1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: I'm off my game today. No, you're not. People are 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: going to have to start making better content. I think 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna be talking about this for a long time. 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: When you program for everyone, you program for no one. 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: I think it's that we're purpose driven platform, like we're 6 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: trying to get to substance. How was that? Are you 7 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: happy with that? This is marketing therapy right now? It 8 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: really is? What's up? I'm Laura Currency and I'm Alexa Kristen, 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: and this is at Landia. So Laura and I have 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: been working in advertising and marketing for what seems like, 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: I don't know, like how many years, come on, twenty 12 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: five years? Maybe that's aging us. I'm all there you are, 13 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: But wings, Alexa and I started this show because we 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: would have long nights of talking about what was happening 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: in the industry. Like our significant others are ready to 16 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: leave us a long night, we all went to bed together, 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: all went to bed together. It was a little strange, look, 18 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: I mean, Landy was really add because over the course 19 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: of the years we've worked together, we've been a part 20 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: of some amazing projects. I mean, some truly best in 21 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: class work that has in some instances redefined revived and 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: reshaped the industry. And I think, you know, along the Whylox, 23 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: I mean, we've met some fascinating people, We've developed some 24 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: kick ass work, amazing relationships, amazing relationships, and I think 25 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: what we've decided is that the industry oftentimes chases headlines 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: or rehashes the same thing over and over again, just 27 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: from a different perspective. And what we really wanted to 28 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: do is dig in a little bit again and talk 29 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: about the things in a different way. Talk to people 30 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: who you may not know, but you should know, definitely 31 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: should know the people who are changing the way things 32 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: are gonna look in the future, and they're totally shaping 33 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: the way we think about brands, the way we think 34 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: about technology, the way we think about media and future. Absolutely, 35 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: and I think what's super important about this platform is 36 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: we wanted to create a space that people can be 37 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: a part of the conversation um and essentially some thing. 38 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: If you were sitting on our couch and having one 39 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: of our favorites by see Margarita's, this would be natural. Yeah, 40 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: welcome to Atlandia. Welcome to Atlandia. We're excited to have you, 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: so we're super excited. Later on We've got two super 42 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: kick ass guests, Bank Lee from Lenny Letter and Jake 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: Horoetz from Mike. But first we're going to dive into 44 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: our favorite part of the show, in the Feed, And 45 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: this segment is really meant to kind of get in 46 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: and talk about some of the things that are hot 47 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: and advertising and marketing, all of the things that are 48 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: keeping us up at night, and most importantly UM kind 49 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: of talk about why these things matter. Yeah, And it's 50 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: not like necessarily like in the Feed they just crossed 51 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: your radar their headlines, it's like this is what's crossing 52 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: our radar or like what we're obsessing over? Yeah, for sure. 53 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: And I think one of the most fascinating things that 54 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: we've been texting about lately is the did you just 55 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: see what happened on SNL? Everybody's doing it and I 56 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: mean they're on a twenty year ratings high. My mother 57 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: was talking about cold opens we should be talking about. 58 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: But I think what's what's fascinating is there's this whole 59 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: cultural context UM in media that's really important right now. 60 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: And what I'm super excited to talk to our guests 61 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: about UM later in the show is this idea of 62 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: online meeting the offline and SNL is truly blurring the 63 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: line um, so to speak. And I think it's just 64 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: fascinating how they've picked up the cultural context. I mean, 65 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: this news cycle was made to revive SNL. If you're 66 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: sitting in Laura Michael's chair, yeah, I would say that 67 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: that's totally true. I would you remember when you and 68 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: I went to Malcolm gladwhile he did his final episode 69 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: of Revisionist History, and it was all about and like, 70 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: how there's actually this death of satire, that satire isn't 71 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: this thing that it used to be because satire deals 72 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: with these really painfully real topics. I think SNL has 73 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: come back. Malcolm's issue was he felt that Tina Fe 74 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: and some of the um acting that happened on SNL 75 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: during the Sarah Palin run basically copped out. They were 76 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: focusing like her glasses and her where she got the 77 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: accent inspiration from. And he was like, bullshit. You had 78 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: a responsibility as a public figure to call it out, 79 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: poke holes and say I'm not getting up here and 80 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: putting on this. I can't even do the accent from 81 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: New Jersey. I can't do the accent. But but the 82 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: but the reality is like getting up here and poking fun. 83 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: It's like, no, there is an underlying message here where 84 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: I think SNL this year is killing nailing it. They're 85 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: killing it. And I think one of the things that 86 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: again brands can stand to learn about UM is authenticity 87 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: and this idea that you have to behave consistently. And 88 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: that's from publisher to brand to anyone out there who's 89 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: has a message that they believe in. You can't do 90 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: it once. You gotta keeping what's important. Like SNL is 91 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: leaning into satire. Obviously that's what they do UM. But 92 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: I think there's never been a more important time for creators, 93 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 1: for influencers UM to really corral or I guess artists 94 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: UM and and own their voice. And it's not trying 95 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: to play Kate too trends UM or you know what's 96 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: in the news feed UM in terms of headlines, but 97 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: it's truly understanding what role do we play in the conversation. 98 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: How do we add value versus adding another blaring sound. Yeah, 99 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: I mean I think it's it's like you're no longer 100 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: just a seat at the table, You're a voice in 101 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: the conversation. I love that. Well anyway, I think today 102 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: is going to be an awesome show. So excited to 103 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: have Ben Cooley, CEO of Lenny Letter, and Jack Barwis, 104 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: who's doing some sick interviews. I mean, the guy has 105 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: interviewed everybody from just got off a hot piece with 106 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: Bill Gates, and just super excited to have Jake editor 107 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: large at Mike. So we'll be right back. So we're 108 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: really excited tonight to have to really relevant guests. Jake Horowitz, 109 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: I will let you introduce yourself. Well, I'm happy to 110 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: be here. Thank you. I'm the co founder and editor 111 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: a large of Mike, which is the leading news site 112 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: for the millennials. Yeah, we have Ben Cooley here, who 113 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: is the CEO of Lenny Letter. Um, Ben, why didn't 114 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: you tell everybody your backstory on Lenny and and why 115 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: you're there? Really, you're really putting me on the spot. 116 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: My name is Ben Cooley. I am the CEO of 117 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: Lenny A. I like to call it a feminist media conglomerate. Conglomerate. 118 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: That's right, we'll have to talk about that more. That's 119 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: what I'm here from. Are you conglomerating media generally? Well, 120 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: thank you guys both so much for being here on Atlantia. 121 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: I think we're super excited to talk to you. We 122 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: we truly feel that your platforms, UM are super important. Jake, 123 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: you just had a fascinating interview with Bill Gates, and 124 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: I thought some of his comments around, UM, you know, 125 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: the role of media companies and really tech companies actually 126 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: and what they play in fake news. Um. He doesn't 127 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: have the solution, but he knows that they need to 128 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: come up with one. Can you talk to us a 129 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: little about you know, I think the industry face is 130 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: a big challenge. Um. We're living in a time that 131 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: we've never seen and for the last two years, reporters 132 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: have grappled with how to cover Trump. Um. You know. 133 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: The funny thing about the word fake news is it's 134 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: being used on both sides of the aisle, right, So 135 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: fake news is now being used by President Trump to 136 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: label any story written by a journalist who he doesn't 137 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: think captures him and that he doesn't agree with, just 138 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: as much as it's being used, um by people on 139 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: the other side of the aisle pointing out worries that 140 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: are just plain fake and not factual. So it's a 141 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: sort of act they're actually fati written by in my 142 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: opinion written by somebody in you know, Eastern Europe, flooding 143 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: somebody's Facebook feed and swinging potentially in elections. So we 144 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: have a it's a very, very complicated time. But that 145 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: being said, it's actually a very has never been a 146 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: more important time to be a journalist, and so we 147 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: feel very fortunate to be doing what we're doing because 148 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: we need accurate information, we need truth, We need people 149 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: who are hunting down the facts, and that's what we're 150 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: trying to do it. Mike the way I think Laura 151 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: and I talk about both Mike and Lenny differently, but 152 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: this is the similarity where we say the audiences that 153 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: come to Mike the audiences that are reading Lenny, there 154 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: are audiences that want to be a part of something 155 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: that's bigger. They want to actually take action. Right, how 156 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: do you guys embrace that or how do you even 157 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: like stoke those planes? Yeah? Well we so we had 158 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: twenty five reporters going cover inauguration. Um it was a huge, 159 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: huge moment for us, but the vast majority went to 160 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: cover all the protests happening all over the city. You know, 161 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: we try to represent our audience, which is eighteen to 162 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: thirty five year olds who vast majority didn't vote for 163 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: Donald Trump and are very disturbed by what's happening. And 164 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: so we're trying to accurately depict, inform, and represent their 165 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: world view, which means for us being on the front 166 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: lines of the activism happening across the country. You know, 167 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: the Women's March was the biggest protests in US history 168 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: and was planned you know, in less than two fake 169 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 1: news not fake news, um, and young people all over 170 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: the world. There wasn't a person on my Facebook fee 171 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: who wasn't at the Women's March. So we're trying to 172 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: be on the front lines and tell stories that really 173 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: capture where this generation is. And we're really excited to 174 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: be part of, you know, our generation's response to what's happening. 175 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 1: But what I think is is fascinating about is you're 176 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: talking about being on the front lines and covering it 177 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: where Ben, I think what's fascinating and Alexa and I 178 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: followed this very closely. Was Lenny and Lena and Jenny 179 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: and jess Gross and alak Cars almost made them Brangelina, um, 180 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: you know, editors for Lenny, we're on a bus going 181 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: down and being a part of the protests and so 182 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: while you're both covering the same things, it's interesting to 183 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: see the different angles in the role Lenny played in that. 184 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: Can you talk to us a little bit about, um, 185 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: the importance of that and having you know, your editors 186 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: on the front line from a different perspective as as females. 187 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: So and let me just this is a good sort 188 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: of way for me to say, I'm the CEO, I 189 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 1: am not an editor. Um, so like you know, I 190 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: can better at that. I am better at that than 191 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: I am sort of, but I'm going to try and 192 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: represent that. If Jenny or Lena or Jess or Liah 193 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: could answer that question, they would say something like this 194 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: that like, first of all, Lenny was created not as 195 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: a business to you know, with a four year exit 196 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: plan that you know we were gonna like you know, 197 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: it wasn't like Jenny and Lena were like, how can 198 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: we cash in on this amazing like like women's voice thing. Uh, 199 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: it was. It was It's a mission driven company, you 200 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: know what I mean? And like and taking a point 201 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:06,559 Speaker 1: of view the way that say Fox News pioneered, like 202 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: did ales have a real mission in terms of like 203 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: how he wanted to change the world or did he 204 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: see a market opportunity or you know, or both? And 205 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: and is that a bad thing? Is that a good thing? 206 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: You know? Um? But to answer your question, like, you know, yes, 207 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: like we are part of the story, you know. And 208 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: and and Lenny's maybe a little different from Mike in 209 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: the sense that we don't do what you do in 210 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: sense of like true journalism, Like we're not quote unquote 211 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: reporting the facts. We're much more of an editorial page. 212 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: And we're giving women, uh you know again same sort 213 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 1: of demographic eighteen thirty five. Um, you know, whether they 214 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: be actors, activists, educators, etcetera, like that platform to to 215 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: to to speak their mind and speak to those subjects 216 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: in a way that like you know, we felt, um 217 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: was was was missing? Um, you know, I think it 218 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: is a complicated time and these lines are very blurry. 219 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: And um, I mean to go back to your initial question, 220 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: this is testing your limits both as a journalist and 221 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: as a human being. I mean, are you at these 222 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: rallies to report? But then you know, we had journalists 223 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: who actually came to us and asked, you know, can 224 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: they go part of the march as well? And and 225 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: and ethically like they're ethically um, and you know, we 226 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 1: are journalists, and so we want to make it clear 227 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: that we're our job is to get to the truth. However, um, 228 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 1: you know, we do a whole lot of things that 229 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: Mike too. So we have people who report the news, 230 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: We have calumnists and who give their opinion about the news. 231 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: We have had plenty of people who have come in 232 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: to do direct to camera video op eds, celebrities, influencers, 233 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: So we do a whole host of things too, and 234 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: I think it is a it's a a blended, tricky time. 235 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: One of the things that I think that Mike did 236 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: maybe first it was right after the election and we're 237 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: on the phone actually with Chris I'll check, just talking 238 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: to him about Okay, what does this mean now, like 239 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: what do we do now? What advertisers and brands and 240 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: media company, media company of the platform, and also like 241 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: then separately as like concerned citizens, like what do we 242 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: do now? And I think you guys were one of 243 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: the first media outlets that actually started publishing phone numbers 244 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: for Congress people. I thought that was like, yeah, let's 245 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: get to the heart of it. You also explained how 246 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: you get something done instead of just calling, show up. 247 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: R Yeah, I mean, and you know, so we published 248 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: a video with Congressman Steve Israel, who was in Congress 249 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: for sixteen years and he had retired, and we asked him, 250 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: what's the playbook for making your life hell if you 251 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: wanted to? And he referred back to the tea party. Right, well, yeah, 252 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: he referred to the tea party. And he said, you know, 253 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: in sixteen years, I've never once picked up the phone 254 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: in my office. Don't call my office, come out with 255 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: five friends, show up. And it's interesting. And all of 256 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: these things are happening from a media perspective in terms 257 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: of how we cover, we report on it, we respond 258 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: to it. But Alex and I have been scratching our 259 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: head saying what role the brand's play in this, and 260 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: how are you working with them and how are they 261 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: coming to you to address this very issue. Well, I 262 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: would say, like brands have been representing a status quo 263 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: since the beginning of time, right, Like they're not sort 264 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: of like consciously political actors, but like they go with 265 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: the flow. Let's just put it in that in those terms, 266 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: and when you have a administration that is so far 267 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: I'm not even going to say it's to the right 268 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: because I think it's sort of like it has abandoned 269 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: core values. For example, like you and you hear Barack 270 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: Obama on his way out talking about core values. And 271 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: there's a reason why he does that, I think, which 272 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: is to sort of to to say that, like there's 273 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: all of us here in America that agree on like 274 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: equality as a core value, and then there's this administration 275 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: that its core value is winning. You know, it's it's 276 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: at any cost. So to bring it back to your 277 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: question about like if you're a brand, like if you're 278 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: a brand your job and like selling toothpaste kind of brand, 279 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: or whether you're a brand selling uh, financial services, Like 280 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: you want to be in that center. You want to 281 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: be where the core values are. And this is a 282 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: really interesting time where like the core values, like I 283 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: don't even think our partisan anymore. It's like when we're 284 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: talking about like this is America, we're talking about like 285 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: equality as a core value, and like, so if you 286 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: can't stand up for equality, say the way that like 287 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: Anheuser Bush did with that amazing immigrant ad, like in 288 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: a world where that's suddenly anti Trump, like you're going 289 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: to be fine. So I love that you're what you're saying, 290 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: because it's not actually political, it's about having core values. 291 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: You're saying like we've gone so right and we're anti 292 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: we should be anti right is right? Conversation? This is 293 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: just a what are your values conversation? So have you 294 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: felt that post election era that your values that Mike 295 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: have been more galvanized and your values that Lenny have 296 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: been more galvanized because of the outward like the external 297 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: pressure situation. Definitely. First, well, look here's what I would say. 298 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: I mean on the brand's question. I think it's a 299 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: complicated time for brands, just in the way it is 300 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: for journalists. Um, you know, we did a survey of 301 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: our audience post election, and what millennials want post election 302 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: is to see that brands stand up and show their 303 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: values for something on gender equality, on climate change, on 304 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: LGBTQ rights, on the core issues. It's tricky. We've seen 305 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: examples in the last few weeks, whether it's Uber being 306 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: singled out over the course of a day, uh, Starbucks 307 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: committing to higher refugees and then getting a boycott Starbucks 308 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: hashtag because uh, you know, these things were very polarized. 309 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: It's very very tricky and a lot of these companies 310 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: have employees who voted for Trump and have products, you know, 311 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: and and factories and bases and states that voted for trum. 312 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: So it's it's not a one size fits all thing. 313 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: But you know, what we are seeing is that if 314 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: you want to stay relevant to millennials to the next generation, 315 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: people are expecting now you to stand up as a brand. 316 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: And we're hearing lots of people come to us and 317 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: say we want to do CSR campaigns. We've realized that 318 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: now this is a priority. This is JUSTSR campaign, uh, 319 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: corporate social responsibility campaign. So this is not a thing 320 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: that just can be on the side anymore. This is 321 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: something that has to be core to what we do, 322 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: and that's what we've tried to do with brands. What's 323 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: so interesting about what you just said, Jake, is that, um, 324 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: when companies or brands start to rally around the political 325 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: output of values, there's going to be backlash on one 326 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: side or the other. But when you focus strictly on 327 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: the value instead of getting into the political context of 328 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: what that value stands for, it seems to be where 329 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: people can at least come to the middle and agree 330 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: on which is not a simple thing. Right, So it's 331 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: a difference between saying I embrace diversity verse I'm going 332 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: to hire X refugees. Yes, I agree with that, although 333 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: what I would say is, as as you rightly point out, 334 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: these things are very politicized now, so it's not everything 335 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 1: is a value could be seen as a political thing. 336 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: And I mean, you know, the the the irony of 337 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: this period is every brand is worried about getting caught 338 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,479 Speaker 1: in Donald Trump's twitter feed. But on the flip side, 339 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: getting caught in his twitter feed actually throws your ratings 340 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: through the roof and people have sign up for your newsletter, 341 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: and so it's it's a very tricky thing. Um. And again, 342 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: like I said, you know, there's no one answer to 343 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 1: how to deal with it as a company. I think 344 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: I think, like you know, we've seen like Nordstrom stock 345 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: drop for a few minutes and then like shoot straight 346 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: back up, and that that sends a signal which is 347 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: like it's gonna be okay, Like they're gonna be a 348 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: couple of hashtags again. Like whereas like Uber like got 349 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: the message fast and like I think did the right thing, 350 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: Nordstrom didn't even do anything right. Well, that okay, That's 351 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: where I wanted to I wanted to actually drill down 352 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: into that, like you don't even have to do anything 353 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: to now become part of the Maelstrom. Right, So everything 354 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: is politicized everything and nothing's off limits. How do you 355 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: how do you act in in a world as a 356 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: brand like that? Right where you're in and you're out, 357 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: you're this or your creator or a creator. You stick 358 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: with core values. That's what they're there for, and so 359 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: you know they're always there. Sorry, they're always there. And 360 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 1: like when when there's lots of smoke and fire and 361 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: people are like freaking out, you're like, remember we wrote 362 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: our court values down like in the front door when 363 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: you walk in. Can someone go like remind me what 364 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: they are? Oh, it's equality. Okay, let's go do the 365 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: quality thing. That's what they're there for. So that like 366 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: when you get lost, you're like, that's my core. So 367 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: just return to those, you know what I'd say, also 368 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: as you can't ignore it. You know these conversations I've 369 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 1: been in certain circles, whether it's in international political circles 370 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: or amongst some folks who try to pretend like this 371 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: isn't what's on everybody's mind. In the room, every employee 372 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: is thinking about activism, action, politics, he's buying from a 373 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: company is thinking about it. So, you know, I think 374 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: if if there was a time too, there is this 375 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: notion that oh, we can just hide under the rug 376 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 1: and let it pass and just sort of it'll sweep 377 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: over us. And I think that's wrong. So I think 378 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: we're just in a completely different era. I think we 379 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: have now ticked into I don't like where we've gone. 380 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: We're not going back right, Like I I firmly believe 381 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: that I want to add something of that too. So 382 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,199 Speaker 1: it's like, I think the point about it being like 383 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: being part of the conversation, Like I think that is 384 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: really all that people want is that you're like recognizing 385 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: it and talking about it. They're less concerned about like 386 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: you're taking a stand or like what side are you on. 387 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: It's like, how about we just have the conversation and 388 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: see where and that might help us just move forward. Yeah, 389 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: I also wonder like, so I was reading something the 390 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: other day. I can't remember where it was, but it 391 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: was saying that now corporate America has gotten into the 392 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 1: place where they're all going to be doing something that 393 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: has a point of view, right, that they're going to 394 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: stand for something, that they're going to let their core 395 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: values be known, and then you know everyone does it 396 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: and it means nothing to anyone. Right, So now you 397 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: have the up, you have another problem coming up, and 398 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I would love to know from 399 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: like a more of a media perspective, how do you 400 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: make sure that it's not just a flash in the 401 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: pan type of thing that you get reflected they the 402 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: public reflects upon you and says, you know what, that's 403 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: not really who you are. Well. I recently interviewed Hamdi Lukaya, 404 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 1: who's the CEO of Jabani, who has been one of 405 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: the most remarkable in the last few years, outspoken on refugees, 406 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: a whole host of issues, and what he told me is, 407 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 1: you know, if you, as a CEO, would be laughed 408 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: at by your own employees if you said here's what 409 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: our brand stands for, then you're probably not doing it authentically. 410 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: So I think it comes back to values. It comes 411 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: back to you know, what are the core values that 412 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: you as a company or championing. You know, these things 413 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: can't come out of left field, so right, I think 414 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: that's like, how do you keep how do you keep 415 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: that drum before you before you even buy an ad 416 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 1: in like Mike or Lenny to like to like change 417 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,719 Speaker 1: the quote unquote change the world. You should have that 418 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,959 Speaker 1: internal conversation first with and again it's not like this 419 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: is what we stand for on on you know, we're 420 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 1: against Trump. No one's asking you to do that. It's 421 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: just like, you know, what is it that you stand 422 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: for in terms of a company, and like what are 423 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: your values? And then once you've established had that conversation, 424 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: then you can come to like credibly, come to a 425 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: Mike and a Lenny and say this is what we 426 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 1: stand for, and then Mike and Lenny will be like, oh, 427 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: that's interesting. So do we like now that How do 428 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: we reflect that, you know, through what we do, because like, 429 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: our audiences keep coming back to us because they know 430 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: who we are, and we consistently represent this voice. I 431 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: think that's the point. Consistently represent So like when we're 432 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 1: not like and we're happy to like take your money 433 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: and like and like and like, but I mean again 434 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: to the business part of this and to like and 435 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: to like lend ourselves and and and our reputation to yours. 436 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: But it only really works and makes sense when you've 437 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: already done it yourself, so that that's a shared value, 438 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: that there should be a jar in the middle where 439 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: the word value like like like every every creative conversation 440 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: that we have with brands is you know, a million 441 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: times more productive when they come and effective when they 442 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: come to the table saying like this is what, this 443 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: is who we are. And I love Ben where you 444 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: were going just in terms of authenticity and this is 445 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: something Alex and I are hypersensitive about, which is contextual 446 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: relevancy and not having a seat at the table but 447 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: being a part of the conversation. UM, And I think 448 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 1: what I'd love to get your thoughts on our UM, 449 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: how has a new cycle changed perhaps or shaped the 450 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: way you're creating con hent Um. Are you leaning into longer, firm, 451 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: shorter form inasmuch as you're leaning into different topics. Yeah, well, 452 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: we're always playing around with different formats. I mean, we 453 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: try to be very platform focused and new platform first, 454 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: so trying to understand and move to new platforms quickly. 455 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: UM short form video has been a huge, huge piece 456 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: of what we've done in the last year and a 457 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: half two years, UM seen tremendous growth there, reaching a 458 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: hundred million people every month, UM, as a result of 459 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: those two minute videos that live on Facebook and Instagram 460 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: and increasingly increasingly now we're thinking about long form video, 461 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: So building shows that live on streaming platforms, going to 462 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: the Hulus and Amazons and Netflix, you know, the place 463 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: where millennials watch TV, and building shows that reflect you know, 464 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: this generation's demand for commentary analysis. How are you deciding 465 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 1: that content though? Is it stuff that you're picking up 466 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 1: from headlines in the news cycle or is it going 467 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: deeper on the investigative side and thinking about It'll be 468 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: a little of both, but I mean, we'll we'll have 469 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: shows that are evergreen and based on our core topic extent, 470 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: will build them out as sort of serialized mini docs 471 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: and things that we know we have a core audience 472 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: built around. UM. And then we'll also try to reinvent 473 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: some of the nightly news shows because I think we 474 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: need that at this time. Jake, what are you obsessing 475 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 1: over right now outside of your journalistic responsibilities, UM, both 476 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: of somebody in the media space, UM, but also as 477 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: you know, probably a consumer of the same disculd be 478 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: content discus. Well, you know, look, I think I'm obsessing 479 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: about the things a lot of people in this country 480 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: are obsessing about, which is, how do go going back 481 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: to what we started with, how do we get to 482 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: the truth? What can media companies do to uh stand 483 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: up in this moment and really you know, report the truth. 484 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: I think that's a really really important question. I'm also 485 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: obsessing with, um what entrepreneurs and what everyday people and 486 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 1: our generation is going to do to respond to this moment. 487 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: I mean, one of the most amazing things that we've 488 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: seen is that, for the first time ever, millennials are 489 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: like clamoring to run for office at this moment. Are 490 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: you guys helping them? Well, we're obsessed with that. We're 491 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: helping to you know, publish some of these campaigns and 492 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, publishing op eds on our side. But we've 493 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: seen millennials clamoring to run for office. People want to 494 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: get activated, they want to do something they don't know 495 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: quite what to do. Some people are going to go protests, 496 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 1: some people are going to donate, some people are going 497 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 1: to run for office. What's your favorite like grassroots UM 498 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: movement movement that's like spur action or action. Well, there's 499 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: been some really amazing, I mean amazing people who are 500 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: doing amazing things. Um, you know, I'm sure a lot 501 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: of listeners have heard of the Indivisible Guide, which has 502 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: been one of the big ones circulating where like even 503 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: my mom now who's emailed at this Westchester m is 504 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 1: going to town hall meetings and thinking about how to 505 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 1: get activated and how do people access that. People can 506 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: can access that, um that indivisible guy dot com. I mean, 507 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: it's a website. You can download it. You can start 508 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: a town hall meeting in your community as a playbook 509 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: for how to sort of come together. A friend of 510 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: mine was telling me that in Westchester she went to 511 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: one in seven people showed up totally. They didn't think 512 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: they were going to get ten totally. But I would 513 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: look like I would. I would love to see and 514 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: for listeners, I would love to see people use this 515 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: moment to inspire creativity that we have never can go anytime. 516 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: There's always you know, in tech, there's always been this 517 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: sense of like, oh, well, you know politics is over 518 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: there and Washington's over there, We're going to do our own. 519 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 1: Think there's never been a more important time for people 520 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: in tech. And you don't have to get political, but 521 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: just think about the moment that we're think about solutions. 522 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: Get creative. I mean, that's what I would love to see. 523 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: I think the real challenge for Lenny And I don't 524 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: know if you feel the same way. Maybe you guys 525 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: probably do a better job of this because you're a 526 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: bigger organization, UM and have more resources. But I think 527 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 1: that like the sort of media elite problem that we 528 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: have in the sort of in the coastal issues was 529 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 1: a big problem for Lenny, and that like and something 530 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: that we without very much work, could probably uh do 531 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: lot to to rectify. And I think my hope is 532 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: over the next few years, we're going to two cities 533 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: and states um that we wouldn't otherwise go to and 534 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 1: like identify pockets of resistance. UM. Can I say something 535 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: that I'll blow everyone's mind, but that's a guarantee. Can 536 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: make sure you mark this. Are you ready? This is news? Um. 537 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,159 Speaker 1: So after the election, we did a study of rural millennials, UM, 538 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 1: and we looked at what they're reading, what they're sharing, 539 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: how to talk to them, how to reach them. And 540 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,959 Speaker 1: we found a fascinating insight which is in Wisconsin, on 541 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 1: the day that the Trump sex tape came out, there 542 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: was an uptick in searches for what does misogyny mean? 543 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: And what is a massage? Confusing the word massage and misogyny, 544 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: And here is what I think was one of the 545 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:59,479 Speaker 1: biggest issues with the Democratic side finishing well. So my 546 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 1: thought is, I think if we do a better job storytelling, 547 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: doing our jobs showing why things matter, you know, we 548 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: we've fallen the trap too of you know, using big 549 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: words and you know, sort of call out culture versus 550 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: call in culture and being inclusive in our storytelling. So 551 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: I think that's one piece of it. But I also think, 552 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: I mean, here's another insight for you breaking news UM 553 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: that that after the election, UM offline has had more 554 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: of a resurgence than ever. So Starbucks has had some 555 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: of its most foot traffic days in history the few 556 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: days after the election. People are craving interact, connections, interaction, 557 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: and so we're also thinking about offline events and what 558 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: talk about to reach people so that we get out 559 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: of our digital filter bubble and actually have real conversations 560 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: with these folks. Do you know Faith Popcorn. She's a futurist, 561 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: and she's like a famous futurist, and she was talking 562 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: about that that now kind of with all of these 563 00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: confluence of things, right, it's the it's the post Brexit Trump, 564 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: all of these kind of things coming together with technology 565 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: on the rise, that we're going to see actually totally 566 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: new patterns in sexual behavior because people are craving that 567 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: we're actually at our lowest kind of sexual activity that 568 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 1: we've been in history. Which I had more, I had, no, 569 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: I had no, I didn't and I'm not having a 570 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: number two for a while. But you have to have 571 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 1: sex in order to have one to know the right 572 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: past tense um. So sorry, honey, um, but but no. 573 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: But the point is, and I think that's really true, 574 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: is that like now we're going to be looking for 575 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: new ways of interacting not only with each other to connect, 576 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: but also now we've got technology that's connecting with us. 577 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: Where does that play a role in the mix. It's 578 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: really I agree, it's human interact. We're talking about like 579 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: basically events, right, like tours, amends that kind of thing, 580 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: And like I was talking about sex, you're talking about events. 581 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 1: I'm tiking about very but like social media, all that 582 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: kind of stuff has made us lazy, and we keep going. 583 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: We we we we're looking for ways of like leveraging 584 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: Facebook in order to reach the most people, and because 585 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: you know, we have limited time and limited money. But 586 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: you know what it takes to like get out into 587 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: the world and actually like get people to come together 588 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: and do a thing is very taxing. It takes a 589 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 1: lot of work. And we've it's not that we've lost 590 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: we don't have the work ethic, it's just that like 591 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: when you live in a just to bring it back 592 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: to media and like what counts if you're going after 593 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: massive clicks, if that's what's paying the bills, right, and 594 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: your advertiser is like I want to reach as many 595 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: people as possible, you know what I mean? Like then 596 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: like the kind of content that you're going to create 597 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: is like is going to be built around those sorts 598 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: of like what kind of creating them? And then and 599 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: then but if you want to create these events, you're 600 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,440 Speaker 1: you're only reaching like a thousand people. That's a lot 601 00:31:56,480 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 1: of or or or a hundred people. And is the 602 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: mass that we talked and just what it costs a 603 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: lot more to do that than like than buy a face. 604 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: What's the but what's the return? And that's where you 605 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: get into a quality, actionable impact loyalty thing. I think 606 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: we've unlocked a lot a lot today and I think 607 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: we want to look like he's going to fall leave. 608 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 1: But I don't know. I've unlock so much you can't 609 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: take any I think what we love is to kind 610 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: of have both of you, um leave our listeners. What 611 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: will call the last tweet of the night? What do 612 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: you mean? Or is it just for the afternoon? Yeah? 613 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: What's the last word from Ben Cooley? Tweet? Or otherwise? 614 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: In Atlantia love one another? I like that? Okay, Jake, 615 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 1: how many characters do we go? Yeah? You can? You know? 616 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: And Jake, we'll do a hundred. Well, no, I'm I'm 617 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 1: I'm very very enthused about the amount of creative energy 618 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: that we're seeing. Um. And my message to listeners would 619 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: be to channel it and that this is a we're 620 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 1: living through the most unprecedented moment in history, So brands, 621 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: individuals channel it. Can Can people call you guys and say, hey, 622 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 1: have this brilliant idea for Lenny, Hey have this brilliant 623 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: idea for Mike? Oh definitely. How do they get in 624 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 1: touch with you? Well, you can tweet at at me, 625 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: email me, um, call me, uh my cell phone number 626 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 1: and email are on my Twitter account, so pretty pretty 627 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: easy to get ahold of your cell phone is on 628 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 1: your Twitter That maybe not my cell phone? What's your 629 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: Twitter handle? Jacob D. Horrowitz Nice? Then you can email 630 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: me Bennett Lenny letter dot com. All right, I love it, guys. 631 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 1: Thank awesome conversation and we totally totally appreciate what you're 632 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: doing Summers and as the co host of the show, 633 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: what you're doing to move the movement forward. So thank you, 634 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you. So that was our first show. 635 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: What's our first show? And we didn't do this alone. 636 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 1: There are so many people think, so many people think, 637 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 1: and not the least or the last are the people 638 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: at Hannibally and Slate who believed in us. So a 639 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:09,479 Speaker 1: few core shoutouts Jacob Weisberg, Andy Bowers, Laura Mayor, Matt Turk, 640 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: Cameron Drew's, Cameron Drew's our producer. Um, yeah, and just 641 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 1: all of our friends and family who stood by this, 642 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: and industry colleagues. I mean, I personally love to thank 643 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: our significant others and I've been listening to this ship 644 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: for a really long time and are probably glad we're 645 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: out of our houses and in the studio doing it. 646 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: So thank you Sandy, thank you Mike, and I mean 647 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 1: my mom, my dad, my brother, just like the oscars. 648 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: Wrap it up all right. So you can find at 649 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 1: Landia pretty much anywhere Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, at and Landia 650 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: podcast and also be sure to obviously subscribe to at 651 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 1: Landia podcast on iTunes and everywhere else you can get podcasts, 652 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: obviously obviously, so welcome to Atlandia. We'll be back every 653 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:54,319 Speaker 1: other Tuesday. We're excited to have you and be a 654 00:34:54,320 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: part of the conversation. Full disc closure. Our opinions are 655 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:01,439 Speaker 1: our own.