The Study Hall Podcast

Alicia Kennedy, a food and culture writer featured in major publications like The Washington Post and Vogue, dives into the transformative landscape of food media. She shares insights on her pandemic-launched newsletter and the importance of storytelling that intertwines food justice with personal narratives. The discussion highlights the critical differences between 'food desert' and 'food apartheid,' advocating for community-driven solutions. Kennedy also emphasizes the value of independent media and collaborative approaches, urging readers to engage authentically with food culture.

Brian Merchant is a tech journalist who writes the “Blood In The Machine” newsletter. In this conversation, Brian discusses his ongoing project chronicling the impact of AI on the jobs market and explains why tech companies often lean into dystopia when marketing new products. He also offers his take on how AI is changing the media industry.  Check out Brian’s newsletter: https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/ More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz. Music by KT The Terrible 

In this conversation, D.D. Guttenplan, the editor of The Nation, and Richard Kreitner, a contributing writer and host of the “Think Back” podcast (https://www.thinkbackpod.com/), chatted about The Nation’s 160th anniversary issue. With dispatches from 50 writers and arts across the 50 states, the issue ponders the current disunited of America. Guttenplan and Kreitner also chat about The Nation’s approach to foreign policy coverage and what it takes to spearhead an expansive project.    For more about the issue: https://www.thenation.com/issue/july-august-2025-issue/   More info about Study Hall: https://studyhall.xyz/   Music by KT The Terrible

Sam Adler-Bell’s writing has appeared in New York Magazine and The New Republic. He’s also the co-host of the “Know Your Enemy” podcast. In this conversation with Daniel Spielberger, Sam chats about researching conservative figures, writing about the internal ideological divide amongst Democrats, and presenting leftist populism to a broader audience.  Listen to the Know Your Enemy podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-your-enemy/id1462703434 More about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz Music by KT The Terrible

Zach Zimmerman, a celebrated comedian and writer known for his work in The New Yorker and his essay collection, reflects on the tumultuous journey of finding humor in rejection. He shares insights on navigating love and heartbreak, emphasizing the cathartic role of comedy. Zimmerman humorously discusses family dynamics amidst differing beliefs, his upcoming train adventure, and the authenticity crisis in corporate Pride. With wit, he unpacks self-talk and resilience in comedy, turning personal anecdotes into lessons on growth and vulnerability.

Alex Thompson is a national political correspondent at Axios. Along with CNN’s Jake Tapper, he co-authored the New York Times Bestselling book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Alex shares why he was interested in covering Biden, what Democrats can take away from the book, political information bubbles, the current state of Washington D.C. journalism, and restoring trust in media institutions. For more information about Original Sin: https://sites.prh.com/originalsin/ For more information about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible 

  Mike Isaac is a technology correspondent for The New York Times who has been covering Meta and Silicon Valley. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Mike discusses his experience covering the FTC vs. Meta trial, deepfakes, and the rise of AI. In addition, Mike offers some tips on how reporters can find overlooked stories. Keep up with Mike’s work: https://www.nytimes.com/by/mike-isaac More information about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible

  Kat Tenbarge is an independent reporter who writes at Spitfire News. Before Spitfire News, Kat was a reporter at NBC News and Insider.  In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kat chats about her experience pivoting to independent multimedia reporting, the significance of the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni case, and her coverage of Disney Adults. Find out more about Spitfire News:https://spitfirenews.com/   Find out more about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Marisa Kabas is an independent journalist behind the politics-focused newsletter The Handbasket, known for her coverage of the Trump administration's federal cuts and deportations. In this engaging discussion, she reveals the hurdles independent journalists face in a landscape swamped by mainstream media. Marisa shares her journey of building credibility, the challenges of receiving proper attribution, and the emotional toll of maintaining journalistic integrity. She also addresses safety concerns for progressive journalists and the critical need for community support.

Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist whose work has been published in MIT Technology Review, The Atlantic, and The Wall Street Journal. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Hao discusses her new book,“Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI,” which traces how the company went from idealism to relentless expansion. Hao discusses the environmental and ethical implications of OpenAI’s empire. In addition, drawing from her role as the head of the Pulitzer Center’s The AI Spotlight series, she shares insight into how journalists should approach this technology as both a tool and a subject of reporting.  For more information about The AI Spotlight Series: https://pulitzercenter.org/focus-areas/information-and-artificial-intelligence/ai-spotlight-series More information about “Empire of AI”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569/empire-of-ai-by-karen-hao/ Find out more about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz Music by KT The Terrible