The Wolf Den

Mignon “Grammar Girl” Fogarty joins Lex on the Wolf Den. The two talk about Mignon’s staggering 13 years in podcasting, and how she grew one show into the thriving Quick and Dirty Tips network. They also nerd out on language.

Renay Richardson chats with Lex from across the pond, detailing her experiences working for several audio production companies (but not the BBC!) — and how it led her to found Broccoli Content. With a goal of tackling the lack of opportunities for minority talent both in front and behind the mic, Renay shares insights on how the entire industry can better embrace diversity. Then, the two talk about company consolidation and whether mergers and acquisitions in the podcast world are ultimately good or bad for podcasters.This episode is brought to you by On Deck Capital (www.ondeck.com/WOLFDEN).

Danielle Kramer, Senior Producer of Exactly Right Network joins Lex on The Wolf Den. The two discuss the network’s formation, and which aspects of My Favorite Murder its original shows hope to maintain. Danielle also discusses what led her to the podcasting, including time at NerdMelt and JASH. Plus, what exactly makes a good podcast translate to television? 

Lex speaks with ESPN'S Jody Avirgan, but he has a little help: He's joined by Harrison Goldberg and Brody Pontarelli from Grace Church High School. The three ask Jody about the process of turning popular documentary series 30 for 30 into an audio format. Lex and Jody also give Harrison and Brody pointers on launching their own sports podcast, With Further Review.

It's time for a holiday extravaganza! In this very special Wolf Den, Lex is joined by twelve guests from Stitcher’s New York office to talk about the Shows We're Jealous Of. Featuring Jenny Barish, Andy Slater, David Murray, Will Carey, Jared O’Connell, Harry Huggins, Abigail Keel, Kelsey Butterworth, Julie Booth, The Reverend John DeLore, Christy Mirabal, Bill Irwin and Harry Nelson. And, in a Christmas miracle, a brand new jingle by Casey Holford and the Stitcher Choir.

Martina Castro, CEO of globally-minded podcast production company Adonde Media, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. Martina tells Lex about the formation of Adonde Media, and its recent projects like El Chapo and Duolingo. Martina and Lex discuss the many opportunities available for non-English-language podcasting Finally, the two give recommendations for podcasts parents and kids can listen to and enjoy together.This episode is brought to you by Warby Parker (www.warbyparker.com/wolfden).

Stitcher CEO Erik Diehn returns to join Lex on The Wolf Den. Erik gives updates of Midroll and Stitcher’s recent “brand rotation,” and how it affects the company’s strategy going forward. Then, Erik outlines how the the recent acquisition of Triton Digital will help bring Stitcher closer to the goal of being the “best place in the world for podcasting.” Finally, the two discuss the inherent challenges and benefits to the growing trend of bilingual podcasts.This episode is brought to you by Warby Parker (www.warbyparker.com/wolfden).

Berry Sykes of PodcastsInColor joins Lex on the Wolf Den. Berry and Lex discuss Berry’s journey from podcast superfan to creator of the largest directory of podcasts by and for people of color. Berry also gives her unique perspective on what podcast apps (including Stitcher) can do to better promote diversity for listeners. The two also discuss if gaming Apple's podcast charts is worth the money.

Chris Kelly and Pat Kelly —from the aptly named podcast creative studio Kelly & Kelly and CBC’s This Is That — join Lex on the Wolf Den. Chris and Pat discuss This Is That’s upcoming tour, and inadvertently tricking listeners into thinking their satiric stories were true. The three also talk about Kelly & Kelly’s new fake true crime “This Sounds Serious,” and the importance of striking the correct tone with satire.This episode is brought to you by Podchaser.

Stitcher’s own Dan Osit, Korri Kolesa, and Drew Welborn join Lex on The Wolf Den. The three tell Lex how they each came to work at Stitcher, and how their jobs have evolved. Later, the group gives its predictions for the future of the industry, and address the recent Stitcher/Midroll rebrand.

Ben Ratner, video producer at StarTalk, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. Ben and Lex discuss Ben’s job experiences, including how an appearance on late night television led to a coveted internship. Ben also gives his unique perspective as both an audio and video producer, with advice on how video can help any podcast. Also, Lex shares an anecdote about ranch dressing and Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

Grant Rutter, podcast producer at NBC Entertainment, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. The two discuss Grant’s journey through the ranks at NBC and how it led him to be their fist full-time podcast producer. Grant also details the production of The Good Place Podcast and its inspirations, as well as the the challenge of making an entertaining podcast that’s more than just an advertisement.

This week’s Wolf Den is two guests for the price of one, as Lex speaks with two entrepreneurs in the field podcasting. First, Lex talks with Dan Franks, co-founder of Podcast Movement, the first ever dedicated podcast convention. They discuss the history of the convention, from its Kickstarter origins to its 5th year with over 2000 attendees. Then, stick around as Lex interviews the young co-founder and CEO Bradley Davis all about the unlikely origins of the of new podcast directory startup Podchaser, which he calls the IMDb of podcasts.

Marco Arment, developer of podcast app Overcast, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. Lex and Marco discuss pretty much everything going on in podcasting today. The two debate the technical complications of dynamic ad insertion and how it affects both podcasters and podcast apps. The two also discuss Marco’s history with Midroll in its early days, and theorize what might happen if Apple ever exited the podcast space.This episode is brought to you by The MarTech Podcast.

Harry Nelson, studio manager and producer at Earwolf New York, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. The two discuss the history of The Wolf Den, and how the show evolved over the past seven(!) years on the network. Harry also explains how a post on Reddit got him his job at Earwolf, and finally asks Lex what exactly his job is here at Midroll.This episode is brought to you by Clockwise.io (www.clockwise.io).

Jay Soderberg, VP of Content at Voxnest — the parent company to Spreaker and BlogTalkRadio — joins Lex on the Wolf Den. The two discuss "Pod Vader's" long career at ESPN Radio, Voxnest’s mission to provide monetization for growing podcasts, and the recent S-Town lawsuit’s possible impact on podcasting. Plus a Star Wars theory that will blow your mind.This episode is brought to you by Clockwise.io (www.clockwise.io).

Jake Hurwitz, Amir Blumenfeld, and Marty Michael, co-founders of the HeadGum podcast network, join Lex on the Wolf Den. The four talk about how HeadGum came to be, and reveal the topic so controversial it almost tore the group apart. Jake and Amir also give their thoughts on how podcasting has affected their careers and comedy in general, and the viability of a million-dollar podcast deal.

Stuart Last, Chief Operating Officer at Audioboom, joins Lex on the Wolf Den. Stuart discusses Audioboom’s failed “reverse takeover” of Triton Digital and the effect it’s had on the company. They also discuss the difficulties of building a creative content company at the same time as an in-house ad sales operation, and the results of the second annual IAB podcast revenue study. 

Peter Vincer from the podcast platform and network Castbox joins Lex on The Wolf Den. The two discuss how Victor wound up working in audio, the benefits and growing pains of producing original content, as well as the future of programmatic advertising.

Jason Snell from the Incomparable podcast network joins Lex on The Wolf Den. The two discuss Jason’s path to podcasting full time, the practical advantages of streaming episodes live, as well as the pros and cons of more companies making podcasts. This episode is brought to you by Pretty Litter (www.prettylitter.com code: wolfden).

Alex Ramsey and Joe Cilio, co-founders of the Forever Dog Podcast Network, join Lex on The Wolf Den. The three discuss Forever Dog’s beginnings as a theater project, growing pains inherent to launching a podcast network, and if working in comedy ever makes things seem less funny.This episode is brought to you by Intercom (www.intercom.com/GROWTH) and Pretty Litter (www.prettylitter.com code: wolfden).

Chris and Lex speak with Ryan Natoli and Katy Yeiser of The Onion’s true crime parody podcast, A Very Fatal Murder. They discuss the making of the show and what inspired it, as well as the shift from The Onion’s usual short-form storytelling structure to a long-form narrative style. Katy also describes the formation of the show's writers' room, while Ryan provides surprising facts about the casting and recording process.This episode is brought to you by Intercom (www.intercom.com/GROWTH) and Pretty Litter (www.prettylitter.com code: wolfden).

Leila Day, senior producer at Pineapple Street Media, joins Chris and Lex on The Wolf Den to detail her experience establishing her style of audio journalism and how it led her to producing for KALW and Al Jazeera. Leila also discusses teaching storytelling inside San Quentin State Prison and how she developed her podcast The Stoop.This podcast is brought to you by Act!. Go to act.com for a FREE consultation with one of our growth advisors to see how Act! CRM can grow your business for as low as $1 a day.

Sarah van Mosel, Chief Podcast Sales and Strategy Officer at Market Enginuity joins Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den. The three discuss Market Enginuity’s unique role in podcast and public media advertising, outline the reasons various types of ads work well for different shows, and forecast how podcast ads will continue to evolve over the coming years.This podcast is brought to you by Act!. Go to act.com for a FREE consultation with one of our growth advisors to see how Act! CRM can grow your business for as low as $1 a day. Also brought to you by Suny Stonybrook (www.stonybrook.edu/southampton/mfa/podcast).

Gina Delvac, producer of the hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend joins Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. Gina details her career in the audio industry, from public radio intern to podcast producer. The two also talk about the the delicate process of turning a passion project into a small business, and the impact a guest like Hillary Clinton can have on a show’s audience. This podcast is brought to you by Act!. Go to act.com for a FREE consultation with one of our growth advisors to see how Act! CRM can grow your business for as low as $1 a day. 

Dan Misener and Steve Pratt of Pacific Content join Lex and Chris on the Wolf Den. The four discuss the early days and learning curves of branded content podcasts, how their time in traditional broadcasting prepared them for the industry, and the process and philosophies regarding their work.This episode is brought to you by Today, Explained.

Andrea Silenzi and Hillary Frank join Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den to discuss Andrea taking over as host of The Longest Shortest Time. The four discuss the exciting challenges of a such a regime change, Hillary's new role as the show's as editor, and the pros and cons of getting Clowney’d.

Andrew Mason, CEO of Descript, joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. Andrew details his new “audio word processor” Descript, and explains how it grew from his previous company Detour. The three also discuss the Andrew’s startup-themed album, and advantages of spending less time on the internet.

Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX, joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The three discuss Kerri’s unconventional path from working for Greenpeace to the world of podcasting. Kerri then discusses PRX’s place in the industry, including their Podcast Garage, a Massachusetts-based community recording studio and educational hub.

Kristen Meinzer, Director of Non-fiction Programming and co-host of the By The Book podcast at Panoply Media, joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The three begin with an important conversation about workplace sexual misconduct and Kristen’s personal experiences at previous jobs. Kristen also recounts her career history and making the shift from public radio to a podcast startup.

Laura Mayer, Executive Producer of Show Development at Midroll Media joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The three discuss Laura’s past in radio and how she defines her current role at Midroll. Laura also outlines the development process and what to look for in a successful podcast pilot.

Chris Giliberti, Head of Multiplatform at Gimlet Media joins Lex Friedman and Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The three discuss Giliberti's early days at Gimlet, and transition to his current position from his original role as Chief of Staff. Chris also explains his method for divining which podcast properties can be best adapted for screen as well as new emerging formats.

Colin Anderson, Executive Producer of Earwolf joins Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The pair discuss Colin’s background as a BBC Radio producer and how that led to a job in podcasting across the pond. Colin also describes his idea of what makes a show uniquely Earwolf, and some plans for the network moving forward.

Nathan Russell, Creative Director at UCB Comedy/Don't Think Productions and host of the UCB Digital Podcast joins Lex Friedman on The Wolf Den. The two discuss Nathan’s beginnings as an improvisor at the theater and how that eventually led to running their in-house production arm. Nathan also explains the UCB’s philosophy of trying things and seeing what sticks, and how the intimacy of podcasting lends itself to improv comedy in a way video often can’t.

Alison Hockenberry, chief of staff of Dubner Productions and executive producer of "Freakonomics Radio" and "Tell Me Something I Don't Know," joins Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The two discuss how Alison's background as a TV news producer eventually led her to running the "Dubner empire" by embracing the power of saying yes to things. Alison also explains the genesis of “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” and details the early trial and error period that led to the show it is today. 

Brendan Monaghan, CEO of Panoply Media, joins Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den. The three discuss how journey from working at the digital arm of the Washington Post to podcasting at Panoply. Brendan also explains Panoply's Megaphone Targeted Marketplace and talks about the future of podcast content and listener metrics.This episode is brought to you by Thursday Boot Company (www.thursdayboots.com code: FREESHIP2DAY).

Jason Concepcion and Mallory Rubin along with producer Zach Mack from The Ringer’s Binge Mode podcast join Chris on the Wolf Den. The four explain the thought process behind the unconventional rollout as well as the the rigors of releasing ten episodes per week. They also explain how a show about Game of Thrones fits in with the Ringer’s podcasting slate, and how they differentiated Binge Mode from the many other recap shows on the market.

Max Temkin, co-creator of Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative, joins Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den. The three discuss how Cards Against Humanity went from a game created by high school friends to a highly profitable performance art piece. Max also talks about his reasons for starting the Chicago Podcast Co-op, his role in bringing Hello From the Magic Tavern to Earwolf, and his favorite podcast ads.

Kathy Doyle, senior director of audio for Macmillan Podcasts and the long-established Quick and Dirty Tips Network, joins Chris and Lex on the Wolf Den. The three discuss the creation of QDT, from its humble beginnings with Grammar Girl, to being featured as airline entertainment. Kathy also details the creation of Tor Labs and their first podcast, the science fiction audio drama “Steal the Stars.”

Samantha Henig, Editorial Director for Audio at the New York Times, joins Chris Bannon on The Wolf Den. The two discuss the creation and challenges of her hugely successful new daily news podcast, The Daily, as well as new opportunities for short-form daily podcasts. Samantha also explains how the Times itself defines what makes a Times podcast. Plus, managing the paper's famous editorial wall between advertising and journalism. And finally, the pros and cons of fielding podcast pitches.This episode is brought to you by Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com/WOLFDEN) and Podcast Advertising Works: How to Turn Engaged Audiences Into Loyal Customers by Glenn Rubenstein.

Aaron Lammer, co-host of the Longform Podcast, joins Chris Bannon on the Wolf Den. The two discuss the creation and evolution of the innovative website Lammer helped co-found, Longform.org, and how podcasting fits into his vision of the site's future. Lammer also talks about the decision to start a brand new show, Stoner, which highlights the ways in which creativity and pot successfully co-exist. He also addresses the challenges of pot-related-podcast advertising: what do you do when the subject of your show is illegal in most states?This episode is brought to you by Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com/WOLFDEN) and Podcast Advertising Works: How to Turn Engaged Audiences Into Loyal Customers.

Bob Garfield, co-host of WNYC’s On The Media, joins Chris and Lex on The Wolf Den. Bob details the journey of his new podcast, The Genius Dialogues, from a Kickstarter campaign to its home on Audible Channels. The three also discuss podcasting business models, the advantage of host read ads, and the problem of maintaining editorial independence in an ad-driven environment.

Midroll Media CEO Erik Diehn returns to The Wolf Den. The group discusses the formation of the East Coast office, the future of Stitcher, and the value of premium content and partnerships in podcasting.

Lauren Ober hosts the only nationally syndicated public radio program about podcasts, “The Big Listen.” She joins Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman on The Wolf Den to tell how the show got started at WAMU and what it was like to get picked up by NPR. Lauren explains how she balances serving the different audiences which listen to the broadcast version of the show, compared to the podcast version. She also discusses the influence and growth of podcasting on public radio stations across the market, detailing the advantages the medium offers these stations. As an experienced journalist and producer who listens to many podcasts with a critical ear, Lauren offers her thoughts on what makes for a consistently engaging show, and how “The Big Listen” team selects the podcasts to feature on the program.

According to executive producer Julie Shapiro, Radiotopia is a unique podcast network that she likens to a punk rock record label, bringing together independent shows to help support and grow them. But how does a show get “signed” to Radiotopia? Julie sheds some light on that, in this episode of the Wolf Den, with hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman. She explains the process behind the network’s Podquest contest, in which 1,537 entries vied to be the next podcast added to the Radiotopia roster. Julie also reflects on her career in creative audio, from co-founding the Third Coast International Audio festival in 2000 to leading the production of two new podcasts at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Finally, she offers advice to the aspiring podcaster, and reveals the kinds of show pitches she’s tired of seeing.

Go inside one of the most talked-about new entrants in podcasting with Hernan Lopez, a cable television veteran who founded Wondery at the start of the year. He joins the Wolf Den to discuss that transition from video to audio with hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman. In fact, Hernan draws parallels between the early days of cable and podcasting, especially with regard to educating ad buyers. He explains why he started Wondery as a full-service network, and why they focused on fiction shows--including one musical--for their first full productions, reflecting on what TV's transition to character-driven serials means for podcasting. Hernan also shares keen advice for podcasters while assessing the landscape for independent producers in 2017.Listen to “The Gift of Listening” here: Smarturl.it/giftoflistening This episode is brought to you by Podcast Movement ( www.podcastmovement.com code: WOLF)

The podcasting industry is often characterized as being like the “Wild West,” which is very similar to how digital publishing was regarded in the 1990s. Media analyst Ken Doctor was at the forefront of journalism’s first online forays while working at Knight-Ridder Digital, and now he turns his lens to podcasting. He sees parallels with early internet publishing, but also important differences. On this episode of the Wolf Den he tells Chris and Lex what he thinks podcasters and the podcast industry need to do in order to grow smartly and sustainably. He analyzes Apple’s current position as the still-dominant platform for finding and listening to podcasts, and offers his thoughts on how Apple could best support the medium. Ken also weighs in on the viability of subscriber-funded models and what podcasters should focus on in 2017. You can follow Ken at http://newsonomics.com

Max Linsky has the rare opportunity to spend time making a podcast with Hillary Clinton while she’s on the campaign trail. On this episode Max gives Chris and Lex a behind-the-scenes glimpse at that show, “With Her,” and the new podcasting company that he co-founded with Jenna Weiss-Berman (TWD #92), Pineapple Street Media. He explains the inspiration behind starting the company, why he and his co-founder decided not to take any outside investment, and what they’re looking for when hiring producers. Max also reflects on some of the lessons he’s learned as a podcaster, beginning with the first interview he conducted as a co-founder of the Longform Podcast, and offers some advice for the producer just starting out.

Rena Unger has a uniquely comprehensive view of the digital audio industry. She’s worked on the brand side, on the content side, and now helps to guide and grow the industry as as whole as the Director of Industry Initiatives at the Interactive Advertising Bureau. With her work as the lead for the IAB’s Digital Audio Committee Rena is responsible for the Podcast Upfronts which recently happened in New York City. In this edition of the Wolf Den Rena explains where the idea for the Upfronts came from, and why podcasting’s version of this kind of event stands apart from the television upfront and the digital media New Fronts. This year 12 podcast companies presented their slate of shows and talent to ad buyers at the Upfronts, and she shares some feedback from those buyers and her own thoughts on the event. Rena also details what she thinks is special about podcasting, and gives some concise, but trenchant advice for the podcasting industry as a whole.

If you've ever dreamed of starting your own podcast network, this episode is for you. Myke Hurley is a veteran podcaster and the co-founder of Relay.fm, a popular and highly regarded tech podcast network with 20 shows. He joins Lex Friedman in the Wolf Den to dig into the business of running a network. Myke tells how he built his first network out of necessity, and why he later merged it with a bigger network. But then Myke and his business partner decided to strike out on their own again with Relay. He explains why it’s important for them to have that ownership, and what it took for them to quit their day jobs and run the network full time. Myke also reflects on the changes in the industry over the last few years—especially with advertising—and shares his advice for podcasters who want to build their own networks.

What are the biggest challenges facing public radio, and how does podcasting fit into the equation? Those are just a couple of the big questions that guest Adam Ragusea tackles in this spirited discussion with hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman. Adam is the host and producer of The Pub podcast from Current, the industry publication for public media, and he’s Journalist in Residence and Visiting Assistant Professor at Mercer University. He’s known for staking out strong--sometimes controversial--positions on issues like native advertising, objectivity and journalistic ethics, which he shares on this episode. Adam also explains why he thinks the big northeastern cities shouldn’t dominate podcasting, and gives some advice for young people who want to create great audio.

Through her WNYC podcast and radio program “Note to Self” Manoush Zomorodi is exploring how technology affects culture, the way we work and the way we live our lives. She guests on the Wolf Den to discuss how that curiosity has led to projects on her show that engaged tens of thousands of listeners to join in guided self-experiments in managing their use of personal technology, and their own information overload. Manoush also reflects on the experience of being a woman covering a male-dominated field like tech, and how podcasting inadvertently offers a buffer from the kind of negativity often seen on social media. She also has practical advice for podcasters who want to build audience engagement, and lessons to share from her transition from being a news reporter to a host.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

Learn all about Audible's new Channels podcast line-up with Eric Nuzum, the company’s Vice President of Original Content. He joins new co-hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman in the Wolf Den to explain what Channels is, and how the effort intends to grow the audience for spoken word audio by expanding the variety of content. Eric talks about how he evaluates programming and its performance, and recalls a mentor from early in his career who taught him what makes for really good content. He also addresses his move from NPR  to Amazon, as well as the migration of talent out of public radio, reflecting on changes that public radio could make to adapt to the changing landscape. Plus, Eric shares his advice for podcasters and producers who are pursuing success.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

Find out what’s happening behind the scenes at Midroll and Earwolf during this very busy summer, as Midroll's Erik Diehn and Lex Friedman join Adam for his very last episode hosting The Wolf Den. Adam recently stepped aside from his position of CEO and explains his reasons for doing so. He reminisces with Lex and Erik about the most fun, and the most challenging, moments of the last three eventful years. Then they take up Midroll's recent acquisition of Stitcher, addressing some of the concerns raised by a few prominent tech podcasters. Lex and Erik detail why and how a reinvigorated Stitcher will be good for all podcasters. Finally they discuss Midroll’s brand studio initiative and the upcoming Now Hear This podcast festival, and share what’s in store for Earwolf.This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.

On this episode Matt Lieber provides some insight on what makes his company, Gimlet Media, tick. He is the president of Gimlet, which produces popular podcasts like Reply All, Surprisingly Awesome, and Startup, the company’s first show, which also documented Gimlet’s own launch. Adam asks Matt to share what it was like to go through that experience, with so many people learning so many intimate details on the show. Matt also charts his career journey, from unexpectedly reporting on 9/11, to becoming a public radio producer, taking a turn into business school and consulting, then returning to audio with Gimlet. He  explains why he is confident in the future of podcasting, and reveals the factors he believes contribute to audience growth. Finally, he talks about the company’s Gimlet Creative brand studio, and what it takes to get audiences to listen to branded podcasts.This episode is sponsored by Hired and Podcast Movement.

Dig deep into the business of podcasting with this episode of The Wolf Den, recorded live at a Fast Company Creative Counter-Conference event hosted at the Earwolf studios in Hollywood. Adam moderates a panel with Earwolf hosts Sarah Thyre (“Crybabies”) and Franklin Leonard (“The Black List Table Reads”). They answer questions from the assembled journalists, agency representatives and media industry professionals about building audience, the ethics of podcast ads, episode length, and pitching guests to hosts. First, to get everyone up to speed, Adam presents a short history of Earwolf and Midroll, and shares some very funny, and very effective podcast ad reads.This episode is sponsored by Hired and Podcast Movement.

Comedian and Jersey boy Chris Gethard wasn’t quite ready to host one of the hottest and most popular podcasts around. As he explains to Adam Sachs on this episode of The Wolf Den, he thought there would be some time in the first few months to feel it out. Instead, getting featured on This American Life attracted a massive audience to his show, Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, who stuck around because of the singular mix of openness, honesty and empathy with which Chris treats the callers to his show. He talks about how the concept for the podcast evolved with the help of producers Gretta Cohn and John Delore, and how he was also surprised by the effusive feedback he’s received from listeners and fans. Chris also reflects on how making the podcast is different from his Fusion television show, “The Chris Gethard Show,” and how Beautiful/Anonymous fits into his desire to find  happiness in making things. Finally, he doles out some tough love advice for aspiring podcasters, and anyone pursuing creative endeavors.This episode is sponsored by Podcast Movement.

Adam gets Scott Aukerman in the guest chair for the first time as host of "The Wolf Den," along with Chris Bannon, Midroll Media’s chief content officer, to talk about the state of Earwolf and Howl. Hear Scott do his best Paul Scheer impression as he recalls the Christmas party where Paul pitched his idea for "How Did This Get Made?" and reflects on the seven-year journey of building Earwolf. Then Chris and Scott explain why the Wolfpop network was retired--with most of the shows joining Earwolf--and how growing Earwolf beyond the bounds of comedy was actually part of the original vision for the network. Scott talks about the CBB Live Tour—going on now—and why he agreed to release the recordings on Howl Premium, which leads to a wider discussion about Howl and the creative advantages of having a subscription platform. Finally, Chris spills the beans on some upcoming Howl Original shows.

Laura Walker is the president and CEO of New York Public Radio, the largest public radio station group in the US, and a well-known leader in podcasting, though its flagship station WNYC. In fact, it was the first public station to release a podcast, which sparks a conversation about how podcasting fits in with the station's mission as a public broadcaster, and why the organization stuck with the medium in the late 2000s when much of the excitement around podcasting had worn off. Laura discusses the recently launched WNYC Studios and its $15 million fund to incubate innovative new audio programming, and details the station’s goal to bring gender balance to iTunes top podcasts chart. She also tackles the question of the so-called “public radio exodus” into for-profit podcasting—and her answer might surprise you.

Hillary Frank got into radio by breaking the rules, using a boombox and an answering machine to produce a segment for This American Life. She is the host of the leading parenting podcast The Longest Shortest Time, which joined Earwolf in January 2016. On this episode of The Wolf Den Hillary tells Adam the This American Life story, and explains how working as a freelance radio producer and a difficult child birth led her to create her podcast. They discuss how her expectations shifted as the podcast became successful in its own right, and why Hillary decided to bring The Longest Shortest Time to Earwolf. Finally, Hillary offers some trenchant and unconventional advice for aspiring podcasters.

As a widely respected journalist, best-selling author and creator/host of one of the most popular podcasts—Freakonomics Radio--Stephen Dubner is in a unique position to analyze the state of podcasting. He joins Adam to tackle this and other meaty topics like journalistic standards, the ethics of hosts doing their own ad reads, and why the medium has exploded in popularity. Learn how Freakonomics Radio was actually a kind of failure, compared to Stephen’s original plan. He also tells the origin story for his Earwolf show Question of the Day, and explains why he enjoys working on two very different kinds of podcasts. Finally, Stephen shares his metric for determine if he should continue doing a project.

Adam sometimes likes to grab lunch with his friend, food writer and podcaster Zach Brooks (Food Is The New Rock). This time they brought along comedian and podcaster Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty), and an audio recorder to capture their conversation riding in the car to and from the San Gabriel Valley, and in the restaurant. They tackle topics like Chinese food, rock stars, Taco Bell, the word “foodie", and, of course, podcasting. Back in the studio Zach and Adam listen to that audio and fill in some details. Zach talks about his two Howl projects, The Crawl and Egg Roll Hunt, and shares what he likes to hear in a food podcast. Plus, they learn something new about Man vs. Food.

For this extra-special 100th episode of The Wolf Den, Adam talks with the very first MacArthur Fellow to be on the show, Jad Abumrad. Jad is the creator and co-host of Radiolab, a public radio show heard on more than 500 stations, and one of the most popular podcasts of all time. Jad and Adam talk about the creative process behind Radiolab, and the "gut churn" that Jad says was essential to create the show. Jad also shares his views on podcasting today, and the opportunities available for fresh talent in public radio and podcasting. Finally, he gives hard-earned advice for the aspiring audio producer. Theme song by Brett Morris .

Just before The Wolf Den hits its 100th episode milestone, Adam takes a brief listen back to relive some highlights in what's been an exciting six years in the evolution and growth of Midroll, and podcasting. Adam shares early clips from podcast innovators like Marc Maron and Chris Hardwick, along with entrepreneurs who were influential behind the scenes. We also listen in on some of the important milestones in podcasting and Midroll history, as heard on the show, and get some keen insights on podcasting from hosts like Paul Scheer, Matt Gourley, Paul F. Tompkins, Lea Thau, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Mishy Harman first heard This American Life on a road trip across the United States, listening to a compilation of shows provided by his college roommate. That binge inspired the Jerusalem native to co-create Israel Story, a radio show and podcast focused on the lives of people from his home country.  On this episode of The Wolf Den Mishy explains how the show—one of Israel’s first podcasts—came together, and what it was like to go from novice producer to having a hit radio show. He also discusses what makes the show stand out in his country's media landscape, and what goes into making the project sustainable, especially in the much more competitive US podcast market.

Guy Raz is the host of NPR's TED Radio Hour, which has consistently been at the top of the iTunes charts since it debuted in 2012. He is Adam’s guest for an episode that no public radio or podcast fan should miss. Guy explains how the idea for the show came about, and why he decided to step away from hosting Weekend All Things Considered to join the TED Radio Hour. He talks about how he puts together different TED talks to form the themes behind each show, and why it’s so important for there to be a podcast of the show, even though the radio version airs on 620 stations in the US, and on stations in 15 countries. Guy also reveals how working on the show has changed his perspective, and how he convinced NPR management to allow him to voice the podcast ads himself.

Brian Koppelman believes people who accomplish remarkable things do something differently than most other. The screenwriter, producer and essayist thinks they marshall the best of themselves in the low moments, as well as the high ones. Learning about these moments is what drives his podcast, The Moment. On this episode of The Wolf Den Brian tells Adam why he got into podcasting, who influenced his approach, and how he prepares for his deeply engaged interviews. He also explains his thoughts about having his own wife, novelist Amy Koppelman, on for a very intimate and unflinchingly honest interview. Finally, Brian shares his thoughts on the business of podcasting, and his advice for new podcasters.

Reveal is a public radio show and podcast that features a kind of in-depth investigative reporting rarely heard in either medium. Susanne Reber, co-founder and executive editor of Reveal, and reporter and broadcast producer Delaney Hall join Adam to go behind the scenes of this popular program, produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting. Susanne and Delaney share how they find a balance between telling a captivating narrative and adhering to a strict standard of accuracy, and how the success of Serial helped to validate their choice to allow the procedural elements of reporting become part of the story.  They also discuss the difference between the show’s broadcast and podcast strategies, and plans for the show to go weekly. Finally, they offer advice for journalists and producers who would like to do investigative reporting in a podcast.

How does Paul F. Tompkins manage his email? Will there ever be another episode of the Pod F. Tompkast? What is it like to do more than 100 episodes of Comedy Bang Bang? All these questions, and more, will be answered on this episode of The Wolf Den, when podcasting’s über-guest subjects himself to the queries of host Adam Sachs. Paul explains why he still feels like he’s learning to do improv, and what he’s learned from working with great comedy podcasters. He also reveals the inspiration behind his seemingly-random impressions of celebrities like TV and film director Garry Marshall. Paul also gives a little behind-the-scenes peek at the Superego podcast and the Howl Original spin-off, Superego’s Forgotten Classics. No self-respecting comedy podcast fan can miss it.

With all the podcasts and audio content being produced, how do we make it more searchable, findable, and shareable, and then preserve it for the ages? Pop Up Archive is a start-up aiming to address those challenges. Anne Wootton is the company’s co-founder and CEO, and she joins Adam to discuss Pop Up Archive’s services and approach to growing podcasting. She explains how the company transcribes audio into searchable text that’s also time-indexed, and what kinds of uses that data can be used for, like making audio more shareable. To illustrate, Anne details results from tests Pop Up Archive has been running on audio excerpts of different lengths shared on Twitter. Because she is working both with tech investors and the podcast community, Anne also shares her insights on how podcasting can advance as an industry, and what opportunities exist for podcast producers to grow their audience.

Learn the story behind Hillary Clinton’s headline-grabbing interview on Another Round, along with how Lena Dunham’s new podcast, Women of the Hour, came together.  Plus there are many other juicy tidbits for podcast nerds on this episode, as Buzzfeed’s Director of Audio Jenna Weiss-Berman opens up to Adam on a cornucopia of vital topics in public broadcasting and podcasting. She explains why having a diverse staff starts with paying your interns fairly, and why that's good for both creating high quality content and for the bottom line. As a former public radio producer--and still an enormous public radio fan--Jenna challenges the persistent misconception that only public broadcasters can be mission-driven. And she reveals the kind of podcast she really wants to produce, as well as her thoughts on “viral" audio.

Learn the back story of how the case of Adnan Syed came to the attention of Serial producer Sarah Koenig from the person who first contacted her, Rabia Chaudry.  Herself an attorney, Rabia now co-hosts her own podcast, Undisclosed, in which she and fellow attorneys Susan Simpson and Colin Miller examine new and existing evidence in the State of Maryland’s case against Adnan. Rabia tells Adam the story of how she contacted and worked with Koenig and explains how the idea for Undisclosed came together. She explains what it’s been like being a beginning podcaster, and then having your show become a runaway hit. She also shares the challenges and rewarding parts of producing Undisclosed, and what listeners can look forward to in forthcoming seasons.

Ryan Hoover is the founder of Product Hunt, a website and online community that has been described as Reddit for tech products. The site recently added a section dedicated to podcasts, and Ryan tells Adam what exactly Product Hunt is, how it got started, and how it works. Unlike many other sites, Product Hunt focuses on individual podcast episodes, rather than shows or series, and Ryan explains the motivation behind that emphasis. He also details how he wants Product Hunt to be home of conversations between podcasters and listeners, and what aspects of the site encourage that interaction. Because discovering new and interesting episodes is a key objective of Product Hunt, Adam asks Ryan how the site can uncover fresh episodes, rather than being focused on the same shows that dominate the charts. Finally, Ryan talks about what podcasters need to do to help build community and engagement.

Adam goes deep into the business of podcasting with Erik Diehn, Midroll Media's VP of Business Development, touching on how Erik finds and signs new shows, how public radio came to dominate the top of the charts, and on the advertising technologies like programmatic buying and ad injection. Erik joined Midroll from New York Public Radio, so Adam asks him why he decided to make the jump last year from the nation's largest public radio station to a comparatively small podcasting startup. Erik then explains what it means to be in charge of business development and how he calls upon the experiences represented on his varied resume in both technology and media to do his unique job. He also details why he thinks it was important for the company to launch the Howl app and platform, and why it's in important evolution in podcasting. Finishing up, Adam asks Erik to unpack the hype around the connected car and predict the effect it will have on podcasting.

Go behind the scenes of the sponsorships that support top public radio podcasts—like This American Life, The Moth, and Serial—with Adam’s guest David Raphael, founder and CEO of Public Media Marketing. David recalls how his career in public media caused him to see an unfilled need among many shows, leading to the founding of PMM. He then explains the differences between selling broadcast sponsorships and podcast ads, both with regard to conforming to FCC standards, and with regard to the very different audience demographics between each medium, even for the same show. Adam and David discuss selling sponsorships for the first season of Serial, and how David is managing sponsors for the highly anticipated second season. Finally, David tackles the question of if podcast-style ads are compromising public radio’s “public-ness” and what advice he would give to podcasters, based on what he’s learned from working with top shows.

Lea Thau is one of the strongest influencers of the modern storytelling style that has taken off in radio, television, advertising, and, of course, podcasting. She is a Peabody Award-winning producer and director, the former executive director of The Moth storytelling organization, and now the creator and host of the podcast Strangers. On this episode Lea tells Adam why she left The Moth and how Strangers came together, explaining the show’s relationship to  public radio station KCRW and the Public Radio Exchange’s Radiotopia podcast network. Since Radiotopia is funded through both Kickstarter and sponsorships, Lea touches on the difference, and how listeners respond to hearing her read advertisements. They discuss the recent evolution of storytelling, why Lea is drawn to it, and how the kind of narratives she presents on Strangers differ from journalism. She also shares the process of revealing her life more in the show, and what her advice is for the podcaster who wants to be a good storyteller.

Get the inside scoop on Earwolf, Wolfpop, and now, Howl on this episode of The Wolf Den. Adam’s guests are Midroll Media’s Chief Content Officer Chris Bannon and Senior Producer Gretta Cohn. They shed some light on how they work with the networks’ hosts to develop and hone shows, as well as keep them fresh. Chris and Gretta both joined Midroll from New York Public Radio, so each explains the difference between their previous radio jobs and working in a comparatively fast-moving small startup environment. Adam asks Chris to explain what exactly Howl is and he asks Gretta to explain what makes audio content merit being called “premium.” This leads to a discussion about the wide range of content and audio genres listeners can expect from Howl, while they reveal that there are also new free, ad-supported Earwolf and Wolfpop shows in development. Wrapping up, Gretta and Chris each recommend one new Howl Original show to check out.

Marc Maron joins Adam for this instant-classic episode of The Wolf Den, recorded live on stage at Podcast Movement 2015. Marc shares his thoughts on having President Obama on his own podcast, WTF, and his take on the press coverage that only focused on the president using one particular word on that episode. He then tells the story of how he went from doing his show as “the alternative to suicide,” to having one of the most popular and respected podcasts around. Adam asks Marc if he was making any money early on, and Marc details the journey that started with getting free coffee from a roaster in Madison, Wisconsin, to the current successful formula of ad support and paid subscription archives. Marc then takes some audience questions about the moment when he knew WTF was more than just a personal outlet, the critical importance of making an authentic connection with guests, and his approach to marketing the show.

Breaking news: In a landmark deal for podcasting, Midroll Media has been acquired by E.W. Scripps, a titan of media and journalism, old and new. Adam sits down with Scripps' Chief Digital Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital Media, Adam Symson and Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development, JB Kropp to discuss the new partnership and what it means for the industry. The three discuss how the companies met, how they discovered they share the same vision for non-negotiable free speech and excellent content, and what the future holds as the two companies intertwine. Midroll and E.W. Scripps couldn't be more thrilled to join forces and take podcasting to the next level.

Crissle West is the co-host of the enormously popular podcast The Read, and she joins Adam in The Wolf Den to talk about her experience in podcasting, and growing the diversity of voices heard in the medium. Crissle shares the story of how she met her co-host Kid Fury, started the show with the Loud Speakers network, and then settled into its successful format. She explains that when The Read started the only podcast she listened to was This American Life, in part because there were very few shows featuring people of color then. Now that The Read is popular, Crissle discusses what it’s like to have a loyal fanbase and do sold-out live shows. She also talks about how she is able to make a living from the show—something she did not anticipate—and the value of working with a network. Finally Crissle gives her advice for new podcasters, and predicts what’s in store for her in the next couple of years.

Hollywood meets podcasting with guest Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of The Black List, and host of the Wolfpop show, The Black List Table Reads. Franklin tells Adam Sachs how The Black List began as an informal survey he did just looking for good scripts to read, quickly becoming an annual list of the best unproduced screenplays. In 2012 The Black List launched as a online script database letting screenwriters upload their work to be shared with and evaluated by industry professionals, and Franklin explains how the company’s business is driven by a core mission of finding great stories and helping them get told. Then he tells the story of how the idea for the Table Reads podcast was born, and recalls the day he pitched it to Adam and Wolfpop network curator Paul Scheer. They discuss how the show has evolved over the course of three, four-episode “earmovies,” and Franklin details his goals for it.

One of the podcasting industry's leading observers, Nick Quah, is Adam’s guest on this edition of The Wolf Den. Nick is the editor of Hot Pod email newsletter, which, in less than nine months, has turned into the de facto industry journal for podcasting, becoming a must-read for just about everyone working in the industry. Nick tells Adam how listening to podcasts helped him get through a tough time, and explains what then motivated him to go from being a voracious podcast consumer to publishing his newsletter. Adam asks him about his approach to writing Hot Pod, which leads to a discussion of a situation where Nick got a hot scoop about a much-anticipated new show, and then had to wrestle with the implications and possible outcomes of breaking that news before the official announcement. Nick also shares his hopes for the medium, his predictions for what is to come, and his advice for new podcasters.This episode is sponsored by QuickBooks Self-Employed. Try QuickBooks Self-Employed and receive 50% off at www.tryselfemployed.com/wolfden

Loud Speakers Network co-founder and CEO Chris Morrow joins Adam for an interview that is a must-listen for anyone who has wanted to know how a successful podcast network finds talent and develops shows. Loud Speakers is a hip-hop and urban focused network that started with the Combat Jack Show, hosted by Combat Jack (a/k/a Reggie Osse) who is regarded as the "Charlie Rose of Hip-Hop." Chris tells Adam the kind of shows and talent that Loud Speakers is looking for, holding up the hosts of The Read, Crissle and Kid Fury, as examples of fresh, honest, and authentic voices who have attracted a large and loyal audience. Adam asks Chris about his network's process for developing new shows, which prompts a discussion about both the hard work required and the satisfaction of seeing them come to fruition. This leads to them talking about the constant struggle of balancing a strong brand identity with the flexibility to take on new subjects. Finally, Chris shares his hard-won advice for podcasters looking to launch new shows or start their own networks.

Adam’s guest is Kristoffer Triumf, host and producer of one of the most popular podcasts in Sweden, Värvet. This long-form celebrity interview show has been in production since 2012. Kristoffer talks about what influenced him to get into podcasting. Chief amongst those influences was Marc Maron’s WTF, particularly because of the fact that long-form celebrity interviews were uncommon in Swedish media. He then tells the story of how he started Värvet, and how he got Marc to be one of his first interviews. Kristoffer also discusses the growing Swedish podcast scene, how that scene compares to US podcasting, and why he launched the English-language version of his own podcast, Värvet International. Finally, he shares his hopes and predictions for the future of podcasting.

Veteran podcaster Dan Carlin has been hosting the perennially popular Common Sense podcast since 2005, and in 2014 iTunes named his Hardcore History podcast the best classic podcast of the year. He’s Adam’s guest for this episode of the Wolf Den, detailing the evolution of his chart-topping podcasts over the course of a decade. His Hardcore History show, in particular, is known for having episodes that last as much as several hours, with an irregular release schedule. Dan discusses how this came to be, why he thinks it works for him, and what it takes to pull off what are essentially long, but highly engaging, monologues. He tells Adam how the shows are monetized, and shares his perspective on offering free and paid content. Finally, Dan explains why iTunes made it possible for independent podcasts to succeed alongside ones from established media players, and what the future may hold for his productions.

Public radio veteran Alex Blumberg returns to The Wolf Den, nearly a year after he told then-host Jeff Ullrich about his plans for a new podcasting company. Now Alex is the co-founder and CEO of Gimlet Media, which produces the popular StartUp and ReplyAll podcasts. He documented the founding and the process of raising $1.5 million in capital on the first season of StartUp. Alex tells Adam that the events of the last year have been “shocking,” and recounts the ways in which things turned out how he expected, and the outcomes that surprised him. He and Adam discuss how the breakout podcasts “Serial” and “Invisibilia” have raised the bar for the medium, and why rapid audience growth really qualifies podcast companies as true start ups. Alex also explains the choice to be so personally revealing on StartUp, and the point at which he knew the show and the company was succeeding. He also reveals some teasers about what to expect in the second season of StartUp, which debuts April 23.

Comedian, television host, author, filmmaker and podcaster Adam Carolla joins Adam Sachs on The Wolf Den to discuss the business side of his many endeavors.  Carolla recalls that the idea to podcast was born from the fact that his morning show on terrestrial radio was number two online. So, when that gig ended in 2009 he knew where there was a ready audience. He explains how that fit his overall business strategy, which is “somewhere between proactive and reactive,” seizing opportunities and then going with what makes sense along the way. Then Carolla describes the origin of his new motivational “Take a Knee” podcast as part of the subscription-based Adam Carolla Show Archive. Finally, he offers up advice for budding podcasters.

Adam's guest is Micah Rosenbloom, who joins for a lively discussion about the role of podcasting in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Micah is Managing Partner of the Founder Collective, an early stage venture capital firm that funded companies like Buzzfeed, Uber and Maker Bot. Podcast listeners may know him from his appearance on Gimlet Media’s StartUp podcast, in which he advised Gimlet founder Alex Blumberg to find a co-founder (he did). Micah talks about his first job out of college, working at the Endeavor talent agency, and how Hollywood does, and does not, resemble the venture capital world. He tells Adam how many people told him “I heard you on StartUp,” and then they discuss how podcasting can help entrepreneurs build their online persona and market themselves. Finally, Micah reveals his plans for a new podcast project with Midroll.

Cracked Editor-in-Chief Jack O’Brien joins Adam for a repeat Wolf Den appearance. On his first time guesting (episode #32 in 2011) Jack met Jeff Ullrich for the first time, and didn’t even have a podcast yet. Now he hosts the Cracked Podcast, a successful Earwolf show.  Jack explains how he became Cracked’s Editor-in-Chief and then the host of that podcast. He also reveals the user-focused strategy behind Cracked’s addictive and shareable articles and how that style gets translated to popular video and podcasts. They wrap up by discussing the similarities between podcast ads and branded content, and why honesty is an important factor for both.

Semil Shah shares a valuable investor’s perspective on the business of podcasting for episode 73 of The Wolf Den. Semil is a venture capital advisor and investor, an active blogger and columnist, and was part of the team that developed and marketed the Swell podcast discovery and listening app that was acquired by Apple last year. Semil gives Adam his recommendations on the ideal podcast episode length, along with some tips on organizing and structuring a podcast, all of which come from listening data. He also takes on the divide between iOS and Android when it comes to support for podcasting, and what that means for the future of Apple’s CarPlay and mobile listening in the car. Finally, Semil provides some advice for entrepreneurs looking to fund podcasting startups.

Time magazine columnist, journalist, and author Joel Stein joins Adam for a spirited discussion that traverses the circuitous pathway between old and new media. Joel talks about why he chose to go with old media when he got out of college in the 90s--even predicting that the big corporations would take over everything on the internet—and why he continues to stick with his choice. However, he does reveal his super-secret podcast project that doesn’t have any listeners yet. Then, Adam asks him about sparking controversy in print, and Joel explains why apologies for offending people almost never work. Finally, he tells Adam why he hasn’t hosted a podcast yet, even though he’s had offers, and, speaking as a listener and media personality, he gives his prognosis for the five-year future of the medium.

Lex Friedman, Midroll’s EVP of Sales and Development, joins Adam to pull the curtain back on this fun “inside Midroll Media” episode of The Wolf Den. Lex tells the story of how he got started selling podcast ads—despite not having a sales background--and then met Earwolf and Midroll founder Jeff Ullrich who brought Lex and his ad company on board as part of an acquihire. Adam and Lex also talk about how Midroll Media compares to your typical startup and the crazy growth the company has seen in the last eighteen months. Finally, Lex discusses how podcasting is maturing as a medium, and how advertisers are starting to book their spots up front, like in television. This is an entertaining deep dive into the business of podcasting that must not be missed.

Noah Shanok is Adam's guest for this edition of The Wolf Den. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Stitcher, the popular on-demand podcast and Internet radio service. Stitcher was an early innovator in podcasting, coming on the scene when Blackberrys were the predominant mobile device, and most people still had to sync their iPods in order to listen on the go. Noah lays out the company's history and evolution from an iTunes plug-in, to a web app, and then to a true mobile platform.  He shares his experience with venture capital funding, weighing some of its advantages and disadvantages, along with details about Stitcher's recent acquisition by the Deezer streaming music service. Stitcher is also an early innovator in the automotive space, so Noah tells the story of how the service came to be integrated in the first generation of the Ford Sync smart dashboard platform, leading to integration with other major brands like GM, Subaru, and Jaguar.  Finally, he tells Adam his predictions for when on-demand audio will take over the car, and what lies ahead for the future of audience metrics.

Adam’s guest for this episode is the world’s best known astrophysicist--and an amazingly talented podcast host--Neil deGrasse Tyson. In this don’t-miss episode Neil discusses how hosting the StarTalk Radio podcast serves his mission to educate the public about science in a way that is accessible, fun, and—most importantly—informative. He explains that part of podcasting’s strength comes from the fact that “the versatility of pure audio is without equal.” Neil answers Adam’s questions about  what he enjoys most and least about doing StarTalk, and if he receives any criticism or push-back from the scientific community for being so engaged with popular culture. Finally, in honor of it being Adam’s birthday on the day they recorded, Neil gives him a special science fact about his time on Earth.

Nerdist Industries President Adam Rymer is the guest for this episode of The Wolf Den, discussing how the Nerdist brand went from being Chris Hardwick’s website and podcast to becoming an agile and fast-growing digital media company, now part of Legendary Entertainment, the studio behind successful movies like Batman Begins, 300 and Interstellar. Adam talks about how Nerdist is both like a modern cable network and a multi-channel network (MCN), but is also different. That’s because Nerdist works with a smaller cadre of carefully chosen talent, but creating content that works on different platforms. He also explains how podcasting fits into the company’s high level strategy, and how the medium is still integral to Nerdist along with being a meaningful part of the bottom line. Finally, Adam lays out some of his vision for the future of Nerdist, which could include feature films or music.

Adam’s guest is the multi-talented actress, comedian, and author Aisha Tyler. Many listeners may know her best for the very popular Girl On Guy podcast, which she hosts and produces. In this conversation Aisha shares how she started out just wanting to be a stand up comedian, but then saw her goals expand as she continued to challenge herself. She explains why--even with her success and commitments like co-hosting CBS’s The Talk--she continues to produce Girl On Guy entirely by herself, and why she considers it her “creative refuge.” Adam asks if Aisha regards herself as an entrepreneur, and she considers the ways in which her approach to life and business matches that descriptor, especially as she works on launching her own brand of spirits. Finally, they discuss the question of how to invite more women to become podcast listeners.

Earwolf and Midroll Media just launched a new podcast network: Wolfpop. Curator Paul Scheer and Podcast Developer Matt Gourley join Adam for this conversation recorded six hours after Wolfpop went live (and an all-nighter for Adam). They talk about how the idea for a pop culture focused network came together, and their strategy for building a slate of shows. Paul and Matt discuss how the focus was first on finding passionate hosts, then helping them develop formats that work best. Then they share some of the process of recruiting the Wolfpop talent--like cold-calling film critic Leonard Maltin, host of Maltin on Movies--and how Paul helped bring people on board by sharing his own experience hosting a podcast within an already busy schedule. Finally, they tackle the reasons for launching with a line-up of more than a dozen shows, and consider the "Waiting for Godot" of podcasting.

Adam’s guest is Chris Erwin, Head of Operations for Big Frame. The company, which was acquired this year by DreamWorks, is often called a multichannel network, or MCN, while Chris describes Big Frame as, "a new-era entertainment company for teens and millennials.” Adam asks Chris to explain more about what MCNs and Big Frame do, especially with regard to developing and managing the careers of digital-first creators, like YouTube stars Ingrid Nilsen, Tyler Oakley and Amanda Steele. Since Earwolf and Midroll Media are digital-first media companies, as well, Adam and Chris talk about the similarities between their businesses, and how they make money for talent. Finally, they discuss what it’s like to work in entertainment tech and in the Silicon Beach of Los Angeles.

As Tim Ferriss  explains on this episode of The Wolf Den, he views himself as a teacher who does a lot of self-experimentation and then shares the results in his books like The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Chef, and on his blog. He and Adam discuss Tim’s approach to lifestyle and career design, as well as some key strategies for building an audience. Tim’s podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show , debuted at the top of the iTunes Charts in April and has stayed there since. So they talk extensively about Tim’s methods and recommendations for launching and sustaining a successful show.

Adam’s guest on this episode is James Altucher , a successful entrepreneur, investor, board member, bestselling author, and blogger. He also recently became a podcaster, hosting the popular twice-a-week James Altucher Show and the daily Ask Altucher. They have a spirited conversation about why it’s important to “choose yourself,” which is the title and topic of James’ recent book . James relates this credo to podcasting, which lets producers sidestep the traditional media gatekeepers to reach audiences directly. He also considers the value of podcast advertising, and how sponsors help validate a show. Finally they talk about why James—as an investor and a host/producer—is bullish on podcasting, and how he is improving his craft.

Howard Lindzon is the guest for Adam's first episode as host. Howard is a financial analyst, angel investor and hedge fund manager, best known for founding StockTwits, the social network for investors. He’s also a witty guy who created and sold a successful web video series, and has a huge Twitter following. Howard mentored Adam at his last company, so they talk about mentorship.  As a media creator, Howard shares why it’s important to focus on who is in your audience, not just how big it is, and he explains the importance of endurance in entrepreneurship. Finally, he stresses why it’s important to focus and stay true to your passions.

This is Jeff's last episode. It's also the one where he passes the torch to Adam Sachs, The Wolf Den's new host and the new CEO of Earwolf's parent company, Midroll Media. They talk about why Jeff started the show, and Jeff offers some friendly advice for taking over the host's chair. Adam shares some of his background running a startup, and as a comedy nerd. Then he tells the story of how and why he joined Midroll Media. Finally, Jeff asks Adam what's next for Earwolf and Midroll.

Scott Aukerman of Comedy Bang! Bang! fame and Earwolf co-founder joins Jeff to discuss a big change: Jeff is moving out of his role as Earwolf and Midroll Media CEO to become Chairman of the company. They talk about the early days of Earwolf, and some of the challenges of being a boss, whether it's running a television show or a podcast network. Of course, they also talk about why Jeff is making this change, and why it's a good thing for the company.

The multitalented Kevin Smith is Jeff’s guest for this episode of The Wolf Den. Kevin says that he’ll always be called “director Kevin Smith,” but the truth is that he’s “done way more podcasts” than films. He tells Jeff why he got started podcasting and decided to build a network, discussing the stories behind Smodcast shows like “Fatman on Batman” and “Hollywood Babbleon.” Then Kevin explains why he thinks TV and movie development people are looking at podcasting for their next deal, and what the future holds for this medium.

Chief Nerdist Chris Hardwick returns to The Wolf Den for the first time in four years. He and Jeff get caught up with everything going on in the Nerdist world, and how Chris keeps on top of having a podcast, a Comedy Central TV show, and being the CEO of a growing media company. Chris shares his views on the state of podcasting and where it's going, and how different platforms require different approaches for media making. Don't miss this episode's bonus video at the Midroll blog: http://blog.themidroll.com/ twd-58-bonus-video/

Public radio producer Alex Blumberg enters The Wolf Den to discuss the entrepreneurial future of audio journalism. Alex is a long-standing producer for This American Life and the co-founder of the NPR podcast and radio program Planet Money. He tells Jeff about the lessons learned in the Planet Money Kickstarter to make a t-shirt so that they could document its production and distribution across the global supply chain. Alex reveals how this opened a door for him, and that he's building a new independent project to create and support innovative narrative journalism. Don't miss the bonus video ( http://blog.themidroll.com/twd-57-bonus-video/ ) where Alex lets us in on what he thinks is the most exciting thing happening in podcasting today.

Ellen Weiss is vice president and bureau chief for E.W. Scripps Company's multimedia news bureau. She joins Jeff from Washington DC to discuss podcasting's new frontiers in journalism. They talk about Ellen's distinguished career in news at NPR and the Center for Public Integrity and how that led to her taking over Scripps' digital newsroom. Then she explains the strategy behind Scripps's acquisition of the DecodeDC podcast--founded and hosted by former NPR correspondent Andrea Seabrook--and reveals what she thinks is the most exciting thing happening in podcasting today.

Though he is rarely heard from on his own, Marc Maron says he considers WTF producer Brendan McDonald, “half of the show.” On this episode of The Wolf Den Brendan steps out of the producer’s chair and in front of the microphone. He tells Jeff how his five-year relationship working with Marc at Air America turned into them creating WTF together, and how their successful collaboration relies on a shared vision. Brendan then shares how producing WTF means he had to become a businessman and entrepreneur, learning lessons along the way, like which responsibilities he should do himself and which are better to be outsourced. Make sure to watch the bonus video http://blog.themidroll.com/twd-55-bonus-video /) where Brendan reveals what he’s most excited about in podcasting, his favorite podcasts, and what keeps him up at night.

Editor & Chief of Slate and Political Gabfest host David Plotz joins Jeff to talk about all of the new changes that have occurred in the world of podcasting. They'll discuss the value and downsides regarding live shows for podcasts, David's current investment in podcasting, and if the business of podcasting is growing. Make sure to go to http://blog.themidroll.com/slate-editor-david-plotz-exciting-thing-podcasting-today/  for the exclusive video from this episode.

All the way from Portland, Paul Riismandel of RadioSurvivor.com joins Jeff to discuss many important things in the world of podcasting. They’ll talk about the sustainability of podcasting, the discoverability of podcasts, and the difficulty of building an audience. Happy New Year!

Deputy Editor of Fast Company and podcast enthusiast David Lidsky joins Jeff all the way from New York for a special episode of the Wolf Den that we hope will get some press! David gives us a quick history of business media, tells us how Fast Company’s audience has evolved through digital consumption, and explains how important press is for new small businesses. David then offers Jeff some free advice on press strategies for Earwolf & The Mid Roll and finds out how he played a major role in Earwolf's birth.

It’s the triumphant return of Peter Moses who once again interviews Jeff about all the things that have changed with Earwolf since they talked almost 2 years ago. They’ll discuss the early days of recording in a roach infested studio, some of the surprises from Earwolf’s growth, how the podcasts themselves have expanded over the years, Earwolf branching out into TV, and how The Mid Roll connects the best podcasters with the best advertisers. It’s all very exciting!

General manager of Nerdist Industries and all around good guy Chris Fealy is here to squash any thoughts of there being any sort of Nerdist vs. Earwolf rivalry. He joins Jeff to discuss expanding a podcast network into different mediums which include television,  a YouTube channel, a live performance space behind a comic book shop, and possibly airplanes. Chris also shares the importance of curating shows that maintain a nerdy sensibility, gives his thoughts on the The Mid Roll , and offers Jeff some tips for his 30 day sabbatical.

It’s been 16 months since the last episode but The Wolf Den is back with Slate.com’s Andy Bowers. He’s here to discuss the mood of podcasting, how radio will survive with the increasing amount of audio on demand choices, and finding a balance between having fun & running a business. Happy podcasting!

This week's The Wolf Den is short but sweet! Get an update on the status of this podcast, a look back at Earwolf 2011, an announcement of a cool future episode, and several other business announcements that might be of interest. We'll see you in a few weeks!

Drew Droege treated us to Glitter in the Garbage for a year here on Earwolf. Now he joins Jeff in The Wolf Den to discuss his life in the south, the mistakes he made as a young artist, the relationship between comedian and businessman, and the fallacy of the "breakout star." Drew is smart, funny, and his Chloe videos are to die for so enjoy! Thank you to everyone who supported Earwolf and listened to The Wolf Den in 2011. See you next year!

One of the most successful podcasting networks is Kevin Smith's SModcast. After we had so much fun and learned so much with Bagged and Boarded's Matt Cohen, it was a no brainer to invite David Kahn to The Wolf Den. He is in charge of advertising and finances for the network and he joins us this week to discuss how to build a network and how to keep it financially secure. Don't forget to use the Earwolf Amazon link to do any last minute holiday shopping, and we'll see you next week!

Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony have a podcast called Walking the Room that is considered by many "a podcaster's podcast." They leave their closet to join us in The Wolf Den to talk to us about the way the podcast has changed their careers, how listening to podcasts will change your life, and how a primarily guest-less podcast can find an audience. Plus, we get into the "fight" that didn't really happen between Dave and Jeff. Thanks to everyone who has used our  Amazon Affiliates link  to do their holiday shopping!

There seems to be a connection between podcasting and graphic design. There are so many amazing artists out there who make podcast art. Joel Watson from HijiNKS ENSUE has given us two popular show logos and he is here on The Wolf Den to tell us about his history in the graphic design/web comic history, share his advice for merchandising, and explain how you can work in the web comic industry and sustain your life. Inspiring message, nerdy or niche industry, economic advice, this it must be The Wolf Den!

Since we're so thankful for all you wonderful listeners, we decided to put together a last minute The Wolf Den with everyone in the office. You'll hear both our wonderful engineers, Cyrus and Dustin, our tech wizard Shahruz, our financial guru Dave, our special guest visitor Caleb Bacon, Jeff of course, and me, Caroline! We talk about our Thanksgiving plans, share our Earwolf nightmares and tell you all what we're thankful for. We hope you have a great Thanksgiving and we'll be back with a much more professional show next week!

How Did This Get Made? has been on a roll lately. They've had guests like Lexi Alexander, director of Punisher: War Zone, Greg Sestero from The Room, and just performed a live show at Largo with Damon Lindelof and Superman's Jack O'Halloran. As we approach the one year anniversary of HDTGM? we have Paul Scheer on the show to talk about his podcast,  Eardrop , and how he balances a busy career in television and film and an active online presence. Please do check out  Eardrop  and tell us what you think in the forum!

The Chris Gethard Show is just the latest crazy, hilarious, original project from Chris Gethard. Chris has spent the last few years dreaming up some of the coolest comedy projects to come out of New York City. He's used his brilliance to bring Diddy to the UCB, treat a depressed comedy nerd to the time of his life, travel cross country using only Twitter as a map, and is now broadcasting weekly out of Manhattan Neighborhood Network every Wednesday. Learn more about Chris and how his work ethic propels him this week on The Wolf Den.

According to Ben Gigli of 5 Second Films, making friends with your fellow content providers is imperative to having success online. We took that advice before he even gave it and had him on The Wolf Den to discuss Youtube monetization, understanding content platforms, and the impossible task of predicting merchandise success. Joining him is Dave Mancherje, our financial guru, who helps us understand Amazon Affiliates, AdSense, and everything else intimidating to industry newcomers.

Jimmy Pardo came to Earwolf to record Who Charted?  and we couldn't let him leave without a good solid brain-picking on the world of podcasting. His show Never Not Funny played (and continues to play) such a important role in the growth and development of podcasting as an industry and the story of his career is beyond fascinating. Pardo fans, podcast hosts, potential entertainers and practically everyone else can find something inspiring in Jimmy's story. We hope you enjoy.

Steve Heisler has a life that I'm sure many Earwolf fans envy: He writes about comedy for The AV Club, Vulture and Variety, he produces comedy for the Just For Laughs festival, and he performs comedy of his very own! If you aspire to create a career for yourself in comedy production, you'll want to hear Steve's story and his advice for other freelancers. Please visit our  store  or consider making a  donation , and if you have any plans on shopping on Amazon, use our affiliate link on  Earwolf !

The week Jeff once again breaks the mold of what The Wolf Den is by podcasting all by himself (and with a little help from our brilliant engineer Dustin and our financial miracle worker Dave). We'd like to give you a once over of where Earwolf is right now: What our problems are, how we're trying to fix them, and what that means for our future. We love all you listeners and always welcome feedback, so don't hesitate to email thewolfden@earwolf.comand lay it all on us! Thanks

When we relaunched Earwolf.com, we added a section called Yourcast that would allow podcasters to advertise on our site. For this week's The Wolf Den, we've asked two of our Yourcast users (Jacob Munford from Lobstercast and Cameron Buchholtz from CB Radio) to tell us about their experiences using the service and to teach us about the unique struggles of running a podcast outside of Hollywood. Enjoy, and be sure to peruse Yourcast for what might be your new favorite podcast!

Jeff has used his skills of deceit and trickery to get a truly wonderful guest for the week: Peter Kafka from All Things Digital. This guy has worked for Forbes Magazine and a major Wall Street banker and guess what? He's a podcast geek! Jeff and Peter hop all over the place from the potential uselessness of graduate school to the issues plaguing iTunes and Netfilx. Too many issues are covered for me to list, so listen in and learn something!

Hopefully most of you have visited Funny or Die since Monday and know about our new partnership with them. If you haven't, this episode will answer a lot of questions. Even if you have, you'll learn from Dick Glover, President of Funny or Die, how the partnership came to be, how the website itself came to be, and what it's like to work for such a popular comedy entity. This is the guy who made ESPN.com back in '92, so he's got amazing amounts of insight into the digital world and where it is headed. I'll give you a hint: QR codes and hoodies.

Cracked.com  is one of the internet's most popular comedy locales. Jack O'Brien is the mastermind behind this magazine-turned-website and he's here on The Wolf Den to talk web analytics, book publishing, flashbulb memory and more. Learn a bit about the impending FunnyOrDie partnership and get a quick tease of what you can expect from Earwolf in the coming month. Thanks for all the activity in the forums, and as always you can email thewolfden@earwolf.com

Todd Jackson is a comedy writer and entrepreneur who hopped from Cracked Magazine to Comedy Central before creating the comedy website Dead-Frog . He joins Jeff on this unusual episode to discuss 9/11, strange-sounding networking advice, and the potential relationship between our two websites. This isn't your typical The Wolf Den, but then again what IS a typical The Wolf Den?

Matt Cohen is one of very few full-time podcast producers. In addition to hosting his own show Bagged and Boarded, he produces Mohr Stories and has a long-standing relationship with SModcast. He joins The Wolf Den to discuss the relationship between podcasters, the economics of internet connections, the difference between Earwolf and SModcast fans and so much more. Listen in, and don't forget about those iTunes reviews!

If you haven't asked yourself this question yet, you will after listening to this episode! Part political activist, part social media innovator, and one-hundred-percent hilarious, Baratunde joins Jeff this week to discuss the evolution of entertainment platforms, the creative mindset, and the power of The Thank You Economy. This is a guy who is funny enough to work for The Onion, but is sincere and thoughtful enough to create of one of the only non-ironic or cat-based " viral videos " that I can think of! When you're done listening, go to Baratunde's website to learn about the million other things he's created that we didn't have time to address.

The Wolf Den is finally back! In exchange for the several week absence, we have a great episode for you all featuring Jeff Rubin of Collegehumor, Nerd Alert, The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show and more. He explains the complicated (yet awesome) science of "enhanced podcasts" and sheds light on the podcasting community on the east coast. There is an economy lesson stuffed in here as well regarding the expenses and complications of selling tee shirts. Sorry once again for the break, and enjoy!

Jeff is back once again from his apartment to give us all a quick run down of Earwolf news. Topics of the day: The Earwolf Challenge, our FunnyorDie partnership, and our forthcoming advisory board. Of course, it wouldn't be The Wolf Den without "Preachy Jeff" and his advice for young entrepreneurs looking for mentors. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of Earwolf. We're excited to keep growing and evolving!

For the first time, Jeff records an episode from his apartment and without guests. He monologues about trying to survive a rough week at Earwolf, why you should pursue your passion and how to afford titty bars. He also plays messages from listeners about what they like about Earwolf and what can be improved. He even discusses his thoughts on inappropriate laughter in lactation rooms. Enjoy this weird episode.

It seems like every time you click refresh on the Nerdist website there is new cool stuff happening. What started as a blog and transitioned into a podcast is now a television pilot, a live performance space at Meltown Comics, a podcasting network, and even a book! Chris Hardwick is here to try to discuss all of that as well as his partnership with Geek Chic and the economic difficulties of doing a podcast live. We even get Chris' opinion on our new Earwolf Live App and a stellar suggestion for a new, simpler term to replace "download." Listen to the episode and, as always, let us know what you think over on the forums!

We love all our Earwolf listeners and are impressed by their contributions to the network as fans. This episode celebrates those listeners by speaking to three of our biggest superfans: Dustin Martian, Julia Hays, and Mike McCawley. They all started listening at different times, for different reasons, and with different preferences, but they all make our jobs at Earwolf so much easier. Learn who your fellow listeners are and how they've developed relationships not only with Earwolf, but with each other as well. We'd love to hear your Earwolf stories in The Wolf Den forums!

It took us long enough, but we finally have Earwolf hosts on The Wolf Den! Those hosts are Randy and Jason Sklar of Sklarbro Country, our sports-themed comedy show that comes out every Friday. You might underestimate their awareness of download numbers and Twitter follower count, but as you'll learn, these guys put a lot of time and effort into their show (sometimes to the detriment of their personal lives). Learn why they love doing Sklarbro Country, even when it affects their travel plans, job offers, and patience. You'll also learn how Chris Cox (Tiger Woods, Jerry Jones, Sam Elliott, etc) got involved and why we all love him so much. Leave your shouts of "HENDERSON!" in the forum thread for this episode!

Now that the dust has settled and we've all taken a few naps, we're ready to discuss Earwolf 2.0! The bulk of the Earwolf team is in the studio with The Plop List's Joel Mandelkorn to talk through the new Earwolf: What we're proud of, what we want to improve, and our plans for the future. Take this opportunity to get acquainted with the Earwolf staff and explore Earwolf beyond what you've seen so far. Let us know what you think in the forums!

Our primary job with The Wolf Den is to inform our listeners about who we are. So who better to have as a guest than one of our smart, funny listeners? Natan is a graduate student at DePaul University and when he asked for help with a project we gave him one condition: We tape it and send it out! Hear what Jeff thinks of our listeners, competition, and brand as he is interviewed by a genuine fan.

Each week on The Wolf Den we learn more about the state of digital media as it pertains to comedy and podcasting. This week we have guests from the world of music to talk about the unique struggles of their industry. Yotam Rosenbaum and Joey Flores are the creators of Earbits, an internet radio station that aims to advertise smarter than it's competition. Learn how Earbits came to be, how Y Combinator got them where they are, and why they deny the the myth of the "dying music industry." Check out our newly redesigned  Earwolf website to find new merch, new apps, new shows and more.

We're back this week with Matt Belknap. While he discussed the origins of AST and Never Not Funny  last week , we learn this week about the growth of podcasting since his involvement. The ever divisive issue of podcast monetization comes up and Matt and Jeff discuss some of the more basic elements of building a show. Pay close attention to the announcements to hear about the special features you can anticipate on version 2.0 of the Earwolf website.

AST, or A Special Thing, is quite enigmatic in that it's a message board, a comedy news site, a record company, and the original internet home of many podcasts. Over the last ten years, Matt Belknap has turned his hobby for comedy and desire for articulate dialogue into a life for himself and has helped the career of many comedians at the same time. Learn this week how Matt cultivated his message board (and when it will get back to looking great), began his own record company, and essentially turned podcasting from a barren wasteland into a burgeoning business with Never Not Funny. Marc Maron interrupts the proceedings with a big announcement about his show WTF, leaving lots more behind-the-scenes Belknap for next week. See you then, and feel free to pass the time until then by writing an iTunes review.

John Cabrera is the filmmaker and musician responsible for the web musical  The Homes . So what does he think about this new media age? Jeff and John discuss the waning desire for tactile media, the evolution of web content, and the relationship between internet films and indie music. Comment and tell us what you think about all this: Do you still hang onto your physical books? Do you think the difficulty of web navigation will affect the progress of new media? Oh, and if you're interested in helping Earwolf prepare for the new website launch, volunteer  here .

Last week Paul F. Tompkins cited The Superego Podcast as one that inspired him. This week Superego's Matt Gourley joins The Wolf Den to discuss what it means to be "the comic's comic" of podcasting. If any of you listeners have wanted to start a podcast but thought you couldn't, Matt is proof that if you care enough you can figure it out. The episode is so packed full of valuable podcasting information that we gave you extra content after the closing theme. Check out Superego and whatever you do DO NOT submit an iTunes review (for us, that is).

In sixteen episodes of The Wolf Den one question has been left unanswered: Who is Jeff? This week we take time to learn who Jeff is, how he became part of this industry, and why he no longer follows the Cubs. You'll also get to know Intern Peter who is a vital part of the Sklarbro Country/Earwolf team. Stay tuned to the end if you are curious about Project Tippy Toe, or the newly renamed Comedy Bang Bang. There is a lot happening at Earwolf right now, and The Wolf Den is the best way to keep up with it all.

This episode of The Wolf Den is dedicated to the listeners worried about the show being too funny. Our guest is the famously somber Paul F. Tompkins who is here to discuss his role as a leading Gateway Guest (among other things) in the least humorous way possible. Paul takes questions from Twitter while pointing out it's many flaws, and Jeff discusses his dreams for the website, the network, and his tennis career. Now go check out his Ford Focus internet campaign and try not to leave snarky correct-y comments on them!

You can't talk about podcasting without talking about Jesse Thorn. From terrestrial radio to television, Jesse has turned a hobby for podcasting into a means of livelihood and has been a major source of positive attention towards the industry. Jesse joins us this week to talk about the results of our marketing survey and contribute knowledge about marketing integration, building a network, and serving one's listeners. Oh, did I mention that he's also hilarious? This episode not only provides a look into the future of Earwolf and podcasting, but to the whole world of media and how it can be sustained financially.

Our survey shows that many of our listeners are also fans of Ace Broadcasting. This week's guest is Jeff Fox who produces several of Ace's shows including CarCast and This Week with Larry Miller. Mr. Fox tells us how working in the business has helped him discover his inner comedy nerd, and the Jeffs discuss the problems that lay deeper than sponsorships and advertisements. Pull out your shot glasses, because this episode is AWESOME! Remember to call us at 413-34R-WOLF (after you've had some time to sober up), and stay tuned for possible job listings.

When was the last time you visited Youtube? The video hosting site has become synonymous with internet media and has billions of visitors each month. Eric Meyerson is not only the marketing director for Youtube, but a true Earwolf fan, and he joins us on the Wolf Den to discuss the growing world of internet advertising. Plus, Jeff gives advice for those pursuing Earwolf internships and issues an invitation to comedy podcasters to be part of our new project.

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in an Earwolf meeting? This week we decided to record a conversation between the developers, designers, engineers, and other hardworking Earwolves that are planning version two of our website. Learn what you can expect regarding forums, listener submitted content, and more. If you have any questions about the changes, or preferences regarding the ideas discussed, email us as always at thewolfden@earwolf.com

The A.V. Club has long been the online home of early adopters, nerdcore fanboys, and any other pop culture geek you can think of. It is the sister site of the popular (maybe TOO popular) The Onion, and has recently branched out from television and movies to include podcast reviews. Kyle Ryan joins us to discuss how The A.V. Club has grown and how the new weekly feature Podmass figures into the site. If you haven't listened to Eardop yet, there are already several episodes out to get you as excited as Kyle is! Oh, and by the way, we were totally right about Dickie Noles.

A major factor in providing entertainment is knowing how it will get to the audience. This week we have Rob Greenlee from Zune Marketplace to talk to us about the impact of podcast aggregation. Rob has seen podcasts die and thrive in his platform and he has expert advice to give to aspiring podcasters. Visit Rob on his blog for more great insight, and leave us a comment on Earwolf telling us how YOU get our podcasts. RSS, iTunes, Zune, directly from our site? We can't wait to hear your answers.

So far we've talked about podcast monetization with comedians, producers, journalists, and performers. This week we invite Scott MacDonell to bring his unique voice to the conversation. Scott is the VP of Marketing for www.legalzoom.com and he runs his own podcast, This Week in Marketing. Because of his involvement in both worlds, he can inform us about the pitching and pricing of podcast advertising, understanding a listener base, and how podcasting differs from radio and television.

Very few people get to see the world of podcasting from Christine E. Taylor's view. A journalist and blogger, Christine fell in love with comedy podcasts and is doing a bang-up job of telling the rest of the world. Recorded at Cobb's Comedy Club before Sklarbro Country LIVE (now available through the Earwolf Store), she and Jeff discuss the direction we're headed, and what it's going to take to get there. You can find Christine at her website www.ChristineETaylor.com where there are interviews, reviews, and much more.

Our visitor this week is Cole Stratton; a comedian, podcaster, and one of the founders of S.F. Sketchfest. Cole has a unique insight into what it takes to put on a live podcast, and how comedy festivals such as his are adapting to the growth of the medium. He and Jeff discuss the tricky subject of podcast monetization and how social media sites like Twitter can affect a budding show. You can hear Earwolf personalities such as Paul Scheer and The Sklar Brothers on his show Pop My Culture.

Welcome to The Wolf Den, an informational look at Earwolf from the people behind the scenes. In this first episode, we meet Earwolf CEO Jeff, Audio Engineer Doug, and Interns Aaron, Shahruz, and Caroline. Learn how Earwolf came to be, find out what it means to be a member of the Den, and hear questions and stories from Earwolf's biggest fans. We'll be back soon with announcements, requests, and other fun bonus material only available through The Wolf Den.

Doug Benson was one of the first comics to explore the world of podcasting. While his show has changed networks, formats, and even names, Doug Loves Movies has stayed on the top of the comedy podcasting charts through it all. In this episode of The Wolf Den, he and Jeff discuss getting the attention of advertisers, booking guests, and where the medium is headed. Podcasting fans, as well as creative people of all types, will enjoy hearing how he balances his job as an entertainer and as a businessman.

Marc Maron is a true pioneer when it comes to new media. He traveled from terrestrial radio through internet television and landed in the podcast world with WTF with Marc Maron. Marc brings the honesty and frankness that he is famous for to The Wolf Den, be it discussing what he sees as the future of podcasting, how his show has become a business or how WTF is the best thing he's ever done. Visit www.wtfpod.com to hear his interviews with Scott Aukerman, The Sklar Brothers, Paul Scheer, and other Earwolf favorites.

The Wolf Den is back with Nick Kroll and Seth Morris. Nick and Seth are two of the most popular Earwolf guests, but fans might not recognize their voices. Seth does the popular character of Bob Ducca, and Nick plays many characters from El Chupacabra to Bobby Bottleservice. They tell us why podcasting is on the up-and-up and what that has meant to their careers. Plus, announcements about job availability and upcoming events in the Earwolf world. If you haven't already, check out Bob Ducca and Bobby Bottleservice on twitter.