "Trumpism". His descriptions of those on the Trump side of the polarization spectrum ranged between "having much to answer for" and "blood on their hands". He had similarly harsh words for sponsors of Fox News. Not unlike last week's interview with Newt Gingrich, Bob is someone who spent part of the discussion talking about past efforts to find common ground but who generally sees both sides of the spectrum reaching a place of incompatibility (my words, not his). Like Newt, Bob is in what he sees as a fight to save democracy. He also believes in the impact that Brands can make through their stewardship of ad dollars. The other area where they both seem to agree is in the idea that I'm living in a fantasy world. My belief is that reconciliation is possible, but only if one side will have the humility to lay down their weapons and take responsibility for the problem. Then it will be safe for the other side to follow suit. As we move through our next series of decisions about what programs we will sponsor and how we will respond as citizens to already disputed election results, you will have to choose which reality you believe. -Dan Granger See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pro Tip: When speaking about polarization with Newt Gingrich within seven days from a Presidential Election, prepare for a wild ride. Our thirty-five minutes together is all at once the shortest, most dense, and perhaps most consequential discussion we've had on this series. At 77, Newt is at once the storied Republican Warrior, fighting an existential threat where through this election, the fate of America hangs in the balance, and concurrently the softened Elder Statesman, calling conservatives to listen and seek common ground with the other side. In our short time, he offers his thoughts on the history of our divisions, systemic racism, and prescriptions for how businesses, media, and politicians can pull us out of our "cycle of cynicism and negativism." Newt's comparison of today to the pre-Civil War Era where the prospect of war became inevitable, are concerning to say the least. As a historian and political practitioner, few have lived that have known more about the occupants of our Highest Office. We explore our contrasting expectations of Trump's behavior, George Washington's position on parties, and the secret to his success in collaborating with Bill Clinton. For extra credit, he regales us with a story about the time Richard Nixon gifted him a strategy that later resulted in the Republican Revolution, his position as House Speaker, and perhaps a clue that explains our union's current state. If it makes you feel better, we also talk about podcasts. "For the country's sake, it would be really helpful if starting in December or January, people could just listen to each other." It doesn't matter if you love or hate the man or his policy positions; this interview is an education. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew joins us on The Divided States of Media to discuss how we can engage our differences across the political divide and find common points of agreement — which he has successfully achieved in the marketing of his book. He also describes the influence that advertisers have on the media products our nation has gone from devouring to choking on: "The advertising business fundamentally decides what kinds of media are worth creating." His advice to the advertising community: "think about the consequences of your actions and the power that you have to shape the media going forward." For marketers feeling sidelined by the vitriolic nature of modern media, this episode is your rallying cry to be part of the solution. Listening to Matthew not only makes you smarter, but it's also a fun ride. Let me know what you think. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've gotten "high on conflict" according to Carly Fiorina. The former CEO of HP, first woman to run a Fortune 50 Company, and 2016 Presidential contender joins us on The Divided States of Media to discuss the threat of polarization and hate. She explains, "We are mainlining controversy like a drug... the media is amplifying it." During her time with HP, Carly was pushing Stakeholder Capitalism before it was cool. In this hour-plus conversation, she details her philosophy — "market share grows when customers and employees believe they are doing business with a company that is principled." It's what she calls, "enlightened self-interest". More than virtue signaling, she breaks down the ways the media is failing its customers by allowing "entertainers masquerading as journalists" to rile us up, instead of putting in the time and energy to hear from both sides while encouraging collaboration and problem-solving to occur over time. She also explains how this correlates with distrust in media reaching an all-time high. My conversation with Carly was refreshingly clarifying, if not sobering. It's a call to action for our industry to do the hard work, even if it feels like swimming upstream in our present climate. I hope you'll make time for this one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with David Smick, Director of Stars and Strife, a new film that should be required viewing for all Americans as an antidote to the hate and divisions that plague us. The film was co-produced by Barry Levinson (Think Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam, The Natural) and includes interviews with Rahm Emmanual, James Baker, Leon Panetta, Alan Greenspan, and a host of other powerhouse contributors; it's a history lesson in how our society has become so addicted to hate, media's role in the decline of civility; and the antidotes to what ails us. Our interview with the Director goes deeper on topics pertinent to business leaders and people in media to help do our part to heal as a nation. The film will bring you to tears, while this interview will give you a deeper understanding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our spiciest episode so far. This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with Podcaster, Angel Investor (He turned a $100k investment into over $100M), and philanthropist Jason Calacanis. Jason gives us a tech mogul's view into the causes and solutions around today's polarized state and gives a refreshing cause for optimism. He makes a sound argument for why podcasts are the answer to Media's suicidal tendencies and has practical solutions for how the private sector can join forces to solve some of this country's most difficult problems. We don't choose favorites, but if we did... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This one's for the data geeks. Marketers — wouldn't it be great if you had a simple chart that could show how fair and objective the media you're sponsoring truly is? This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with Vanessa Otero, founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media. Using a weighting algorithm, her company's Interactive Media Bias Chart®, objectively rates media outlets based on bias and reliability. Vanessa and her team's efforts are helping advertisers and agencies get a clearer picture of how and where they invest their ad dollars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Quit your job and start a podcast!" This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with someone who actually "walks the walk"; Katie Herzog, reporter & Co-Host of Podcast "Blocked and Reported". As a former journalist and new Podcaster - Katie discusses freedom and gratitude for independence, amid shifting journalistic norms, and why after being canceled and harassed multiple times, she made the switch from traditional journalism (as a writer for The Stranger) to podcasting. From her show to her neighborhood Katie's on a mission to bring us all together and that journey begins with empathy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Media", the Fourth Estate, is meant to act as an independent watchdog for the other branches of government. But these days, our media system is as polarized as our nation. This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with media executive, journalist, and founder of Fourth Watch, Steve Krakauer. Having worked for both Fox News and CNN, Steve gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the media works, shares his thoughts on how we got here, and provides a plan to get back to where we need to be. Steve's insights can help marketers and American citizens as a whole navigate through today's divided media landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with fellow Michiganian, Wall Street lawyer turned podcast interviewer, Jordan Harbinger. As a podcaster who's interviewed everyone from Kobe Bryant to Ray Dalio, Jordan has a strong word of caution to the media system as it stands and a warning to all if we don't turn things around soon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.