Table for Two Graydon Carter
Apr 10, 2025
Graydon Carter, the former editor of Vanity Fair and co-founder of AIR MAIL, shares his vibrant journey from the glitzy world of 1980s New York journalism to the intimate art of memoir writing. He discusses the thrilling chaos of hosting Oscar parties and his experiences with the celebrated magazine Spy. Carter reflects on the decline of print media, balancing family life while redefining event management, and shares witty anecdotes about managing guest lists. His insights bridge nostalgia and the evolution of magazine culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Accidental Memoir
- Graydon Carter started his memoir accidentally after a conversation with journalist James Fox.
- It made him realize he lived through a magazine golden age.
End of a Golden Age
- The internet and the 2008 financial crash hurt magazines, especially weeklies.
- Newsstands, once ubiquitous, are now practically extinct.
Railroad Days
- Graydon Carter worked as a railroad lineman, living in a boxcar with 11 men.
- This experience taught him about hard work and overcoming his fear of heights.
