The Study Hall Podcast

  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  

CONTENT WARNING: VIOLENCE Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, an award-winning journalist, discusses her article for The Guardian about the murder of Fiona Holm. In her article, Brinkhurst-Cuff explores why Fiona’s murder didn’t gain that much attention in the British media and contextualizes it within the phenomenon of “missing white woman syndrome.”  For the Reuters Institute, Brinkhurst-Cuff researched how the media often fails to accurately cover missing people. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, she shares the findings of her research, discusses reporting The Guardian article, and offers tips for journalists who want to report on missing people while avoiding true crime tropes and sensationalism.  Charlie’s article: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/16/the-killing-of-fiona-holm-why-was-the-life-and-death-of-this-much-loved-mother-so-overlooked   Learn more about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible 

Ej Dickson, a senior writer at The Cut, chats about the necessity of bringing empathy to reporting.  In a conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, she discusses her profile of Candace Owens, what’s behind RFK Jr.’s rise, and how mom content became so divisive.     Keep up with her work: https://www.thecut.com/author/e.j.-dickson/   Find out more about Study Hall: https://studyhall.xyz/ Music by KT The Terrible

Harron Walker chats about her book “Aggregated Discontent: Confessions of the Last Normal Woman.”  In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Harron discusses what it was like to work in digital media during the late 2010s, her “Devil Wears Prada” fan fiction, the figure of the girlboss, and her reporting on trans people trying to access family planning care. In addition, Harron shares tips on cultivating a writing community during the siloed era of Substack.  More info about Aggregated Discontent: https://bookshop.org/p/books/aggregated-discontent-confessions-of-the-last-normal-woman-harron-walker/21762120 More info about Study Hall: https://studyhall.xyz/ Music by KT The Terrible 

Francis Zierer is the host and editor of Creator Spotlight, a podcast and newsletter that showcases how various writers, YouTubers, and podcasters monetize their online content. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Francis shares tips on how writers can market themselves in the creator economy. He also discusses the dynamic of running an independent project in a crowded field and how writers can embrace the creator economy.  For more information about Creator Spotlight: https://www.creatorspotlight.com/ For more information about Study Hall: https://studyhall.xyz/ Music by KT The Terrible  

Johanna Fateman, co-chief art critic at Cultured Magazine, and John Vincler, also a co-chief critic, dive into the revitalization of art criticism. They discuss the mission of The Critics' Table to promote fair compensation and concise reviews. The duo emphasizes the importance of engaging with underrepresented artists and crafting meaningful critiques that resonate with readers. They also reflect on the balance between critical engagement and generosity, and the need for community in art criticism, encouraging new voices to share their passion.

  In a chat with host Daniel Spielberger, Sarah Schulman discussed her new book “The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity.” Drawing from culture industry case studies and Schulman’s experience as an activist, the book explores how artists and writers can show solidarity with marginalized groups. Schulman is an award-winning writer, novelist, and activist.  For more information about “The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771411/the-fantasy-and-necessity-of-solidarity-by-sarah-schulman/   For more information about Study Hall: www.studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Sarah Aziza discusses her memoir "The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders." Aziza’s writing has been published in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Baffler, and Jewish Currents. In her memoir, Aziza traces her family’s history of being displaced from Palestine and explores the dynamic of historic erasure. In this conversation with Daniel Spielberger, Aziza discusses the process of writing and researching her memoir. She also reflects on her experience as a Palestinian American writer using her platform to raise awareness of Israel’s war on Gaza.    More information on The Hollow Half: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hollow-half-sarah-aziza/21691339?ean=9781646222438&next=t&affiliate=39   For more information about Study Hall: https://studyhall.xyz/   Music by KT The Terrible