Strictly Business

Producer Colin Callender is known for his excellent taste and strong relationship with stars, but he's also been an innovator in the financing and distribution of international co-productions. After more than 20 years with HBO, Callender launched Playground in 2012. The company has a big presence in TV this year with the adaptations of “Howard’s End” for Starz and the BBC, “King Lear” for the BBC and Amazon, and “Little Women” for the BBC and PBS. Here he discusses the ins and outs of international co-productions and his work in theater, which includes Broadway smash “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of Group Nine, a portfolio of digital brands including Thrillist, NowThis and Seeker, reflects on his company's first year with the backing of Discovery Communications. While he feels he's bringing the best of traditional and new media together, Lerer is still finding his way as he contends with the challenges of dealing with powerful platforms like Facebook and producing his venture's first TV shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HBO's top executive gets candid about what it takes to hold his own against fast-growing streaming services like Netflix and Amazon as he navigates one of the fiercest competitive environments in his company's 45-year history. He also discusses what the future has in store for top hits including "Game of Thrones" and "Big Little Lies." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz are business partners in the production and management company SMAC Entertainment. Michael is all over TV these days as the co-anchor of “Good Morning America,” as a football analyst for Fox, and as host of ABC’s “$100,000 Pyramid.” Behind the scenes, Michael and Constance develop and produce a wide range of content, and SMAC is the management home to talent ranging from Wiz Khalifa to Erin Andrews to Deion Sanders. Here the two talk about the steady growth of SMAC, where the company motto is: “Hustle like you’re broke.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The veteran business reporter who broke the news of Disney's courtship of 21st Century Fox talks about the state of media M&A, the growing threat posed by tech giants to traditional Hollywood, and his take on what happens next at CBS and Viacom. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A key piece of the massive marketing machinery behind Marvel blockbusters like "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Black Panther" are the partnerships struck with consumer brands as varied as American Airlines and Lexus to help get the word out. Mindy Hamilton, senior VP of global partnerships and marketing at Marvel, discusses how she puts the 'art' in partnerships. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The longtime book publishing agent discusses the state of the book business, the increasing importance of film and TV licensing, the mysteries of working the Amazon, and how she shopped passion projects for everyone from Prince to Bob Iger to Tom Hanks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor-comedian Kevin Hart looks beyond his movie career in an interview that explores his ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Jay Z and Ellen DeGeneres by making the transition from talent for hire to owner of a growing empire of media properties like digital content venture Laugh Out Loud and production company HartBeat. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.