Episode 451: Mike Whincup Talks About Modular Attractions, Profitability Through Efficiency and Trends in Inflataparks
In this episode, Mike Whincup, chief ride designer and marketing director at Galaxy MultiRides, discusses the company's modular attraction system, which lets operators swap themed inflatables on a single platform to keep venues fresh and cost‑effective. He explains how modularity drives profitability by reducing build‑out costs—offering roughly a third of the expense of a comparable trampoline park for the same square footage—and by extending the lifespan of high‑wear components through easy replacement. Whincup also shares the evolution of Galaxy’s multi‑ride concept, from the first mechanical bull to a diverse catalog of over 50 interchangeable ride attachments, and highlights emerging trends in inflatable parks that prioritize immersive, adaptable experiences.
Peacock’s Battle for Survival and the Catch 22 of Streaming
The episode dissects Peacock’s ongoing financial woes, noting a $432 million loss this quarter and a cumulative $11 billion deficit since its 2020 launch, despite reaching 44 million U.S. subscribers and strong sports viewership spikes from events like the Winter Olympics and the...
Should Broadcast Networks Scrap Entertainment Programming?
The episode examines the stark divergence between sports and entertainment programming on broadcast networks, highlighting that NFL viewership has risen 30% over 20 years while non‑sports primetime audiences have fallen more than 75%. It argues that because sports, especially the...
What Scares Hollywood’s Top Producers the Most About the State of Movies
In this live CinemaCon episode, legendary producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas discuss the new Filmmakers Council aimed at protecting theatrical exhibition, the fallout from compressed release windows, and the looming Warner‑Paramount merger. They stress that strong, well‑budgeted movies and...
Jason Blum Built a Hit-Making Movie Machine. Does It Still Work?
In this episode, Peter Kafka talks with Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions about the evolution of his low‑budget horror model in an era where theater attendance is declining. Blum explains his original formula—tiny budgets, profit‑sharing with talent, and a high‑volume...
Could Hollywood Actually De-Monopolize?
The episode examines recent antitrust actions affecting major media and entertainment conglomerates, focusing on the blocked $6.2 billion Nexstar‑Tegna TV‑station merger and the jury verdict that Live Nation’s Ticketmaster operates as a monopoly. Host Matt Belony and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw discuss...
Why Sam Altman Spent $100M on 10,000 Viewers
The episode dissects OpenAI’s $100 million acquisition of the tech‑talk livestream TPBN, a daily three‑hour show with 7‑10 K live viewers but massive clip reach. Hosts explain that the deal isn’t about editorial power but about leveraging TPBN’s proven storytelling and marketing...
Episode 449: Ben Thompson Talks About Story-Led Experiences, Connecting IP to Operators and Being a Lifelong Learner
Ben Thompson, CEO of Storyland Locations, discusses how storytelling underpins every aspect of his career—from his early love of narrative, through roles at Mars, Disney, and Merlin, to building story‑led attraction experiences that connect licensed IP with operators. He explains...
The 3 Biggest Stories in Music: Bieber’s Payday, Ye’s Comeback, and $64B for Universal Music Group
The episode breaks down three headline music‑industry stories: Bill Ackman’s $60 billion bid to take Universal Music Group private, Kanye West’s (Ye) tumultuous comeback tour and its fallout with the UK government, and Justin Bieber’s $10 million Coachella set amid rumors about catalog...
The State of Social Media and Silicon Valley with Mike Solana and Nate Silver
In this episode, Mike Solana, CMO of Founders Fund and founder of Pirate Wires, and Nate Silver discuss the turbulent state of social media, Silicon Valley, and the rise of AI amid a wave of political violence and high‑profile attacks...
If We Lost Everything, Here's the Media Company We'd Build (527)
In this episode of This Old Marketing, hosts Joe Polizzi and Robert Rose imagine building a media company from scratch in 2026 with no audience, brand, or team. They explore which formats—newsletters, podcasts, or other digital content—offer the best path...
Hip-Hop Artists Church & AP Release ‘WX1’ Track for Auckland Transport Campaign via FEDERATION
The episode spotlights the new track “WX1” by hip‑hop duo Church & AP, created for an Auckland Transport advertising campaign. The hosts break down the song’s lyrical references to local landmarks, bus routes, and the city’s transport infrastructure, highlighting how...
Podnews Weekly Review
In this brief weekly roundup, James Cridland and Sam Sethi host a rapid-fire panel of podcast industry leaders—including the CEOs of Pod People, Captivate, Buzzsprout, and Blueberry, as well as representatives from Spotify for Podcasters, Descript, and Edison Research—to highlight...
The Masters Meets Amazon Prime Video; Is More Basketball Better for the NCAA Tournaments?; And Gideon Cohen Dishes on What...
The episode covers three main topics: Amazon Prime Video’s debut as a media partner for the early rounds of the Masters and its potential long‑term ambitions in golf; the performance and future of NCAA basketball tournaments, including the rise of...
You Can Now Get Your Podcast Into TuneIn Again
TuneIn has reopened its podcast submission portal, allowing creators to list new shows after a shutdown in February 2024. The broadcaster portal now feeds the directory that powers playback in Tesla vehicles, Sonos speakers and other smart platforms. The move...
Why Hollywood Needs Books More Than Ever
In this episode of The Town, UTA media‑rights partner Jason Richman explains why Hollywood is turning to books like never before, noting that studios now see popular titles as the safest path to theatrical audiences amid a post‑superhero landscape. He...
3 Trends Reshaping the Creator Economy in 2026
In the Q1 2026 episode, the hosts identify three major trends reshaping the creator economy: the explosive growth of live streaming, especially IRL formats; the rise of a lucrative clipping economy that turns live moments into viral short-form content; and...
Final Four Ratings Preview, March Madness Announcer Reviews, MLB-Netflix, WNBA, Tiger and More
The episode dissects the surprising UConn upset over Duke and its impact on the Final Four ratings, highlighting how teams like Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois boost viewership despite UConn’s historically low draw. Hosts John Lewis and Armand Brody debate the...
Episode 447: Anthony Sabo Talks About Maintenance and Operations, Figuring Out the Nuts and Bolts, and Dad-Based Leadership
In Episode 447, VP Anthony Sabo of the Columbus Zoo shares his journey from teenage game attendant to maintenance manager, operations leader, and now senior executive, emphasizing the value of cross‑functional experience in rides and maintenance. He explains how his...
Netflix’s Price Hike and Opening Day Debut. Plus, HBO's ‘Harry Potter’ and the Millennial Nostalgia Era.
The episode breaks down Netflix’s recent price hikes across its ad‑free and ad‑supported tiers, examining how the moves fit into a broader strategy to push users toward the cheaper, ad‑supported plan and boost ad revenue. Hosts discuss the competitive streaming...
Tubi Teams Up with Tiktok, Feat. Rich Bloom & The Verdicts Changing Social Media Forever
In this episode of Creator Upload, Tubi’s GM of Creator Programs, Rich Bloom, explains the new partnership with TikTok to develop long‑form series starring TikTok creators. The deal leverages TikTok’s Spotlight and marketing tools to promote the shows while Tubi...
King YouTube: Who’s Coming for the Crown—And How | Behind the Numbers
In this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Marcus, Ethan Kramer, and analyst Marissa Jones dissect YouTube’s ascent to the top of the media hierarchy, noting its $62 billion revenue haul that now eclipses Disney’s media business. They explore why YouTube’s...
Can D.C. Save Hollywood? Senator Adam Schiff on Bringing Production Home.
In this episode, Senator Adam Schiff discusses a proposed federal tax credit aimed at halting the exodus of film and TV production from Los Angeles. He explains that a 15% baseline credit, stacked on top of state incentives, would make...
Podcast Network Insights: Understanding the Business of Podcast "Networks"
In this episode Greg Wasserman dives into the world of podcast networks, exploring how they form, operate, and differ—from creator‑driven collectives to media‑backed enterprises. He shares insider perspectives on the pros and cons of joining a network, offering practical blueprints...
Media Roundtable
The Media Roundtable preview episode introduces a new season focused on dissecting premium podcasts and their creators, promising weekly deep‑dives into show DNA to help listeners decide where to invest their time and money. It acknowledges current global turbulence—COVID‑19’s Delta...
Sora Is Dead: What Does That Mean for Disney? Plus, ‘The Bachelorette’ Scandal.
The episode examines the abrupt shutdown of OpenAI's video‑generation app Sora and its fallout for Disney, which had invested $1 billion and secured rights to 200 of its characters. Host Matt Bellany and tech reporter Alex Heath discuss why OpenAI reprioritized...
Abundant – What If the Most Radical Act Is Giving?
In this episode of Brave New Coin, director Donald Griswold discusses his documentary *Abundant*, which explores generosity through the lens of non‑directed kidney donation, and explains why the film will launch on the decentralized streaming platform Stuff.io on March 26....
Episode 446: Elizabeth Lugo Talks About Tourism in Mexico, Creating a Culture of Learning and 18,000 Collaborators
In this episode, COO Elizabeth Lugo shares the 30‑year evolution of Grupo Xcaret from a modest 350‑person operation to a tourism powerhouse with 18,000 collaborators, eight parks, multiple hotels, zip‑line and water‑park attractions, and a fleet of ferries and yachts....
Gosling, MBJ, Timmy, and the Biggest Movie Stars Under 50 Power Ranking
In this episode of The Town, hosts Matt Bellany and Lucas Shaw dissect the current hierarchy of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars under 50, using box‑office draw as the sole metric. They debate the merits of Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Gosling, Timothée Chalamet,...
Inside a BOOK Auction
In this episode, Planet Money chronicles its own journey to land a book deal, revealing the hidden economics of publishing—from literary agents pitching the idea, to crafting a proposal, and courting major houses amid industry consolidation. Host Alex Horowitz-Gazi and...
Episode 445: Kevin Williams About the Next Phase of Immersive Technology, Transmedia, and Embracing Your Audience
In this episode, former Disney Imagineer Kevin Williams discusses the evolution of immersive technology—from historic techniques like Pepper's Ghost to modern XR—and how it fuels the rise of transmedia experiences in location‑based entertainment. He highlights emerging trends such as competitive...
Tilly Norwood Creator Defends Her Controversial Synthetic Character
In this episode of The Business, host Kim Masters interviews Aline Vander Veldin, co‑founder of Particle 6 Productions, about her synthetic AI character Tilly Norwood. Vander Veldin explains that Tilly is intended solely for AI‑generated content and is not meant to...
ExpressVPN Announces Widespread Esports Push
ExpressVPN is launching a major esports initiative, securing official partnerships with the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) in EMEA and the Americas, G2 Esports, and the European World of Warcraft guild Method. The deals...
The New Creator Video Play: Moving From Shorts to CTV | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the Behind the Numbers podcast, eMarketer analyst Emmy Liederman moderates a panel with Nicole Marcus of Dick's Sporting Goods and Alison O'Keefe of Best Buy about the evolving creator video landscape and its migration from...
Suno AI Reaches $300M ARR
The episode dives into Suno AI, a leading AI music generation platform that recently hit $300 million in annual recurring revenue and boasts 2 million paid users. Hosts discuss how Suno’s studio lets creators generate individual stems or full tracks, enabling musicians...
Matt Belloni on the Oscars, the Ellisons, and Hollywood’s Next Chapter
In this episode of Channels with Peter Kafka, Puck journalist Matt Belloni breaks down the 2026 Oscars, highlighting Warner Bros.’s final big‑budget campaign with films like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” and the shifting power dynamics after the studio’s...
Episode 444: Marah Rodriguez Talks About Life’s Twists and Turns, Listening and Empathy, and Women in Leadership
In Episode 444, regional VP of sales Marah Rodriguez shares her winding career path—from lifeguard to water safety, a stint in HIV prevention with the Red Cross, and back into the attractions industry with Mobaro—highlighting how listening and empathy have...
A Check-In with SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin
SAG‑AFTRA president Sean Astin entered his term amid a storm of high‑profile disputes, from an FCC clash over Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue to the rise of synthetic performers and a retreat by OpenAI on a controversial opt‑out request. As the union...
Will The Trade Desk Right-Size Its Margins?
The episode dissects the Trade Desk’s ongoing tension over its OpenPath platform, agency relationships, and high margin model, especially in light of recent earnings and competition from Amazon DSP. Guest Sarah Caputo argues that the Trade Desk’s effective take rate...
The Big Creator Breakout in 2026 | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the eMarketer podcast, Principal Analyst Max Willins reveals that U.S. creator earnings are projected to hit $21 billion in 2026, nearly doubling since 2022 and outpacing traditional web‑publisher revenues. He explains how creators have moved from...
Cheaper Audible for Podcast-Lovers
The episode highlights Audible's new $8.99 standard plan, which offers unlimited access to Audible originals, nearly 200 former Wondery+ shows, and one audiobook per month, with a limited-time $5.99 introductory rate. It also covers Apple Podcasts' debut speaking slot at...
Episode 443: David Contreras Talks About Architecture as Entertainment, Balancing Fantasy and Reality, and Developing Leaders
In this episode, David Contreras, COO and founder of Pistol Consortia, shares how his architectural practice blends entertainment design with the rigor of healthcare projects, emphasizing the emotional journey guests experience when entering a space. He discusses the challenges and...
Suno Hits $300M ARR: AI's Impact on the Music Industry
The episode explores the rapid rise of AI-generated music, spotlighting Suno's milestone of 2 million paid subscribers and $300 million in annual recurring revenue, as well as Google's new Lyria 3 model. It discusses how tools like Suno enable creators to generate full...
Suno Hits $300M ARR: AI's Impact on the Music Industry
The episode explores the rapid rise of AI-generated music, focusing on Suno's milestone of 2 million paid subscribers and $300 million ARR, and Google's new Lyria 3 model. The host explains Suno's user-friendly tools for creating full tracks from simple prompts or vocal...
#847 From Semi-Retired to 1.3 Million Views on YouTube Ft. Richard “RJ” Jalichandra
In this episode, host interviews semi‑retired six‑time CEO and YouTube creator Richard “RJ” Jalichandra about how he leveraged YouTube to amass over a million views and build a niche retirement‑focused channel. RJ shares his journey from CEO coaching to YouTube,...
SeedDance 2.0: AI Video Generator
The episode dives into ByteDance's new AI video generator, SeedDance 2.0, highlighting its impressive quality, lack of copyright filters, and the backlash from Hollywood over potential trademark and deep‑fake violations. Hosts discuss practical uses—from filmmakers and advertisers to YouTubers and...
Why some Creators Are Now Back Auditing Their Brand Deals
In this episode, Digiday hosts Tamika Baziel, a B2B creator, who explains why she audited and ultimately severed her partnership with Hootsuite after learning of its collaboration with ICE and concerns about surveillance culture. She details her systematic audit process—using...
A Failure of Soft Powell
In this episode of the Box Office Podcast, host Scott Mendelson and regulars Jeremy Fuster, Lisa Layman, Max Deering, and guest Mariah E. Gates discuss the weekend’s box‑office performance, highlighting the strong hold of the animated hit "GOAT" and the...
Sony Film CEO on Losing ‘Sinners’ and the Endless Big Tech Battle
In this episode, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman discusses Sony’s recent slate—including new Spider‑Man, Jumanji, Resident Evil, and the original animated film Goat—and how the studio thrives without its own streaming platform by partnering with giants like...
Will the Knicks and Rangers Go Private After Another MSG Spin?
The episode examines the recurring speculation that Madison Square Garden’s flagship assets—the New York Knicks and Rangers—might be taken private after another spin-off of MSG’s publicly traded entity. Host and guests discuss the historical discount of MSG stock to its...