Must-Hear TV: The Podcasts Every TV Executive Has to Listen to
Following my previous post about the books about storytelling that I loved, I was asked to share more resources that I use to expand my knowledge and stay updated. As always, I don’t believe in keeping it to myself and more than happy to share.
I usually start my day by listening to a podcast about storytelling/TV/Content/OTT on my way to work. So here is the list of the six essentials podcasts about media.
Just like last time — leave a comment if you think I missed anything. I’m always happy to discuss the future of content and to learn new things. I even publish interesting findings on an open telegram channel.
Podcasts
My personal favorite:
Hollywood Reporter’s TV’S TOP 5 — Lesley Goldberg, West Coast TV Editor, and Daniel Fienberg, Chief Television Critic, talk all things TV (mainly in the US). Each episode is broken into five segments with real-time television news, a critical look at current and upcoming shows, in-depth interviews with a showrunner or TV exec, and a critics corner. Both Goldberg and Feinberg are passionate about TV, and it is my starting point on Friday for all the latest in the American industry.
The UK perspective:
The Media Podcast — Olly Mann makes this independent podcast that covers the UK media market. Not only TV and not only current events but also a much more philosophical approach to the role of media in our lives and the changing faces of the industry.
The business side:
Variety Strictly Business — One of the first podcasts in the field, which recently celebrated its 100th episode. It is where Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy, and the future of media and entertainment. The level of the episodes depends on the executive — when they’re there to give their usual spiel, it is boring, but when there is an open and honest exec — it can be mind-blowing.
The philosophical approach:
On the Media — An NPR production and the winner of The Peabody Award defines itself as “your guide to examining how the media sausage is made.” Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield examine threats to free speech and government transparency, cast a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories, and unravel hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch and hear. Full disclosure, I may have a particularly soft spot for this excellent podcast because I was interviewed there 15 years ago.
The wild card:
The Streaming Wars — This podcast is an independent, almost underground podcast but I find it very informative. The creators are knowledgeable and give a good overview of the latest developments in this ever-evolving field.
For the TV-Geek:
The Televerse — Kate Kulzick and Noel Kirkpatrick discuss the week’s notable television, covering comedy, genre, drama, and everything in-between, before breaking down a favorite series no longer on the air that listeners may want to pull down off the DVD Shelf.
