Free Daily Podcast Summary
Channels with Peter Kafka: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Vox Media Podcast Network
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting — they’re fully intertwined. And to understand how those worlds work, and what they mean for you, veteran journalist Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers - and gets them to spell it out in plain, BS-free English.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago43 min
Barry Diller on Big Bets, AI, and Knowing When to Walk Away
Barry Diller is 84, still running the company formerly known as IAC , and still making big bets. This summer, he tried to buy MGM Resorts in an $18 billion deal — then walked away.I sat down with Diller live at Business Insider’s Long Play event to talk about why he wanted MGM, what changed, and how he decides when to trust his instincts. We also talk about whether AI can upend Expedia and People Inc. — and why he’s comfortable knowing that he doesn’t really know what the AI era will bring us.Plus: Diller on Netflix, Paramount, YouTube, and why he has no interest in talking about his legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago40 min
You Can't Escape AI. Here's How to Live With It.
AI is already doing much more than most of us realize. So what happens when it starts doing more of your work—and when it starts deciding what work you should hand over? I talk to Wharton professor Ethan Mollick, whose new book is Co-Existence, about the real AI update: why today’s models are radically more capable than the chatbots people remember; how to think about your job and your kids’ careers; why AI may break the system that trains young workers; and why agents that can cancel subscriptions, read your email, and take action on your behalf are both useful and unnerving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago53 min
Netflix in Turmoil + Derek Thompson on AI & The Antisocial Century
It feels like 2022 all over again: Netflix has hit a wall, and is scrambling to respond. That means layoffs, a purge of its top content people and… what else? Then Derek Thompson — one of the guys Barack Obama reportedly reads to keep on top of tech — gives me his blunt summary of Substack economics: “Dimes for analysis, dollars for facts, and Benjamins for facts about AI.” We talk about why the US is building data centers but not houses, why podcasts are turning into TV, and why the screens that fill our free time may also be making us more antisocial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago48 min
How to Run a Political Campaign in the TikTok Era (And How Not To)
Most of us stopped watching traditional TV a long time ago. Political campaigns, meanwhile, still spend most of their ad money there.Rob Flaherty has been trying to change that from inside Democratic politics. He’s been the digital guy for Hilary Clinton, and then Joe Biden, and then Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign. (Here’s his post-mortem of that one.) Now he runs a political shop of his own. We talk about why campaigns are still built around TV ads; why campaign consultants have financial incentives to keep buying them; and what it takes to reach voters who live on TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, group chats, and algorithmic feeds instead. We also talk about the difference between paying creators and earning their attention, why some candidates can make social media work without becoming AOC or Zohran Mamdani, and why the next real wave of political innovation may come from the 2028 primaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Oct 7, 20261h 1m
Larry Ellison’s Media Ambitions & Kevin Roose on AI’s Biggest Gamble
Larry Ellison bought his son a media empire. What does he want from it? Vanity Fair’s Tom Dotan joins me to talk about the billionaire behind Paramount and Warner Bros., his connection to TikTok, and his politics. Tom’s reporting suggests there may be less of a master plan than you’d think. We also discuss why even Ellison’s enormous fortune has limits—and how his media bets are tied to Oracle’s AI gamble.Then, Kevin Roose joins me to discuss his new book, The AGI Chronicles, and a question I keep coming back to: Why did people who think AI could destroy humanity work so hard to build it? We talk about whether those same people can be trusted to slow things down, and I push Kevin on the gap between AI’s promises and what most of us experience. Plus: Why he left The New York Times to build a media business with Casey Newton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Sep 30, 202644 min
David Ellison's Paramount-Warner Empire & The Fight That Comes Next
David Ellison has won Warner Bros. Discovery. Now he has to figure out what, exactly, to do with it. LightShed analyst Rich Greenfield joins me to talk through the next version of the Paramount-Warner empire: Why Ellison wants to be Netflix; why CBS and the NFL still matter so much; and why simply bolting Paramount+ onto HBO Max won’t magically create a winning streamer. Then we zoom out to the much bigger problem for Hollywood: AI is making it easier and cheaper to create video, which could mean an explosion of stuff to watch — and a real challenge to the value of giant movie and TV libraries. Rich thinks the winners will need to become platforms, not just studios. We also talk about Meta’s Muse, and why Rich thinks it could be a much bigger deal than people realize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Sep 23, 202640 min
Meta's New $1300 Glasses and the Fight to Control AI
I went to Meta’s Silicon Valley headquarters to try Mark Zuckerberg’s newest face computer: a $1,300 pair of virtual-reality glasses that are much lighter and cheaper than Apple’s Vision Pro, and still make you ask a very basic question: What am I supposed to do with this thing?So I asked my pal Mike Isaac, the New York Times tech reporter and longtime Meta watcher. We talked about why Meta keeps spending billions trying to put computers on our heads, why this version might have a better shot than the last ones, and where Meta’s fast-growing Muse AI agent fits into the company’s plan.Then we turn to the much bigger—and darker—AI story Mike has been reporting on: The fight over whether the companies racing to build more powerful AI systems can actually control them. What are the real risks? Who gets to decide what counts as “safe enough”? And what happens when the people building this stuff say they can’t afford to slow down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Sep 16, 202640 min
AI Wants to Shop for You. What Could Go Wrong?
AI companies have spent years telling us that we’ll be able to use them to go shopping for us, or book us airplane tickets, or get us awesome restaurant reservations. None of that ever materialized.But in the last few weeks, services like Instinct and Meta’s Muse have made that promise feel much less theoretical. Are they actually ready? What’s holding them back? And, crucially: Do we even want them doing this stuff for us? My pal Jason Del Rey, a longtime journalist who now writes The Aisle newsletter, spends all his time learning and thinking about this stuff. We talk about what “agentic shopping” really means, why it’s been harder to build than Silicon Valley expected, and what happens if it finally works: Who wins, who gets cut out, what happens to advertising — and why Amazon may have more to lose than almost anyone. And since you’re here: Channels listeners can start a 30-day free trial of The Aisle here. Or if Jason already sold you, subscribe today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get Channels with Peter Kafka summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Solutions with Henry Blodget
Henry Blodget interviews experts in business, tech, and politics about practical solutions for building a better future.
The AI XR Podcast.
Insightful interviews with tech founders and executives on AI, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the future of spatial computing.
Uncanny Valley | WIRED
Examines power and influence in Silicon Valley through interviews and reporting on major tech stories.
On with Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher conducts candid, in-depth interviews with influential figures in tech, business, media, and politics.
Pivot
Sharp, unfiltered analysis of tech, business, and politics with bold predictions and lively debate.
Decoder with Nilay Patel
Conversations with innovators and policymakers exploring the impact of technology and business on the future.
Prof G Markets
Daily market news and analysis on earnings, geopolitics, Big Tech, and AI with clear, no-jargon insights.
Crazy/Genius
Explores how the internet shapes society, politics, and reality through discussions on AI, misinformation, and digital culture.
Sources with Alex Heath
A podcast offering insider interviews with influential tech leaders and rising entrepreneurs shaping Silicon Valley's future.
The Ezra Klein Show
Conversations on pressing political, social, and cultural issues with experts and thinkers.
The Nick, Dick and Paul Show
iHeartPodcasts
Tech Won't Save Us
A critical look at the tech industry’s influence on society and the political consequences of its promises.
About Channels with Peter Kafka
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting — they’re fully intertwined. And to understand how those worlds work, and what they mean for you, veteran journalist Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers - and gets them to spell it out in plain, BS-free English.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Channels with Peter Kafka in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Channels with Peter Kafka daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Channels with Peter Kafka as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Channels with Peter Kafka podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Channels with Peter Kafka product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Vox Media Podcast Network.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Channels with Peter Kafka release new episodes?
Channels with Peter Kafka publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Channels with Peter Kafka cover?
Channels with Peter Kafka covers topics including News, Technology, Business, Film, TV & Film. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Channels with Peter Kafka summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.