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Daily Variety

Daily Variety

Variety 100 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

Variety journalists and entertainment leaders deliver business news and analysis tailored for industry insiders.

Episodes

Amazon Courts Creators to Build Businesses and Scale the Attention Economy for Brands
Amazon Courts Creators to Build Businesses and Scale the Attention Economy for Brands Aug 21, 2026 1505 On today's episode, Matt Sandler, Amazon's general manager of creator services, and Angie More, Amazon's head of creator ad partnerships, explain why Amazon is making a push into the creator economy and how they're working with some of the boldest names in the sector. The goal is to use the digital behemoth's considerable resources to build businesses that last and to scale creator content ad buyi
Documentary Filmmaker Rory Kennedy Sounds the Alarm on Air Safety With 'Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing'
Documentary Filmmaker Rory Kennedy Sounds the Alarm on Air Safety With 'Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing' Aug 20, 2026 822 On today's episode, Variety's Marlow Stern speaks with documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy about her latest film, "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing." She sees real urgency around the company's failures and lack of accountability for the deaths of more than 300 people in devastating 737 Max plane crashes in 2018 and 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How ‘Dateline’ Became a Multiplatform Content Dynamo for NBC News
How ‘Dateline’ Became a Multiplatform Content Dynamo for NBC News Aug 19, 2026 1074 On today’s episode, “Dateline” leaders Liz Cole and Paul Ryan discuss the ever-expanding footprint of the NBC News newsmagazine that has become a ubiquitous presence in media and pop culture. “The audience knows what to expect from us. They’re going to get storytelling. They know that very reliably we’re taking them on a journey to justice,” Ryan says.See
Ryan Murphy Talks Norman Lear, Top Showrunners Weigh in on TV’s Future
Ryan Murphy Talks Norman Lear, Top Showrunners Weigh in on TV’s Future Aug 18, 2026 1110 On today’s episode, highlights from Variety’s annual Showrunners Breakfast include heartfelt remarks from Ryan Murphy on how he was inspired by Norman Lear and “All in the Family" as he received Variety's Norman Lear Creative Conscience Award. And five Emmy-nominated showrunners discuss television then and now as they offer advice to next-generation creatives. The participants ar
How Chris Carter Got a Second Shot at 'The X Files: I Want to Believe' Film
How Chris Carter Got a Second Shot at 'The X Files: I Want to Believe' Film Aug 18, 2026 876 On today's episode, "The X Files" creator Chris Carter explains to Variety's Michael Schneider how he got a second shot at his 2008 film "The X Files: I Want to Believe" with the director's cut that premiered Aug. 14 on Hulu and Disney+ outside the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Retired Athletes Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil Return to Sports as Team Owners and TV Producers in YouTube Docuseries ‘We Are Osos’
Retired Athletes Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil Return to Sports as Team Owners and TV Producers in YouTube Docuseries ‘We Are Osos’ Aug 14, 2026 1477 On today's episode, Luminate's Andrew Wallenstein speaks with retired athletes Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil. Since moving on from their playing days in NBA and NFL, the two have headed the  production company Mortal Media. And now, they're adding a few more jobs to their resumes: co-owners of a Mexican-league football team, and co-stars of the unscripted series "We Are Osos" that bows Aug. 3
Leslie Iwerks Trains Her Lens on ‘Disney Worldbuilding’ With James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Peter Docter and More
Leslie Iwerks Trains Her Lens on ‘Disney Worldbuilding’ With James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Peter Docter and More Aug 14, 2026 763 On today’s episode, documentarian Leslie Iwerks dives into the world of “Disney Worldbuilding,” a study of how creative visions are brought to life as IRL experiences at Disney parks and other locations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Paramount Bail on the Golden State? Dodger Great Orel Hershiser on Broadcasting, Baseball and Faith
Will Paramount Bail on the Golden State? Dodger Great Orel Hershiser on Broadcasting, Baseball and Faith Aug 12, 2026 1145 On today's episode, Variety's Todd Spangler analyzes the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati
Daily Variety -- Summer Box Office Will Surpass the $4 Billion Benchmark
Daily Variety -- Summer Box Office Will Surpass the $4 Billion Benchmark Aug 10, 2026 821 On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.See omnystudio.com/listener for p
NBCUniversal Media Group Chief Matt Strauss on Growing Peacock, Testing Membership Rewards and Becoming a Daily Habit With Users
NBCUniversal Media Group Chief Matt Strauss on Growing Peacock, Testing Membership Rewards and Becoming a Daily Habit With Users Aug 9, 2026 1682 On today's episode of Variety's "Strictly Business," Matt Strauss, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, details the evolution of the Peacock streamer and his view of the "the great re-bundling" that is underway for streaming media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies
Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies Aug 6, 2026 805 On today’s episode,Variety’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI still runs as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s Tick-Tock Time for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger as Judge Sets March Trial Date
It’s Tick-Tock Time for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger as Judge Sets March Trial Date Aug 5, 2026 903 On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler offers an update on where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. “I think he feels like he’s been misunderstood,” Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO D

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