Media Masters

Andy Varley is founder and CEO of Insanity Group. The international talent management firm employs more than 80 people across offices in London and LA - representing the likes of artistes Tom Grennan, Joy Crookes, and presenters including Jordan North. In this in-depth interview, he recalls how winning Young Entrepreneur of the Year aged 17 gave him the confidence to grow and expand the company to represent broadcasters and content creators as well as DJs; shares how the pandemic prompted a pivot to creating subscription-based models for many of their content creators - allowing talent to work digitally rather than through in-person events; and discusses how the media industry is undergoing a revolution, and will never be the same for artists, agents or record companies.

Harry Mount is an author, journalist, and editor of The Oldie magazine. The monthly British title describes itself as a “light-hearted alternative to a press obsessed with youth and celebrity.” A former New York correspondent for The Daily Telegraph who remains a regular contributor to The Spectator, Daily Mail, and Evening Standard, he became editor of The Oldie in 2014, following the untimely death of his predecessor Alexander Chancellor. In this in-depth interview, Harry reflects on the magazine’s upcoming 30th anniversary, and how it’s “stood the test of time”, always staying true to its original aim of being “jokey, funny, cynical, and aimed predominantly at old people”; shares his surprise at how enthusiastically his readership has embraced the move to digital, with the website, app and podcast all popular; and discusses his close-up experience of working with two “Fleet Street legends”, Charles Moore and Paul Dacre - praising the former’s “meticulous” work and the latter for his “sixth sense” when sele

Isaac Saul is founder and editor-in-chief at Tangle News. Starting last year on Substack, the popular newsletter “brings all views of the news under one roof” and has already drawn in 40,000 daily readers and 6,000 paying subscribers. A former political reporter hailing from Pennsylvania, Isaac was named by Yahoo News as “one of the 16 people who shaped the 2016 election,” and in 2020 Forbes called him “one of the next 1,000 upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American dream.” In this in-depth interview, Isaac reflects on how starting his career at The Huffington Post was a “baptism of fire,” teaching him that “well-reasoned arguments will often be lost on readers who are already strongly wedded to the opposing view;” discusses the importance of “courting a diverse political readership,” rather than catering to only a narrow subset of the politically engaged; and shares his exciting plans for further growth - including expanding beyond the US into other countries, and even applying Tangle’s template to other

Toby Harnden is an award-winning author and veteran foreign correspondent. In 2012 he won the Orwell Prize for his book ‘Dead Men Risen’ - an account of beleaguered British soldiers fighting desperately to prevent the Taliban from seizing Afghanistan’s Helmand province. As foreign correspondent, he reported from 33 countries for The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and The Sunday Times, including postings in Belfast, Baghdad and Washington DC. In this in-depth interview, Toby shares the inspiration and journey behind his new book ‘First Casualty’ - which is the prime account of CIA Team Alpha in their own words - the first Americans to be dropped behind enemy lines in Afghanistan after 9/11; reflects on how a decade serving in the Royal Navy inspired him to become a foreign correspondent, and better equipped him to report on “real stuff, real people - war, blood, and guts;” and discusses why much of his work is dedicated to covering PTSD - including presenting a BBC Panorama special, with the shock revelation that

Gideon Lichfield is global editorial director at WIRED. First published in 1993, with an initial focus solely on consumer tech, it has evolved over three decades to become a respected global media brand; reporting on - and influencing - global thought on “how emerging technology impacts culture, the economy, and our society.” With 52 million readers across print and online, and a further 30 million followers on social media, they have recently celebrated a 20% increase in paid subscribers. In this in-depth interview, Gideon shares how he is shaping WIRED’s global vision - widening their scope from reporting on technological change to becoming “the authority on tomorrow;” discusses how the “dizzying speed of cultural change” has inspired a greater focus on healthcare, civic society and the climate crisis; and reflects on his recent one-on-one interview with President Volodymir Zelensky, about how Ukraine’s innovation in tech and social media has strengthened the country’s defence against the Russian invasion.

Rebecca Whittington is the online safety editor for Reach plc, publisher of over 130 national and regional titles in the UK; including the Daily Mirror, the Daily Express and the Manchester Evening News. She joined Reach in 2021, in a newly-created role - the first of its kind - to tackle the growing problem of journalists coming under attack online. In this in-depth interview, Rebecca outlines the sheer scale of abuse which their journalists face, and the debilitating toll on their mental health; argues that only a multi-stakeholder approach will be effective - involving government, tech platforms and employers; and offers practical advice for those who find themselves under attack.

Tim Kring is a television writer and producer. He created the hit sci-fi drama ‘Heroes’, which became a global sensation - running for four seasons and winning him both a BAFTA and an Emmy nomination. Tim got his big break on ‘Knight Rider’ in 1985, and since then he’s worked on some of TV’s biggest shows like ‘Chicago Hope’ and the Jason Bourne spin-off show ‘Treadstone’, going on to become series creator for many flagship programmes, such as ‘Crossing Jordan’ and ‘Touch’. In this in-depth interview, Tim candidly reflects on his long and varied career, and tells us what Hollywood is really like from the inside - warts and all; takes us behind-the-scenes on how TV shows are made - from the initial idea, to seeing the results on screen - including the casting, production and politics challenges along the way; and reveals how he wasn’t prepared for just how profoundly his hit show ‘Heroes’ would change his world view.

Chris Kay is chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi. Founded in 1970, the iconic advertising agency employs over 6,500 people and has offices in 76 countries. An advertising industry veteran, prior to joining Saatchi he had senior roles at Manchester City Football Club, LA agency 72andSunny, and also worked for Fallon at the time when they were producing some of their most memorable work - including the ‘balls’ campaign for Sony, and the Cadbury’s Dairy Milk advert featuring the gorilla’s famous drum solo. In this in-depth interview, Chris reflects on a career journey that started in the unlikely place of a management science degree which, “despite being dull,” set him on the right path because brief encounters with advertising throughout the course sparked his passion; discusses the challenges ahead for the advertising industry, which must evolve to seismic changes such as the decline of traditional TV and the impact of the current cost-of-living crisis; and shares his determination to play his part in “re

Zillah Byng-Thorne is chief executive of Future plc. Founded in 1985, the leading publisher produces some of the UK’s most popular magazines, including Country Life, FourFourTwo, Marie Claire and The Week. Joining Future in 2014, Zillah has presided over a spectacular turnaround in the company’s fortunes - publishing 160 titles, and expanding the brand’s portfolio to include video games and digital magazines; and in 2020, they ventured into e-commerce, purchasing insurance company GoCompare.com for £590m. Under Zillah’s watch, their share price has soared, and the company is now valued at £4bn. In this in-depth interview, she shares her career journey - starting out as an accountant in working-class Glasgow before a dramatic pivot saw her set her sights on leading a large company, starting with a masters in behavioural change to build her leadership skills; shares the secrets behind Future’s strategy, resulting in 80% growth and £600m+ revenue despite the pandemic; and passionately argues that Future “has a m

Erin McCarthy is editor-in-chief of Mental Floss. Founded in a university dorm room in 2001, the intellectual trivia brand for “curious people” blurs the lines between entertainment and education, and its “smart, quirky content” has reached over 1 billion people across multiple platforms including print, online, YouTube and podcasting. Joining in 2012, Erin hosts many of their most popular YouTube shows, and edited their book ‘The Curious Reader;’ as well as creating, producing, and hosting the ‘History Vs.’ podcast - which discusses “how historical figures faced off against their greatest foes.” In this in-depth interview, Erin discusses the growth of their YouTube channel which now has more than 1 million subscribers - covering a mammoth range of topics, from archaeology to mashed potato; explains why podcast episodes are her favourite part of the job - offering her the chance to provide in-depth analysis of a fascinating topic; and given the niche and eclectic nature of their work, delves into the detailed

James Bloodworth is an author and political journalist. A former editor of the blog Left Foot Forward, James’ work has appeared in The Guardian, The Spectator, the New Statesman and The Wall Street Journal. Author of ‘The Myth of Meritocracy’ and ‘Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low Wage Britain', his work was long-listed for the 2019 Orwell Prize. In this in-depth interview, James discusses his experience going undercover in the low wage economy for his book ‘Hired’ - and why a number of his discoveries, including Amazon workers urinating in coke bottles, made international news; reflects on his political journey, from Trotskyism and ultimately moving to the progressive centre-left - recently reserving his most strident criticism for his former far-left colleagues; and shares the plans for his next book which tracks how people become “radicalised into the manosphere” - arguing the growth of toxic masculinity and how our shared complacency ignores a very real threat.

Ricky Sutton is the founder of Oovvuu, the world’s leading AI video-matching engine. Launched in Australia in 2014, Oovvuu uses AI to match ad-funded videos with relevant news articles anywhere in the world instantly. The business has 600 participating broadcasters and its content is seen by millions of people daily. In this in-depth interview, Ricky reflects on starting out in his career and why he decided at the age of 12 he wanted to be a war correspondent; delves into how Oovvuu helps welcome a “new era of positive disruption in news” by adding relevant videos into news articles; and shares why he believes the companies that don’t make the change to embrace video “might not survive.”

Jason Cowley is an author, writer and editor-in-chief of the New Statesman. Since taking the reins in 2008, Jason has pushed the political and cultural magazine’s print circulation to a 40-year high. The publication’s longest-serving editor since the 1960s, he previously held staff roles for both The Times and The Observer. In this in-depth interview, Jason details how he used the time during lockdown to redesign the magazine’s branding - and launched a new “elegantly designed” website; shares his bold plans to grow the title worldwide, and how new political editor Andrew Marr is the first of many big-name signings to come; and discusses his latest book ‘Who Are We Now? Stories of Modern England’ - which uses key news stories from recent years to determine the state of the nation, and how it has evolved.

Galen Gordon is senior vice president of talent strategy and development at ABC News. An award-winning journalist with more than 25 years experience in both network TV news and sports, he was previously a producer for the likes of NBC, CNN and ESPN. In his current role, based in New York, Galen ensures that ABC News reflects the society it serves - both on-air and behind the camera. In this in-depth interview, Galen argues that - as well as being the right thing to do - promoting diversity gives the company an edge over other newsrooms, and ensures they hire the very best people; takes us behind the scenes of what a TV news producer actually does - from deciding what to cover, and ensuring the result on-screen is visually engaging; and reflects on his sabbatical from journalism to work at the NFL where he was in charge of talent management for the league’s media division.

Darren Scott is editor of SFX, the world’s most successful sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine. Approaching three decades of success, it is the market leader - and takes in films and comics, as well as games. Darren previously wrote for The Guardian and The Independent; and spent 10 years as editor of Gay Times, the largest, longest-running and most-recognised LGBTQ+ media brand. In this in-depth interview, Darren explains how there was no such thing as a typical week for him before the pandemic - and shares his pleasure at different aspects of his role as editor slowly returning to their in-person forms; takes us behind the scenes - walking us through a complete timeline of bringing an issue from initial ideas to print; and discusses how they retain their “old school fanbase” that have supported them for nearly 30 years through keeping the physical magazine copy, whilst also developing their presence online and on social media.

London N. Breed is the Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. The untimely death of her predecessor Ed Lee in December 2017 saw Breed appointed acting mayor, and the following year she won a special election and gained a mandate in her own right - becoming the first-ever Black woman elected to the role. Since taking the reins of the city, Mayor Breed has spearheaded its Covid recovery programme, making public safety and affordable housing her priorities in office. San Francisco has a proud history of encouraging female political leadership - with many of its luminaries going on to hold national office; including Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. In this in-depth interview, Mayor Breed reflects on how growing up in an underprivileged part of the city gave her the determination to fight injustice and speak up for the most vulnerable; shares how she is tackling the huge disparity between the most and least fortunate in her community - and how she is addressing the city’s

Nathalie Cox is an actor, model and co-founder of CountryLine, a global media brand and community uniting country music fans around the world. Launching five years ago, Natalie’s role as creative director involves capitalising on a surge of interest in country music worldwide. The subscription service offers fans access to backstage interviews, exclusive sessions, gig guides and tickets. In this in-depth interview, Nathalie delves into turning her passion for country music into a business and making the genre easily accessible to British fans; discusses their acquisition of the UK’s leading country music station, Chris Country, which they’ve rebranded as CountryLine Radio; and delves into her work outside of country music as a successful model and actor, sharing how she “fell” into both industries.

Richard Bernabe is an internationally acclaimed wildlife and travel photographer. Throughout his career, he has travelled to over 60 countries to capture incredible shots of the natural world on behalf of National Geographic, CNN, the New York Times, and the BBC. He has also built a significant following online, amassing a reach of over one million followers on both Instagram and Twitter, and has been named by Huffington Post as one of the most influential photographers on the web. In this in-depth interview, Richard winds back the clock and shares what inspired him to become a wildlife photographer; reflects on how he’s tried to give back to the photography community by writing books and running training workshops for people picking up their cameras for the first time; and discusses the successful launch of his own podcast ‘Beyond The Lens’ - and the unexpected advantages that discussing a visual medium through audio can bring.

Michael Ornstein is an actor, writer and visual artist. He began his creative career as an actor in New York, taking in 25 years on and off Broadway, before moving into film and television - where he is perhaps best-known for playing Chucky in the TV shows ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and ‘Mayans M.C.’ In recent years, he has shifted his primary focus to another of his great passions - painting. In this in-depth interview, Michael talks us through his varied and accomplished career, and how choosing to pursue the creative arts from a young age “gave me a purpose in life;” reflects on the nature of fame and celebrity, and how the blessing of playing such memorable a role as Chucky has come with the typecasting curse, where he is often seen as the character rather than as himself; and talks about how his creative career journey has culminated in monetising his most enjoyable pursuit - painting - through the fascinating new medium of NFTs.

Darren Marble and Todd Goldberg are co-founders of the TV show ‘Going Public.’ The series streams on the ‘Entrepreneur’ platform and charts the rise of founders on their capital-raising journeys - uniquely allowing viewers to ‘click-to-invest’ in the featured companies in real-time, live, while they watch the show. They’re currently halfway through season one and have already bagged 10 million views, 25 million ad impressions and 200k website visits - as well as raising over $10 million so far for the companies taking part. In this in-depth interview, they talk through their five-year journey of bringing the show from an idea to fruition; delve into why they engaged a ‘digital first’ broadcast strategy - and how the platform gives them to freedom “create content which is both entertaining & actionable;” and discuss their ambitious plans to ultimately rival globally recognisable brands such as ‘Shark Tank’ - guided by their deep access to data-driven insights revealing how viewers interact with the platfor