The Addition

It’s been a somewhat tumultuous time in the world of Web3 recently (isn’t it always?). Lauren Ingram, the founder of Women of Web3, joins the show to explain what is really going on and how things can get better and more inclusive. The Women of Web 3 podcast is set to return with its second season in the coming days. AI might be grabbing all the attention recently, but it is really important to have a jargon-busting conversation about Web3 too. Is there any hope for the technology that so many got so excited about, or was it just a fad? If it is here to stay, how do we get more women involved so that there is some diversity feeding into the technology’s development? * Women of Web3* Women of Web3 Podcast* Lauren Ingram on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

It’s that time of the month - Chuck Joiner and I reconvene to discuss Apple TV+. On this episode of “TV+ Talk” we finish off our chat about “Shrinking” before analysing the recently released “Silo.” We finish off by looking at the… mixed… reactions to “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which has finally premiered at Cannes. However, most of us are going to have to wait a little bit longer to see it.* “Shrinking”* “Silo”* The ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Trailer is Finally Here - The Addition* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TikTok* MacVoices* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* MacVoices on Twitter* Chuck Joiner on Mastodon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

B2b publishing is a big, but all too often overlooked, segment of the media. It might not be as sexy as the big-name, consumer-facing brands, but it really matters. The Audiencers is a new b2b publication aimed at those within the media industry that run all manner of publications. It is run by Poool, the membership and subscription technology suite. On this week’s show, Editor-in-Chief Madeleine White joined to discuss the still-new website.As well as outlining what The Audiencers does, the conversation covers what publishers get right and wrong when it comes to user retention and paywall strategy. There is also a discussion about small, but overlooked, success stories and we advocate for a more collaborative approach in publishing.* The Audiencers* Mather Economics report on paywalls* Madeleine White on LinkedIn* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

We want transparency and honesty from our politicians. We want our media to hold the powerful to account. One of the best ways to do the latter is via long-form interviews. This week’s guest, Rob Burley, has been involved in producing many of them over the last 30 years but is worried that too many broadcasters, particularly the BBC, are abandoning the format. He gives a powerful insight into his work and doesn’t pull any punches when discussing his former employer, Piers Morgan and much else.In his new book, “Why Is This Lying B*****d Lying to Me?”, Burley advocates for the long-form interview, whilst also giving an insight into the funny and sometimes bizarre situations that arise when working in political television.* Jeremy Paxman vs Michael Howard* The Trump TV Tangle* Why Is This Lying B*****d Lying to Me? on Amazon (£ affiliate link, supports The Addition)* Why Is This Lying B*****d Lying to Me? on Bookshop.org (£ affiliate link, supports The Addition)* Rob Burley on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks to Factor for sponsoring this episode. Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit, can help you fuel up fast with ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door. You’ll save time, eat well, and tackle everything on your to-do list. Head to This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Maybe it was always this way, but things feel particularly chaotic in the media industry right now. From sales to shutdowns to Twitter changes, a lot is in a state of flux. Mark Stenberg from Adweek returns to the show this week to discuss the state of things. Never underestimate the power of niche!In particular, we look into what is going on in terms of M&A. There were a huge number of deals done during the pandemic years. Companies were eager to expand. Now, with money more expensive and customers having alternative things to do with their time, some are looking to change their approach and even unwind elements of their portfolios. What does it all mean? Often, it’s layoffs…* Publishers Pare Down Their Portfolios Following Pandemic M&A - Adweek* Mark Stenberg on Twitter* Mark Stenberg at Adweek* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

You may have noticed that the media world has undergone some seismic changes over recent years. And Ben Smith has been there for them all - from reporting for New York tabloids to turning Buzzfeed into a major news brand and having a column for the New York Times. He now runs Semafor, a globally focused news publication he founded with ex-Bloomberg News exec Justin Smith. It is a typically ambitious project.Smith also has a book out, “Traffic”, explaining what he has seen and learnt over the course of his career to date. On the podcast, he outlined setting up the BuzzFeed newsroom, where he thinks the media is going next and, yes, that dossier. (I asked him about the dress too, obviously.) We started by discussing the recent major media news - the departures of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon from Fox News and CNN respectively.The conversation is a fascinating insight from someone who has been at the heart of so many of the most exciting, and difficult, changes in media.* Cable News Chaos as Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon Out [updated]* After All That, I Would Still Publish the Dossier - The Atlantic* “Traffic” via Amazon UK (£ affiliate link, supports The Addition) and Amazon US* “Traffic” via Bookshop.org (£ affiliate link, supports The Addition) * Semafor* Ben Smith on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Chuck Joiner and Charlotte Henry are back with the second episode of “TV+ Talk” - the YouTube series and podcast in which, each month, we discuss the key issues around Apple’s streaming service. This time around we looked at the comedy series “Shrinking” and the movie “Tetris”. Chuck had a bit of a surprise for Charlotte too!* “Shrinking”* “Tetris”* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TikTok* MacVoices* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* MacVoices on TwitterChuck Joiner on Mastodon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Things are never quiet in Hollywood. Luckily, The Ankler exists to explain it all. Founded on the back of Richard Rushfield’s own newsletter, it has grown to become an example of a great Substack business.And there is a lot going on in Tinseltown right now. The drive to get people back into cinemas post-pandemic continues, with more and more “in theatres only” releases happening. There have also been changes on the TV side as streamers try and make sure they are getting as much out of their audience as possible. This includes a merged streaming service, movie cancellations and the removal of content by Warner Brothers Discovery. Oh, and US writers and studios can’t agree on a new deal, leading the industry hurtling towards a strike which could stop the flow of new TV episodes. Sean McNulty, who writes The Wakeup newsletter for The Ankler, joins the podcast to discuss it all. * Sean McNulty on LinkedIn* The Ankler* The Wakeup* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

There is so much content across all the different streaming platforms right now it is almost overwhelming. So The Addition is here to help! Jeff Gamet returns to the podcast to discuss what he is watching now, what I am watching now and what is on our “to watch” lists. There is plenty to recommend for your viewing pleasure, whether serious series, comedy specials, 30-minute sitcoms or movies.HBO/Sky seems to be where the biggest hits are. The quality on Netflix seems to fluctuate. And there is a whole debate as to whether Paramount+ and Disney+ are actually worth having. Knowing the streaming industry, that will flip soon enough.* Marc Randolph post on LinkedIn* The British Tech Network* Jeff Gamet on YouTube* ‘The Context Machine’ podcast* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

This week’s episode is a bit meta. It’s two Substackers discussing Substack! Without a doubt, the platform has had a transformative effect on the media landscape. It has both coaxed major columnists away from their highly-paid gigs and helped mere startups (like this one) get off the ground. Over the last year, the company has consistently been launching new products, but what comes next?Substack recently announced a funding round that allowed writers to buy into the platform they publish on. Doing so probably also indicates VC money isn’t flowing towards the firm as it once did. There is also a spat with Elon Musk and Twitter, which is suppressing links to Substack newsletters. With all this going on, Brian Morrissey, who runs The Rebooting, comes to discuss the past, present and future of Substack. * Substack’s CEO on ads, bundling and what’s next - The Rebooting podcast* The Rebooting* “People vs Algorithms”* Brian Morrisey on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeListen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com