The Study Hall Podcast
Study Hall provides tools, tips, and community resources for media workers. Hosted by executive editor Daniel Spielberger, the Study Hall Podcast spotlights journalists making notable contributions to the media industry.
The Necessity of Labor Reporting ft. Kim Kelly
Kim Kelly is a labor reporter whose work has been featured in In These Times, The Baffler, Teen Vogue, Playboy, and numerous other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kelly discussed the importance of labor reporting in the Trump era and her work covering labor rights struggles spanning from coalminers to OnlyFans creators. In addition, Kelly chatted about what media workers should know about solidarity.
Keep up with Kelly's work: https://bsky.app/profile/kimkelly.bsky.social
More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz
Music by KT The Terrible
How Military Education Influenced American Culture ft. Jasper Craven
Jasper Craven's writing has appeared in The New York Times, Harper's, New York Magazine, Politico, and other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Craven discussed his new book "God Forgives, Brother's Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood."
Craven chatted about why he was initially drawn to the military as a research topic and how historic military figures foreshadowed the manosphere. In addition, Craven discussed the future of American masculinity and how journalists have held the American military accountable.
More info about God Forgives, Brother's Don't. <...
A Music Critic's Midwestern Adventure ft. Meaghan Garvey
Meaghan Garvey's writing has appeared in Pitchfork, New York Magazine, NPR, and numerous other outlets. She just published her debut memoir Midwestern Death Trip. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Meaghan discussed her approach to the road trip memoir and how she wanted to explore kitsch, conspiracies, and ephemeral encounters. Meaghan also talked about how her criticism refutes the notion of high and low brow.
More info about Midwestern Death Trip: https://bookshop.org/p/books/midwestern-death-trip-meaghan-garvey/a790b492d1f35318?ean=9798999146731&next=t&
More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz
Music by KT...
Recruiter Scams and Controversial Neighbors ft. Alex Sammon
Alex Sammon is a features writer at Slate. In this discussion with host Daniel Spielberger, Sammon unpacks his gonzo journalism feature on an Indeed recruiter scam and his deep-dive into a controversial bookstore in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition, Sammon talks about how he knows an idea has the potential for longform reporting.
Keep up with Alex's work: https://slate.com/author/alexander-sammon
Keep up with Study Hall: studyhall.xyz
Music by KT The Terrible
A Pulitzer-Prize Winning Investigation Into Surveillance ft. Dake Kang and Yael Grauer
Dake Kang, Yael Grauer, and their colleagues at the Associated Press just won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for investigating how Silicon Valley companies collaborated with the Chinese government to create a surveillance state. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kang and Grauer go in depth about what their reporting found and discuss the dynamic of shedding light on this surveillance technology. In addition, Grauer discusses what it was like to win this prestigious award as a freelancer.
Read the investigation: https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-silicon-valley-uyghurs-tech-xinjiang-8e000601dadb6aea230f18170ed54e88
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An Entertainment Journalist's Film About Gen Z Masculinity ft. Ricky Camilleri
Ricky Camilleri is the former host of HuffPost Live and Verizon's Build Series. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Camilleri discusses his debut feature film Our Hero, Balthazar. Camilleri co-produced and co-wrote the film. "Our Hero, Balthazar" is about a Manhattan elite teenager flying to Texas to stop a prospective school shooter. The film touches upon themes of internet alienation, the normalization of violence, and Gen Z masculinity.
More info about "Our Hero, Balthazar": https://ourherobalthazar.com/
Sign up for Study Hall's free newsletter: https://studyhallnewsletter.com/
Music by KT The Terrible
A New Path For Reporting On Palestine ft. Sara Yasin
Sara Yasin is the editor in chief of The Key, an outlet that's covering Palestine. Previously, Yasin was a managing editor at The Los Angeles Times. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Yasin chatted about her decision to leave legacy media and the internal dynamics of institutions. She also discussed the double standard of reporting on Palestine and how The Key is providing a new path forward.
More info about The Key: https://www.thekeymagazine.com/
More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz
Music by KT The Terrible
Essays, Envy, and Exposure ft. Emily Gould
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
The Literary Feud With Ryan Murphy Adaptation Potential ft. Heather Akumiah & Leah Abrams
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
Revitalizing Local Media ft. Willy Blackmore
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
Perez Hilton, Press Protection, and Project 2025 ft. Betsy Morais
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
Inside The Rise of True Crime IP ft. Jeff Maysh
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 T...
The Complex Reality of Mom Influencers ft. Fortesa Latifi
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 Terrib...
McMansions and The Trump Aesthetic ft. Kate Wagner
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
Tesla Fans, AI Fatigue, and Mogging ft. Miles Klee
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
Musi...
Exploring The Survivor Narrative ft. Jamie Hood
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
Gourmet, TikTok Recipes, and Restaurant Coverage ft. Cale Weissman
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
Starting A Media Brand ft. Daisy Alioto
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
Gonzo Internet Journalism ft. Daniel Kolitz
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.
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Hong Kong's Attack On Press Freedom ft. Liam Scott
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/worl...
The Beauty of Crossword Puzzles ft. Natan Last
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
The Queen of Queer Media ft. Tracy E. Gilchrist
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
Reporting on Immigration and ICE Raids ft. Tina Vásquez
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
Bari Weiss and the Future of CBS News ft. David Klion
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...A Memoir About Exile ft. Elena Sheppard
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
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The Tragic Story Behind Green Energy Metals ft. Nicolas Niarchos
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 regi...
How Barbie Became An Icon ft. Tarpley Hitt
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
The Heyday of Fashion Media ft. Caroline Palmer
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...
Colossal Squids, Invasive Frogs, and Biodiversity ft. Sofia Quaglia
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 ab...
Air Conditioning and Climate Disaster ft. Marianne Dhenin
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
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How Media Will Survive in 2026 ft. Max Tani
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
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A Journalist Advocating For Big Tech Reform ft. Brian Reed
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...
Managing Your Finances As A Freelance Writer ft. Katherine Reynolds Lewis
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
A Dystopian Satire About The Media Industry ft. Kevin Nguyen
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
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Investigating a Sex Wellness Cult ft. Ellen Huet
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 shar...
Inside The Crisis At Condé Nast ft. Lauren Harris
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 wo...
Drugs, Raves, and Community ft. P.E. Moskowitz
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
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Sports Gambling, Personal Narratives, and Soccer ft. Zito Madu
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
Film Criticism in the Rotten Tomatoes Era ft. Jourdain Searles
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
The Art of the Longread ft. Peter Rubin
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
