The Study Hall Podcast

Emily Gould is a features writer at New York Magazine. She writes the "Dinner Party" newsletter. She's the author of the novels "Friendship" and "Perfect Tunes." In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Gould reflects on what this next generation of media workers can learn from Gawker and discusses the craft of personal essays. In addition, she opens up about a writing community she's particularly intrigued by...    Subscribe to Dinner Party: https://nymag.substack.com/s/dinner-party More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible 

Heather Akumiah and Leah Abrams are the hosts of the Limousine podcast. Heather is the author of the novel "Bad Witches," while Leah is the author of the forthcoming novel "Dated." In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Leah and Heather chat about literary events, book marketing, ideal sponsorships, literary feuds, and more. The two even reveal the next novel for their critically acclaimed book club series....   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Willy Blackmore is the editor in chief of Midcoast Villager, a weekly newspaper based in Maine. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Blackmore discusses his team's effort to build a community around local news. He also talks about finding local angles to national news stories. Read Midcoast Villager: https://www.midcoastvillager.com/   More about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible  

Betsy Morais is the editor in chief of Columbia Journalism Review. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Morais discusses CJR's reporting on press freedom. She highlights the case studies of Mario Guevara and Perez Hilton. In addition, she delves into how the uncertainty over finding a sustainable business model has factored into the fight for press protection. Keep up with CJR: https://members.cjr.org/member/   More about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible 

Jeff Maysh's investigative reporting has appeared in The New Yorker, Financial Times, The Daily Beast, and numerous other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Maysh discusses what's behind our collective fascination with scammer content and how he finds stories with IP potential. In addition, he offers advice on how writers should navigate the contract negotiation process to ensure that their IP is protected.    More info about Maysh's IP class: https://courses.outvoice.com/products/live_events/IPCourse   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Fortesa Latifi is a senior writer for Yahoo News. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Latifi discusses her new book "Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online."  The book chronicles the rise of mom influencer content. Latifi shares insight her reporting process. She also offers a nuanced assessment on the risks of family influencers.    More info about "Like, Follow, Subscribe" : https://bookshop.org/p/books/like-follow-subscribe-influencer-kids-and-the-cost-of-a-childhood-online-fortesa-latifi/0015d12afb1a78c2   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible 

Kate Wagner is the architecture critic at The Nation. She also runs the blog "McMansion Hell." In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kate chats about the significance of McMansions, President Trump's tacky design choices, 1880s/1980s, gilded palaces, Saudi Arabia's failed future city, Iranian architecture, and gentrification.    Subscribe to "McMansion Hell":  https://mcmansionhell.com/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Miles Klee, senior writer at Wired, chats about his reporting on Meta, social media addiction, AI, and  internet culture. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Klee discusses how he translates niche internet stories for a broader audience.   Works Cited: -https://www.wired.com/story/the-tesla-influencers-leaving-the-cult/ -https://www.wired.com/story/everyone-speaks-incel-now/ -https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-testifies-social-media-addiction-trial-meta/ Check out "Double Black Diamond" by Miles Klee and Mads Gobbo: https://asterismbooks.com/product/double-black-diamond-mads-gobbo-miles-klee More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible  

Jamie Hood's writing has appeared in The Drift, Bookforum, The Nation, and numerous publications. She is the author of How To Be A Good Girl: A Miscellany and Trauma Plot: A Life. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Hood discusses the process of writing her memoir, the survivor narrative, personal essays in the post- #MeToo era, and the confessional form. More info about Trauma Plot: https://bookshop.org/p/books/trauma-plot-a-life-jamie-hood/50837adfe931ba99?ean=9780593686089&next=t   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz.   Music by KT The Terrible

Cale Weissman is one of the worker-owners of Gourmet, a food magazine that has been recently revitalized. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Weissman chats about the return of Gourmet. He also discusses food content, restaurant coverage, worker-owned outlets, and aesthetically unappealing, albeit delicious, recipes.    More info about Gourmet: https://gourmetmagazine.net/ More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible

Daisy Alioto is the co-founder and CEO of Dirt. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Alioto discussed the origins of her media company, the "post-subscription" model for media revenue, the taste economy, "Call Her Daddy," book coverage, and more.    More info about Dirt: dirt.fyi  More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Daniel Kolitz's reporting has appeared in Harper's, The Nation, The Atavist, and numerous other publications. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kolitz shares the inside story about his viral Harper's article and discusses what it's like to "go gonzo." Kolitz also shares insight into earning a source's trust and offers a nuanced take on narratives about Gen Z/millennials. Works Cited: -https://harpers.org/archive/2025/11/the-goon-squad-daniel-kolitz-porn-masturbation-loneliness/ -https://magazine.atavist.com/2021/the-love-bomb-enthusiastic-sobriety-bob-meehan-abuse-cult-drugs-rehab -https://thebaffler.com/latest/millennial-cringe-kolitz   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz.   Music by KT The Terrible

Liam Scott's reporting has appeared in The Nation, Columbia Journalism Review, and numerous other outlets. He currently writes a newsletter for The Washington Post on press freedom. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Scott discusses his reporting on Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong-based publisher who was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison. Apple Daily, Lai's newspaper, published content in favor of the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Scott, who profiled Lai's international defense team, contextualizes this case with Hong Kong's broader attack on press freedom.  Read Scott's profile in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/the-campaign-to-free-jimmy-lai/   Subscribe to the Press Freedom Desk newsletter: https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/press-freedom-partnership/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Natan Last's work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Drift, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Review of Books. He also writers the bimonthly crossword puzzles for The New Yorker. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Last chats about his new book "Across The Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of Crossword Puzzles."   More info about "Across The Universe": https://bookshop.org/p/books/across-the-universe-the-past-present-and-future-of-the-crossword-puzzle-natan-last/dfa29ea13fb78845   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the former editor in chief of The Advocate. She is the of the Holding Space podcast. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Gilchrist talks about the evolution of queer media, her viral moment with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and campy pop culture.    Check out Holding Space: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holding-space-with-tracy-e-gilchrist/id1866733335 More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible       

Tina Vásquez is a features editor at Prism. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Vásquez discusses her work reporting on immigration, ICE raids, and workers' rights. Vásquez also talks about how movement journalism can help restore the public's trust in media and offer more holistic coverage of topics like the immigration system. Sign up for Vásquez's movement journalism course: https://courses.outvoice.com/products/live_events/movementjournalism   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible  

David Klion is a contributing editor at Jewish Currents and columnist at The Nation. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Klion discusses how Bari Weiss went from a polarizing opinion writer to the editor-in-chief of CBS News. Klion breaks down the origins of Weiss’s reactionary politics and analyzes her plan to transform CBS News.   Read Klion’s deep-dive into Bari Weiss’s career: https://www.theguardian.com/media/ng-interactive/2025/sep/10/bari-weiss-cbs Other articles cited: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/01/26/inside-bari-weisss-hostile-takeover-of-cbs-news https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/bari-weiss-cbs-news-comeback-new-york-return.html https://www.thenation.com/article/society/harpers-letter-free-speech-trump/ https://www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/have-we-learned-nothing/ More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Elena Sheppard’s writing has appeared in The Cut, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Elena discussed her memoir “The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora”, which traces her family’s history in Cuba. Elena shared insight into the memoir-writing process and how she explored her family’s story. In addition, Elena talked about the dynamic of writing a memoir about the diaspora.   More info about “The Eternal Forest” : https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-eternal-forest-a-memoir-of-the-cuban-diaspora-elena-sheppard/2167dd906e224c52?ean=9781250287687&next=t   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Nicolas Niarchos is a reporter with work published in The Nation, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His new book The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth traces the origins of the metals fueling decarbonization. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Niarchos discusses his rigorous research and reporting into the green energy metal supply chain in Congo, Indonesia, and the Western Sahara. Niarchos shares his on-the-ground reporting on the exploitation taking place in Congolese mines. He also offers tips for journalists who want to report in conflict regions.  For more information on The Elements on Power: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/blue-power-cobalt-china-and-the-scramble-to-dominate-the-new-energy-revolution-nicolas-niarchos/7585254   For more information on Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible   

Tarpley Hitt is an editor at The Drift. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Hitt discusses her new book Barbieland: The Unauthorized History. The book chronicles the checkered journey of Barbie from a knockoff idea to a global icon. Hitt chats about her rigorous research process and what can be learned from Mattel’s highly litigious history.  More info about Barbieland: https://bookshop.org/p/books/barbieland-the-unauthorized-history-tarpley-hitt/3f285eff4283aec8?ean=9781668031827&next=t More info about studyhall.xyz Music by KT The Terrible   

Caroline Palmer was the editor of Vogue.com and Director of Editorial, Video, and Social Media at Amazon Fashion. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Palmer discusses her novel Workhorse, which chronicles the heyday of fashion media in the early 2000s. The novel centers around an ambitious editorial assistant who lands a dream job at a prestigious fashion magazine. Workhorse explores the glamor of that era and takes an honest look at the dynamics of privilege, talent, and success. Palmer chats about the lost art of print media, fashion media’s shaky transition to online, and the life of a workhorse.    More info about Workhorse: https://bookshop.org/p/books/workhorse-a-novel-caroline-palmer/0a4e36139fe538db   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible   

Sofia Quaglia is an award-winning science journalist whose work has been published in The National Geographic, The New York Times, The Guardian, New Scientist, and other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Sofia chats about how she started reporting on biodiversity and the nuances of translating complex scientific concepts for a mass audience.  More info about the class Sofia is teaching with Study Hall on January 16th 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET: https://courses.outvoice.com/products/courses/howtobreakintosciencejournalism (Study Hall subscribers check last newsletter for discount code)   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible

Marianne Dhenin is an award-winning journalist whose work has been published in Truthout, Yes! Magazine, The New Republic, and Teen Vogue. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Marianne chats about their Noema Mag report on the history of air conditioning in the Gulf States. Marianne discusses how they use their journalism to illuminate the class implications of climate change issues.   Read the article here: https://www.noemamag.com/the-gulf-world-that-air-conditioning-wrought/   Subscribe to their newsletter: https://newsletter.mariannedhenin.com/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Max Tani is the media editor at Semafor and co-host of the Mixed Signals podcast. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Max discusses the biggest media stories of 2025 and how legacy media can regain its footing in 2026. Max chats about how legacy media outlets are experimenting with AI tools and leveraging the creator journalism model. In addition, Max shares what it’s like covering some of the biggest media stories like the corporate battle over Warner Bros Discovery.    Listen to Mixed Signals: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mixed-signals-from-semafor-media/id1746776326   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible  

  Brian Reed is the host and producer of KCRW’s “Question Everything,” a podcast and newsletter from KCRW and Placement Theory, that is exploring the media industry. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Reed chats about why he’s advocating to reform Section 230, a law that protects big tech platforms from defamation lawsuits. Reed chats about why he believes this law gives platforms too much impunity and how he came to the conclusion that it needs to be changed to protect users from disinformation. In addition, Reed discusses what it’s like being a journalist advocating for a cause.    More info about Question Everything: https://www.kcrw.com/shows/question-everything/latest   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

Katherine Reynolds Lewis is an award-winning journalist and founder of founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists.  In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Lewis shares tips on negotiating a fair rate, getting a better contract, and managing your finances as a freelancer.    On December 12th at 11 AM PST/ 2 PM ET, Lewis will be teaching an online course about treating your freelance career as a business: https://courses.outvoice.com/products/courses/thrivingasafreelancer   (Study Hall Subscribers check your latest newsletter for 50% discount code).    Music by KT The Terrible  

Kevin Nguyen is the features editor at The Verge. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Nguyen chats about his novel "My Documents." The dystopian satire is set in a near-future United States where following a terrorist attack, Vietnamese Americans are imprisoned in interment camps. The novel explores how journalism can both shed light on trauma and crucial stories, while also being a tool of exploitation. In addition, "My Documents" lampoons the clickbait digital media boom and sensationalist misinformation.    More info about "My Documents": https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-documents-a-novel-kevin-nguyen/3caae9bd30ea2b93   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible 

  Ellen Huet is a reporter at Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Huet discusses her new book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. The book chronicles the story of OneTaste, a wellness company that’s been accused of manipulation and abuse. Huet exposed the true story of the company for Bloomberg.  Empire of Orgasm builds off that reporting. In this conversation, Huet chats about her reporting process, the evolving definition of a cult, and the ominous parallels between cults and startups. She also shares tips on how to navigate personal boundaries while reporting on an intense topic.    More info about Empire of Orgasm: https://bookshop.org/p/books/empire-of-orgasm-sex-power-and-the-downfall-of-a-wellness-cult-ellen-huet/d314d91af397b2e4?ean=9780374604196   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible 

On this special bonus episode, Daniel Spielberger chats with Lauren Harris, an editor at The New Yorker and a co-chair of The New Yorker Union. The New Yorker Union and Condé United are both part of the NewsGuild of New York. Harris discusses recent events at Condé Nast. On Wednesday, in response to Condé management’s decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue and lay off employees at Teen Vogue, a group of unionized Condé employees confronted Condé’s head of HR, Stan Duncan, to question him about these decisions. Subsequently, Condé management fired four of these employees, one of whom worked at The New Yorker. Though Condé management argues that these four employees were engaging in “extreme misconduct,” the Guild disputes this claim. In this conversation, Harris discusses why the unions are alleging that these terminations were illegal and retaliatory. Additionally, she contextualizes these terminations with a broader hostility towards organized labor during the second Trump era.    Here’s the petition to reinstate The Fired Four: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-conde-bosses-to-reinstate-the-fired-four-reverse-the-suspensions-and-end-the-union-busting A GoFundMe to support The Fired Four: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-fired-four-alma-ben-jake-jasper More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz Music by KT The Terrible 

P.E. Moskowitz’s writing has been published in New York Magazine, The Nation, and numerous other outlets. They write the newsletter “Mental Hellth.” In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Moskowitz chats about their new book “Breaking Awake: A Reporter's Search for a New Life, and a New World, Through Drugs.” Moskowitz discusses their reporting on the mental health crisis, pharmaceutical drugs, raves, isolation, and social media.    More info about Breaking Awake: https://bookshop.org/p/books/breaking-awake-a-reporter-s-search-for-a-new-life-and-a-new-world-through-drugs-p-e-moskowitz/f376145199400c4a?ean=9781668007778&next=t   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

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 is head of publishing at Automattic and an editor at Longreads, a website that curates longform stories and publishes original writing. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Peter chats about the art of the longread, internet curation during the post-Twitter age, the IP potential of longreads, and the attention economy.    More info about Longreads’ member drive: https://longreads.com/join/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible

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 writes the newsletter Deez Links. In this conversation, Delia chats about the newsletter boom, Bari Weiss’s possible LUCRATIVE CBS News deal, and the creator/journalist dynamic. Delia previously was a staff writer at Vanity Fair. She’s the author of the novel “Central Places.”  Keep up with Delia’s work: https://www.deezlinks.com/ More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible.

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

Kylie Cheung is a reporter at Abortion Everyday. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kylie chats about her new book “Coercion Surviving and Resisting Abortion Bans.” Kylie discusses the various manipulative tactics conservative politicians utilize to criminalize abortion and what’s missing from mainstream media coverage of reproductive justice.    For more information about “Coercion”: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745350615/coercion/   More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz    Music by KT The Terrible   

Kaila Yu is a writer, former model, and lead singer of Nylon Pink. In this conversation, she discusses her new book “Fetishized:A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty.” In the book, Yu chronicles her own journey in the entertainment industry and delves into the harmful stereotypes about Asian women. In this conversation, Yu offers advice on marketing, memoir writing, and more. More info about Yu’s book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738645/fetishized-by-kaila-yu/ More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz. Music by KT The Terrible

Shawna Kenney’s writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, VICE, PBS, and The New York Times. She’s the author of I Was a Teenage Dominatrix, a memoir. In this conversation, Shawna discusses her approach to publishing and teaching. She also shares insight into her DIY approach to publicity and the nuances of the creative nonfiction.  Shawna is teaching a course for Study Hall; click here for more information: https://courses.outvoice.com/products/courses/pitch-perfect-workshop If you're a Study Hall subscriber, check the latest newsletter for your 50% discount code. Music by KT The Terrible

Alicia Kennedy is a food and culture writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Vogue. She regularly writes her own newsletter (https://www.aliciakennedy.news/). In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Alicia discusses how she started her newsletter, the state of food media, and integrating food justice concepts into her writing.  Keep up with Alicia’s work: https://www.aliciakennedy.news More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz  Music by KT The Terrible

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 is a comedian and writer whose work has been published in The New Yorker, Lithub, and other outlets. He’s also the author of the essay collection, “Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?” Recently, he released a comedy special, “Surprise Me” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3J60D-JPSM)   In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Zach shares how he got into standup comedy, his advice for managing rejection, and the art of writing a humorous essay.    Watch “Surprise Me”:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3J60D-JPSM)   More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz   Music by KT The Terrible 

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