The Business: Podcast Charts and Episodes

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The latest episodes published to this podcast’s own RSS feed. Titles and descriptions are the publisher’s.

How new will the new ‘60 Minutes’ feel? from The Business, opens in a new tab
Sep 11, 202630 min
As CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss prepares to unveil <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-60-minutes-preview-cbs-news-bari-weiss-1236694934/">a new era of 60 Minutes</a>, questions are mounting over what America’s most-watched news program will look like under her leadership. Following the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ex-60-minutes-managing-editor-program-destruction-1236694635/">exits and firings</a> of several correspondents and senior producers since Weiss arrived at the network, newly installed executive producer Nick Bilton faces the challenge of reshaping the show without alienating its loyal audience. Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw examine what the next chapter could look like for the CBS News institution. Plus, we revisit a conversation between Kim Masters and Lance Oppenheim, director of the HBO docu-series Ren Faire. He talks about honing his intimate, uniquely collaborative style of filmmaking, and his interest in subjects who become “entombed” by their own fantasies. The filmmaker also shares how he cold emailed his way into director Darren Aronofsky’s inner circle.
Lilly Wachowski remembers 30 years of ‘Bound’ from The Business, opens in a new tab
Sep 4, 202630 min
This week, Kim Masters talks to Lilly Wachowski about making Bound, the directorial debut she co-directed with sister Lana. Wachowski recalls the wild experience of working with legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis, and how she and Lana went from living paycheck to paycheck as carpenters to having producer Joel Silver beg them to sell him The Matrix.    Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni dig into a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/federal-film-and-tv-tax-incentive-bill-1236687205/">newly unveiled bill</a> that would create a federal production tax incentive, and what it could mean for the industry if passed. The banter partners also turn to some <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/08/box-office-summer-2026-near-record-1237062959/">good news at the box office</a>, where summer grosses topped pre-COVID levels by nine percent.
After ‘Tiger King,’ Eric Goode goes deeper into the reptile world from The Business, opens in a new tab
Aug 28, 202630 min
This week, Kim sits down with filmmaker Eric Goode to talk about his HBO documentary series, Monsters of God. Goode discusses how he pivoted from a successful career in New York’s hospitality world to making documentaries about the extinction crisis, exotic reptile smuggling, and eventually, a little project called Tiger King. He also talks about self-financing his animal-conservation projects rather than waiting around for a studio, and he has a few things to say about Netflix. Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down another busy week in the Warnermount saga, beginning with the company decrying a critical <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/mark-ruffalo-paramount-anti-merger-comments-not-antisemitic-1236679153/">social media post</a> from actor Mark Ruffalo as antisemitic. They also discuss California Attorney General Rob Bonta <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/california-bonta-cancels-paramount-wbd-deal-meeting-games-1236679548/">canceling a tentative settlement discussion</a> with the studio after news of the meeting leaked.
Desi Lydic ‘Foxsplains’ her rise to the top of fake news from The Business, opens in a new tab
Aug 21, 202630 min
Eric Deggans speaks with Desi Lydic, a longtime correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. She talks about how a pandemic-era segment satirizing Fox News evolved into her Emmy-nominated digital series Desi Lydic Foxplains. Lydic also shares how The Daily Show’s post-Trevor Noah rotation of hosts has opened the door for more voices, and jokes about how her conservative parents once envisioned her as either a Fox News journalist or a Hallmark movie star. Plus, Cinema United, the largest movie theater trade organization, has changed course after opposing the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. The group is now calling for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount CEO David Ellison to reach a settlement, stating, “Global exhibition believes in a bold future for this industry, but reaching our full potential requires working together.” Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw dive into the latest developments in the ongoing Warnermount saga.
How Hannah Einbinder hacked it out in Hollywood from The Business, opens in a new tab
Aug 14, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to Hannah Einbinder, who is up for another supporting actress Emmy for Hacks. But her role in the new film Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma takes her far from the lavish Las Vegas home of Deborah Vance, to a weird and gory place. Einbinder tells Masters about coming-of-age as the child of two show business professionals, making the segue from stand-up comedy into acting, and her belief that fame obligates her to speak up on behalf of the oppressed.  Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss Paramount hinting they will move out of California if their proposed merger with Warner Brothers is delayed beyond October. Paramount is playing hardball with the state Attorneys General, whom they will square off against in court in March 2027 if no settlement is reached.
Lilly Wachowski reimagines the studio system (Pt 1) from The Business, opens in a new tab
Aug 7, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to Lilly Wachowski, co-creator of The Matrix movie franchise, about her new artist-owned, non-profit studio. They discuss how Lilly juggled multiple international film and TV productions while she was transitioning, why she stepped away from the business, and how she’s working to launch the studio, Anarchists United, to showcase marginalized talent. [ In part two of the interview, which will air in a few weeks, Lilly will share behind-the-scenes tales of The Matrix movies, and Bound, the first movie she co-directed with her sister Lana. ] Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the impact of pushing the trial against the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger to March 2027. This will mean the Ellison family will have to pay a “ticking fee” for months, as well as further halt any plans to blend the companies.
The quirky alchemy of Widow’s Bay from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jul 31, 202630 min
Eric Deggans talks to Hiro Murai, lead director and executive producer of the Apple TV horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay. They discuss how Murai helped maintain the tricky tone of the Emmy-nominated series, his work with Donald Glover on the FX series Atlanta, and how he keeps the initial spark of creativity alive when dealing with the realities of TV production. Plus, Kim Masters and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw discuss last week’s halt to the Paramount-Warner merger. What the Ellison family once considered a done deal may be a little less certain at the moment.
Hunting for the next hit YouTube IP from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jul 24, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to Kori Adelson, whose company produced Backrooms, and Roy Lee, producer of Weapons, about the hunt for the next hit YouTube IP. Adelson and Lee share their observations about the effect movies like Backrooms, Obsession, and Iron Lung have had on what studios are looking for; the filmmakers behind those three had large followings on YouTube. Adelson and Lee also explain how those same studios need to embrace creative risks–at the smaller budgets those films operated under– while taking care to understand the Gen Z audience.   Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss a federal judge pausing the Warnermount merger, and Peacock’s newfound profitability. Peacock’s numbers are believed to be due, in part, to having streaming rights for the NBA playoffs, and the Spanish-language broadcast for the World Cup. [NOTE: This episode was posted after <span data-slate-node="text" data-slate-fragment="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">Paramount announced that they will halt the merger until next June, at the latest, while the court weighs its decision.]
Documentary filmmakers facing the threat of litigation from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jul 17, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to Dale Cohen, special counsel to PBS's Frontline, and director of UCLA Law School's Documentary Film Legal Clinic, about the threat of litigation filmmakers face from the wealthy and powerful people they choose to cover, such as Donald Trump. Cohen laments that so few investigative films are being produced right now, a situation that wasn’t helped when Disney and CBS paid up to settle dubious lawsuits from Trump.  Cohen is hoping that Disney’s recent willingness to do battle with the FCC signals a growing realization that appeasement doesn’t work.   Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the latest developments in the legal battle over the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to stop the merger this week, but has also potentially signalled some conditions that would satisfy his objections.
Emmy nominations surprises and predictions from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jul 10, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to LA Times Awards Columnist Glenn Whipp about the Emmy nominations announced this week. Whipp thinks this was not a stellar year in television, meaning that top nominees, The Pitt and Hacks, are likely to feast at September’s Emmys. But Whipp is pleased that stand-out new shows, Widow’s Bay and Pluribus, got some nods. And he says give Harrison Ford an Emmy already! Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the UK possibly intervening in the Paramount-WBD merger, and CAA’s criticism of Meta’s opt-out policy for AI images.
Alexandria Stapleton on chronicling the rise and reckoning of Sean Combs from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jul 3, 202630 min
This week, an encore presentation of Kim Masters’ interview with Alexandria Stapleton, the DGA Award nominated director of Sean Combs: The Reckoning. The Netflix docuseries examines the rise and fall of the hip hop mogul. Stapleton discusses partnering with executive producer 50 Cent, her approach to telling the story without turning it into a hit piece, and the care required when working with the alleged victims of Combs. She also explains why Netflix proved to be the ideal partner for this project, and how its legal team vetted controversial pre-arrest footage that Combs had commissioned himself.   Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss Comcast’s surprise decision to break up the company. The cable/internet giant, which also owns NBCUniversal, could find an attractive suitor for its parts in Netflix.
John Carney on pop stars, movie stars, and Power Ballad from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jun 26, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to John Carney, who after his 2006 indie breakout film Once, has made a career of making movies about musicians making music. Generally, the ones who never got famous. His new film, Power Ballad<span data-slate-node="text" data-slate-fragment="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">, stars Paul Rudd as a wedding singer alongside Nick Jonas, who plays a flawed former pop star. Carney discusses his struggles to raise money for his films, and reveals what he says to - or maybe shouts at -  buskers in Dublin who have their amps cranked up to 11.   Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss why Amazon dropped out of distributing Artificial, a movie critical of Open AI. Although initial reactions to a cut of it have been lukewarm, there may be other reasons why Amazon pulled out.
David Koepp on trying to ‘not screw up’ Disclosure Day from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jun 19, 202630 min
Kim Masters talks to screenwriter David Koepp about Disclosure Day, his latest collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. After Spielberg sent Koepp a 40 page treatment for the movie, which Koepp gave notes on, Spielberg emailed him back that “it’s your problem now.” Koepp also reveals the downside of his early success, which included writing the Jurassic Park screenplay when he was just 29. He also explains why he’s not that scared AI will replace him, and offers his very dark pitch for one final Tom Cruise-led Mission Impossible movie (Koepp wrote the original 1996 release).    Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss Fox Corp’s acquisition of the streaming company Roku. Roku is used by over a 100 million people, giving Fox access to countless homes, and a lot of consumer data.
Former FTC Commissioner wants to stop the Paramount-Warner merger from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jun 12, 202630 min
This week, Kim Masters talks to Alvaro Bedoya, a former FTC Commissioner, about why he objects to the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger. Bedoya says it will mean fewer jobs, higher subscription fees for consumers, and more censorship when the Ellison family - who own Paramount Skydance - control both CBS News and CNN. Bedoya also addresses a surprising accusation from Paramount’s Chief Counsel against some who oppose the merger.  <span data-slate-fragment="JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMiU1QkVkaXRvciVFMiU4MCU5OXMlMjBub3RlJTNBJTIwdGhpcyUyMGVwaXNvZGUlMjBmaXJzdCUyMGFpcmVkJTIwYmVmb3JlJTIwdGhlJTIwRGVwYXJ0bWVudCUyMG9mJTIwSnVzdGljZSUyMGFubm91bmNlZCUyMG9uJTIwRnJpZGF5JTIwYWZ0ZXJub29uJTIwdGhhdCUyMHRoZXklMjB3b3VsZCUyMG5vdCUyMGNoYWxsZW5nZSUyMHRoZSUyMFBhcmFtb3VudC1XYXJuZXIlMjBtZXJnZXIuJTVEJTIyJTJDJTIyaXRhbGljJTIyJTNBdHJ1ZSU3RCU1RCUyQyUyMmlzVm9pZCUyMiUzQWZhbHNlJTJDJTIyZGF0YSUyMiUzQSU3QiU3RCU3RCU1RA==">[Editor’s note: this episode first aired before the Department of Justice announced on Friday afternoon that they would not challenge the Paramount-Warner merger.] Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the box office prospects for Steven Spielberg’s new movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icDuEHSxE-w">Disclosure Day</a>. Can the director, who popularized the summer blockbuster, <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/disclosure-day-steven-spielberg-summer-box-office-shaky-tracking-1236770265/">still bring people out to the theaters</a>?
Eric Kripke responds to critics of the ‘The Boys’ finale from The Business, opens in a new tab
Jun 5, 202630 min
This week, Eric Deggans talks to Eric Kripke, creator of the Amazon Prime series The Boys, about criticism of the show’s final season. Elon Musk went online to trash the finale of the politically provocative superhero satire, and some of the show’s less wealthy fans also didn’t care for it either. Kripke also talks about how The Boys managed to be pretty prescient about the current state of the country, and whether the franchise–with its multiple spinoffs–is actually becoming like the superhero genre it mocks.  Plus, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the firing of <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/bari-weiss-talks-scott-pelley-firing-cbs-news-1236612561/">CBS’ 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley</a>. The duo also discuss <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-06-03/a24s-backrooms-earns-100-million-in-less-than-week">the success of the movie Backrooms</a>, and how it made its leap from YouTube to the big screen.
Jack Thorne on ‘Adolescence,’ ‘Lord of the Flies,’ and his autism from The Business, opens in a new tab
May 29, 202630 min
This week, Kim Masters talks to Jack Thorne, who won all the prizes for writing the Netflix series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81756069">Adolescence</a>, about his new series, an adaptation of the novel <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/82709727">Lord of the Flies</a>. They also discuss how Adolescence revealed Netflix’s stunning global reach, and why series star Stephen Graham has a co-writing credit, even though Graham doesn’t actually write. Thorne also tells Kim about being diagnosed as autistic in his mid-40s. Plus, Kim and Matt Belloni discuss the major <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cbs-news-nick-bilton-60-minutes-1236607721/">shakeup at CBS’ 60 Minutes</a>. Bari Weiss, the controversial head of the network’s news division, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/60-minutes-correspondent-sharyn-alfonsi-exit-cbs-news-1236457180/">fired two correspondents</a> and other staff, and hired someone with no broadcast news experience to run the vaunted show.
Courtney Kemp on Netflix series ‘Nemesis’ and diversity in Hollywood from The Business, opens in a new tab
May 22, 202630 min
This week, Eric Deggans talks to Courtney Kemp, co-creator of the Netflix crime drama Nemesis, about the changing TV landscape, and whether she sees Hollywood standing by diversity initiatives despite the pushback from the Trump administration. She also explains how some executives who give her notes don’t necessarily grasp what matters to her audience. After signing an overall deal with Netflix in 2021, Kemp developed Nemesis, a Los Angeles-set crime story built around ambition, class, and power.  [Editor’s note: this segment was taped before it was announced that Kemp had signed an overall deal with Apple TV, and did not renew her deal with Netflix.<span data-slate-node="text" data-slate-fragment="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">] Plus, host Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the penultimate episode of which included <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMrNO6VjqiA">a jab by Bruce Springsteen directed at Larry and David Ellison</a>. The duo also assess the latest Star Wars release - <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-05-21/can-disney-recapture-force-with-the-mandalorian-grogu">The Mandalorian and Grogu</a>. Disney has a lot riding on whether the franchise can successfuly turn a popular TV series into a box office hit. [Editor’s note: this segment was taped before the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired.<span data-slate-node="text" data-slate-fragment="JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmlzVm9pZCUyMiUzQWZhbHNlJTJDJTIyZGF0YSUyMiUzQSU3QiU3RCUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMiU1QiUyMiU3RCUyQyU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjJFZGl0b3IlRTIlODAlOTlzJTIwbm90ZSUzQSUyMHRoaXMlMjBzZWdtZW50JTIwd2FzJTIwdGFwZWQlMjBiZWZvcmUlMjB0aGUlMjBmaW5hbCUyMGVwaXNvZGUlMjBvZiUyMFRoZSUyMExhdGUlMjBTaG93JTIwd2l0aCUyMFN0ZXBoZW4lMjBDb2xiZXJ0JTIwYWlyZWQuJTIyJTJDJTIyaXRhbGljJTIyJTNBdHJ1ZSU3RCUyQyU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjIlNUQlMjIlN0QlNUQlN0QlNUQ=">]
William Shatner & Neil deGrasse Tyson think ‘The Universe is Absurd’ (Part Two) from The Business, opens in a new tab
May 15, 202630 min
Kim Masters wraps up her two-part conversation with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Shatner reflects on his deeply emotional journey to space at age 90 and Tyson shares why he isn’t picky about the show biz gigs he takes. The pair also reflect on technological disruption, including how the rise of AI inspired Shatner to record a heavy metal album about the Industrial Revolution. Their two-night live event, <a href="https://futureofspace.io/the-universe-is-absurd">The Universe is Absurd</a>, will be at The Saban Theatre May 19-20.  Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the strength of the new AI protections outlined in the recently finalized <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sag-aftra-four-year-deal-studios-new-ai-protections-1236590891/">four-year agreement</a> between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. They also discuss Disney’s awkward <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/josh-damaro-2026-disney-upfront-1236593650/">upfronts pitch</a>, and Netflix’s continued expansion into live sports and <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-westminster-dog-show-netflix-2027-1236593633/">events</a>.
William Shatner & Neil deGrasse Tyson think ‘The Universe is Absurd’ from The Business, opens in a new tab
May 8, 202630 min
This week, Kim Masters speaks with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about their upcoming two-night live event, <a href="https://futureofspace.io/the-universe-is-absurd">The Universe is Absurd</a>. In the first installment of a sprawling two-part conversation, the pair reflect on how syndication helped solidify Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon, why studio executives don’t know what they’re doing, and they wrestle over the universe’s biggest questions. Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the seismic shift at Netflix following the company’s decision to give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-narnia-movie-greta-gerwig-release-date-1236581880/">49-day theatrical window</a> ahead of its streaming debut. They also discuss the ups and downs from Disney’s latest <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/josh-damaro-long-term-disney-strategy-first-earnings-report-1236587417/#:~:text=Disney's%20entertainment%20division%20led%20the,%241.3%20billion%2C%20up%206%20percent.">quarterly earnings report</a> and the newly finalized <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sag-aftra-studios-tentative-contract-deal-1236581470/">four-year agreement</a> between SAG-AFTRA and the studios.
Kirk Jones and Robert Aramayo on the making of ‘I Swear’ from The Business, opens in a new tab
May 1, 202630 min
This week, Kim Masters speaks with director Kirk Jones and actor Robert Aramayo about I Swear, the BAFTA winning film about Tourette’s advocate John Davidson. Jones talks about using his own life savings to self-finance the project after potential backers pushed him to tone down the film’s language, and how that decision allowed him to cast Aramayo in the lead without studio oversight. Aramayo discusses the physical and emotional demands of portraying Davidson, a role that required extensive preparation and ultimately earned him a BAFTA. They also reflect on the widely publicized moment at the BAFTA ceremony that brought renewed attention to Tourette’s syndrome. Plus, in the aftermath of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni unpack the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fcc-early-review-disney-broadcast-tv-licenses-kimmel-joke-1236579081/">FCC scrutiny</a> facing The Walt Disney Company over a recent late-night jab from Jimmy Kimmel. The duo also explore the unexpected <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/michael-jackson-record-box-office-biopic-opening-1236577460/">box office strength</a> of a controversial Michael Jackson biopic and the delicate balancing act at Lionsgate as it weighs a potential sequel amid ongoing public backlash.

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