‘Daily Variety’ Podcast Recap: Summer Box Office Analysis; Venice and Telluride Takeaways; Michael Lewis Revisits ‘The Big Short’; Channing Tatum and Derek Cianfrance Nail ‘Roofman’
On this week’s “Daily Variety” podcast episodes, we traveled the world for three cinephile favorite film festivals — Venice, Telluride and Toronto — separated by about 5,000 miles.
Brent Lang, Variety‘s executive editor, also broke down the 2025 summer box office haul, reflecting on the underwhelming overall tally for the crucial frame. He also points to the season’s unexpected hits that could indicate shifts and evolution in the tastes of moviegoers. Meanwhile, chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario discussed his reporting of this week’s Cover Story on actor Channing Tatum and director Derek Cianfrance, who collaborated on the Paramount Pictures release “Roofman,” which bows tonight at the Toronto Film Festival. And Jem Aswad, Variety‘s executive editor of music, reflected on his conversation with David Byrne for the profile published in this week’s print edition ahead of the musician’s new album, “Who Is The Sky?”
The podcast also took a meta turn on Thursday as “Daily Variety” host Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s co-Editor in Chief, interviewed Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for audio studio Pushkin Industries, to discuss the state of the audio entertainment sector and Pushkin’s busy fall slate.
Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of this week’s “Daily Variety” episodes. “Daily Variety” brings you showbiz news and analysis tailored for entertainment insiders from the journalists of Variety and industry leaders. Episodes are published Monday through Thursday by 11 a.m. PT, with a running time of 20 minutes or less. Click here to subscribe to “Daily Variety,” and please listen up!
In today’s episode, we talk with Eric Sandler, the chief strategy officer for podcast and audiobook company Pushkin Industries. He discusses the state of the medium as a craft and business as well as the company’s upcoming projects, from the likes of Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, Lidia Jean Cott and more. We then hear from Jem Aswad who interviewed David Byrne about the legendary musician’s latest album, “Who Is The Sky?” which releases Sept. 5.
In today’s episode, Daniel D’Addario discusses his cover story on actor Channing Tatum and Derek Cianfrance, who collaborated on the upcoming film “Roofman” and bonded over their experience as fathers working in creative professions. We then hear from Elsa Keslassy, Variety‘s international editor based in Paris, who wrapped up her week at the Venice Film Festival, sharing the audience’s reactions to anticipated movies like “The Smashing Machine,” “Bugonia,” “After The Hunt” and “Wizard of the Kremlin.”
In today’s episode, Brent Lang reviews the 2025 summer box office as the season comes to a close. Overall, the numbers were on par with summer 2024, which is not ideal, especially considering the number of franchise films that released this year. If there’s a silver lining, however, it may be the unexpected success of “Weapons,” which suggests a growing appetite for originality and prestiege. We also hear from Peter Debruge, Variety chief film critic, who reflected on his week at the Telluride Film Festival, where Scott Cooper’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” three vastly different “Hamlet”-inspired films and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia” buzz.
(Pictured: “After the Hunt” director Luca Guadagnino with stars Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri in Venice)
“Daily Variety” podcast is news and analysis tailored for entertainment insiders from the journalists of Variety and industry guests. Episodes are published Monday through Thursday by 11 a.m. PT, with a running time of 20 minutes or less. Click here to subscribe. Click here to subscribe to Variety Podcasts YouTube channel.
Brent Lang, Variety‘s executive editor, also broke down the 2025 summer box office haul, reflecting on the underwhelming overall tally for the crucial frame. He also points to the season’s unexpected hits that could indicate shifts and evolution in the tastes of moviegoers. Meanwhile, chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario discussed his reporting of this week’s Cover Story on actor Channing Tatum and director Derek Cianfrance, who collaborated on the Paramount Pictures release “Roofman,” which bows tonight at the Toronto Film Festival. And Jem Aswad, Variety‘s executive editor of music, reflected on his conversation with David Byrne for the profile published in this week’s print edition ahead of the musician’s new album, “Who Is The Sky?”
The podcast also took a meta turn on Thursday as “Daily Variety” host Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s co-Editor in Chief, interviewed Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for audio studio Pushkin Industries, to discuss the state of the audio entertainment sector and Pushkin’s busy fall slate.
Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of this week’s “Daily Variety” episodes. “Daily Variety” brings you showbiz news and analysis tailored for entertainment insiders from the journalists of Variety and industry leaders. Episodes are published Monday through Thursday by 11 a.m. PT, with a running time of 20 minutes or less. Click here to subscribe to “Daily Variety,” and please listen up!
In today’s episode, we talk with Eric Sandler, the chief strategy officer for podcast and audiobook company Pushkin Industries. He discusses the state of the medium as a craft and business as well as the company’s upcoming projects, from the likes of Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, Lidia Jean Cott and more. We then hear from Jem Aswad who interviewed David Byrne about the legendary musician’s latest album, “Who Is The Sky?” which releases Sept. 5.
In today’s episode, Daniel D’Addario discusses his cover story on actor Channing Tatum and Derek Cianfrance, who collaborated on the upcoming film “Roofman” and bonded over their experience as fathers working in creative professions. We then hear from Elsa Keslassy, Variety‘s international editor based in Paris, who wrapped up her week at the Venice Film Festival, sharing the audience’s reactions to anticipated movies like “The Smashing Machine,” “Bugonia,” “After The Hunt” and “Wizard of the Kremlin.”
In today’s episode, Brent Lang reviews the 2025 summer box office as the season comes to a close. Overall, the numbers were on par with summer 2024, which is not ideal, especially considering the number of franchise films that released this year. If there’s a silver lining, however, it may be the unexpected success of “Weapons,” which suggests a growing appetite for originality and prestiege. We also hear from Peter Debruge, Variety chief film critic, who reflected on his week at the Telluride Film Festival, where Scott Cooper’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” three vastly different “Hamlet”-inspired films and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia” buzz.
(Pictured: “After the Hunt” director Luca Guadagnino with stars Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri in Venice)
“Daily Variety” podcast is news and analysis tailored for entertainment insiders from the journalists of Variety and industry guests. Episodes are published Monday through Thursday by 11 a.m. PT, with a running time of 20 minutes or less. Click here to subscribe. Click here to subscribe to Variety Podcasts YouTube channel.