The latest media trend: don't just start a podcast, create a network
+ Advice from someone who's stayed ahead of the media curve his entire career.
quick summary ⚡️
Why journalists and creators are building their own network [and career advice from someone doing it]
Cultural gems: The morning routine taking over TikTok, Gen Zs like Millennials now and more
How to stop chasing trends and get ahead of them
trending: first it was a podcast. now it’s a media empire.
Trend alert: More and more creators are launching their own podcast networks. Not just to launch a show, but to build something bigger.
As traditional media companies cut back and ad dollars get tighter, former anchors, journalists, and producers are deciding not to wait for a green light. They’re building their own platforms, owning their audiences, and creating space for the kinds of conversations that legacy media often overlooks.
This shift isn’t just about journalism. Look at Alex Cooper, who turned Call Her Daddy into The Unwell Network and now backs other creators. Or Lauryn Bosstick, who expanded The Skinny Confidential into a full lifestyle brand under Dear Media.
And then there’s Megyn Kelly, who recently launched MK Media, a full podcast network featuring voices across politics and pop culture. The message is clear: creators don’t just want to host shows. They want to own the ecosystem.
One name dropped in this week’s Hollywood Reporter write-up on MK Media? Steve Krakauer. He’ll be overseeing the network’s show, and he’s been on this path for years, from launching his Fourth Watch podcast and newsletter to literally pitching a job that didn’t exist yet at CNN.
His advice for anyone thinking about taking the leap?
“One thing that I've always believed is if you're able to do something, just try it. No matter what it is. Things that feel like they might be a waste of time, even if they are a waste of time, are good experiences.”
It definitely takes that attitude to make it in this new world of creator-drive media empires. [Like, do we think Alex Cooper is thinking this about her time with Alix Earle…?]
Steve is an old friend and former NBC / CNN colleague of
’s, and a couple of years ago, he gave MTD an inside look at how thinks about building outside the system and making pivots before they’re popular. In fact, his POV feels even more relevant today than it was when we last chatted.🔮 Read it here and use this approach for your next big pitch.
💎cultural gems💎
The moments and news catching our attention this week:
TIKTOK APPEARS TO BE HERE TO STAY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US?, ny times
“TikTok’s effectiveness at keeping people scrolling has been a topic of widespread concern among parents and academic researchers who wonder whether people could be considered addicted to the app, similar to video game addiction.”
HOW A MORNING ROUTINE TAKES OVER THE INTERNET, STEP BY STEP, vulture
“There’s a certain video of an alarmingly muscular man’s morning routine that brought me and millions of other people incalculable joy this weekend, and for good reason.”
GEN Z IS FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE CHARM AND ‘CRINGE’ OF MILLENNIALS, nbc news
“That millennial era of like, BuzzFeed quizzes and … mustaches, nerdcore and … hipsters, is very much, like, delightfully cringe, but in a very wholesome way.”
YOU’RE FOLLOWING THE WRONG NEW YORK CITY INFLUENCERS, the cut
“When it comes to what we’re consuming, even if it’s boring, creator Jazmine Brown says, ‘we’re not helpless to what comes across our page.’”
be ahead of the curve
The trends behind our Monday newsletter paywall? They’re the ones shaping the strategy decks two weeks from now. The smartest creators aren’t chasing trends, they’re getting ahead of them.
This week’s paid post breaks down two shifts you’ll want on your radar: The rise of niche communities on Substack [+ the official debut of #MomStack] with a curated list of moms to follow AND a breakdown of the under-the-radar trends that are shaping brand strategy.
If you’re serious about leveling up your social strategy, these are the signals worth paying attention to this week. Upgrade your subscription to premium for weekly insights on what’s shaping culture *before * it hits the feed (and thank you always for the support!) ⬇️
Gen Z are getting old and soft 😂