Strictly Business

As a veteran of faded Internet giants like AOL and Yahoo, Erika Nardini knows all too well where the digital advertising business went wrong. And now that she's leading a brash content brand of her own, she's determined to steer Barstool away from the kind of bad practices she fears could rear their head again in the podcast space while also breaking new ground in other areas including merchandise and sports betting.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the new NBA season scheduled to tip off Oct. 22, basketball fans have no shortage of options for how they take in the action on the court. But there's an expanding range of viewing experiences beyond linear TV that are evolving in fascinating ways under the oversight of Jeff Marsilio, senior VP of new media for the league, from social media to virtual reality.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abigail Disney and Adrienne Becker joined forces to launch content studio Level Forward in early 2018. The pair have vowed to run Level Forward as a socially conscious, artist friendly banner that strives to open doors for women and people of color through storytelling. The partners discuss the philosophy that underlies the business and the reason why they think the time is right for their approach. Abigail Disney, who is the granddaughter of Walt Disney Co. co-founder Roy O. Disney, also addresses her recent criticism of the Disney company and what she sees as unreasonably high compensation packages for CEO Bob Iger and others. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Favreau has enjoyed a varied career as an actor, producer and writer of some of the most memorable films from the past few decades. But it's his work as a director that showcases his innovative side, particularly his usage of cutting-edge visual effects in films like 'The Lion King' and the upcoming Disney+ series 'The Mandalorian.' In this interview he discusses how he's pioneered new practices without disrupting traditional filmmaking jobs.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debra Lee had a front row seat to the explosive growth of cable television during her 32 years at BET Networks. After making her mark as a leader and as one of only a few African-American female CEOs in media, she’s had some time to reflect on the changing content marketplace since her retirement in 2018. In recent months, Lee has joined the board of AT&T and become CEO of Leading Women Defined, an invitation-only conference series. In a wide-ranging conversation, Lee speaks candidly about how cable missed the threat posed by streaming and the importance of grooming and retaining executives from diverse backgrounds. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of the Toronto International Festival, Variety's Brent Lang sits down with Gunpowder & Sky co-founders Van Toffler and Floris Bauer to discuss the indie film landscape, the need to be flexible when it comes to distributing content, and why it's getting harder to convince young people to buy tickets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Morris is a respected veteran in Hollywood's legal circles for clients like Matthew McConaughey. But he has also carved out a nice side gig for himself in recent years as a critically acclaimed writer of fiction. And his new novel, "Gettysburg," offers a satirical take on a world he knows all too well: Hollywood.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathleen Finch, chief lifestyle brands officer for Discovery Inc., might best be described as the executive in charge of comfort food TV. She oversees 11 brands in the Discovery universe, from Food Network and HGTV to TLC and ID. Finch discusses the opportunities for programming linear lifestyle channels in an on-demand world, and she addresses the tensions in the marketplace between Discovery and some of its independent producer partners.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of Sean Combs' media business discusses the challenges of running the independent company that aims to be a hub for hip-hop culture in all its permutations. Khanna, an alumnus of NBCUniversal and MGM Television, details Revolt's plans to expand its reach with comedy programming and live events.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While 24-hour news networks like Fox News Channel go heavy on opinion, CBSN EVP/GM Christy Tanner discusses how her operation takes a different tack to reach viewers. Not only is CBSN streaming instead of being available on cable TV, but the 5-year-old venture sticks to the facts instead of pandering to partisan viewpoints. That approach has also freed up energy to go deep on substantive topics like climate change and consumer privacy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.