The Grill Room

Oppenheim’s Opus Feb 28, 2025

Former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim sits down with Dylan for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation on the media industry’s uncertain future. He dives into the chaos engulfing MSNBC, shares his unfiltered take on SpinCo, and offers his outlook on the fate of NBC News. Finally, he reveals how he helped bring Netflix’s hit-series ‘Zero Day’ to life.

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30 Rock’s Kutler Era Feb 25, 2025

Axios’s Sara Fischer joins Dylan to scrutinize the dawn of MSNBC’s Rebecca Kutler era, where a wave of personnel and talent changes at 30 Rock aims to steady the embattled legacy mediaco. Sara also offers her assessment of the state of the broadcast news industry and considers whether it has any future in the streaming age.

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A White House Media War Feb 21, 2025

Eriq Gardner joins Dylan to dissect the wave of MAGA-driven lawsuits targeting Trump’s media adversaries. Eriq highlights casino magnate Steve Wynn’s efforts to revive his 2018 defamation suit against the Associated Press, which he hopes is elevated to the Supreme Court, potentially setting the stage for a SCOTUS showdown that could challenge the landmark ‘Times v. Sullivan’ ruling. The duo debate whether a better legal framework exists and suggest how media organizations can navigate these shifting legal battlegrounds.

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Troy Young's A.I. Love Language Feb 18, 2025

Former Hearst Magazines president Troy Young rejoins Dylan for a deep dive into the seismic impact of A.I. on media. He breaks down how A.I. has accelerated the decline of certain media businesses, stresses the urgent need for stronger I.P. protections, and unpacks the high-stakes challenges—and untapped opportunities—legacy brands face in an A.I.-driven future.

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Bonus Episode: Media on the Brink Feb 17, 2025

In this exclusive bonus episode of The Grill Room, Jon Kelly joins Dylan to tackle a handful of hot button topics shaping the media industry: the hunger screams at CBS News, the baffling corporate embrace of Trump 2.0., and Fox News’s continued march into mainstream. They also discuss how storied print publications like ‘The Atlantic’ and ‘The New Yorker’ can future proof their businesses in the age of A.I.

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Emily Sundberg's Indie Media Playbook Feb 14, 2025

Emily Sundberg, creator of Feed Me, joins Dylan for an in-depth look at her meteoric rise as an independent Substacker. Having amassed 60,000 subscribers—and counting—Emily shares how authenticity, adaptability, and audience engagement have fueled her success. She also discusses self-funding her company without outside financing, the potential risks of a fully decentralized media landscape, and her plans to expand beyond Substack while leveraging her growing platform.

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David Remnick on The New Yorker's Centennial Feb 11, 2025

'The New Yorker' editor David Remnick joins Dylan to reflect on his nearly three-decade tenure as the magazine marks its 100th anniversary. He delves into the evolution of the magazine industry over the years, an inside look at sustaining The New Yorker’s unparalleled loyal subscriber base, and how the publication has uniquely blended serious journalism with humor. David also touches on the challenges of navigating the advent of A.I., and how the company is planning for the future

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The Atlantic's A.I. Survival Kit Feb 07, 2025

The Atlantic’s C.E.O. Nick Thompson joins Dylan for a candid conversation about the existential challenges of leading a media company, centered around the looming threats and opportunities of A.I. Nick envisions a media ecosystem where their web presence goes away, and lays out his growth strategy to mitigate the concerns: building the strongest possible direct relationships with readers while cutting out reliance on tech platforms altogether.

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Chuck Todd Unplugged Feb 04, 2025

NBC News vet and former Meet the Press anchor Chuck Todd joins Dylan for a candid conversation about his departure from the network after nearly two decades. He reflects on the decline of media trust, the urgent need to revitalize local journalism, and how the internet has reshaped news consumption. Chuck also scrutinizes the nationalization of politics before the duo switch gears to explore the potential for podcasts to evolve into dynamic, multi-hour programming, à la ESPN’s signature daytime shows.

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Amusing Ourselves to Death Jan 31, 2025

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joins Dylan for a thrilling and sobering deep dive into how social media and smartphones hijacked our brains; how attention became the single most powerful currency in the political economy; and why Donald Trump is singularly effective at commanding it.

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The NFL's Chief Concern Jan 28, 2025

John Ourand joins Dylan for an insider’s look at how the NFL is preparing for the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans—and whether the league is feeling the effects of small-market Chiefs fatigue. The duo also delve into the crucial role of live sports rights in keeping media businesses afloat, and explore how streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix are reshaping the future of sports broadcasting.

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Can CNN Survive the Death of TV? Jan 24, 2025

The New York Times’ Ben Mullin joins Dylan for a deep dive into Mark Thompson’s attempt to transform CNN from a cable television network into a digital and streaming juggernaut. After a round of mass layoffs, the duo contemplate whether CNN as a digital-first enterprise can maintain the network’s influence in a post-linear landscape, and whether Thompson actually has a plan to get there.

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Inside the L.A. Firestorm Jan 17, 2025

NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff joins Dylan to share his unique experience covering the devastating Los Angeles fires, which destroyed his childhood home in Pacific Palisades. Then, as Trump’s inauguration looms with ambitious deportation plans, Jacob provides an inside look at his extensive reporting on immigration at the border.

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Elon’s Biographer Predicts the Future Jan 14, 2025

Ashlee Vance, the former Bloomberg tech reporter and Musk confidant, joins Dylan to discuss his high-risk, high-reward leap into launching his new company, Core Memory, a sci-tech media startup. After a decade-plus entrenched in the world of legacy media, Ashlee offers a glimpse into how he’s approaching his new business venture and leveraging his unique access to cutting-edge technology. Then he and Dylan delve into the transformative potential of A.I. and the interplay between Silicon Valley and Donald Trump.

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CNN's Digital Dreams & WSJ Hunting Season Jan 10, 2025

Jon Kelly joins Dylan to ruminate on a handful of developments across the media landscape: Will Lewis’s fantasy subscriber number for The Washington Post; Emma Tucker’s stalwart leadership at The Wall Street Journal; the latest on Mark Thompson’s CNN digital transformation strategy; and the impending A.I. newsroom revolution.

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Is Netflix the New ESPN? Jan 07, 2025

Ian Orefice, founder of EverWonder Studio and former TIME Studios president, joins Dylan to dig into how live sports has become the next front in the streaming wars. Then they kibitz about EverWonder’s role in producing the record-breaking Netflix Christmas NFL games and whether the Tyson vs. Paul fight represents the future of sports media rights battles to come.

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Trump Media Anxiety & The WaPo Exodus Jan 03, 2025

Semafor co-founder and former BuzzFeed E.I.C. Ben Smith joins Dylan to survey the media landscape heading into 2025. They discuss how news organizations are bracing for the impact of Trump’s return to the Oval, delve into the recent wave of departures at The Washington Post, unpack a few of Semafor’s strategic initiatives, and explore the rising influence of newsletters in shaping media distribution.

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Troy Story 2 Dec 31, 2024

Former Hearst Magazine president Troy Young reunites with Dylan to discuss what lies ahead for the media industry as we turn our calendars to 2025. In particular, they home in on the significant role that A.I. will play in transforming how news is consumed and distributed—and the need for media companies to adapt to new consumer behaviors in order to stay relevant.

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Media’s Biggest Winners & Losers of 2024 Dec 27, 2024

Green room machine John Heilemann joins Dylan to look back on this year in media: the procession of entertainment and tech C.E.O.s kissing Trump’s ring; the headwinds facing Jeff Bezos at The Washington Post; the rise of Elon and twisted power of X; the most significant media macro trends; the industry’s biggest winners and three sorriest losers; and why 2024 was the year of the podcast in politics.

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Axelrod on the Art of the Pod Dec 24, 2024

Famed Democratic strategist and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod joins Dylan for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about podcasting. He reflects on being an early mover in the podcasting space, the art of podcasting, the influence that podcasting has had on our politics and culture, the future of the political-media landscape in the age of Elon, and much more.

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The WaPo National Nightmare Ends Dec 20, 2024

Jon Kelly joins Dylan to discuss Matt Murray’s surprising ascent to the WaPo executive editor job. And then Eriq Gardner swings by to weigh in on Bob Iger’s Trump settlement calculus.

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Why Did ABC News Fold to Trump? Dec 17, 2024

Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins Dylan to scrutinize ABC News’ $15M settlement with Trump, which has everyone in the political-media industry abuzz about the signal this sends to MAGA and its adversaries. While many perceived this to be a very winnable case for ABC News, their striking decision to settle for such a high price tag has led to a myriad of questions surrounding the media climate as we head into Trump 2.0.

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WBD’s New Zazonomics Dec 13, 2024

Bill Cohan joins Dylan to dissect the stark financial calculus behind David Zaslav’s decision to separate Warner Bros. Discovery’s growth assets from its declining linear TV networks—a move that’s made Wall Street practically euphoric. Then they dive into Zaz’s ultimate endgame: to build, to sell, or to spin?

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Barry and The Beast Dec 10, 2024

Legendary media mogul and IAC chairman Barry Diller joins Dylan for a lively discussion on the shifting landscape of the media industry: Will Comcast’s spun-off cable assets thrive as a reimagined bundle or end up being sold to private equity? Do Hollywood heavyweights need greater scale to remain competitive? Can The Daily Beast transform into a powerhouse business? Then they dig into the future of the Democratic Party and Barry’s reasons for optimism in the new era of Trump and Elon.

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Troy Story Dec 06, 2024

Former Hearst Magazines president Troy Young connects with Dylan to probe what went wrong at The Washington Post and CNN, and whether Will Lewis and Mark Thompson can fix their respective companies before the media business changes again.

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What the Hell Happened to CNN+? Dec 03, 2024

Former top CNN executive Andrew Morse joins Dylan to discuss his new career as C.E.O. of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he’s applying the old NYT digital innovation playbook at the local level. Then they dig into his clashes with David Zaslav and Chris Licht, the unceremonious cancellation of CNN+, and the troubles afflicting the media landscape writ large.

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New Right Media’s Billion-Dollar Play Nov 29, 2024

Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the conservative media network The Daily Wire, joins Dylan to explore the surging impact of alternative media on modern politics and deliver his candid critique of legacy media's failures. Then he shares insights into the strategies driving his company’s accelerated growth and discusses what lies ahead as The Daily Wire closes in on surpassing $200 million in revenue.

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Punchbowl’s Big Fish Nov 26, 2024

Punchbowl co-founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer join Dylan to discuss their vertiginous ascent from Politico all-stars to building a veritable Playbook rival. They dive into Punchbowl’s origin story, their tunnel-vision focus on Capitol Hill, the untapped potential of niche subscription markets, experimenting with A.I., and much more.

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MSNBC in Exile Nov 22, 2024

Jon Kelly joins Dylan to discuss the cascading effects of Brian Roberts’ monumental decision to spin off NBCUniversal’s declining cable assets. Then they get into Rachel Maddow’s $125 million contract renegotiation and how MSNBC survives without the NBC mothership.

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Alison Roman Chops It Up Nov 19, 2024

It’s a food media-themed doubleheader in The Grill Room! First, Dylan convenes with The Infatuation C.E.O. Paul Needham, who discusses the economics of his restaurant recommendation empire. Then acclaimed food writer and entrepreneur Alison Roman stops by to discuss her journey from legacy media to entrepreneurship and why her defenestration from The New York Times turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

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Disney Succession Tea Leaves Nov 15, 2024

CNBC's Alex Sherman joins Dylan for the ultimate dish-fest across a series of juicy and mission-critical topics--Disney succession tea leaves, Dana Walden versus the outsiders, John Malone's Maffei moves, NBC's "Roundball Rock" deal blockers, Comcast's cable trial balloon, and much more.

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Legacy Media's Last Stand Nov 12, 2024

Dylan is joined by Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei for a wide-ranging discussion about the most pressing media storylines following Trump’s victory: Musk’s ascension and the future of X, the balkanized media landscape, the Dems’ Joe Rogan problem, the existential challenges facing The Washington Post and CNN, and much, much more.

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The Reverse Trump Bump Nov 08, 2024

Dylan is joined by veteran Republican strategist and never-Trump media darling Tim Miller for an incisive post-election postmortem. Together, they dissect how the election unfolded, examine the failures of Democrats and the media to anticipate this new reality, and discuss what lies ahead for the political-media landscape.

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When Life Gives You Lemon… Nov 05, 2024

Ex-CNN host Don Lemon joins Dylan in The Grill Room to reveal what he’s learned about the electorate from his tour of America’s battleground states. Then they trade war stories about Don’s meteoric rise during the Trump years, his dramatic defenestration from CNN, and his second-act hustle in the post-cable era.

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New York Media's State of Mind Nov 01, 2024

Media reporter Charlotte Klein joins Dylan for a candid conversation about her recently published Power Issue, New York's annual edition highlighting the under-the-radar people shaping the media capital of the world. Then they trade notes on the recurring themes underlying the industry: CNN’s subscription-based business model, CBS News’ D.E.I. shortcomings, WaPo’s reneged Kamala endorsement, whether local news can survive, and much more.

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Brian Williams: One Night Only! Oct 29, 2024

Legendary newsman Brian Williams and his longtime executive producer Jonathan Wald join Dylan to dish about their new election night special for Amazon, the glory days of TV news, its current belt-tightened economics, his own time in the wilderness, why he didn’t take the CBS job, and why he decided to get the band back together for one evening—and what it might portend.

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Introducing: The Grill Room, with Dylan Byers Oct 22, 2024

Finally, a media podcast about what’s actually happening in the media—not the over-sanitized, legal-and-standards-approved version you read online. Every Tuesday and Friday, join Dylan Byers, Puck’s veteran media reporter, as he sits down with television personalities, moguls, political pundits and industry executives for raw, honest, sometimes salacious conversations about the business of media and its biggest egos. “The Grill Room,” an homage to the exclusive dining room within The Four Seasons where a generation of media executives consummated deals and traded gossip, is produced in partnership with Audacy Podcasts, launching October 29.

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