cover of episode From DealBook: Alex Cooper on Building a Media Brand

From DealBook: Alex Cooper on Building a Media Brand

2024/12/8
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亚历克斯·库珀认为,她所做的内容改变了许多人的生活,特别是女性。她不关心别人如何定义她的身份(记者、播客或其他),她专注于内容创作和与观众的互动。她最初的播客内容较为露骨,但凭借其营销策略和对市场需求的把握获得了成功,之后逐渐转向更严肃的主题,例如心理健康和女性权益。她认为社交媒体内容的粗俗化是好坏参半的,一方面存在负面影响,另一方面也推动了对一些敏感话题的更公开和真实的讨论。她能够获得名人访谈中鲜为人知的独家内容,是因为她真诚地关心受访者,并能营造安全舒适的氛围。她采访副总统卡玛拉·哈里斯的决定,是基于对自身受众需求的考量,以及对提升自身影响力的竞争性策略。她认为自己不需要总是被拿来与男性同行比较,她有自己的独特价值和成就。她认为媒体公司普遍存在负面新闻,这并非个例,而是行业常态。她认为合作关系很难维持,尤其是在商业领域,因为合作者的目标和期望可能存在差异。她认为自己打造的是一种生活方式和社群,通过Unwell Network拓展内容创作,并与年轻一代创作者合作。她的公司拓展了直播活动、巡演、电视节目、电影等多种形式的内容,并取得了显著的商业成功。她希望Unwell Network能够培养更多成功的创作者,但自己仍将继续参与内容创作,并担任领导角色。她对电视领域很感兴趣,并希望继续探索与受众相关的各种内容形式。她认为传统媒体应该更加注重人性化和真实性,避免过度营销和说教,并给年轻一代更多发言权。 安德鲁·罗斯·索尔金主要负责引导访谈,提出问题,并对亚历克斯·库珀的观点进行回应和补充。他关注亚历克斯·库珀的职业发展历程、商业模式、与其他媒体人的比较,以及她对传统媒体的看法等方面。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Alex Cooper decide to start her podcast 'Call Her Daddy'?

She recognized a gap in the market for a platform where women could openly discuss topics they usually talk about behind closed doors, such as sex and relationships.

How did Alex Cooper's podcast 'Call Her Daddy' initially gain popularity?

The first three episodes went viral, filling a niche market that was previously unaddressed, leading to rapid growth and recognition.

What role did Barstool Sports play in Alex Cooper's career?

She worked with Dave Portnoy at Barstool Sports, where she learned the importance of pushing boundaries and speaking openly on social media, which influenced her approach to content creation.

Why did Alex Cooper eventually pivot away from the more explicit content of her early episodes?

She felt she had covered all she could on the topic of sex and wanted to move on to more diverse and serious subjects, broadening the scope of her podcast.

How did Alex Cooper prepare for her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris?

She dedicated significant time to research, focusing on topics that directly impacted her audience, particularly women's rights, despite having a shorter interview time than usual.

What is the Unwell Network, and what is its primary focus?

The Unwell Network is Alex Cooper's media company that focuses on creating a community of primarily women who engage with diverse content, including podcasts, live events, and merchandise.

How does Alex Cooper view her role in the media landscape?

She sees herself as a creator who is changing lives, particularly for women, and is open to being labeled as a journalist, podcaster, or online content creator, as long as her work has impact.

What advice does Alex Cooper have for legacy media to regain trust?

She suggests incorporating more organic and authentic content, giving young interns a voice, and avoiding a sales-like approach to news delivery, to make it feel more genuine and less scripted.

Chapters
Alex Cooper's podcast journey, from its raunchy beginnings to its current status as a major media force, is explored. Her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris is highlighted, along with her evolution as an interviewer and her thoughts on the changing media landscape.
  • Alex Cooper's podcast, Call Her Daddy, achieved a $125 million deal.
  • She's been called "Gen Z's Barbara Walters."
  • Her podcast initially focused on sex advice but evolved to include more serious topics like mental health.
  • Cooper considers herself Alex Cooper, not fitting neatly into categories like 'journalist' or 'podcaster'.

Shownotes Transcript

The host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast and founder of the Unwell Network discusses her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election, her podcast’s journey from chatting about sex advice to delving into more serious subjects and how the Unwell Network’s fan merchandise became a eight-figure business.

“I don’t care if people consider me a journalist or a podcaster, or just a girl that talks online every week.”

This interview was with Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times at the annual DealBook Summit and recorded live in front of an audience at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Read more about highlights from the day at https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/04/business/dealbook-summit-news

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.