The Grill Room

Latest Episodes:

Who Watches the Bots? Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Campbell Brown, the former CNN veteran and founder of Forum AI, joins Dylan to explain why A.I. companies shouldn’t be trusted to evaluate themselves—and why the industry’s self-grading habit may be its worst blind spot. Then they debate whether media outlets that are hesitant to reckon with A.I. are just accelerating their own obsolescence.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

The New York Times’ Russini Reckoning Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Julia and Dylan reconvene to pull on every thread from The New York Times’ sprawling exposé on former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini. They dig into the journalism scandal at the heart of the piece, what it really means to be an insider versus a reporter, and how The Times balances standards and ethics as it grows its business, courts new audiences, and elevates its own stars—all while protecting the legacy institution it’s built.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

The Silicon Valley Comms Manifesto Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Lulu Cheng Meservey, the communications guru and founder of Rostra, joins Dylan to make the case that traditional media and P.R. are dead, and that founders are better off talking directly to their audiences than waiting for others to tell their story. She breaks down how to balance the demands of publicity with actually building a worthwhile product, and suggests why founders who show up, build trust, and align their incentives tend to win in the long run.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

Roku, Vox, and More Bari Madness Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Dylan and Julia trade notes on a gigantic week in media: Lachlan Murdoch’s $22 billion move on Roku, Jay Penske scooping up the Vox Media scraps, and the tortured hunt for a new No. 2 to run CNN and CBS with Bari Weiss.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

Lazarus Rises Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Versant C.E.O. Mark Lazarus joins Dylan to make the bull case for the cable business everyone keeps pronouncing dead, and his four-vertical strategy anchored by MS Now, CNBC, Golf Channel, and Fandango. They also discuss MS Now’s digital expansion, Crooked Media’s licensing deal, and other media topics du jour.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

The Next Creator Gold Rush Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Dylan and Julia relive the Knicks' instant-classic Game 4 win at MSG and break down the cultural spectacle that is Celebrity Row. They then dive into the latest seismic shocks in the creator economy: CAA and Integrated Media's $250 million venture, Billy Parks' Creator Studios at Fox, and the Times' plan for Substack creators.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

Fox One's Big Moment Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Dylan sits down with Fox One head Pete Distad to discuss why the World Cup is a make-or-break moment for Fox's streaming service. They dive into the platform's new features designed to pull in and retain fans and why sports fans are sticking around for Fox News in greater numbers than anticipated.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

60 Minutes' Ticking Time Bomb Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Dylan and Julia sit down to discuss the chaos unfolding at CBS, with the addition of Nick Bilton and the loss of Scott Pelley et al. They talk about how strong-minded leadership without relevant experience might impact the network's ability to retain top talent going forward and whether the still-valuable 60 Minutes brand can survive its reinvention.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

Joanna Stern’s A.I. Playbook Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Dylan and Julia welcome tech reporter Joanna Stern, who after 12 years at the Wall Street Journal recently went independent — launching a newsletter called New Things, joining NBC News as a contributor, and publishing a new book on A.I., I Am Not a Robot. They also get into the state of A.I. wearables and the role of A.I. agents in decision-making at all levels.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠

Can Nick Bilton Fix ‘60’? May 29, 2026

Show notes

Dylan and Julia get right down to brass tacks with the latest shocks in the Bari Weiss–CBS News psychodrama: the firing of Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and the stunning appointment of Nick Bilton—a magazine journalist without TV news experience—to replace Tanya Simon as executive producer. Then they turn to the challenges of managing a news program, the friction between staff and new leadership at ‘60 Minutes,’ and whether Bari and Bilton will save or kill the half-century-old franchise.

See all the ways bp is driving American energy forward at ⁠⁠⁠bp.com/InvestingInAmerica.⁠⁠⁠

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