Decoder with Nilay Patel

Yes, even Nvidia's head of automotive is fighting for compute

Nvidia is obviously in the news constantly because of the AI boom — but it's also a major supplier to the entire auto industry As head of Nvidia's automotive division, Xinzhou Wu has a front-row seat to all the challenges EVs and autonomous vehicles are facing, especially in the US. And of course, you can’t talk about electric cars or vehicle autonomy in the US without talking about Elon Musk and Tesla. So I asked Xinzhou pretty directly if Tesla full self driving can actually do what Elon claims it will be able to do without using LiDAR. You tell me if you think his answer holds up. Links:  * Nvidia’s head of autonomous driving opens up about his plans | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/tech/892395/nvidia-autonomous-vehicle-xinzhou-wu-interview] * Hyundai, Nissan, BYD, and Geely Join Nvidia’s Level 4 | MotorTrend [https://www.motortrend.com/news/nvidias-drive-hyperion-platform-gains-new-automaker-partners-for-level-4-autonomous-vehicles] * Nvidia, auto suppliers roll out partnerships to rekindle self-driving  | Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/nvidia-auto-suppliers-roll-out-partnerships-rekindle-self-driving-push-2026-01-09/] * Meet Alpamayo, Nvidia’s new AI model for autonomous cars | Forbes [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmarkman/2026/01/07/meet-alpamayo-nvidias-new-ai-model-for-autonomous-vehicles/] * I tested Nvidia’s FSD competitor — Tesla should be worried | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/news/852880/nvidia-autonomous-driving-demo-tesla-fsd] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder’s producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt; this episode was edited by Xander Adams. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Why did Comcast ever buy NBC?

My guest today is Peter Kafka, chief correspondent at Business Insider and host of Channels, a podcast about the media industry. And it’s a big week for the media industry — Comcast just announced that it’s splitting itself up, into the Comcast broadband company and the NBCUniversal entertainment company. This dream, that you can combine distribution with big splashy entertainment properties, has failed time and again. But Comcast tried the content plus pipes strategy for longer than most. So Peter and I discussed what happened in the media and broadband industries over the last 15 years, and what might happen next.  Read the full interview transcript on The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/962994/comcast-nbc-universal-split-versant-content-plus-pipes-media-broadband]. Links:  * Comcast is cutting NBCUniversal loose | Business Insider [https://www.businessinsider.com/comcast-cuts-nbcuniversal-loose-takeover-target-2026-6] * Comcast’s split could make or break Peacock | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/streaming/960235/comcast-breakup-peacock-streaming] * Comcast and NBCUniversal will go it alone. But for how long? | NYT [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/business/media/comcast-nbcuniversal-merger-acquisition-charter-netflix.html] * Comcast split shows bigger is no longer better | Deadline [https://deadline.com/2026/06/comcast-split-media-business-mergers-tech-rivals-1236970457/] * A cable scion’s hardest deal yet: breaking up his family’s company | WSJ [https://www.wsj.com/business/media/a-cable-scions-hardest-deal-yet-breaking-up-his-familys-company-472b18ae] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Inside the big business of the creator economy, with Ali Berman and Raina Penchansky

Today I’m talking with Ali Berman and Raina Penchansky, who run the Creators Division at United Talent Agency. UTA is an enormous talent agency, and Ali and Raina's creators division represents some of the biggest creators and influencers in the world. So I really wanted to know how Raina and Ali identify up-and-coming talent, how they work with that talent to build durable businesses, and what the machinations of being a top creator actually look like in practice. Read the full interview transcript on The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/961603/raina-penchansky-ali-berman-dba-uta-influencer-cliff-marketing]. Links:  * The power brokers behind the $250B influencer economy | Wall Street Journal [https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/uta-influencer-managers-ali-berman-raina-penchansky-alix-earle-5094867f] * The Influencer Cliff | Carmen Vicente (TikTok) [https://www.tiktok.com/@carmscrolls/video/7638068031851187464] * UTA Unveils Upscale Office for Creators | The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/uta-unveils-office-creators-1235892614/] * YouTube Stars Breach Hollywood’s Most Gilded Gate | New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/business/media/youtube-hollywood-creative-artists-agency.html] * CAA, TPG form holding company to acquire creator-led businesses | Variety [https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/caa-tpg-250-million-compound-creative-holding-company-acquire-creator-businesses-1236771598/] * How creator talent agencies are evolving into multi-platform operators | Digiday [https://digiday.com/media/how-creator-talent-agencies-are-evolving-into-multiplatform-operators/] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt; this episode was edited by Xander Adams. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The CMO is a dying role, says Digitas' Amy Lanzi

We’ve got a special Decoder today. I had the chance to talk with Amy Lanzi, the CEO of Digitas North America, in front of a live audience at the Uber villa at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in the south of France. There’s a lot in this one on AI, the creator economy, and the future of marketing – like I said, Amy is as sharp as they come, and I really enjoy talking to her about how the money really works. Read the full interview transcript on The Verge. [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/959792/digitas-ceo-amy-lanzi-cannes-ad-industry-marketing-ai-creators] Links:  * The Influencer Cliff | Carmen Vicente (TikTok) [https://www.tiktok.com/@carmscrolls/video/7638068031851187464] * The Wrong Promises | Publicis Groupe (YouTube) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ8-lWYXXIY] * You can just tell the Instagram algorithm what you want now | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/tech/947898/meta-instagram-your-algorithm-main-feed-tell] * How brands and creators are fighting for your attention and money | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/776412/amy-lanzi-ceo-digitas-digital-marketing-creators-ai-hank-green] (2025) * How influencers are changing advertising, with Digitas’ Amy Lanzi | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/24272562/decoder-amy-lanzi-digitas-publicis-influencers-creators-marketing-advertising-generative-ai-adweek] (2024) Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

He changed outdoor cooking forever — then took over Weber

It’s time for our annual Fourth of July grill episode here at Decoder, which is when we invite the CEOs of outdoor cooking companies onto the show to explain just how their businesses kind of look like every other business. And this is a very special edition.  Today we’re talking to Roger Dahle, the CEO of Weber Blackstone, a full circle moment for Decoder. Roger was our first-ever grill CEO on the show back when he was the CEO of just Blackstone. Five years later, Roger now runs one of his biggest competitors, after Blackstone announced a merger with Weber in 2024. So we talked about that process, and how Roger is managing the integration of these two grilling giants.  Links:  * Weber and Blackstone to combine | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/11/24318727/reverse-acquihires-in-the-grilling-industry] * How Blackstone became the darling of grill TikTok | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/22583787/blackstone-griddle-roger-dahle-interview-decoder] (2021) * How arson led to a culture reboot at Traeger, with CEO Jeremy Andrus | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/23189676/traeger-smart-grills-decoder-company-culture-private-equity-ceo-andrus] (2022) * Big Green Egg CEO Dan Gertsacov on growing kamado cooking | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/24188080/big-green-egg-smoker-grill-cooking-kamado-backyard-dan-gertsacov-fire-fourth-of-july] (2024) * How SharkNinja took over the home | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/695613/sharkninja-ceo-mark-barrocas-interview-flexflame-grill-home-appliance] (2025) Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Eileen Felix. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]