The Grill Room

Latest Episodes:

Can Bari Save CBS? Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

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.

The MAGA Creator Industrial Complex Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

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.

Hollywood’s Sora 2 Panic & Zuck’s Vibes Play Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

The $25M Bloomberg of Travel Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

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

Introducing Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

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.

Trump’s Free Speech Paradox Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

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

Disney’s Kimmel Pivot & Ellison’s WBD Lasso Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

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

Disney’s F.C.C. Fear Factor Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

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

Meredith Kopit Levien’s New New York Times Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

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

Rupert’s Last Rodeo & CNN’s Zombie Era Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

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

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