Journalist Goes Solo: Hollywood Podcast Revamp

Kyle Buchanan, formerly of The New York Times, is launching his solo video podcast, "The Kyle Buchanan Show," on October 21. The show, based in Los Angeles, adopts a "cinematic" visual approach with a three-camera setup and a set evoking old Hollywood restaurants. It will feature two weekly formats: "The Panel" on Tuesdays, focusing on industry discussions, and "The Profile" on Fridays, offering extended interviews with major guests.

Buchanan aims to elevate the celebrity interview beyond the pursuit of viral clips, striving for "1 a.m. conversations" that foster deeper, more philosophical exchanges. He believes the video podcast format allows for less context manipulation than traditional profiles. The show's inaugural lineup includes Inde Navarrette, Penélope Cruz, Andrew Garfield, and Jordan Firstman. Buchanan left the Times due to the paper's limited L.A. resources for such projects and a desire to build something unique outside established media structures.