The Study Hall Podcast

Eve Sneider discussed her new book "The Absent Woman: The Genius of Janet Malcolm."   The book offers an insightful look into how Malcolm wrote her most iconic books like "The Journalist and the Murderer." In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Sneider chatted about the research process and how Malcolm's work relates to Nathan Fielder's documentary "You Can See Everything." More info a...

Michelle Lhooq is a journalist who covers counterculture. She writes a Substack newsletter called "Rave New World." In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Lhooq discussed how she approaches reporting on underground culture in Singapore, and the nuances of writing about an alternative space. Lhooq reflected on her Vice profile of Michael Alig, a notorious club kid. She also talked about...

On October 28th, Study Hall hosted a webinar panel about AI and journalism. Taylor Lorenz, Brian Merchant, and Alexandra Marvar discussed the implications of AI tools and how freelancers can prepare for this next chapter of the media industry. In addition, the three journalists discussed the nuances of incorporating this tool into a workflow and what media workers should look out for when negotiat...

Nate Rogers' writing has appeared in New York Magazine, The Ringer, and L.A. Material. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Rogers talks about his experience trying to profile the actor Jason Lee. The assignment turned into a case study on the limitations of entertainment journalism, and the dynamics between reporters and subjects. Rogers also discusses his reporting on why car headl...

Mary Houlihan is a writer and podcaster. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker and McSweeney's. She's the host of The Mary Houlihan Show .  In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Mary discusses how she uses comedy-journalism to explore serious topics and her reporting on ICE detention centers.   Sign up for Study Hall AI panel: https://studyhall.xyz/2026-ai-summit/ More info about Ma...

Ashli Blow is an Environment & Public Health Correspondent at Lookout Eugene-Springfield. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Blow discussed her recent reporting on how the Trump administration is deregulating Oregon's logging industry. Blow talked about the value of local and environmental journalism, and the nuances of the situation in Oregon.    Keep up with her work: https:/...

Archie Hall is the acting Economics editor at The Economist. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Hall discussed how The Economist covers topics like the bond market and the rise of democratic socialism. In addition, Hall shared why The Economist has no bylines. Sign up for Study Hall's AI and journalism panel: https://studyhall.xyz/2026-ai-summit/ Music by KT The Terrible

Benjamin Moser is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Moser discussed his new book "Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History," which chronicles various Jewish intellectuals who opposed the nationalist ideology. Moser talked about how he curated the book and the figure of the conscious pariah.    More info about "Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History": https://booksho...

Bridget Read, a features writer at New York Magazine, gave listeners a behind-the-scenes look into her recent articles on digital privacy and Mormon pop culture . In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Read offered tips on how to report on the zeitgeist and discussed topics like the trad wife phenomenon, Ballerina Farm, Mormon influencers, digital privacy leaks, and more.    Preorder t...

Mattha Busby's reporting has appeared in The Guardian, GQ, Men's Health, Esquire, and numerous other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Busby discussed his interest in reporting on psychedelics and drug policy. In addition, Busby discussed how specific psychedelics have been embraced by the MAHA movement and the implications of counterculture substances becoming mainstream...

Molly Lambert is the host of Mollyworld, a podcast delving into the lore of Hollywood Blvd. She has previously hosted Jennaworld — a podcast about adult film actress Jenna Jameson — and Heidiworld — a podcast about Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Lambert discussed how she pivoted to podcasting and why she's so fascinated with Hollywood mythology. In...

Astead Herndon is the host of "America, Actually" and the editorial director of Vox. He was previously a national politics reporter at The New York Times. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Herndon discussed his approach to political reporting and how he covers new media figures — like twitch streamer Hasan Piker — and steps outside the political media bubble. Additionally, Herndon...

Wilbert L. Cooper is a staff writer at The Marshall Project. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Cooper discussed his new book "The Black Shield: An American Memoir of Family and Power." The book delves into the story of how Coopers' parents became police officers and offers a comprehensive account of the legacy of Black police officers in the United States. In addition, the book sp...

Katie Notopoulos is a senior correspondent at Business Insider. She covers technology and culture. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Notopoulos discussed her reporting on social media bans, clipping, Google Zero, AI chatbots, and the future of tech journalism.    Keep up with Katie's work: https://www.businessinsider.com/author/katie-notopoulos More info about Study Hall: www.stud...

Tyler Donohue's writing has appeared in The Cut, Business Insider, and The Guardian. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Donohue reflected on her The Cut essay about leaving her ex-fiancé due to his affiliation with an alleged cult. She also discussed her feature for The Guardian on women who engage in non-monogamy.  Donohue offered insight on how to approach personal topics and uti...

Lux Alptraum is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Verge, Wired, and numerous other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Lux discussed her approach to covering the sex industry and writing about #MeToo. Lux discussed what the mainstream media gets wrong about the industry, and how writers can take a more nuanced approach to the topic.   Sign up for L...

Khoa Ha and Victor Velle are the co-directors of the documentary "Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon." The documentary is about Khoa Ha's search for her grandfather's musical legacy in Vietnam. Khoa Ha's grandfather was a musical composer who had a crucial impact on Vietnamese cultural history. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Khoa Ha and Victor Velle discuss their research process...

Gaby Del Valle is a policy reporter at The Verge. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, she discussed her reporting on far-right conservative movements.  She also discussed her Harper's feature about her experience at a conservationist conference. In addition, Gaby Del Valle offered tips on how writers can break down complex ideologies.    More about Gaby Del Valle: https://www.thever...

Brock Colyar is a features writer at New York Magazine. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Colyar discussed their approach to scene reporting and profiling everyone from Bethenny Frankel to rave theorist McKenzie Wark. Colyar also reflected on their feature — from the start of the second Trump administration — about the conservative Gen Z vibe shift.  Keep up with Brock's work: htt...

Elie Mystal is a justice correspondent at  The Nation . He's the author of "Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America."   In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Mystal discussed how he pursued a career as a legal analyst and what the mainstream media overlooks when covering the Supreme Court. In addition, Mystal broke down recent Supreme Court rulings and what he finds particu...

Andrew Durbin is the editor in chief of Frieze. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Durbin chats about his new book  The Wonderful World That Almost Was: A Life of Peter Hujar and Paul Thek. The book chronicles a multi-decade friendship between two queer artists and analyzes their enduring influence. In this conversation, Durbin discusses how researching and writing this book made h...

Suzy Exposito is an editor at Los Angeles Times' De Los section. Previously, she founded Rolling Stone's Latin music section. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Exposito discussed how Bad Bunny's career transformed Latin music journalism and the dynamic of advocating for more diverse coverage. In addition, she discussed her essay about her recent humanitarian trip to Cuba.    Suzy'...

Allegra Hobbs is a senior editor at Texas Monthly. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Hobbs discussed her approach to covering this dynamic moment in Texas politics and what she thinks about her legendary 2019 essay about journalists as influencers.    Keep up with Allegra's work: https://x.com/AllegraEHobbs?lang=en Music by KT The Terrible More info about Study Hall: studyhall.xyz...

Harry Krinsky is the host of Nothing But Respect and a podcast consultant/producer/showrunner. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Krinsky discussed whether or not we are in a podcast bubble, clipping, UGC marketing, Geese, side projects, and how to cultivate a niche audience.   More info about Study Hall: Studyhall.xyz.   Music by KT The Terrible

Kim Kelly is a labor reporter whose work has been featured in In These Times, The Baffler, Teen Vogue, Playboy, and numerous other outlets. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Kelly discussed the importance of labor reporting in the Trump era and her work covering labor rights struggles spanning from coalminers to OnlyFans creators. In addition, Kelly chatted about what media worker...