Free Daily Podcast Summary
On the Media: Daily Summaries Delivered
by WNYC Studios
On the Media is a weekly show that uses the media as a lens to understand our world. On the Media listeners say the游戏副本 is an essential companion, helping them survive the firehose of media coming at them 24/7. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, the show does not do ‘hot takes’, instead offering listeners context, historical parallels, media analysis and often a much appreciated deep exhale. On the Media hosts have an eye on the nuances and details regularly missed by other outlets which helps listeners understand where they should be paying attention (and what they can afford to ignore). Our media diets have untruths woven in, and inconvenient truths left out. These are the bits explored every week at On the Media.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday50 min
How Extinction Entered the AI Debate
AI researchers are warning that the technology they’re creating could kill us all. On this week’s On the Media, unpacking the feverish debate over the dangers of artificial intelligence. Plus, why people find AI chatbots more convincing than their fellow humans.[01:00] Brooke Gladstone interviews Joshua Rothman, staff writer at The New Yorker, about the competing narratives around AI, which maximize its power on the one hand and minimize it on the other, and how both sides risk misunderstanding the technology and what to do about it. [21:38] Micah Loewinger speaks with Jason Koebler, investigative reporter and co-founder of 404 Media, about the A.I. marketing tactic that’s bombarded Reddit, and why AEO, not SEO, is changing our the internet’s future. [36:05] Micah Loewinger chats with Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing writer for Science, about the growing body of research showing that chatbots can be as, if not more, persuasive than people. Further reading / watching:“Can A.I. ‘Go Rogue’?” by Joshua Rothman“Companies Are Using Reddit to Manipulate ChatGPT and Google AI Search” by Jason Koebler“It Is Trivially Easy to Use Reddit to Manipulate AI Search, Research Suggests,” by Jason Koebler“Powers of persuasion: AI chatbots are becoming experts at changing people’s minds. What gives them an edge?” by Kai Kupferschmidt On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 4 days ago35 min
How To Make A Documentary, With John Wilson
The hit HBO series, How To With John Wilson was huge when it came out during the pandemic, 2020. Wilson begins each episode with a sort of mundane premise like how to split a check with your friends or how to properly throw out batteries, and then cleverly deviates from the idea, inserting delightful and strange interactions filmed on New York’s sidewalks and his poetic narration on city life and beyond.After wrapping 3 seasons of the show, Wilson has a new project, again focused on infrastructure, a feature length movie, titled The History of Concrete, which comes to theaters September 18th. Micah called him up to talk about the state of the documentary industry and the arduous journey behind making the film. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago50 min
Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
I.C.E. agents have targeted Springfield, Ohio since Haitians lost Temporary Protected Status. On this week’s On the Media, a reporter from The Haitian Times describes the culture of fear that has ensued. Plus, how did AI chatbots end up in public school classrooms?[01:00] Brooke Gladstone interviews Wedly Cazy, a reporter for the Haitian Times, who has been closely covering the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, as immigration officials have descended on the area following the end of temporary protected status. [19:54] Micah Loewinger speaks with Julia Angwin, investigative journalist and founder of Proof News, on a massive settlement between Meta and dozens of states over claims that Facebook and Instagram harm kids, and why the deal might not bring about real change. [34:57] OTM producer Molly Rosen speaks with Jessica Winter, staff writer at the New Yorker, about how AI tools have infiltrated schools and what the research says about the impact of AI use on cognitive development.Further reading / watching:“Roadside stops, foot chases and children in hiding as ICE operations intensify in Springfield,” by Wedly Cazy“Family: Ankle monitor distressed Haitian man killed by tanker truck in Springfield,” by Wedly Cazy“As Meta Enters Its Zombie Era, Every Blow Counts,” by Julia Angwin“What Will It Take to Get A.I. Out of Schools?” by Jessica Winter On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago29 min
Dave Jorgenson on Politics in the Influencer Age
On last week's show we devoted a segment to the plague of online influencers making endorsement videos for politicians in exchange for money, but we wanted to hear from a creator's perspective. Host Micah Loewinger sat down with Dave Jorgenson, who, until last year, made videos at the Washington Post where he grew the paper’s TikTok account to nearly 2 million followers. Now he has his own media outlet, called Local News International and his videos cover pretty much anything and everything that makes headlines. This is the extented cut of their conversation. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago50 min
The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth is demanding what he calls “more patriotic” coverage of his cabinet. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the Pentagon is cracking down on its publication, Stars and Stripes. Plus, an investigation reveals that some online content creators have taken money to endorse politicians.[01:00] Brooke Gladstone interviews Max Lederer, the publisher of Stars and Stripes, the independent, award-winning military news outlet within the Defense Department, about the Pentagon’s terminations of himself, the editor-in-chief, and the Middle East reporter, and the agency’s continued attacks on the paper’s congressionally mandated editorial independence. [13:38] Brooke speaks with Paul Waldman, writer of the Substack newsletter, The Cross Section, about how the media attention on Trump’s aide Natalie Harp, also known as “the human printer,” exploded. Plus, how she went from Fox News guest in 2019 to primary shaper of the president’s media consumption. [27:24] Micah sits down with Ken Bensinger, a New York Times media and politics reporter, to talk about his recent investigation into how hundreds of social media content creators are being paid to boost politicians ahead of elections, and not always disclosing it. Plus, Dave Jorgenson, former video producer at the Washington Post and founder of Local News International, speaks to the necessity of adopting standards around things political endorsements and AI use on social media, and how he’s using short-form videos to combat misinformation on the platforms where it flourishes. Further reading / watching:“USS Abraham Lincoln families press Navy leaders over sailors’ mental health,” by Alison Bath“Yes, We Absolutely Should Talk About Natalie Harp,” by Paul Waldman“Influencers Have a Lot to Say About Politics. Many Are Quietly Paid for It,” by Ken Bensinger and Stuart A. Thompson On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago16 min
A Look Back at *The* 9/11 Truther Movie
Next Friday will be the 25th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. On the 20th anniversary we broadcast a piece Micah reported called “9/11 broke our brains” — at that time podcast maven Dan Taberski had just released a series called "9/12" about what changed in America the day after the Twin Towers fell. Included was an interview Taberski did with a documentary filmmaker named Dylan Avery, whose 2005 film Loose Change helped embolden the 9/11 Truther Movement. Micah spoke to Taberski and other guests about why conspiracies theories about the events of 9/11 were (are) so pervasive. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago50 min
Finance Bros Are Coming for the Public Airwaves
Nowadays, scrappy pirate broadcasters rule over shortwave radio. On this week’s On the Media, an unlikely group of finance bros have plans to take over the frequencies for their own gain. In recent years, creative, often music-focused pirate broadcasting has been thriving on shortwave radio. But these surreptitious broadcasters are up against a surprising enemy: Not the FCC, but a deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme completely antithetical to broadcasting. This week we share an episode of The Divided Dial, which first aired last year. Reporter Katie Thornton asks: What do we lose when we give up our public airwaves? On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 weeks ago23 min
How AI Chatbots are Infiltrating Classrooms
The introduction of AI tools and chatbots in classrooms across the United States has prompted an outcry among concerned parents, teachers, and students. OTM producer and new parent Molly Rosen speaks with Jessica Winter, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the article “What Will It Take to Get A.I. Out of Schools?,” about how Google Chromebooks have infiltrated schools and what the research says about the impact of AI use on cognitive development. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Get On the Media 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.
The Media Show
A programme exploring the revolution in media, including social media, breaking news, and misinformation.
On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
A daily examination of current events, history, and complex topics through in-depth conversations and analysis.
The Daily
A daily news podcast covering major global stories with in-depth reporting from The New York Times.
Mo News
Daily news coverage with analysis, interviews, and listener Q&A on global headlines from Mosheh Oinounou and Jill Wagner.
Consider This from NPR
A daily news breakdown that explains a key story and its implications in about 15 minutes.
The Brian Lehrer Show
Discussions on current issues in local and national politics, community matters, and personal life.
Left, Right & Center
A political podcast that examines ideological differences through balanced, in-depth conversations between left and right perspectives.
Here & Now Anytime
Daily news coverage with in-depth stories and special series from NPR and WBUR, hosted by Robin Young and Scott Tong.
What Next | Daily News and Analysis
A daily news podcast that helps you make sense of current events and what they mean for the day ahead.
The Interview
In-depth interviews with influential figures across culture, politics, business, and sports exploring their motivations and impact.
The Ben Shapiro Show
A conservative daily podcast that analyzes news and culture with a principled, no-compromise approach.
The Chris Plante Show
A conservative talk show host analyzes daily news with skepticism toward mainstream media and government narratives.
About On the Media
On the Media is a weekly show that uses the media as a lens to understand our world. On the Media listeners say the游戏副本 is an essential companion, helping them survive the firehose of media coming at them 24/7. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, the show does not do ‘hot takes’, instead offering listeners context, historical parallels, media analysis and often a much appreciated deep exhale. On the Media hosts have an eye on the nuances and details regularly missed by other outlets which helps listeners understand where they should be paying attention (and what they can afford to ignore). Our media diets have untruths woven in, and inconvenient truths left out. These are the bits explored every week at On the Media.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from On the Media 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 On the Media daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of On the Media as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the On the Media 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 On the Media product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by WNYC Studios.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does On the Media release new episodes?
On the Media publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does On the Media cover?
On the Media covers topics including News, History, Politics, Culture, Society & Culture. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting On the Media 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.