Best media podcasts to listen to in 2023

Editor’s note (March 2023): we’re updating and expanding the article listing top podcasts for journalists and media managers, which was originally published in August 2022.

Podcasts are an established popular way to relax, learn something new or to catch up with the news. They are also a great medium to get behind the scenes of journalism, to find out new trends and developments in publishing. 

There are several million podcasts in the world, and among them there are some great podcasts on a wide variety of topics about media, from business models to platforms and magazines. The Fix has compiled a list of 14 great media podcasts to follow – with recommendations for one episode you can start with. Of course, there are many more top media podcasts out there, and this list is far from exhaustive; we tried to balance different approaches, topics, and genres. 

Do you know other media podcasts, especially those focused on Europe? Let us know at newsroom@thefix.media

A new podcast by media veterans Brian Morrissey, Troy Young (we mentioned these two in our list of media newsletters to follow), and Alex Schleifer. It’s a classic 40-60 minutes talk on a list of issues such as AI, open web, media and platforms relationships, trends in journalism, and more. Expect a lot of stories from the podcasters’ work and great insights.

Practical-oriented podcast full of interviews with different publishers, from solo newsletter creators to podcast platform Libsyn or data journalism newswire Stacker. Simon Owens also publishes audio records of Zoom calls with experts and his paid subscribers, talking about building a B2B company or driving subscription revenue.

Weekly British podcast mostly on news and trends around media in the UK, though events from around the world are also discussed regularly. Guest list includes journalists from biggest outlets as well as media professors and former ministers. Every episode usually has two or three guests, making it not a one-on-one interview but an interesting discussion.

Rare podcast on European media, focused on podcasting in this case. RePod host Alexander Damiano Ricci — editorial director of podcast production agency Bulle Media — interviews creators to discuss the news, trends, and innovations in this field on the continent. 

The podcast was launched last November, and has already published an episode with The Fix contributor Dávid Tvrdo?. He discussed podcast metrics, subscription models and the state of the art of the Slovakian podcast market. 

Another British media podcast, this time from the BBC itself. Every episode contains a discussion with several guests, including the now-former Culture minister, professors, producers, and correspondents on a specific topic, mostly in the British context, but sometimes with a more global focus. 

MagCulture launched as a blog in 2006, and has since developed into a multi-channel business about magazines — from a shop and consultancy to events and a podcast. 

The podcast’s host Jeremy Leslie interviews people from across the industry on making a magazine. Every episode usually has a few guests from different magazines, and MagCulture is a great opportunity for them to show their new work and share some tips. 

Digiday is an online media for publishers and marketing specialists, and its weekly podcast features interviews with media managers, top creators, researchers, and marketing leaders.

The Digiday Podcast is most interesting for covering different financial models of the media business. Recent topics include “How Apartment Therapy's Riva Syrop is pivoting its events business around the economic climat?” and “Why Semafor's CRO Rachel Oppenheim is putting clients first while building an entirely ad-based revenue model”.

UK-based outlet Journalism.co.uk was founded over two decades ago with a goal to cover digital news and how the internet shapes journalism. Its weekly podcast is one of the offerings.

The show speaks with newsroom leaders and media experts. Some of the most interesting episodes cover media innovations, from wearable technology in journalism to mobile-first newsrooms.

Media Voices offers “a weekly look at all the news and views from across the media world.” The three hosts start each episode with recapping weekly journalism news, followed by an interview with an interesting media thinker or media leader.

Brian Morrissey, media expert with two decades of experience covering the media industry, hosts a podcast devoted to building and running sustainable media business. 

Paired with Morrissey’s newsletter, the weekly show features interviews with top media managers like Time president Keith Grossman or Protocol president Bennett Richardson, as well as occasional media experts like Axios’ reporter Sara Fischer.

Available to listeners for a price of zero dollars, as host Peter Kafka likes to remind, Recode Media covers the broad topics at the intersection of media, popular culture, and technology.

Sometimes Recode Media brings an interview with a big name, like head of Instagram Adam Mosseri, but our favorite episodes are the ones that dive deep into the nuts and bolts of media management, like an interview with Jessica Lessin of The Information.

This one is actually not a media podcast, but it does devote a couple of episodes per week to media.

Launched in 2021, Puck is a US-based outlet that made a bet on the subscription business, based on the strong personalities of its individual journalists who cover America’s power centers – Wall Street, Washington, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.

Puck’s podcast, The Powers That Be, is daily and is built around discussions of the host Peter Hamby with other Puck’s journalists, including top editor Jon Kelly and media reporter Dylan Byers.

The podcast’s media themes are sometimes too repetitive – the hosts do love to talk about the decline of cable news – but it’s refreshing to sometimes tune out of formal business conversations and listen to some high-quality media gossip.

Longform delivers on its promise of “interviews with writers, journalists, filmmakers, and podcasters about how they do their work” – and does it really well. 

The hosts – the show has three, with each taking turns interviewing guests – get interesting people on the show, ask thoughtful questions, and receive insightful answers. 

We at The Fix also have a podcast! It’s on pause now, but you can listen to the archives and subscribe so you don’t miss our future forays into audio. 

Media Insider dives into the nuts and bolts of media management – product, business models, managing talent and leading organizational change.