The Wolf Den

What are the biggest challenges facing public radio, and how does podcasting fit into the equation? Those are just a couple of the big questions that guest Adam Ragusea tackles in this spirited discussion with hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman. Adam is the host and producer of The Pub podcast from Current, the industry publication for public media, and he’s Journalist in Residence and Visiting Assistant Professor at Mercer University. He’s known for staking out strong--sometimes controversial--positions on issues like native advertising, objectivity and journalistic ethics, which he shares on this episode. Adam also explains why he thinks the big northeastern cities shouldn’t dominate podcasting, and gives some advice for young people who want to create great audio.

Through her WNYC podcast and radio program “Note to Self” Manoush Zomorodi is exploring how technology affects culture, the way we work and the way we live our lives. She guests on the Wolf Den to discuss how that curiosity has led to projects on her show that engaged tens of thousands of listeners to join in guided self-experiments in managing their use of personal technology, and their own information overload. Manoush also reflects on the experience of being a woman covering a male-dominated field like tech, and how podcasting inadvertently offers a buffer from the kind of negativity often seen on social media. She also has practical advice for podcasters who want to build audience engagement, and lessons to share from her transition from being a news reporter to a host.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

Learn all about Audible's new Channels podcast line-up with Eric Nuzum, the company’s Vice President of Original Content. He joins new co-hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman in the Wolf Den to explain what Channels is, and how the effort intends to grow the audience for spoken word audio by expanding the variety of content. Eric talks about how he evaluates programming and its performance, and recalls a mentor from early in his career who taught him what makes for really good content. He also addresses his move from NPR to Amazon, as well as the migration of talent out of public radio, reflecting on changes that public radio could make to adapt to the changing landscape. Plus, Eric shares his advice for podcasters and producers who are pursuing success.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

Find out what’s happening behind the scenes at Midroll and Earwolf during this very busy summer, as Midroll's Erik Diehn and Lex Friedman join Adam for his very last episode hosting The Wolf Den. Adam recently stepped aside from his position of CEO and explains his reasons for doing so. He reminisces with Lex and Erik about the most fun, and the most challenging, moments of the last three eventful years. Then they take up Midroll's recent acquisition of Stitcher, addressing some of the concerns raised by a few prominent tech podcasters. Lex and Erik detail why and how a reinvigorated Stitcher will be good for all podcasters. Finally they discuss Midroll’s brand studio initiative and the upcoming Now Hear This podcast festival, and share what’s in store for Earwolf.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

On this episode Matt Lieber provides some insight on what makes his company, Gimlet Media, tick. He is the president of Gimlet, which produces popular podcasts like Reply All, Surprisingly Awesome, and Startup, the company’s first show, which also documented Gimlet’s own launch. Adam asks Matt to share what it was like to go through that experience, with so many people learning so many intimate details on the show. Matt also charts his career journey, from unexpectedly reporting on 9/11, to becoming a public radio producer, taking a turn into business school and consulting, then returning to audio with Gimlet. He explains why he is confident in the future of podcasting, and reveals the factors he believes contribute to audience growth. Finally, he talks about the company’s Gimlet Creative brand studio, and what it takes to get audiences to listen to branded podcasts.This episode is sponsored by Hired and Podcast Movement.

Dig deep into the business of podcasting with this episode of The Wolf Den, recorded live at a Fast Company Creative Counter-Conference event hosted at the Earwolf studios in Hollywood. Adam moderates a panel with Earwolf hosts Sarah Thyre (“Crybabies”) and Franklin Leonard (“The Black List Table Reads”). They answer questions from the assembled journalists, agency representatives and media industry professionals about building audience, the ethics of podcast ads, episode length, and pitching guests to hosts. First, to get everyone up to speed, Adam presents a short history of Earwolf and Midroll, and shares some very funny, and very effective podcast ad reads.This episode is sponsored by Hired and Podcast Movement.

Comedian and Jersey boy Chris Gethard wasn’t quite ready to host one of the hottest and most popular podcasts around. As he explains to Adam Sachs on this episode of The Wolf Den, he thought there would be some time in the first few months to feel it out. Instead, getting featured on This American Life attracted a massive audience to his show, Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, who stuck around because of the singular mix of openness, honesty and empathy with which Chris treats the callers to his show. He talks about how the concept for the podcast evolved with the help of producers Gretta Cohn and John Delore, and how he was also surprised by the effusive feedback he’s received from listeners and fans. Chris also reflects on how making the podcast is different from his Fusion television show, “The Chris Gethard Show,” and how Beautiful/Anonymous fits into his desire to find happiness in making things. Finally, he doles out some tough love advice for aspiring podcasters, and anyone pursuing creative endeavors.This episode is sponsored by Podcast Movement.

Adam gets Scott Aukerman in the guest chair for the first time as host of "The Wolf Den," along with Chris Bannon, Midroll Media’s chief content officer, to talk about the state of Earwolf and Howl. Hear Scott do his best Paul Scheer impression as he recalls the Christmas party where Paul pitched his idea for "How Did This Get Made?" and reflects on the seven-year journey of building Earwolf. Then Chris and Scott explain why the Wolfpop network was retired--with most of the shows joining Earwolf--and how growing Earwolf beyond the bounds of comedy was actually part of the original vision for the network. Scott talks about the CBB Live Tour—going on now—and why he agreed to release the recordings on Howl Premium, which leads to a wider discussion about Howl and the creative advantages of having a subscription platform. Finally, Chris spills the beans on some upcoming Howl Original shows.

Laura Walker is the president and CEO of New York Public Radio, the largest public radio station group in the US, and a well-known leader in podcasting, though its flagship station WNYC. In fact, it was the first public station to release a podcast, which sparks a conversation about how podcasting fits in with the station's mission as a public broadcaster, and why the organization stuck with the medium in the late 2000s when much of the excitement around podcasting had worn off. Laura discusses the recently launched WNYC Studios and its $15 million fund to incubate innovative new audio programming, and details the station’s goal to bring gender balance to iTunes top podcasts chart. She also tackles the question of the so-called “public radio exodus” into for-profit podcasting—and her answer might surprise you.

Hillary Frank got into radio by breaking the rules, using a boombox and an answering machine to produce a segment for This American Life. She is the host of the leading parenting podcast The Longest Shortest Time, which joined Earwolf in January 2016. On this episode of The Wolf Den Hillary tells Adam the This American Life story, and explains how working as a freelance radio producer and a difficult child birth led her to create her podcast. They discuss how her expectations shifted as the podcast became successful in its own right, and why Hillary decided to bring The Longest Shortest Time to Earwolf. Finally, Hillary offers some trenchant and unconventional advice for aspiring podcasters.

As a widely respected journalist, best-selling author and creator/host of one of the most popular podcasts—Freakonomics Radio--Stephen Dubner is in a unique position to analyze the state of podcasting. He joins Adam to tackle this and other meaty topics like journalistic standards, the ethics of hosts doing their own ad reads, and why the medium has exploded in popularity. Learn how Freakonomics Radio was actually a kind of failure, compared to Stephen’s original plan. He also tells the origin story for his Earwolf show Question of the Day, and explains why he enjoys working on two very different kinds of podcasts. Finally, Stephen shares his metric for determine if he should continue doing a project.

Adam sometimes likes to grab lunch with his friend, food writer and podcaster Zach Brooks (Food Is The New Rock). This time they brought along comedian and podcaster Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty), and an audio recorder to capture their conversation riding in the car to and from the San Gabriel Valley, and in the restaurant. They tackle topics like Chinese food, rock stars, Taco Bell, the word “foodie", and, of course, podcasting. Back in the studio Zach and Adam listen to that audio and fill in some details. Zach talks about his two Howl projects, The Crawl and Egg Roll Hunt, and shares what he likes to hear in a food podcast. Plus, they learn something new about Man vs. Food.

For this extra-special 100th episode of The Wolf Den, Adam talks with the very first MacArthur Fellow to be on the show, Jad Abumrad. Jad is the creator and co-host of Radiolab, a public radio show heard on more than 500 stations, and one of the most popular podcasts of all time. Jad and Adam talk about the creative process behind Radiolab, and the "gut churn" that Jad says was essential to create the show. Jad also shares his views on podcasting today, and the opportunities available for fresh talent in public radio and podcasting. Finally, he gives hard-earned advice for the aspiring audio producer. Theme song by Brett Morris .

Just before The Wolf Den hits its 100th episode milestone, Adam takes a brief listen back to relive some highlights in what's been an exciting six years in the evolution and growth of Midroll, and podcasting. Adam shares early clips from podcast innovators like Marc Maron and Chris Hardwick, along with entrepreneurs who were influential behind the scenes. We also listen in on some of the important milestones in podcasting and Midroll history, as heard on the show, and get some keen insights on podcasting from hosts like Paul Scheer, Matt Gourley, Paul F. Tompkins, Lea Thau, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Mishy Harman first heard This American Life on a road trip across the United States, listening to a compilation of shows provided by his college roommate. That binge inspired the Jerusalem native to co-create Israel Story, a radio show and podcast focused on the lives of people from his home country. On this episode of The Wolf Den Mishy explains how the show—one of Israel’s first podcasts—came together, and what it was like to go from novice producer to having a hit radio show. He also discusses what makes the show stand out in his country's media landscape, and what goes into making the project sustainable, especially in the much more competitive US podcast market.

Guy Raz is the host of NPR's TED Radio Hour, which has consistently been at the top of the iTunes charts since it debuted in 2012. He is Adam’s guest for an episode that no public radio or podcast fan should miss. Guy explains how the idea for the show came about, and why he decided to step away from hosting Weekend All Things Considered to join the TED Radio Hour. He talks about how he puts together different TED talks to form the themes behind each show, and why it’s so important for there to be a podcast of the show, even though the radio version airs on 620 stations in the US, and on stations in 15 countries. Guy also reveals how working on the show has changed his perspective, and how he convinced NPR management to allow him to voice the podcast ads himself.

Brian Koppelman believes people who accomplish remarkable things do something differently than most other. The screenwriter, producer and essayist thinks they marshall the best of themselves in the low moments, as well as the high ones. Learning about these moments is what drives his podcast, The Moment. On this episode of The Wolf Den Brian tells Adam why he got into podcasting, who influenced his approach, and how he prepares for his deeply engaged interviews. He also explains his thoughts about having his own wife, novelist Amy Koppelman, on for a very intimate and unflinchingly honest interview. Finally, Brian shares his thoughts on the business of podcasting, and his advice for new podcasters.

Reveal is a public radio show and podcast that features a kind of in-depth investigative reporting rarely heard in either medium. Susanne Reber, co-founder and executive editor of Reveal, and reporter and broadcast producer Delaney Hall join Adam to go behind the scenes of this popular program, produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting. Susanne and Delaney share how they find a balance between telling a captivating narrative and adhering to a strict standard of accuracy, and how the success of Serial helped to validate their choice to allow the procedural elements of reporting become part of the story. They also discuss the difference between the show’s broadcast and podcast strategies, and plans for the show to go weekly. Finally, they offer advice for journalists and producers who would like to do investigative reporting in a podcast.

How does Paul F. Tompkins manage his email? Will there ever be another episode of the Pod F. Tompkast? What is it like to do more than 100 episodes of Comedy Bang Bang? All these questions, and more, will be answered on this episode of The Wolf Den, when podcasting’s über-guest subjects himself to the queries of host Adam Sachs. Paul explains why he still feels like he’s learning to do improv, and what he’s learned from working with great comedy podcasters. He also reveals the inspiration behind his seemingly-random impressions of celebrities like TV and film director Garry Marshall. Paul also gives a little behind-the-scenes peek at the Superego podcast and the Howl Original spin-off, Superego’s Forgotten Classics. No self-respecting comedy podcast fan can miss it.

With all the podcasts and audio content being produced, how do we make it more searchable, findable, and shareable, and then preserve it for the ages? Pop Up Archive is a start-up aiming to address those challenges. Anne Wootton is the company’s co-founder and CEO, and she joins Adam to discuss Pop Up Archive’s services and approach to growing podcasting. She explains how the company transcribes audio into searchable text that’s also time-indexed, and what kinds of uses that data can be used for, like making audio more shareable. To illustrate, Anne details results from tests Pop Up Archive has been running on audio excerpts of different lengths shared on Twitter. Because she is working both with tech investors and the podcast community, Anne also shares her insights on how podcasting can advance as an industry, and what opportunities exist for podcast producers to grow their audience.

Learn the story behind Hillary Clinton’s headline-grabbing interview on Another Round, along with how Lena Dunham’s new podcast, Women of the Hour, came together. Plus there are many other juicy tidbits for podcast nerds on this episode, as Buzzfeed’s Director of Audio Jenna Weiss-Berman opens up to Adam on a cornucopia of vital topics in public broadcasting and podcasting. She explains why having a diverse staff starts with paying your interns fairly, and why that's good for both creating high quality content and for the bottom line. As a former public radio producer--and still an enormous public radio fan--Jenna challenges the persistent misconception that only public broadcasters can be mission-driven. And she reveals the kind of podcast she really wants to produce, as well as her thoughts on “viral" audio.

Learn the back story of how the case of Adnan Syed came to the attention of Serial producer Sarah Koenig from the person who first contacted her, Rabia Chaudry. Herself an attorney, Rabia now co-hosts her own podcast, Undisclosed, in which she and fellow attorneys Susan Simpson and Colin Miller examine new and existing evidence in the State of Maryland’s case against Adnan. Rabia tells Adam the story of how she contacted and worked with Koenig and explains how the idea for Undisclosed came together. She explains what it’s been like being a beginning podcaster, and then having your show become a runaway hit. She also shares the challenges and rewarding parts of producing Undisclosed, and what listeners can look forward to in forthcoming seasons.

Ryan Hoover is the founder of Product Hunt, a website and online community that has been described as Reddit for tech products. The site recently added a section dedicated to podcasts, and Ryan tells Adam what exactly Product Hunt is, how it got started, and how it works. Unlike many other sites, Product Hunt focuses on individual podcast episodes, rather than shows or series, and Ryan explains the motivation behind that emphasis. He also details how he wants Product Hunt to be home of conversations between podcasters and listeners, and what aspects of the site encourage that interaction. Because discovering new and interesting episodes is a key objective of Product Hunt, Adam asks Ryan how the site can uncover fresh episodes, rather than being focused on the same shows that dominate the charts. Finally, Ryan talks about what podcasters need to do to help build community and engagement.

Adam goes deep into the business of podcasting with Erik Diehn, Midroll Media's VP of Business Development, touching on how Erik finds and signs new shows, how public radio came to dominate the top of the charts, and on the advertising technologies like programmatic buying and ad injection. Erik joined Midroll from New York Public Radio, so Adam asks him why he decided to make the jump last year from the nation's largest public radio station to a comparatively small podcasting startup. Erik then explains what it means to be in charge of business development and how he calls upon the experiences represented on his varied resume in both technology and media to do his unique job. He also details why he thinks it was important for the company to launch the Howl app and platform, and why it's in important evolution in podcasting. Finishing up, Adam asks Erik to unpack the hype around the connected car and predict the effect it will have on podcasting.

Go behind the scenes of the sponsorships that support top public radio podcasts—like This American Life, The Moth, and Serial—with Adam’s guest David Raphael, founder and CEO of Public Media Marketing. David recalls how his career in public media caused him to see an unfilled need among many shows, leading to the founding of PMM. He then explains the differences between selling broadcast sponsorships and podcast ads, both with regard to conforming to FCC standards, and with regard to the very different audience demographics between each medium, even for the same show. Adam and David discuss selling sponsorships for the first season of Serial, and how David is managing sponsors for the highly anticipated second season. Finally, David tackles the question of if podcast-style ads are compromising public radio’s “public-ness” and what advice he would give to podcasters, based on what he’s learned from working with top shows.

Lea Thau is one of the strongest influencers of the modern storytelling style that has taken off in radio, television, advertising, and, of course, podcasting. She is a Peabody Award-winning producer and director, the former executive director of The Moth storytelling organization, and now the creator and host of the podcast Strangers. On this episode Lea tells Adam why she left The Moth and how Strangers came together, explaining the show’s relationship to public radio station KCRW and the Public Radio Exchange’s Radiotopia podcast network. Since Radiotopia is funded through both Kickstarter and sponsorships, Lea touches on the difference, and how listeners respond to hearing her read advertisements. They discuss the recent evolution of storytelling, why Lea is drawn to it, and how the kind of narratives she presents on Strangers differ from journalism. She also shares the process of revealing her life more in the show, and what her advice is for the podcaster who wants to be a good storyteller.

Get the inside scoop on Earwolf, Wolfpop, and now, Howl on this episode of The Wolf Den. Adam’s guests are Midroll Media’s Chief Content Officer Chris Bannon and Senior Producer Gretta Cohn. They shed some light on how they work with the networks’ hosts to develop and hone shows, as well as keep them fresh. Chris and Gretta both joined Midroll from New York Public Radio, so each explains the difference between their previous radio jobs and working in a comparatively fast-moving small startup environment. Adam asks Chris to explain what exactly Howl is and he asks Gretta to explain what makes audio content merit being called “premium.” This leads to a discussion about the wide range of content and audio genres listeners can expect from Howl, while they reveal that there are also new free, ad-supported Earwolf and Wolfpop shows in development. Wrapping up, Gretta and Chris each recommend one new Howl Original show to check out.

Marc Maron joins Adam for this instant-classic episode of The Wolf Den, recorded live on stage at Podcast Movement 2015. Marc shares his thoughts on having President Obama on his own podcast, WTF, and his take on the press coverage that only focused on the president using one particular word on that episode. He then tells the story of how he went from doing his show as “the alternative to suicide,” to having one of the most popular and respected podcasts around. Adam asks Marc if he was making any money early on, and Marc details the journey that started with getting free coffee from a roaster in Madison, Wisconsin, to the current successful formula of ad support and paid subscription archives. Marc then takes some audience questions about the moment when he knew WTF was more than just a personal outlet, the critical importance of making an authentic connection with guests, and his approach to marketing the show.

Breaking news: In a landmark deal for podcasting, Midroll Media has been acquired by E.W. Scripps, a titan of media and journalism, old and new. Adam sits down with Scripps' Chief Digital Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital Media, Adam Symson and Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development, JB Kropp to discuss the new partnership and what it means for the industry. The three discuss how the companies met, how they discovered they share the same vision for non-negotiable free speech and excellent content, and what the future holds as the two companies intertwine. Midroll and E.W. Scripps couldn't be more thrilled to join forces and take podcasting to the next level.

Crissle West is the co-host of the enormously popular podcast The Read, and she joins Adam in The Wolf Den to talk about her experience in podcasting, and growing the diversity of voices heard in the medium. Crissle shares the story of how she met her co-host Kid Fury, started the show with the Loud Speakers network, and then settled into its successful format. She explains that when The Read started the only podcast she listened to was This American Life, in part because there were very few shows featuring people of color then. Now that The Read is popular, Crissle discusses what it’s like to have a loyal fanbase and do sold-out live shows. She also talks about how she is able to make a living from the show—something she did not anticipate—and the value of working with a network. Finally Crissle gives her advice for new podcasters, and predicts what’s in store for her in the next couple of years.

Hollywood meets podcasting with guest Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of The Black List, and host of the Wolfpop show, The Black List Table Reads. Franklin tells Adam Sachs how The Black List began as an informal survey he did just looking for good scripts to read, quickly becoming an annual list of the best unproduced screenplays. In 2012 The Black List launched as a online script database letting screenwriters upload their work to be shared with and evaluated by industry professionals, and Franklin explains how the company’s business is driven by a core mission of finding great stories and helping them get told. Then he tells the story of how the idea for the Table Reads podcast was born, and recalls the day he pitched it to Adam and Wolfpop network curator Paul Scheer. They discuss how the show has evolved over the course of three, four-episode “earmovies,” and Franklin details his goals for it.

One of the podcasting industry's leading observers, Nick Quah, is Adam’s guest on this edition of The Wolf Den. Nick is the editor of Hot Pod email newsletter, which, in less than nine months, has turned into the de facto industry journal for podcasting, becoming a must-read for just about everyone working in the industry. Nick tells Adam how listening to podcasts helped him get through a tough time, and explains what then motivated him to go from being a voracious podcast consumer to publishing his newsletter. Adam asks him about his approach to writing Hot Pod, which leads to a discussion of a situation where Nick got a hot scoop about a much-anticipated new show, and then had to wrestle with the implications and possible outcomes of breaking that news before the official announcement. Nick also shares his hopes for the medium, his predictions for what is to come, and his advice for new podcasters.This episode is sponsored by QuickBooks Self-Employed. Try QuickBooks Self-Employed and receive 50% off at www.tryselfemployed.com/wolfden

Loud Speakers Network co-founder and CEO Chris Morrow joins Adam for an interview that is a must-listen for anyone who has wanted to know how a successful podcast network finds talent and develops shows. Loud Speakers is a hip-hop and urban focused network that started with the Combat Jack Show, hosted by Combat Jack (a/k/a Reggie Osse) who is regarded as the "Charlie Rose of Hip-Hop." Chris tells Adam the kind of shows and talent that Loud Speakers is looking for, holding up the hosts of The Read, Crissle and Kid Fury, as examples of fresh, honest, and authentic voices who have attracted a large and loyal audience. Adam asks Chris about his network's process for developing new shows, which prompts a discussion about both the hard work required and the satisfaction of seeing them come to fruition. This leads to them talking about the constant struggle of balancing a strong brand identity with the flexibility to take on new subjects. Finally, Chris shares his hard-won advice for podcasters looking to launch new shows or start their own networks.

Adam’s guest is Kristoffer Triumf, host and producer of one of the most popular podcasts in Sweden, Värvet. This long-form celebrity interview show has been in production since 2012. Kristoffer talks about what influenced him to get into podcasting. Chief amongst those influences was Marc Maron’s WTF, particularly because of the fact that long-form celebrity interviews were uncommon in Swedish media. He then tells the story of how he started Värvet, and how he got Marc to be one of his first interviews. Kristoffer also discusses the growing Swedish podcast scene, how that scene compares to US podcasting, and why he launched the English-language version of his own podcast, Värvet International. Finally, he shares his hopes and predictions for the future of podcasting.

Veteran podcaster Dan Carlin has been hosting the perennially popular Common Sense podcast since 2005, and in 2014 iTunes named his Hardcore History podcast the best classic podcast of the year. He’s Adam’s guest for this episode of the Wolf Den, detailing the evolution of his chart-topping podcasts over the course of a decade. His Hardcore History show, in particular, is known for having episodes that last as much as several hours, with an irregular release schedule. Dan discusses how this came to be, why he thinks it works for him, and what it takes to pull off what are essentially long, but highly engaging, monologues. He tells Adam how the shows are monetized, and shares his perspective on offering free and paid content. Finally, Dan explains why iTunes made it possible for independent podcasts to succeed alongside ones from established media players, and what the future may hold for his productions.

Public radio veteran Alex Blumberg returns to The Wolf Den, nearly a year after he told then-host Jeff Ullrich about his plans for a new podcasting company. Now Alex is the co-founder and CEO of Gimlet Media, which produces the popular StartUp and ReplyAll podcasts. He documented the founding and the process of raising $1.5 million in capital on the first season of StartUp. Alex tells Adam that the events of the last year have been “shocking,” and recounts the ways in which things turned out how he expected, and the outcomes that surprised him. He and Adam discuss how the breakout podcasts “Serial” and “Invisibilia” have raised the bar for the medium, and why rapid audience growth really qualifies podcast companies as true start ups. Alex also explains the choice to be so personally revealing on StartUp, and the point at which he knew the show and the company was succeeding. He also reveals some teasers about what to expect in the second season of StartUp, which debuts April 23.

Comedian, television host, author, filmmaker and podcaster Adam Carolla joins Adam Sachs on The Wolf Den to discuss the business side of his many endeavors. Carolla recalls that the idea to podcast was born from the fact that his morning show on terrestrial radio was number two online. So, when that gig ended in 2009 he knew where there was a ready audience. He explains how that fit his overall business strategy, which is “somewhere between proactive and reactive,” seizing opportunities and then going with what makes sense along the way. Then Carolla describes the origin of his new motivational “Take a Knee” podcast as part of the subscription-based Adam Carolla Show Archive. Finally, he offers up advice for budding podcasters.

Adam's guest is Micah Rosenbloom, who joins for a lively discussion about the role of podcasting in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Micah is Managing Partner of the Founder Collective, an early stage venture capital firm that funded companies like Buzzfeed, Uber and Maker Bot. Podcast listeners may know him from his appearance on Gimlet Media’s StartUp podcast, in which he advised Gimlet founder Alex Blumberg to find a co-founder (he did). Micah talks about his first job out of college, working at the Endeavor talent agency, and how Hollywood does, and does not, resemble the venture capital world. He tells Adam how many people told him “I heard you on StartUp,” and then they discuss how podcasting can help entrepreneurs build their online persona and market themselves. Finally, Micah reveals his plans for a new podcast project with Midroll.

Cracked Editor-in-Chief Jack O’Brien joins Adam for a repeat Wolf Den appearance. On his first time guesting (episode #32 in 2011) Jack met Jeff Ullrich for the first time, and didn’t even have a podcast yet. Now he hosts the Cracked Podcast, a successful Earwolf show. Jack explains how he became Cracked’s Editor-in-Chief and then the host of that podcast. He also reveals the user-focused strategy behind Cracked’s addictive and shareable articles and how that style gets translated to popular video and podcasts. They wrap up by discussing the similarities between podcast ads and branded content, and why honesty is an important factor for both.

Semil Shah shares a valuable investor’s perspective on the business of podcasting for episode 73 of The Wolf Den. Semil is a venture capital advisor and investor, an active blogger and columnist, and was part of the team that developed and marketed the Swell podcast discovery and listening app that was acquired by Apple last year. Semil gives Adam his recommendations on the ideal podcast episode length, along with some tips on organizing and structuring a podcast, all of which come from listening data. He also takes on the divide between iOS and Android when it comes to support for podcasting, and what that means for the future of Apple’s CarPlay and mobile listening in the car. Finally, Semil provides some advice for entrepreneurs looking to fund podcasting startups.

Time magazine columnist, journalist, and author Joel Stein joins Adam for a spirited discussion that traverses the circuitous pathway between old and new media. Joel talks about why he chose to go with old media when he got out of college in the 90s--even predicting that the big corporations would take over everything on the internet—and why he continues to stick with his choice. However, he does reveal his super-secret podcast project that doesn’t have any listeners yet. Then, Adam asks him about sparking controversy in print, and Joel explains why apologies for offending people almost never work. Finally, he tells Adam why he hasn’t hosted a podcast yet, even though he’s had offers, and, speaking as a listener and media personality, he gives his prognosis for the five-year future of the medium.

Lex Friedman, Midroll’s EVP of Sales and Development, joins Adam to pull the curtain back on this fun “inside Midroll Media” episode of The Wolf Den. Lex tells the story of how he got started selling podcast ads—despite not having a sales background--and then met Earwolf and Midroll founder Jeff Ullrich who brought Lex and his ad company on board as part of an acquihire. Adam and Lex also talk about how Midroll Media compares to your typical startup and the crazy growth the company has seen in the last eighteen months. Finally, Lex discusses how podcasting is maturing as a medium, and how advertisers are starting to book their spots up front, like in television. This is an entertaining deep dive into the business of podcasting that must not be missed.

Noah Shanok is Adam's guest for this edition of The Wolf Den. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Stitcher, the popular on-demand podcast and Internet radio service. Stitcher was an early innovator in podcasting, coming on the scene when Blackberrys were the predominant mobile device, and most people still had to sync their iPods in order to listen on the go. Noah lays out the company's history and evolution from an iTunes plug-in, to a web app, and then to a true mobile platform. He shares his experience with venture capital funding, weighing some of its advantages and disadvantages, along with details about Stitcher's recent acquisition by the Deezer streaming music service. Stitcher is also an early innovator in the automotive space, so Noah tells the story of how the service came to be integrated in the first generation of the Ford Sync smart dashboard platform, leading to integration with other major brands like GM, Subaru, and Jaguar. Finally, he tells Adam his predictions for when on-demand audio will take over the car, and what lies ahead for the future of audience metrics.

Adam’s guest for this episode is the world’s best known astrophysicist--and an amazingly talented podcast host--Neil deGrasse Tyson. In this don’t-miss episode Neil discusses how hosting the StarTalk Radio podcast serves his mission to educate the public about science in a way that is accessible, fun, and—most importantly—informative. He explains that part of podcasting’s strength comes from the fact that “the versatility of pure audio is without equal.” Neil answers Adam’s questions about what he enjoys most and least about doing StarTalk, and if he receives any criticism or push-back from the scientific community for being so engaged with popular culture. Finally, in honor of it being Adam’s birthday on the day they recorded, Neil gives him a special science fact about his time on Earth.

Nerdist Industries President Adam Rymer is the guest for this episode of The Wolf Den, discussing how the Nerdist brand went from being Chris Hardwick’s website and podcast to becoming an agile and fast-growing digital media company, now part of Legendary Entertainment, the studio behind successful movies like Batman Begins, 300 and Interstellar. Adam talks about how Nerdist is both like a modern cable network and a multi-channel network (MCN), but is also different. That’s because Nerdist works with a smaller cadre of carefully chosen talent, but creating content that works on different platforms. He also explains how podcasting fits into the company’s high level strategy, and how the medium is still integral to Nerdist along with being a meaningful part of the bottom line. Finally, Adam lays out some of his vision for the future of Nerdist, which could include feature films or music.

Adam’s guest is the multi-talented actress, comedian, and author Aisha Tyler. Many listeners may know her best for the very popular Girl On Guy podcast, which she hosts and produces. In this conversation Aisha shares how she started out just wanting to be a stand up comedian, but then saw her goals expand as she continued to challenge herself. She explains why--even with her success and commitments like co-hosting CBS’s The Talk--she continues to produce Girl On Guy entirely by herself, and why she considers it her “creative refuge.” Adam asks if Aisha regards herself as an entrepreneur, and she considers the ways in which her approach to life and business matches that descriptor, especially as she works on launching her own brand of spirits. Finally, they discuss the question of how to invite more women to become podcast listeners.

Earwolf and Midroll Media just launched a new podcast network: Wolfpop. Curator Paul Scheer and Podcast Developer Matt Gourley join Adam for this conversation recorded six hours after Wolfpop went live (and an all-nighter for Adam). They talk about how the idea for a pop culture focused network came together, and their strategy for building a slate of shows. Paul and Matt discuss how the focus was first on finding passionate hosts, then helping them develop formats that work best. Then they share some of the process of recruiting the Wolfpop talent--like cold-calling film critic Leonard Maltin, host of Maltin on Movies--and how Paul helped bring people on board by sharing his own experience hosting a podcast within an already busy schedule. Finally, they tackle the reasons for launching with a line-up of more than a dozen shows, and consider the "Waiting for Godot" of podcasting.

Adam’s guest is Chris Erwin, Head of Operations for Big Frame. The company, which was acquired this year by DreamWorks, is often called a multichannel network, or MCN, while Chris describes Big Frame as, "a new-era entertainment company for teens and millennials.” Adam asks Chris to explain more about what MCNs and Big Frame do, especially with regard to developing and managing the careers of digital-first creators, like YouTube stars Ingrid Nilsen, Tyler Oakley and Amanda Steele. Since Earwolf and Midroll Media are digital-first media companies, as well, Adam and Chris talk about the similarities between their businesses, and how they make money for talent. Finally, they discuss what it’s like to work in entertainment tech and in the Silicon Beach of Los Angeles.

As Tim Ferriss explains on this episode of The Wolf Den, he views himself as a teacher who does a lot of self-experimentation and then shares the results in his books like The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Chef, and on his blog. He and Adam discuss Tim’s approach to lifestyle and career design, as well as some key strategies for building an audience. Tim’s podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show , debuted at the top of the iTunes Charts in April and has stayed there since. So they talk extensively about Tim’s methods and recommendations for launching and sustaining a successful show.

Adam’s guest on this episode is James Altucher , a successful entrepreneur, investor, board member, bestselling author, and blogger. He also recently became a podcaster, hosting the popular twice-a-week James Altucher Show and the daily Ask Altucher. They have a spirited conversation about why it’s important to “choose yourself,” which is the title and topic of James’ recent book . James relates this credo to podcasting, which lets producers sidestep the traditional media gatekeepers to reach audiences directly. He also considers the value of podcast advertising, and how sponsors help validate a show. Finally they talk about why James—as an investor and a host/producer—is bullish on podcasting, and how he is improving his craft.