Kyle Buchanan, a pop culture writer and awards columnist at The New York Times, has exited the newspaper after eight years to launch a new video podcast about Hollywood set to debut in mid-October, with Acast serving as its exclusive partner for advertising, brand partnership and distribution.
Buchanan’s final day at The New York Times was Friday, August 22, 2026. “The Kyle Buchanan Show” will release twice weekly in two distinct formats: “The Panel” every Tuesday, featuring Buchanan with two to three rotating industry guests discussing major Hollywood stories, and “The Profile” every Friday, a one-on-one conversation with a major entertainment figure. The show will be available in both audio and video formats across Apple Podcasts and all other major podcast platforms.
Buchanan spent eight years at The New York Times profiling dozens of Hollywood’s prominent names, including Michael B. Jordan, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Channing Tatum and Colman Domingo. Before joining the Times in 2018, he served as senior editor at New York Magazine’s Vulture. Buchanan also authored the bestselling book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road,” an oral history based on more than 130 interviews that Entertainment Weekly described as “no less jaw-dropping than the movie itself.”
“In a new media landscape overloaded with quick hits, nothing beats a real conversation,” Buchanan said in a statement. “In fact, I think audiences and talent are hungrier than ever for talk that goes deep. ‘The Kyle Buchanan Show’ will offer a genuine inside look at Hollywood, with a perspective that industry figures and fans can trust.”
Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, will house the Buchanan series alongside popular shows including “Giggly Squad,” “The Comment Section” with Drew Afualo and “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers.” The partnership positions Acast as the exclusive advertising, brand partnership and distribution partner for the new program.
Buchanan’s departure from The New York Times underscores a broader trend of established media figures transitioning to podcast platforms, where they can pursue independent production and direct audience relationships. The move reflects growing demand for long-form conversation content in the podcast space, particularly around entertainment and celebrity interviews. Video podcast adoption has accelerated in recent years, with platforms like Apple Podcasts and YouTube expanding support for video-enabled shows alongside traditional audio offerings.
The launch of “The Kyle Buchanan Show” arrives as major podcast networks continue investing in celebrity-driven interview programs and Hollywood-focused content. Acast’s portfolio of entertainment and celebrity podcasts has grown substantially, positioning the company to compete with larger media conglomerates in the competitive podcast advertising and distribution market. The twice-weekly release schedule and dual-format approach align with industry trends favoring consistent content calendars and multimedia delivery options that maximize reach across audio and video audiences.
Buchanan’s established reputation within entertainment journalism and his existing relationships across the Hollywood community provide significant asset value for Acast and potential advertisers seeking authentic access to major entertainment industry figures. His eight years at The New York Times and previous tenure at Vulture demonstrate substantial credibility with both audience and talent, factors often cited as essential for successful interview-driven podcast programming. The show’s emphasis on deep-dive conversations rather than brief content moments reflects an industry-wide recognition that audiences seek substantive discussion alongside shorter-form entertainment content available on social media platforms.
The transition from traditional newspaper employment to independent podcast production marks a significant career shift for a columnist whose work has focused on major entertainment industry narratives and award season coverage. As media companies continue navigating the economics of digital content distribution, the movement of established journalists and critics toward podcast platforms demonstrates both the commercial viability of audio programming and shifting preferences among content creators seeking editorial independence and direct monetization opportunities through podcast networks and advertising partnerships.
Source: Variety — Read the original article →
