Breaker Pod

Comedian and impressionist Matt Friend joins Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod to discuss going viral with celebrity impressions, the collapse of traditional late-night TV, and why the future of comedy belongs to creators who understand the internet.
 
Friend reflects on performing at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, meeting King Charles, doing impressions straight to celebrities’ faces, and building a comedy career through social media instead of the traditional Hollywood route.
 
He also shares his thoughts on Donald Trump’s impact on comedy, the changing media landscape, AI voice cloning, Gen Z’s viewing habits, and why he believes “no one’s watching things late at night" anymore.
 
PLUS: Some quickfire impressions (Howard Stern, Mitch McConnell, Obama, Ted Cruz, and more), CNN, Fox News, social media, comedy club culture, and Matt’s dream of creating his own modern version of late night.
 
00:00 Matt Friend's Rise From TikTok to Comedy Star
03:49 Meeting King Charles and Celebrity Impressions
06:53 Why Late Night TV Is Dying
12:54 White House Correspondents' Dinner & Political Comedy
20:18 Brands, Virality, and Building a Modern Comedy Career
28:07 AI, Social Media, and the Future of Entertainment
36:56 Trump, Comedy, and What's Next for Matt Friend
 
#podcast #politics #viral
 
Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe
 
New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.
 
 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Former Dow Jones and News UK executive Ramin Beheshti joins Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod to discuss why Gen Z doesn’t trust legacy media, how AI is threatening traditional news business models, and why “kids don’t want news” is “bullsh*t.”Beheshti — now the CEO of Caliber, the company behind The News Movement, The Recount, Capsule, Caliber Collective, and the creator-focused app SaySo — explains why the future of journalism belongs to creators, vertical video, and direct audience relationships.He also opens up about launching a startup with Will Lewis, why “paywalls have killed curiosity,” how social platforms changed news forever, and why legacy media still doesn’t fully understand the creator economy.00:00 Intro05:06 The Wall Street Journal Paywall Era12:37 Why “Kids Don’t Want News” Is “Bullsh*t”24:29 Building a 100M+ Audience30:32 Why SaySo Wants You to Spend Less Time Online39:48 Legacy Media’s Creator Panic42:13 AI, Web Traffic & The Future of Media45:02 Will Lewis’ Future in Journalism#podcast #genz #media #viral 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill join Lachlan Cartwright on The Breaker Pod to discuss what happens after getting “billboard fired” from two of the most coveted jobs in magazine publishing.Brown, the former editor-in-chief of InStyle, and O’Neill, the former editor-in-chief of WSJ. Magazine, explain how losing their jobs inspired their bestselling book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, their podcast, and now, their new media venture.They share behind-the-scenes stories from the golden age of glossy magazines, debate who could one day replace Anna Wintour, weigh in on the future of Condé Nast and The New York Times Magazine, and explain why creativity — not AI — will always be at the heart of great storytelling.00:00 Intro01:42 Getting “Billboard Fired”08:15 How All the Cool Girls Get Fired Was Born15:34 Why Owning the Narrative Matters24:11 Who Could Replace Anna Wintour?28:47 The Future of Condé Nast and Magazine Publishing36:52 Why the Individual Is the Media43:08 AI, Creativity, and the Future of Journalism#podcast #viral #journalism #fashion #fyp #interview #media #news 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

At the fourth annual Truth Tellers Summit in London, Breaker Media founder Lachlan Cartwright and London Centric founder Jim Waterson joined BBC media editor Katie Razzall for a candid conversation about the brutal realities — and amazing opportunities — of building independent journalism outside legacy media.From burning through life savings and working “20 hours a day,” to scooping major outlets, chasing Murdoch stories, and surviving the subscription economy, the panel explored what it really takes to build a modern media business in 2026.“I was waking up in the middle of the night spewing my guts up with stress because I was worried I was going to lose my life savings.” — Lachlan Cartwright“You live and die by whether your paid subscribers are going up.” — Jim WatersonThe discussion took place at the Sir Harry Evans Truth Tellers Summit in London, where leading journalists, editors, and investigative reporters gathered to debate the future of journalism, AI, trust, democracy, and independent media.#Journalism #Media #Podcast #Substack #NewsMedia #IndependentJournalism #MediaIndustry #DigitalMedia #InvestigativeJournalism #TheGuardian #NewYork #YouTubePodcast #MediaNews #Press #Politics #News #Journalist #CreatorEconomy #Publishing #UKMedia #Viral #ViralVideo👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Ken Auletta has spent decades chronicling the most powerful figures in media — from Rupert Murdoch to Harvey Weinstein. In 2026, he sees a media landscape that’s more chaotic, competitive, and vulnerable than ever.In this episode of The Breaker Pod with Lachlan Cartwright, Auletta breaks down the Murdoch family succession battle, what drives Rupert Murdoch, and what the empire could look like after him. He also reflects on his legendary New Yorker career, the craft of profiling powerful people, and the risks of access journalism in an era of PR handlers and corporate pressure.Along the way, Auletta shares behind-the-scenes reporting stories — from nearly exposing Harvey Weinstein years before the scandal broke to helping Ronan Farrow with his subsequent research at The New Yorker — and offers a candid look at the pressures facing journalists today, from political attacks to risk-averse media owners.00:00 Inside the Murdoch dynasty and what the doc missed01:38 What the Netflix Murdoch doc got wrong03:26 The family settlement and hidden NDAs05:10 Profiling Rupert Murdoch up close07:03 How Auletta landed access to Murdoch09:19 Elizabeth Murdoch and the succession battle11:15 Will the Murdoch family ever reconcile?13:24 The dangers of access journalism14:48 Dealing with PR handlers and gatekeepers15:52 What drives Rupert Murdoch?17:16 What happens to the empire after Rupert19:38 Why Fox News remains so powerful21:01 The Harvey Weinstein reporting story23:30 How Ronan Farrow broke the Weinstein case25:23 What surprised Auletta about the trial28:15 The future of The New Yorker31:08 Why legacy media still survives32:10 The New York Times’ unexpected business model33:34 How Auletta picks his subjects35:01 The profile that stuck with him most36:35 Roy Cohn’s influence on Trump37:50 Who he still wants to profile39:17 Why subjects feel “betrayed” by profiles41:00 Why journalism is more dangerous than ever#media #journalism #podcast #murdoch #rupertmurdoch #succession #interview #news #foxnews #newyorker #trump #harveyweinstein #digitalmedia #press #breakingnews #politics #politicalcommentary #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #viral #trending #explore👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Graydon Carter helped define modern magazine journalism — from Spy to Vanity Fair to Air Mail. But in 2026, he’s not convinced the media industry is headed in the right direction.In this episode of The Breaker Pod with Lachlan Cartwright, Carter reflects on his decades shaping cultural coverage, his early calls on Donald Trump, and why he believes journalists should skip the White House Correspondents’ Dinner altogether.He also breaks down what made magazines powerful, why that influence has faded, and what it actually takes to build something people want to read now. Along the way, Carter shares behind-the-scenes stories from Vanity Fair, his approach to hiring and storytelling, and the biggest mistake media companies are making today.00:00 Why journalists shouldn’t attend the WHCD 00:45 Early take on Trump and Spy Magazine 01:11 “Washed-up on local access TV” 02:04 Reinventing The New York Observer 04:30 The moment he knew it worked 05:09 Taking over Vanity Fair 07:22 How editors shape great stories 10:12 Building a must-read publication 14:11 Why he’d skip the WHCD today 15:26 Covering Trump: “a fire hose” 17:40 Why America “swings wildly” 24:03 What he looks for in young journalists 31:54 “You cannot cut your way to greatness” 35:00 Why media jobs aren’t as fun anymore 38:18 Why magazines lost their influence 40:10 The future of media and social platforms 41:20 His long-running feud with Trump#graydoncarter #media #journalism #politics #trump #vanityfair #podcast #interview #pressclub #news #whcd #digitalmedia👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Jennifer Welch didn’t intentionally set out to build a political media platform.After her reality TV show was canceled, a podcast started almost as a joke — venting about everyday annoyances, bad etiquette, and life in general.Then it shifted.In this conversation with Lachlan Cartwright, Welch explains how her podcast evolved into a major political voice, why audiences are turning away from traditional media, and how authenticity — not polish — is driving growth in the new media landscape.She also talks about interviewing figures like Barack Obama, navigating offers from legacy media, and why she’s refused major corporate deals to maintain independence.This is a conversation about the collision of comedy, politics, and media — and where it’s all heading next.00:00 Behind-the-scenes start and setup01:14 From reality TV cancellation to podcast launch02:12 Early podcast topics and viral growth03:14 Political shift and audience connection04:03 “Joe Rogan of the left” conversation05:13 Why the podcast turned political06:49 Interviewing Obama, AOC, and Harris07:37 Entering the political mainstream09:10 Inside the Democratic Party divide10:19 Positioning within the media landscape11:41 Legacy media vs independent creators13:03 Turning down major corporate deals14:34 Refusing traditional media promotion16:21 Criticism, controversy, and audience reaction17:24 “Dark woke” and political messaging19:34 Money, media, and independence21:45 Legacy media “cosplaying” podcasts23:57 The role of podcasts in elections25:02 Why candidates need long-form interviews26:15 Family reactions to podcast fame27:43 Toxic masculinity and online culture29:23 Guests she would (and wouldn’t) interview31:01 Dream guest: Larry David32:11 Interviews she would redo33:40 2028 election predictions35:43 The future of media and journalism36:40 Building a personal news ecosystem37:36 Podcast chemistry and success37:59 What’s next: books, growth, and touring#podcasts #jenniferwelch #politics #media #interviews👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Adam Friedland didn’t follow the rules.No marketing strategy. No audience targeting. No optimization. At one point, he and his co-hosts didn’t even think their own show was good.And yet, it became a hit.In this conversation, Friedland talks about the accidental rise of his podcasts, why authenticity now matters more than polish, and how the internet has completely reshaped media, comedy, and politics.He also breaks down his interview process, how he approaches guests, and why long-form conversations still work in a short attention span era.This is a conversation about how media is actually changing — from someone in the middle of it.00:00 “People power” intro and tone00:29 Growing up in Las Vegas01:20 From law to comedy02:30 The “bad” podcast that blew up04:00 Why they thought it sucked06:00 Fan-driven growth and clips08:00 Reinventing the show10:30 How he prepares for interviews14:00 Talking to politicians and celebrities18:30 The Alec Baldwin interview24:00 Editing and making it entertaining28:00 Why he ignores analytics32:00 The business side of podcasts36:00 Why late night TV is struggling40:00 Comedy vs politics44:00 The future of media#podcasts #adamfriedland #comedy #media #interviews 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Pulitzer Prize–winning editor David Remnick joins Lachlan Cartwright for a wide-ranging conversation on The Breaker Pod about Trump’s pressure on the press, billionaire media ownership, the weakening of legacy institutions, and how journalism survives its most dangerous era.Remnick reflects on running The New Yorker through a century milestone, the collapse of print advertising, adapting to the internet and AI, the chilling effect of political intimidation, and why talent — not tech — still determines whether journalism endures.They also discuss Bezos and the Washington Post, the Harvey Weinstein investigation, Trump’s attacks on the media, the role of ownership, and what the next generation of journalism must protect at all costs.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 – Trump, Bezos, and billionaire pressure 01:25 – The New Yorker at 10002:55 – Ad collapse and reader loyalty05:35 – Why paywalls finally worked07:00 – AI, archives, and audio09:00 – Washington Post fallout12:00 – Editing, longevity, and succession17:50 – Weinstein investigation inside The New Yorker22:10 – Trump, aging, and media scrutiny27:40 – Free speech and intimidation30:05 – Ownership, courage, and standing tall33:25 – The future of journalism#DavidRemnick #Journalism #MediaIndustry #FreePress #DonaldTrump👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.

Hollywood is reeling after Netflix’s bombshell plan to buy Warner Bros. — and Janice Min joins Lachlan Cartwright to explain exactly why the town is in full-blown panic.From mass layoffs to collapsing leverage, shrinking marketplaces, shrinking salaries, and the death of bidding wars, Min breaks down how the merger could reshape Los Angeles, destroy thousands of jobs, and tilt all power toward tech giants. She also dives into HBO’s future, Disney’s succession mess, David Zaslav’s payday, the collapse of the trades, AI disruption, Substack’s rise, and why she built The Ankler as Hollywood’s inside-the-room voice.This is one of the most definitive conversations yet about the future of entertainment, streaming, journalism, and power.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 – Welcome to The Breaker Pod at Fish Cheeks00:22 – Introducing Janice Min and her media legacy01:00 – Netflix shocks Hollywood with plan to buy Warner Bros.01:25 – Why the entire town went into meltdown02:10 – The history of consolidation and why it always means job losses03:00 – LA’s unemployment crisis and what comes next03:50 – Shrinking marketplaces and the death of bidding wars04:40 – Pay cuts, leverage collapse, and Sarandos spin05:30 – Why Netflix triggers Hollywood more than anyone07:00 – The Albanian Army metaphor and what it means now09:20 – How Netflix + Warner Bros. upends every studio’s strategy11:00 – Does the deal get approved? The Trump factor13:00 – David Zaslav’s windfall and Warner Bros. whiplash15:00 – Is HBO still the crown jewel?17:00 – Anxiety, layoffs, fires, and Xanax in Hollywood18:30 – The Ankler’s origin story21:00 – Why the trades failed and The Ankler thrived22:00 – Why chasing scale destroyed journalism25:00 – Leo DiCaprio, Danny DeVito, and what US Weekly was like27:00 – Managing Jan Wenner and the old magazine wars33:00 – Jimmy Finkelstein, Trump, and The Hollywood Reporter36:00 – Why the Harvey Weinstein story was impossible to land38:00 – The Quibi chapter and lessons from failure40:00 – Disney succession in a post-Netflix-Warner world44:00 – Is Disney becoming a luxury brand?46:00 – AI arrives in Hollywood — quietly48:00 – GPT-5, Sora 2, synthetic actors, and the next guild war52:00 – Will The Ankler sell? What’s next for niche media55:00 – Is subscription fatigue here?56:30 – Can the California Post succeed?01:00:00 – Closing thoughts#JaniceMin #Netflix #Hollywood #MediaIndustry #WarnerBros👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.