The Study Hall Podcast

Zito Madu’s writing has appeared in The Nation, Flaming Hydra, GQ, and other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Zito chats about his personal approach to sports writing, the influence of the gambling industry on sports journalism, and his criticism of Stephen A.'s decisive coverage.   Follow Zito on Twitter/X:  https://x.com/_Zeets Read Zito's Flaming Hydra essay: https://flaminghydra.com/football-in-palestine/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible

Jourdain Searles is a film critic whose work has appeared in Bustle, Los Angeles Review of Books, Indiewire, and other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Searles chats about her approach to film criticism, the significance of film reviews in the age of aggregation sites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, and how she handled people upset over her negative reviews.    Follow Jourdain on X: https://x.com/judysquirrels   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Peter Rubin, head of publishing at Automattic and editor at Longreads, dives into the nuances of long-form journalism. He discusses how Longreads evolved from a simple Twitter hashtag into a vibrant platform for storytelling. Topics include the challenges of curation after Twitter's decline, the importance of distinct voice in writing, and navigating the attention economy. Peter also shares insights on their editorial process, defending the value of long reads, and engaging with a community of readers through feedback and member-supported models.

Erin Somers is a reporter at Publishers Lunch. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Bustle, Esquire, and numerous other outlets. In this episode, she chats about her new novel, The Ten Year Affair. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Erin discusses how authors cultivate a sense of mystique and recounts her experience reporting from a Philip Roth festival.    For more information about The Ten Year Affair: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ten-Year-Affair/Erin-Somers/9781668081440   For more information about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

  Jacob Silverman is a reporter and author of “Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley,”  In this conversation with Daniel Spielberger, Jacob discusses his reporting on cryptocurrency, Silicon Valley’s connection to the weapons industry, and Twitter/X’s involvement with the Saudi Royal family. Jacob also offers insight into how tech billionaires became right-wing and what this foretells for American politics. The author offers tips on how to pursue difficult journalism and hold the powerful accountable.    More info about “Gilded Rage”: https://bookshop.org/p/books/gilded-rage-elon-musk-and-the-radicalization-of-silicon-valley-jacob-silverman/90640a782bd09515?ean=9781399419987&next=t More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz. Music by KT The Terrible  

Charlie Porter is a fashion critic whose work has been published in The Financial Times and The Guardian. In this conversation, Charlie chats about his debut novel “Nova Scotia House.” The novel follows Johnny, a middle-aged gay man who is trying to make sense of his past relationship with Jerry, a former lover who died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. The novel explores the legacy of queer counterculture and the AIDS crisis. Charlie discusses his pivot to fiction and shares insight into how writers and artists can expand their horizons and pick up a new interest. In addition, Charlie chats about the state of fashion journalism.   More info about “Nova Scotia House”: https://bookshop.org/p/books/nova-scotia-house-charlie-porter/261a846e401d0852   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible   

Delia Cai, a newsletter writer for Deez Links and former staffer at Vanity Fair, shares her insights on the booming newsletter industry. She discusses the challenges of monetization, the allure of big Substack deals, and the mixed feelings surrounding audience acquisition by major media. Delia also dives into her journey of turning her newsletter into a full-time gig, the delicate balance between journalism and personal branding, and the importance of maintaining mental health amidst online criticism. Get ready for engaging thoughts on modern media!

Derek Beres is a co-host of The Conspirituality Podcast.  His work examining health disinformation has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, and The New York Times. In this conversation, Derek discusses the origins of the MAHA movement and how journalists can counter health disinformation.    Listen to Conspirituality: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/conspirituality/id1515827446   Derek’s recent opinion piece for The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/opinion/maha-health-wellness-influencers.html   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Sarah Miller is a writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Popula. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Sarah chats about her recent N+1 essay chronicling her ayahuasca journey in Peru. She also discusses her essay for The New Yorker on botox. Sarah shares her approach to essays, explaining why she tackles difficult topics like climate change and mental health with humor.    Sarah’s essay on ayahuasca: https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-50/essays/pirates-of-the-ayahuasca/   Sarah’s essay on botox: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/desperate-for-botox   Her newsletter: https://therealsarahmiller.substack.com/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible 

Osita Nwanevu, a columnist at The Guardian and contributing editor at The New Republic, discusses his new book “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding.” In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Osita outlines his proposal to transform the American government and shares how media institutions can become more democratic.    More information about “The Right of the People”:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704686/the-right-of-the-people-by-osita-nwanevu/   More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible