Inside "Hard Fork": A Behind-the-Scenes Look at The New York Times’ Tech Podcast
"Hard Fork," a weekly New York Times podcast focusing on technology and business, has recorded about 90 episodes since its debut in October 2022. Hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, the podcast explores topics such as the TikTok ban, Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition, and digital companionship. Alongside high-profile interviews with guests like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, Roose and Newton have fine-tuned the show’s format, inviting listener questions while maintaining a mission to inform and entertain.
In an interview, the hosts discussed their encounters with fans—a novel experience for them—and their aspirations for the podcast. Their friendship began at a book party for Roose’s “Young Money,” and grew over years of professional overlap. Roose admired Newton’s newsletter, Platformer, and saw potential in Newton’s humor and quick thinking for a podcast co-host.
Feedback for "Hard Fork" has been overwhelmingly positive, despite occasional critiques of vocal habits and content focus. Roose is particularly humbled by the educated and insightful listener base, which often contributes intelligent ideas.
The greatest production challenge, Newton notes, is finding compelling stories each week without succumbing to formulaic content. Instead, they aim to follow their curiosities and provide genuine insights. Looking ahead, Newton wants to keep the show surprising and inventive, with ambitions to grow the audience. Roose aims even higher, seeking to make "Hard Fork" the world’s leading tech podcast.
Their dream guest? Sarah Jessica Parker has expressed interest, and Elon Musk remains a tantalizingly eccentric option. Working together, both hosts express deep regard for one another’s professionalism and camaraderie, anchoring their journalistic pursuits in mutual respect and shared vision.
Original Story https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/insider/hard-fork-podcast.html
Category : Science and Technology,Artificial Intelligence,Podcasts,Musk, Elon
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