Best Peter Kafka Podcasts (2025)

1
The Great Rebundling — With Peter Kafka and Brian Morrissey 27:51

1d ago27:51

27:51

The media industry has spent the last decade talking about its own decline — but where is it actually headed? This week on Mixed Signals, Ben kicks off a special three-part crossover with Peter Kafka of Channels and Brian Morrissey of The Rebooting. In part one of the conversation, the three discuss the future of media bundles, why everyone seems t…

1
On the hunt for media optimism, with Semafor’s Ben Smith and The Rebooting’s Brian Morrissey 30:22

1d ago30:22

30:22

Here’s one where we try to do two things at once: Have a convo about green shoots in media with two smart guys who know media really well — Semafor’s Ben Smith and The Rebooting’s Brian Morrissey. Try to find new audiences for our respective podcasts, by cutting up that conversation into 3 parts, and distributing those parts to our respective feeds…

1
Professional optimist Cleo Abram on tech’s bright future 45:24

5h ago45:24

45:24

Cleo Abram left Vox and started her YouTube show, Huge If True, 3 years ago. Since then, the channel has grown to nearly 6 million subscribers and she’s become one of the most important tech journalists in the world. This week, Ben and Max talk to Cleo about why she started an optimistic show in an age of pessimism, the time she got space-sick in z…

1
Scott Frank on Netflix, the future of Hollywood, and Dept. Q 47:42

2d ago47:42

47:42

Scott Frank used to write great movies, like “Out of Sight.” Now he’s a Netflix guy, and a super successful one: he made “Godless,” a horses-and-everything Western for the streamer, then had a pandemic-era phenomenon with “The Queen’s Gambit.” Now he’s back with “Dept. Q”, his take on the British mystery genre. You can find that one on Netflix’s to…

1
Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons on how food ate media 38:18

7d ago38:18

38:18

Top Chef, which is airing its 22nd season finale next week, has been shaping how we think and talk about food for the past 2 decades. This week, Ben and Max talk to Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, longtime judges since the first season, about how the show influenced the restaurant industry, how food media has changed, and why the show has gotten ni…

1
Bluesky Wasn’t Supposed to be a Twitter Rival. Now It Is. 38:01

9d ago38:01

38:01

I admit it: I most definitely rolled my eyes in 2019, when Twitter announced vague plans to build an "open and decentralized standard for social media". At the time I didn't really understand what then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was trying to do — or why the head of a social media company with plenty of problems was messing around with plans to create…

1
Adapt or Die: The Youth Spy Who Sparked a Passion for Discipline | Stormbreaker BOOK REVIEW 8:25

10d ago8:25

8:25

A 14-year-old is thrust into the shadow world of espionage, where every move is a fight to survive—and grow up fast. My book review on an oldie but a goodie, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horrowitz (00:00) – You're Never Too Young to Die (00:47) – First Encounter at 14 (02:15) – Spy Fantasy Meets Realism (03:38) – Plot Recap & Absurd Action (05:41) – Phi…

1
Adam Friedland on comedy, TV, and whether he’s the Joe Rogan of the left 34:15

14d ago34:15

34:15

Adam Friedland represents a new kind of comedian—one who rose up through podcasting and now hosts a late night-style weekly interview show… on YouTube. This week, Ben and Max bring on the comedian to talk about why he’s reviving a 1960s Dick Cavett-style talk show for the Internet, if podcasts have become too dumb, and whether he’s the long anticip…

1
How to Reinvent a Magazine, with Wired’s Katie Drummond 51:58

16d ago51:58

51:58

Today we’re talking about how you take a media property that’s been around for a long time, and find a way to bring in new eyeballs — and new revenue. That property is Wired — the place that told you about the internet before the internet even existed — and the person who’s reviving it is Katie Drummond, who has been running the property for a coup…

1
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Bucket: Real-World Laws for Life & Leadership 12:52

17d ago12:52

12:52

In this episode, I explore the concrete takeaways from The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. These aren’t abstract ideals—they're raw, lived-in lessons. From why your mind and body are your first foundation, to how meaningful questions shape behaviour, this reflection dives deep into the book’s most impactful ideas and challenges conventional wisd…

1
Episode #229 - Kafka and Totalitarianism (Arendt, Adorno) 31:23

20d ago31:23

31:23

Today we talk about Kafka's book The Castle and how the symbolism is interpreted by two powerhouse philosophers: Theodore Adorno and Hannah Arendt. Hope you love it! :) Sponsors: Incogni: https://www.Incogni.com/philothis Quince: https://www.QUINCE.com/pt ZocDoc: https://www.ZocDoc.com/PHILO Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this with…

1
Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin on explaining the world — and podcasting with your ex 39:48

21d ago39:48

39:48

Christiane Amanpour has been on the front lines of global media since the 80s, while her ex-husband, Jamie Rubin, held top State Department jobs in the Clinton and Biden administrations. Now, with Jamie freshly out of the White House, they’ve come back together to make a podcast. This week, Ben and Max bring on the divorced couple to talk about why…

1
Meta's Adam Mosseri explains how Instagram really works - and how he wants to build Threads 1:02:46

23d ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Adam Mosseri's official title is head of Instagram, Meta's massive photo and video app. He also runs Threads, the Twitter clone the company launched two years ago. Unofficially, he's become one of Meta's chief explainers, frequently jumping on social media to defend and proselytize on behalf of his employer. So when I got a chance to interview Moss…

1
33 Laws For Life & Business: A Tactical Review of Steven Bartlett's Philosophy 9:33

24d ago9:33

9:33

In this Mere Mortals book review, we dive into The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett—an energetic, story-driven guide to business and life. This isn’t your typical theory-heavy read; it’s a tactical, quote-filled journey through 33 digestible laws forged from real experience. From mastering your skill set to navigating reputation and network, this …

1
'Substack isn’t cool,' gatekeepers are, and other strong opinions from tastemaker Chris Black 54:03

28d ago54:03

54:03

Chris Black has gone from managing a pop-punk band to becoming a fashion-world insider, podcast host, and brand consultant for labels like J. Crew and Thom Browne. This week, Ben and Max bring on the How Long Gone co-host to talk about building a cult hit podcast, the surprising comeback of media gatekeepers in 2025, and why he still believes in th…

1
How Apple trapped itself in China 1:11:32

1M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

The iPhone you’re reading this on was made in China. For a long time, that fact was a huge part of Apple’s success story: Working hand-in-hand, Apple and China built a sophisticated supply chain that let Apple manufacture very complicated technology at an enormous scale. Now that relationship seems like Apple’s achilles heel, says Patrick McGee. Mc…

1
Mobs & Crazes | Extraordinary Popular Delusions & The Madness Of Crowds (Charles Mackay) BOOK REVIEW 40:37

1M ago40:37

40:37

The best example of human madness is found across the ages. 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & The Madness Of Crowds' by Charles Mackay is a mammoth examination of the most ridiculous crazes across history, whether they be funny, bad or horrendous. Charles details some of the more well known financial bubbles (South Sea, Mississippi, Tulip Mania) b…

1
Alla Conquista della Luna – Audiolibro Completo | Fantascienza e Avventura di Emilio Salgari 23:58

1M ago23:58

23:58

🌕 Parti per un viaggio straordinario con Alla Conquista della Luna, un raro e affascinante racconto di Emilio Salgari, ora disponibile in audiolibro completo in italiano.Tra sogni, ingegno umano e spirito d’esplorazione, questo testo ci proietta in un mondo dove la conquista dello spazio è già immaginata con straordinaria fantasia.📚 In questo audio…

1
Episode #228 ... Albert Camus - Kafka and The Fall 30:45

1M ago30:45

30:45

Today we talk about Camus' book The Fall and what the main character represents in his larger project. We also talk about someone Camus deeply admired, Franz Kafka, and how to think of the images he created in his work. We talk about the experience of the modern individual in relation to politics. We also talk about what Camus and Kafka disagreed o…

1
Clay Travis on mixing sports and politics, his ‘pudding strike,’ and the billion-dollar bet on sports gambling 57:39

1M ago57:39

57:39

Clay Travis started his career with a stunt on his blog involving a pudding strike and NFL streaming rights. From roots in new media, he founded OutKick, a conservative sports and politics site that Fox Corp acquired in 2021. This week, Ben and Max bring on the outspoken media entrepreneur to discuss how sports and conservative politics have become…

1
Ian Rogers tells me I need a crypto wallet 1:08:41

1M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

I wanted to talk to Ian Rogers about his fascinating career. He wanted to talk to me about Ledger, the crypto wallet company he’s working at now. So we did both things. Background: Rogers was an important figure in the digital music business, back when the music business was being fundamentally reshaped by digital. He helped the Beastie Boys get on…

1
How I Choose Books | Techniques To Find & Prefilter Enjoyable Reads 35:34

1M ago35:34

35:34

Why don't I read recently published books? Today is a special episode where I am going over how I find new books, ways I actively try to avoid wasting my time & some little tricks & tips to get the most out of your reading. Would love to hear your feedback and appreciate any support you wish to give :) Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:11) Finding …

1
How to fight Apple and (maybe) win, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney 37:43

1M ago37:43

37:43

Today's podcast is an in-depth discussion of Apple's App Store rules and how they... wait! Don't leave! I could try to tell you why Apple's App Store rules are important to both Apple and the digital economy (sadly, I just realized I've been covering them for nearly 15 years, so they better be important). But a better messenger for that task is Tim…

1
L’Imbecille – Audiolibro Completo | Luigi Pirandello e l’Arte dell’Assurdo 19:50

1M ago19:50

19:50

🎧 Ascolta L’Imbecille, uno dei racconti più intensi e paradossali di Luigi Pirandello, letto in formato audiolibro completo in italiano.Una riflessione tagliente sulla percezione, la follia e il confine sottile tra verità e assurdo — temi ricorrenti nell’opera del premio Nobel per la letteratura.📜 In questo racconto, Pirandello ci porta in un episo…

1
Jen Psaki on her journey from politics to cable, what the Trump White House is doing right — and whether there was a Biden cover-up 44:25

1M ago44:25

44:25

Jen Psaki has gone from being a behind-the-scenes political staffer, to running the White House briefing room under President Joe Biden, to now hosting a primetime show on MSNBC. This week, Ben and Max bring on the former press secretary to talk about what it means to be a cable news host in 2025, how podcasts are changing how TV works, and what sh…

1
Tariffs, Trump, TikTok: What’s going to happen to ads in 2025? 58:50

1M ago58:50

58:50

There are all kinds of ways to measure the health of an economy. The one I rely on is ad spending. One reason for that is simple: I work in ad-supported businesses, so I want to know about things are going to affect me personally. A less self-interested reason: The health of the ad business is tied directly to the way companies feel about their ove…

1
Small Snippets Of Counter-Wisdom | A Primer For Forgetting (Lewis Hyde) BOOK REVIEW 23:25

1M ago23:25

23:25

What was I reviewing again? 'A Primer For Forgetting' by Lewis Hyde is a collection of intimate thoughts, stories, poems, mythological tales & quips. The primary theme is around forgetting & how this can be beneficial for an individual or groups, particularly when it relates to trauma. It's split into 4 parts (that he calls notebooks) about myth, s…

1
Ezra Klein on Trump, Sanity, and Podcasting 48:58

2M ago48:58

48:58

Ezra Klein is on a book tour — you may have heard his voice on some of your other favorite podcasts talking about Abundance. Today, Ben and Max also talk to The New York Times columnist and host… but you won’t hear anything about the book (so you’ll just have to buy it). Instead, they ask Ezra what he’s learned about the media and podcasting throug…

1
Lettera al Padre – Audiolibro Completo La Confessione Intima di Franz Kafka 1:42:58

2M ago1:42:58

1:42:58

🎧 Ascolta l’intensa e toccante "Lettera al Padre" di Franz Kafka, letta in versione audiolibro completo in italiano. In questo scritto profondamente personale, Kafka si rivolge al padre con una confessione carica di dolore, introspezione e riflessione esistenziale.📜 Questo testo, mai pubblicato in vita dall'autore, è uno degli scritti più potenti d…

1
Roblox CEO David Baszucki knows what your kids are doing. 48:08

2M ago48:08

48:08

Every day some 85 million people - most of them kids - show up to play, chat and spend money on Roblox. That’s a massive audience just about any tech or media company would like to have. But David Baszucki wants more: He thinks his platform can eventually command 10% of the worldwide gaming market. I spent time talking to Baszucki about those ambit…

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