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The Grill Room

The Grill Room

180 episodes — Page 2 of 4

Hollywood’s Future ’26 War Stories

Matt Belloni joins Dylan and Julia to chart the latest updates surrounding the Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war between Netflix and Paramount—and what each side stands to gain or lose. Then they dive into Hollywood’s accelerating A.I. anxiety in light of Disney’s pact with Sora 2, the upcoming film slate for 2026, YouTube's rights deal with the Oscars, and more. Plus: Matt explains his choices for Hollywood’s heroes and villain of the year. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 6, 202654 min

CNN Sale Chatter, Meta TV & Other 2026 Predictions

Dylan and Julia forecast the media chaos to come, mapping out the storylines likely to dominate the year ahead—from the ongoing Warner Bros. Discovery drama to Disney’s Sora experiment, Instagram Reels invading connected TV, and the likely disruption of the ad market. They also predict CNN’s uncertain future, the waning influencer economy, the A.I. forces quietly rearranging everything, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 2, 202651 min

Are the Kids… All Right?

Jim Steyer, the founder and C.E.O. of Common Sense Media, joins Dylan for a fascinating end-of-year conversation about which tech companies and social media platforms are getting it right (and wrong) when it comes to child safety. They also chat about his legendary class at Stanford and forthcoming podcast, his brother Tom’s gubernatorial bid in California, and much more. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 30, 20251h 16m

Media’s ’25 Crisis of Nerve

Julia and Dylan reunite to survey the stories that defined media in 2025, starting with the recent uproar over Bari Weiss pulling a ’60 Minutes’ segment critical of the Trump administration. Then they dig into the impact of David Ellison’s bid for Warner Bros., Trump’s omnipresent influence on the media ecosystem, the mounting pressures on legacy outlets, and much more. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 26, 202551 min

Katie Couric Goes Direct

The one and only Katie Couric joins Dylan for a wide-ranging look back—and forward—at her career, from her stints at the Today show, CBS, and Yahoo to building her own media empire. She digs into the collapse of monoculture, the rise of a creator-driven media landscape, why authenticity matters now more than ever, maintaining journalistic integrity in an era of relentless political pressure—and much, much more.Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 23, 20251h 11m

Media’s Anxiety Index

Orchestra C.E.O. Jonathan Rosen and Jon Kelly join Dylan live from New York to walk through new survey data capturing the media industry’s state of mind. They dig into the rise of subscription-based models, the FAST explosion, the creeping influence of A.I., and much more. Plus, cameo insights from Semafor’s Ben Smith and Feed Me’s Emily Sundberg who offer their own read on where the business is bending—and breaking. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 19, 202539 min

Sorkin’s Rules of Engagement

Andrew Ross Sorkin, founder of The New York Times’ DealBook and co-host of CNBC’s Squawk Box, joins Dylan for a candid conversation about the ins and outs of his media business. He walks through a typical day in his life, explains why he’s prioritizing quality over quantity (and skipping the media-empire chase), and breaks down his approach to high-stakes interviews. They also dig into the DealBook Summit—his toughest interview yet, his white-whale guest—and the advice he’d give to anyone trying to break into media in 2026. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 16, 202551 min

The Iger-Altman Alliance

Dylan and Julia reunite to chew over Disney’s new deal with OpenAI, which will pump more than 200 Disney characters into Sora so fans can generate their own content with the company’s most valuable I.P. They also check in on the WBD sweepstakes: how Paramount and Netflix stack up, what each company’s contingency plans looks like, the regulatory headaches ahead, and much more. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 12, 202559 min

Can Yahoo Survive in a Hyper-Niche World?

Yahoo C.E.O. Jim Lanzone joins Dylan and Julia for a tour of the company’s Apollo era, four years after the private equity behemoth bought the business for just $5 billion—nearly $120 billion shy of its peak valuation. Lanzone breaks down Yahoo’s growth strategy: the metrics that actually matter, how the company monetizes at scale, and what the endgame looks like. They also dig into Yahoo’s A.I. ambitions, and what it takes to run a mass-market consumer business in a media landscape focused on niche and specialized content. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 9, 20251h 0m

Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!

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It’s been 20 years since How I Met Your Mother premiered, and just over 10 years since the finale. Josh Radnor, who played “Ted” for nine seasons teams up with series co-creator Craig Thomas for this episode-by-episode rewatch podcast. For the superfans, HWMYM (listen to the trailer to learn how it’s pronounced) will get into all the secrets, theories, and pineapples, but we'll also use HIMYM – and our relationship to it two decades later – to talk about life and love and art and everything in between. How We Made Your Mother… a flashback podcast for a flashback show. You can listen to all episodes of season 1 now, and join Josh and Craig as they dive into season 2! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 6, 20254 min

Substack’s Lizza Problem & Spotify Wrapped Revelations

Julia and Dylan revisit the endlessly looping Nuzzi-Lizza saga, questioning whether we’re still covering journalism or merely documenting a public breakup. They dissect the collateral damage of the drama: Substack’s structural vulnerabilities, Vanity Fair’s brand calculus, and the reputational fallout for both combatants. Plus, they swap their Spotify Wrapped revelations and discuss how Spotify turned an annual recap into a global marketing juggernaut. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at ⁠starbucks.com/partners⁠⁠.⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 5, 20251h 1m

Elon, Zohran & The New Politics of Influence

Makena Kelly, senior writer at Wired, joins Julia to wade into the Venn diagram of politics, internet culture, and technology. They discuss Elon Musk’s curious cameo in the Trump administration, the rise of influencer gatherings over traditional press, and how online fandoms can turbocharge campaigns like Zohran Mamdani’s. They also explore how creators are reshaping political media and the tightrope reporters walk to stay objective through it all. Learn more about Starbucks industry-leading benefits at starbucks.com/partners. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 2, 20251h 4m

Thanksgiving Media Intrigues & Nuzzigate Leftovers

Julia and Dylan serve up the latest media dish: the blurred lines between journalists and influencers; how A.I. is transforming Apple and Google; the Substackification of legacy media; and, of course, the Nuzzi-Lizza-R.F.K. scandal that won’t die. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 28, 20251h 3m

Nuzzi, Wolff, and the Algorithm Apocalypse

Brian Morrissey and Troy Young, hosts of People vs Algorithms, join Dylan to discuss the media culture war between “information entrepreneurs” like Olivia Nuzzi and Michael Wolff and old-school journalists such as Kara Swisher. Then they dig into the blurring lines between journalism and content creation writ large, the rise of performative reporting, and whether traditional media can keep up in the new attention economy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 25, 20251h 7m

Inside Alison’s Roman Empire

Alison Roman, the internet’s favorite culinary truth-teller, rejoins Dylan to dish on her ongoing evolution as an independent creator in the chaotic attention economy. She discusses her new book, the existential importance of keeping it authentic, and why she broke up with Substack. She also previews her next acts—and, of course, what she’s cooking for Thanksgiving. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 21, 202535 min

Olivia Nuzzi’s Media Mirage & Gerry Cardinale’s Broadsheet Blues

Julia and Dylan discuss Olivia Nuzzi’s Vanity Fair “American Canto” excerpt and New York Times profile, and the increasingly tangled relationship between celebrity culture and legacy media brands trying to retain and grow audiences. They also discuss the fate of The Telegraph, and why Jeff Zucker and Gerry Cardinale can’t seem to get their hands around the storied Tory broadsheet. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 18, 202555 min

A $420M Mamdani Surprise & Bankoff’s Podcast Spin Plan

Julia and Dylan break down the week’s buzziest media flashpoints: prediction markets muscling their way into politics, punctuated by the $420 million frenzy over New York’s mayoral election; the BBC tiptoeing toward a legal cage match with Trump while clinging to its nonpartisan halo; Jim Bankoff’s plan to spin off the Vox Media Podcast Network; Bob Iger’s flirtation with A.I.-fueled user-generated content at Disney; and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 14, 20251h 7m

A.I.’s Mass Media Makeover

Ian Krietzberg joins Dylan to size up A.I.’s takeover of the media business—how it’s rewiring audiences, destabilizing trust, and threatening to drown the news in algorithmic sludge—while arguing that exclusive content and credibility are the key to survival. And though A.I. might yet change the world, Ian warns that energy costs and bad data could short-circuit the revolution before it starts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 11, 202551 min

MSNBC’s $20M Makeover & Mamdani’s Media Magic

Julia and Dylan dive into this week’s media firestorm: Zohran Mamdani’s social media-fueled campaign to become New York’s next mayor, the prolonged YouTube TV-Disney carriage standoff, ESPN’s latest play with DraftKings, MSNBC’s rebrand as MS NOW, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 7, 202559 min

The WBD Hunger Games

Lightshed’s Rich Greenfield joins Dylan and Julia to take stock of the WBD bidding war, as Paramount and Comcast circle the prize while Netflix and Amazon lurk on the sidelines. They game out who needs it the most, what each is willing to pay, how they might integrate their assets, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 4, 202557 min

Comcast’s Peacock Problem & Elon’s Grokipedia

Julia and Dylan reunite to chew over Comcast- NBCUniversal’s lukewarm earnings, Peacock’s perpetual stagnation, and what it all portends for the company’s broader media ambitions—especially with WBD sitting pretty waiting for a buyer. Plus, CNN’s way too little, too late launch of its direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, Elon Musk’s Grokipedia sideshow, and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 31, 20251h 22m

Neal Mohan’s YouTube Endgame

YouTube C.E.O. Neal Mohan and creator Michelle Khare join Dylan at the Paley Summit to discuss YouTube’s sprawling empire: the burgeoning creator economy, the evolving toolkit at creators’ disposal, how the A.I. revolution is quietly reshaping the platform and the media industry writ large, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 28, 202538 min

The Times’ TikTok Era & The Zaz-WBD Whisper Network

Julia and Dylan debrief this week’s most pressing headlines and trends in the media business: the chatter swirling around David Zaslav’s potential sale of WBD, the New York Times’ plunge into short-form video as it takes aim at TikTok and Instagram, YouTube’s next big pivot, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 24, 20251h 6m

The Bulwark’s Seven-Year War

Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, joins Dylan for a wide-ranging conversation on the media landscape and the evolution of their seven-year-old, never-Trump media company. Sarah discusses how they’re navigating this transitional moment for the industry, what Bari Weiss’ $150 million sale of The Free Press portends for their own exit options, how they’re trying to reach and resonate with new audiences, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 21, 202557 min

The Netflix-Spotify Marriage and Gerry’s Media Land Grab

Julia and Dylan chew over the week’s media mayhem: Netflix’s watershed podcast deal with Spotify, the booming industry of athlete-owned media, Gerry Cardinale’s unexpected foray into traditional media, the ominous layoffs looming over NBC and CBS News, and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 17, 20251h 7m

The $5M TBPN Playbook

John Coogan and Jordi Hays, co-hosts of The Technology Business Programming Network, join Dylan to discuss how they scaled their podcast from a one-hour weekly show to a five-day live juggernaut pulling in roughly $5 million in ad revenue. They explain how they’ve managed to captivate both Silicon Valley and, increasingly, Wall Street—not to mention the CNBCs and Bloombergs of the world marveling from the sidelines. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 14, 202548 min

Can Bari Save CBS?

Julia and Dylan dig into the uproar over Bari Weiss’s grand arrival at CBS News—seen by some as a journalistic awakening, and by others as a credibility crisis in the making. The duo dive deep into how her appointment fits into David Ellison’s broader media ambitions and debate whether Weiss can lure younger, more affluent viewers without blowing up the network’s buttoned-down D.N.A. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 10, 20251h 10m

The MAGA Creator Industrial Complex

Chris Balfe, C.E.O. of Red Seat Ventures, joins Dylan for a deep dive into the booming independent creator economy—what creators need, how they can scale, the smartest ways to unlock new revenue streams, and more. Balfe also breaks down Red Seat’s growing portfolio of conservative voices, from Tucker Carlson to Megyn Kelly, and its recent acquisition by Fox, which has emerged as the most aggressive legacy player chasing creator talent. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 7, 202544 min

Hollywood’s Sora 2 Panic & Zuck’s Vibes Play

Julia and Dylan dive into the launch of OpenAI’s new video-generation app, Sora 2, and Mark Zuckerberg’s A.I. social media platform, Vibes. They explain why these releases have sent Hollywood into a state of not-so-mild panic, and how these A.I. platforms might reshape the media industry writ large. Then, they turn to the YouTube TV–NBCU carriage dispute, and what it portends for similar industry battles going forward. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 3, 20251h 1m

The $25M Bloomberg of Travel

Rafat Ali, founder of Skift, joins Dylan to chart the rise of his B2B media empire—which he’s dubbed “the Bloomberg of travel.” Ali breaks down how Skift has evolved to generate upwards of $25 million in revenue with 20 percent profit margins, the secret sauce of hyper-targeted B2B media, the broader challenges and opportunities within a media industry still chasing scale at all costs, and much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 30, 202558 min

Introducing Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

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Simpsons fans —THE VAULT IS OPEN! I’m Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 35+ years, and I’m finally taking you inside Springfield. Simpsons Declassified is your all-access pass to the world’s most iconic, animated series. Each week, we crack open wild predictions, eerie coincidences and fan conspiracies and stories from 36 seasons (that’s 800+ episodes!) behind-the-scenes with writers, directors, the cast and celebrity superfans, PLUS…Simpsons-themed games— play along and test your Springfield IQ. Hear exclusive stories from our guests who were there! Perhaps some scenes that almost never aired, the jokes that died, the ones that lived and the moments that still shock me at the mic. Produced and showrun by Monica Gil-Rodriguez. From Audacy Podcasts and CRE84U Entertainment. Follow now to get new episodes first — and drop your wildest Simpsons’ theory in a review for a chance to be featured on our uniquely unique podcast, Simpsons Declassified. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 27, 20252 min

Trump’s Free Speech Paradox

Julia Alexander and Dylan Byers dive into the week’s media maelstrom, courtesy of the Disney-Kimmel-F.C.C.-Trump kerfuffle. They explore the paradox of an administration trying to strong-arm broadcast TV—which is on its way out—and speculate on how Trump and Co. might attempt to flex on independent creators on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms. They also weigh the stakes for Disney and Bob Iger’s enduring legacy. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 26, 20251h 3m

Disney’s Kimmel Pivot & Ellison’s WBD Lasso

Kim Masters joins Dylan to address the existential questions surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s return to ABC: Will Nexstar and Sinclair actually air the show? How does the creative community in Hollywood feel about this? Is the pressure from the F.C.C. going to subside? Are people going to forgive Bob Iger? Plus, Kim shares the latest updates regarding David Ellison’s WBD fantasy. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 23, 202533 min

Disney’s F.C.C. Fear Factor

Julia and Dylan scrutinize Disney’s perplexing decision to sideline Jimmy Kimmel under pressure from the F.C.C.—a move that raises thorny questions about media freedom, corporate backbone, and whether Disney actually just created more headaches for itself. They also dig into The New York Times’ evolving strategy and why the paper has emerged as one of the last news institutions standing up to Trump’s media crackdown. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 19, 202555 min

Meredith Kopit Levien’s New New York Times

Meredith Kopit Levien, C.E.O. of The New York Times, joins Dylan and Julia for a deep dive into the paper’s metamorphosis from a traditional news company to a full-spectrum lifestyle brand. Levien breaks down how they’re harnessing A.I. tools, tinkering with audio and video, and sharpening its advertising playbook—all while building a diverse revenue stream anchored in subscriptions. She also weighs in on The Athletic’s success, the Times’s quest to reach 15 million subscribers by 2027, and much, much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 16, 20251h 28m

Rupert’s Last Rodeo & CNN’s Zombie Era

Julia and Dylan chew over the latest machinations along media's waterfront: Rupert Murdoch’s succession denouement and the future of Fox and News Corp, how ‘The Atlantic’ is faring in the new media landscape, the latest angst percolating through Hudson Yards, and much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 12, 202553 min

Lachlan’s Coup & The Murdoch Legacy

On this special crossover episode, Peter Hamby and Dylan chronicle the closing act of the Murdoch succession drama, as Rupert’s massive media empire lands squarely in the hands of his staunchly conservative son, Lachlan, while the other three siblings walk away with a hefty payout. They explore what this means for Fox’s future—and just how long the 94-year-old Rupert will continue to wield his power behind the scenes. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 10, 202525 min

The R.F.K. Media Antidote

Rick Berke, former Politico executive editor and founder of STAT News, joins Dylan to reflect on his 10-year journey from startup to building one of the most authoritative voices in the life sciences industry. Berke explains how he turned STAT into a profitable media venture, the hurdles facing subscription-based models, and why it’s so difficult for legacy giants like the Washington Post or LA Times to pull off the same trick. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 9, 202549 min

The Weissification of CBS News

Julia and Dylan break down David Ellison’s imminent acquisition of Bari Weiss’s The Free Press—and how her anti-establishment worldview could reverberate through the editorial D.N.A. of CBS News. They also explore how the likely nine-figure deal could spark a fresh cycle of digital media M&A, and what it augurs for the Substack economy and creator economy writ large. Then Dylan and Julia decode the landmark Google antitrust ruling that effectively sanctifies the company’s “pay-to-play” strategy. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 5, 202556 min

Should ESPN Copy The New York Times?

Andrew Rosen, the former Paramount executive and founder of PARQOR, joins Dylan to break down the divergent digital strategies of The New York Times and ESPN. While the Times is precise and leans into product design tailored to specific consumer habits, ESPN continues to chase mass scale and broad reach. Rosen argues that ESPN’s model risks leaving engagement on the table—and makes the case for a more personalized, fan-first approach, à la the Times and The Athletic. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 2, 20251h 16m

The New A.I. Times & Portnoy vs. McAfee

Julia Alexander and Dylan reunite to hash out the week’s biggest media stories: The New York Times’ increasing investment in A.I.; how technology is undermining Disney magic—and what this portends for Bob Iger’s media strategy; the spectacle of the U.S. Open; the brewing Portnoy-McAfee rivalry, and much, much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 29, 20251h 18m

Can MSNBC Survive Without NBC?

Andy Lack, former chairman of NBC News and MSNBC, joins Dylan to pore over the myriad existential crises rattling television news, from CBS’s messy Trump settlement to the Versant spin that leaves MSNBC in the wilderness—and more. He also discusses his new act as a purveyor of local news startups across the Deep South, and his bid to build sustainable outlets at a time when local journalism is facing significant headwinds. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 26, 202540 min

The Sports Super App Era

Julia Alexander reunites with Dylan to break down ESPN’s long-awaited “super app,” which launched yesterday as the network’s boldest bid yet to remain the central hub for sports fans in an increasingly crowded rights landscape. They also touch on Fox’s new streaming gambit, Fox One—a leaner, no-frills play for cord-cutters—and what these parallel moves reveal about the shifting future of sports media. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 22, 20251h 3m

Mo News, Less Problems

Mosheh Oinounou joins Dylan to discuss his leap from legacy media to independent journalism with the founding of Mo News, which, despite early challenges, has grown to more than 12,000 paid subscribers and expanded into podcasts and newsletters. Oinounou also digs into the importance of A.I. in news customization, the potential for future collaborations between independent creators and legacy media, and the challenges at CBS News following the Paramount-Skydance merger. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: ⁠https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 19, 202551 min

Media’s Free Agency Era

Julia Alexander swings by the pod to dig into the recent slew of licensing deals, à la ESPN-McAfee and Fox-Portnoy, which allow creators to maintain their independence while benefiting from additional exposure and revenue. This leads to a broader conversation about the challenges and opportunities for legacy media companies in adapting to the creator economy writ large. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 15, 20251h 3m

Fox Gets Ruthless

On this special episode, the Ruthless Podcast co-hosts, Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook, and Shashank Tripathi, join Dylan to discuss the origins of their podcast—and more intriguingly, their new licensing deal with Fox News. They also dig into their unique approach to politics, the lack of conservative humor in the media landscape, the challenges faced by legacy media, and much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 12, 202556 min

Iger’s Endgame & Ellison’s Next Target

Dylan and Julia chew over the most pressing media news of the week: Disney’s dynamic NFL deal, the finalized Paramount-Skydance merger, the chatter surrounding David Ellison’s interest in Warner Bros., and much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 8, 20251h 0m

Katie Drummond’s New 'Wired' Order

Katie Drummond, global editorial director of Wired, joins the pod to reflect on her overhaul of the tech magazine—transforming it into a sharp-edged outlet covering the dystopian intersection of technology, politics, and culture. She discusses the significance of original reporting, Wired’s notable growth and ambitions growth strategy, A.I.’s threat to journalism, and much, much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 5, 202541 min

WSJ vs. The Times & Media After Murdoch

Julia Alexander rejoins Dylan to hash out the most combustible stories in media: The Wall Street Journal’s increasingly aggressive Trump-Epstein coverage—and Trump’s retaliatory lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch; how editor Emma Tucker is turning the Journal into a serious challenger to The New York Times; what the media world might look like in a post-Murdoch landscape; and much, much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 1, 20251h 1m

The Vox Media Doctrine

Vox Media C.E.O. Jim Bankoff joins Dylan for a deep dive into the company’s evolution following a recent investment that now values the business at $500 million, roughly half what it was worth a decade or so ago. They dig into Vox’s strategy around talent-driven content, the central role of their podcast network, the enduring value of their legacy print publications, how the company is adapting to industry headwinds like A.I., and much more. The Grill Room Podcast is presented by bp. See all the ways we’re investing in America: https://www.bp.com/InvestingInAmerica To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 29, 202557 min