Episodes

  • Kiosks, retention & real ROI

    Kiosks, retention & real ROI
    Feb 25 2026
    In this episode, Paul sits down with Lon Haenel, publisher of Decorah News, founder of Local News ROI, and Chief Client Officer at Newspaper Subscription Services. Lon shares his unconventional path through local media from selling ads in the late 1990s to launching digital services, leading circulation teams at major dailies, and ultimately building businesses focused on sustainable audience growth. Links: Lon Haenel - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonhaenel/ Decorah News https://www.decorahnews.com/ Newspaper Subscription Services http://www.nsslp.com/ Local News ROI http://www.localnewsroi.com/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Can we fix social media’s news problem?

    Can we fix social media’s news problem?
    Feb 23 2026
    Jack Brewster, founder and CEO of Newsreel, joins the show to talk about reinventing journalism for the algorithmic age. A former politics reporter at Forbes and investigative editor at NewsGuard, Jack has reported on misinformation, social media manipulation, and the structural incentives that shape today’s digital landscape. Now, he’s building a new kind of platform, one designed to compete with social media not by maximizing time spent, but by maximizing understanding. In this conversation, we explore what’s broken about today’s information ecosystem, why “the follower” no longer matters, and how Newsreel aims to create habit forming news without burnout. Links: Newsreel https://newsreel.co/ Jack Brewster - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackbrewster/ jack@newsreel.co --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • A new model for local news on streaming platforms

    A new model for local news on streaming platforms
    Feb 21 2026
    Todd Landfried, co founder and CEO of N2 Media Holdings, joins the show to discuss a bold reimagining of local news in the streaming era. Todd shares his unconventional path from rural economic development work with the USDA to radio and podcasting and how those experiences led him to confront a growing problem: the collapse of sustainable, high quality local news. His solution? The Local: a statewide, streaming first local news model built specifically for platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV. Links: N2 Media Holdings https://www.n2mediaholdings.com/ The Local - Colorado pilot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB6UqphmbGQ&list=PL8X2AI544x9LozuhRQfNBZ1lb6jfwm3QF Todd Landfried - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlandfried/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Rebuilding hyperlocal news in the capital of the world

    Rebuilding hyperlocal news in the capital of the world
    Feb 18 2026
    Vernon Jones is the founder and CEO of NYC Newswire, NYC News Network, and Jig Media, and he's exploring a bold new model for hyperlocal journalism in New York City. Vernon shares how his journey from running a 35 employee commercial cleaning company led him into domain investing, and ultimately into building a scalable, tech enabled network of niche media properties focused entirely on New York City. At a time when many claim “local news is dead,” Vernon is betting on the opposite: that hyperlocal, industry specific, and neighborhood based coverage, when structured correctly, can thrive. Links: NYC Newswire https://nycnewswire.com/ JIG Media https://jig.media/ Vernon Jones - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernonkjones/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Reviving a beloved alt weekly

    Reviving a beloved alt weekly
    Feb 16 2026
    In this episode, Paul sits down with Jason Joyce, publisher of Isthmus, a nonprofit, independent news source based in Madison, Wisconsin. With a career deeply rooted in local media, Jason shares his unique perspective on the evolution of alt weeklies, the revival of Isthmus post-COVID, and how the paper is thriving through nonprofit reinvention. Links: Jason Joyce - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjoyce/ Isthmus https://isthmus.com/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • What it takes to run a major local newsroom in 2026

    What it takes to run a major local newsroom in 2026
    Feb 14 2026
    In this episode, Paul sits down with Mark Russell, Executive Editor of the Commercial Appeal and South Regional Editor for the USA Today Network, to talk about the realities, and future, of local journalism in the American South. With more than four decades in newsrooms across the country, Mark brings a grounded, practical perspective on how legacy publications are adapting to digital change while continuing to serve their communities. Links: Mark Russell - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrussell48/ Commercial Appeal https://www.commercialappeal.com/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Building a media company with just two people (and one AI)

    Building a media company with just two people (and one AI)
    Feb 11 2026
    Today Paul speaks with Mark Talkington, founder of Valley Voice Media and co-creator of Satchel, an AI powered reporting tool, about his unique path from traditional journalism to tech powered local news innovation. Mark shares how a career that began in weekly newspapers led him to help launch ESPN.com, build tools at Microsoft, and ultimately return to community journalism in Palm Springs, California. What started as a side project Substack during the pandemic has grown into a thriving local media company with thousands of subscribers and an AI tool now used by newsrooms around the world. Links: Mark Talkington - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktalkington/ Valley Voice Media https://www.valleyvoicemedia.org/ Satchel AI https://www.satchelai.com/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Why AI isn’t just another tech disruption

    Why AI isn’t just another tech disruption
    Feb 9 2026
    In this episode, Paul speaks with Greg Krehbiel, president of The Krehbiel Group, about the accelerating disruption AI poses to publishing, local media, and the broader economy. Greg shares insights from his decades long career in B2B publishing and his current work helping publishers bridge the gap between technology and strategy. They talk about why AI may not be "just another wave of disruption", the existential threat AI poses to jobs across industries, how local publishers can retain relevance and economic viability, and a lot more. Links: Greg Krehbiel - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkrehbiel/ The Krehbiel Group https://krehbielgroup.com/ --- This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins