The Creator Became the Network: Alec Shankman on the Future of Media

The Creator Became the Network: Alec Shankman on the Future of Media

The systems that built Hollywood are changing fast. For decades, talent agencies, television networks, studios, and cable platforms controlled visibility, distribution, and the economics of entertainment. Today, creators are building audiences without traditional gatekeepers, launching companies around their communities, and turning influence into scalable businesses. The creator economy did not simply create new talent. It changed who owns media power. In this episode of The Media Machine, Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading sit down with media executive and HeartRock Partners founder Alec Shankman for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of media systems, the rise of entrepreneurial creators, and why the next era of entertainment will belong to builders who understand audience trust, ownership, and infrastructure. Over the past two decades, Alec has operated at the center of multiple industry transformations. From launching Abrams Artists Agency's alternative programming division during the rise of reality television, to becoming one of the earliest executives focused on digital creators and social media talent, Alec has consistently identified emerging shifts before they became mainstream. Now, through HeartRock Partners, he is building what he believes the next phase of media requires: infrastructure designed for creator-led businesses instead of traditional talent representation. The conversation explores the collapse of old media economics, why creators increasingly function as enterprises instead of talent, how audience trust became one of the most valuable assets in modern business, and why the future of media may belong to people who can build ecosystems instead of simply producing content. This episode is both a masterclass in the evolution of modern media and a deeply honest conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, systems-building, and the future of influence. **** WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The creator economy is no longer a niche category inside entertainment. It is becoming the foundation of the modern media economy itself. As traditional television contracts, streaming economics continue shifting, and audiences migrate toward creator-led ecosystems, the entertainment industry is being forced to rethink everything from distribution and monetization to talent representation and brand partnerships. But the biggest shift may not be technological. It may be philosophical. For decades, traditional media systems were built around centralized control. Studios controlled production. Networks controlled distribution. Agencies controlled access. Today, creators increasingly control all of it themselves. They own the audience relationship. They control the content. They shape the distribution. They build the businesses. Alec Shankman has spent more than twenty years watching that transformation happen from inside the industry itself. From reality television and MySpace to YouTube creators, gaming, podcasts, and creator-led consumer brands, Alec's career mirrors the evolution of modern fame and the changing economics of influence. This episode explores what happens when creators stop functioning like talent and start functioning like enterprises. It also explores one of the defining questions shaping the future of media: If audiences now trust creators more than institutions, who ultimately owns the future of influence? For creators, founders, executives, and operators navigating the next phase of media, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the systems quietly reshaping entertainment in real time. **** ABOUT THE GUEST Alec Shankman is the founder and CEO of HeartRock Partners, a media and business advisory firm focused on helping creators, brands, and entrepreneurs build scalable enterprises at the intersection of entertainment, commerce, and culture. Over the course of his career, Alec has worked across talent representation, digital media, alternative programming, licensing, brand partnerships, and creator entrepreneurship. He previously served as Senior Partner at The Gersh Agency and as Co-Managing Partner at A3 Artists Agency, where he led major divisions focused on digital media and creator representation. Earlier in his career, Alec launched Abrams Artists Agency's alternative programming division during the rise of reality television and later became an early pioneer in digital creator representation during the emergence of social media and influencer culture. Today, through HeartRock Partners, Alec works with creators, talent, brands, and entrepreneurs to build businesses, launch intellectual property, and navigate the next phase of the creator economy. **** WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE * Why Alec launched HeartRock Partners and what he believes traditional agencies are missing * How reality television disrupted celebrity culture and democratized fame * Why digital creators changed the economics of entertainment * The rise of entrepreneurial creators and creator-owned businesses * Why audience trust became more valuable than reach alone * The difference between vanity metrics and meaningful engagement * How creators leverage audiences to launch products, companies, and ecosystems * Why YouTube became one of the most important media platforms in the world * The changing economics of cable television, streaming, and creator-led distribution * Why entrepreneurial thinking is becoming essential across media and entertainment * How AI is beginning to reshape creative workflows and media operations * What kinds of media companies may emerge over the next decade **** KEY TAKEAWAYS * The creator became the network: Creators no longer need traditional gatekeepers to build audiences, distribute content, or monetize attention. Platforms like YouTube fundamentally changed who controls media distribution and audience relationships. * The future belongs to entrepreneurial creators: The most successful creators are no longer simply entertainers or influencers. They are building businesses, launching products, developing intellectual property, and creating scalable ecosystems around audience trust. * Traditional representation models are evolving: Alec explains why creators increasingly expect more than transactional representation. Modern talent teams must help creators build enterprises, not simply negotiate deals. * Audience trust is the real currency: Follower counts and vanity metrics matter less than authentic engagement, credibility, and long-term audience relationships. * Builders will shape the next era of media: A recurring theme throughout the conversation is that the next generation of opportunities belongs to people willing to experiment, build infrastructure, and think entrepreneurially about the future. **** STANDOUT QUOTES "With the industry changing, you need to offer something different. You need to be thinking differently." "The creator simply has become the network." "If you have an audience and the audience trusts you, the sky's the limit." "The hardest thing to get these days is attention." "There's always an opportunity to be a pioneer into the future." "Creators today control the content, the creative, the monetization, and the audience relationship." **** GUEST LINKS Alec Shankman Website: HeartRockPartners.com **** SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW If someone sent you this episode, it's because they care about your future in media. Follow The Media Machine for weekly conversations breaking down the systems, strategies, and decisions shaping the future of media, technology, storytelling, and the creator economy. **** CREDITS Created by: Johanna Salazar Hosts: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Executive Producers: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Edited by: Love + Daydreams, Canvas Films Colombia **** WEBSITE The Media Machine [https://the-media-machine.com/] https://the-media-machine.com/ [https://the-media-machine.com/] **** SOCIAL LINKS * Instagram: @themediamachinepodcast * TikTok: @themediamachinepodcast * YouTube: @TheMediaMachinePod * X/Twitter: @themediamachinepod **** PODCAST LINKS * Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn [https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine] **** HOST SOCIALS JOHANNA SALAZAR * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/ [https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/] * Website: the-mediamachine.com JULIE KELLMAN READIN * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/ [https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/] * Website: https://www.loveanddaydreams.com [https://www.loveanddaydreams.com] **** ABOUT THE HOSTS Johanna Salazar is a media systems builder with more than two decades of experience operating across television, streaming, sports, and digital platforms. She brings an operator's lens to the industry, breaking down how media systems function and how incentives and decisions shape outcomes. Julie Kellman Reading is a creative executive, executive producer, and founder with experience spanning television, digital media, and independent ventures. She brings a people-first perspective and deep creative insight into how media is built, scaled, and sustained. **** ABOUT THE PODCAST THE MEDIA MACHINE is a strategy podcast that breaks down how media really works. Created by Johanna Salazar, the show explores the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media, tech, and content. Each episode examines the industry through four core pillars: * Process: the strategies, tools, and systems shaping media production and distribution. * Profits: the business models, investments, and revenue engines driving the industry. * People: the creators, executives, and operators redefining the landscape. * Planet: the broader cultural and societal impact of media. The goal is not to react faster, but to see more clearly, understand long-term shifts, and make smarter short-term decisions. This show is for operators, builders, and decision-makers who want signal over noise, clarity over hype, and confidence over urgency.

The Business of Visibility: What Media Learned from MTV with Vinnie Potestivo

The creator economy did not begin with TikTok, YouTube, or podcasting. Long before creators were building personal brands online, MTV was experimenting with talent-driven storytelling, cultural franchises, audience engagement, and visibility as a business model. In this episode of The Media Machine, Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading sit down with Emmy-winning media strategist and talent development executive Vinnie Potestivo for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of media, talent, and the creator economy. From helping shape iconic MTV franchises like The Osbournes, Punk'd, Laguna Beach, Wild 'N Out, TRL, and The Hills, to working with artists and personalities like Beyoncé, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Nick Cannon, and Ashton Kutcher, Vinnie shares the behind-the-scenes philosophy that helped identify talent before the world fully understood who they were becoming. The conversation explores how MTV became an early creator ecosystem, how visibility evolved from celebrity exposure into strategic positioning, and why vulnerability, credibility, and intentionality are becoming the new currencies of modern media. Vinnie also breaks down how creators and executives can build sustainable visibility without burnout, why intellectual property and metadata matter more than ever, and how the next phase of media will shift from platform-controlled distribution to creator-controlled ecosystems. This episode is both a masterclass in media evolution and a deeply human conversation about identity, leadership, community, and the emotional side of being seen. **** WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Media is entering a new phase. The traditional gatekeepers that once controlled visibility are losing influence as creators, founders, executives, and independent operators build direct relationships with audiences across podcasts, social media, streaming platforms, and creator-owned ecosystems. But visibility alone is no longer enough. Today's media landscape rewards intentional positioning, audience trust, credibility, community, and the ability to turn attention into sustainable intellectual property. Vinnie Potestivo has operated at the center of this shift for more than two decades. At MTV during the rise of reality television and celebrity culture, he helped shape some of the most influential unscripted franchises of the 2000s while developing talent that would go on to define pop culture for years. Today, he applies those same principles to executives, entrepreneurs, and creators navigating the modern media economy. This episode explores how media visibility actually works behind the scenes, why emotional intelligence and self-awareness matter in talent development, and how creators can build long-term assets instead of chasing short-term moments. For creators, media executives, founders, producers, and storytellers, this conversation offers a rare bridge between the original creator economy and the future of creator-led media. **** ABOUT THE GUEST Vinnie Potestivo is an Emmy-winning media strategist, talent development executive, podcast host, and founder of Vinnie Potestivo Entertainment. He is best known for his work at MTV Networks during the rise of reality television, where he helped develop and cast major franchises including The Osbournes, Punk'd, Wild 'N Out, Laguna Beach, The Hills, TRL, and more. Over the course of his career, Vinnie has worked with artists, creators, and personalities including Beyoncé, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Nick Cannon, Ashton Kutcher, Christina Milian, and many others. Today, through Vinnie Potestivo Entertainment and his podcast I Have A Podcast, he advises creators, executives, founders, and brands on visibility, audience growth, intellectual property, podcasting, and strategic positioning in the modern creator economy. His work focuses on helping people build sustainable visibility through intentional storytelling, credibility, metadata strategy, and audience development. Check him out: vpe.tv/gift [http://vpe.tv/gift] **** WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE * How MTV became an early version of the creator economy * Why creator-led media changed the entertainment industry * The philosophy behind identifying breakout talent * What Vinnie learned working with Beyoncé, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, and other major artists * Why the best talent already knows who they are becoming * The role emotional intelligence plays in media success * What "intentional visibility" actually means * Why vulnerability is becoming more valuable than authenticity alone * How creators can turn visibility into scalable businesses * The difference between moments and long-term media assets * Why credibility is one of the most valuable currencies in media * How metadata, IMDb, SEO, and discoverability shape modern visibility * Why creators should stop relying on platforms to define who they are * How creators can build evergreen systems to avoid burnout * The future of creator-led distribution and media ecosystems * Why collaboration and integration matter more than isolation in the creator economy **** KEY TAKEAWAYS * The best talent knows who they are becoming: Vinnie explains that breakthrough creators and artists are often deeply connected to their future identity long before the public recognizes it. * Visibility is intentional: Modern visibility is not about being everywhere. It is about strategically positioning yourself where trust, credibility, and community can grow. * Vulnerability creates connection: Vinnie shares why vulnerability has become more powerful than surface-level authenticity in today's creator landscape. * Creators need systems, not just content: Long-term sustainability comes from building evergreen assets, infrastructure, and intellectual property instead of chasing constant output. * Credibility is monetizable: One of the strongest insights in the episode is that credibility often creates opportunities before the actual pitch even happens. * The creator economy is becoming the media economy: Vinnie predicts the next phase of entertainment will allow creators to distribute long-form content directly to major platforms without traditional gatekeeping structures. **** STANDOUT QUOTES * "You tap into somebody who knows who they are becoming." * "Visibility is built through vulnerability." * "You don't need more content. You need positioning." * "Credibility will get you paid before you even walk into the room." * "Moments depend on attention. Assets become ecosystems." * "The creator economy is becoming the media economy." **** GUEST LINKS * Website: VPE.tv * Podcast: I Have A Podcast [https://ihaveapodcast.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Creator Hub: CreatorHubPro.com * LinkedIn: Vinnie Potestivo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinniepotestivo/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * vpe.tv/gift [http://vpe.tv/gift] **** SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW If someone sent you this episode, it's because they care about your future in media. Follow The Media Machine for weekly conversations breaking down the systems, strategies, and decisions shaping the future of media, technology, storytelling, and the creator economy. **** CREDITS * Created by: Johanna Salazar * Hosts: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading * Executive Producers: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading * Edited by: Love + Daydreams, Canvas Films Colombia **** WEBSITE the-mediamachine.com [https://the-mediamachine.com] **** SOCIAL LINKS * Instagram: @themediamachinepodcast * TikTok: @themediamachinepodcast * YouTube: @TheMediaMachinePod * X/Twitter: @themediamachinepod PODCAST LINKS * Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn [https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine] **** HOST SOCIALS Johanna Salazar * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/ [https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/] * Website: the-mediamachine.com [https://the-mediamachine.com] Julie Kellman Reading * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/ [https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/] * Website: https://www.loveanddaydreams.com [https://www.loveanddaydreams.com] **** ABOUT THE HOSTS Johanna Salazar Johanna Salazar is a media systems builder with more than two decades of experience operating across television, streaming, sports, and digital platforms. She brings an operator's lens to the industry, breaking down how media systems function and how incentives and decisions shape outcomes. Julie Kellman Reading Julie Kellman Reading is a creative executive, executive producer, and founder with experience spanning television, digital media, and independent ventures. She brings a people-first perspective and deep creative insight into how media is built, scaled, and sustained. **** ABOUT THE PODCAST THE MEDIA MACHINE is a strategy podcast that breaks down how media really works. Created by Johanna Salazar, the show explores the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media, tech, and content. Each episode examines the industry through four core pillars: * Process: the strategies, tools, and systems shaping media production and distribution. * Profits: the business models, investments, and revenue engines driving the industry. * People: the creators, executives, and operators redefining the landscape. * Planet: the broader cultural and societal impact of media. The goal is not to react faster, but to see more clearly, understand long-term shifts, and make smarter short-term decisions. This show is for operators, builders, and decision-makers who want signal over noise, clarity over hype, and confidence over urgency.

The New Media Deal Market: Who Has Leverage Now?

The creator economy is maturing, and the rules of media deals are changing fast. Buyers are becoming more disciplined, creators are expected to bring audiences and business infrastructure with them, and leverage no longer comes from visibility alone. In this episode of The Media Machine, Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading sit down with Scott Kaufman, Vice President of Alternative and Media Publishing at Buchwald, for a deep dive into how media deals are actually getting made in today's market. Scott's work spans books, licensing, podcast partnerships, live experiences, sports, and intellectual property development, giving him a front-row seat to how creators, platforms, publishers, brands, and buyers are adapting to a more data-driven and competitive ecosystem. The conversation explores how leverage has shifted since the peak creator boom years, why audience ownership and IP matter more than ever, how podcast deals are being structured today, and what creators, producers, and operators need to understand to build sustainable media businesses moving forward. **** WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The media industry is undergoing a structural reset. Studios and publishers are becoming more selective. Podcast networks are moving away from large guarantees. Buyers expect creators to arrive with audiences, engagement, proof of concept, and clear monetization potential already in place. At the same time, creators have more tools and distribution opportunities than ever before. Brands are becoming media companies, independent creators are building direct-to-audience businesses, and intellectual property is increasingly moving fluidly across podcasts, books, live events, and streaming platforms. This episode explores what leverage actually looks like in this new media economy. Scott Kaufman shares how buyers are evaluating talent and IP today, how deal structures are evolving, and why creators who control audience relationships and intellectual property are better positioned for long-term success. For creators, producers, founders, and media executives, this conversation offers an inside look at the mechanics shaping the future of media deals. **** ABOUT THE GUEST Scott Kaufman is Vice President of Alternative and Media Publishing at Buchwald. His work spans books, podcast partnerships, licensing, live experiences, sports, and intellectual property development across the evolving creator economy. Over the course of his career, Scott has worked across talent representation, publishing, podcasting, and content packaging, helping creators, talent, and production companies navigate a rapidly changing media landscape. At Buchwald, he works closely with creators, publishers, podcast networks, brands, and platforms to structure deals and identify opportunities across multiple revenue streams and distribution channels. His perspective sits at the intersection of traditional media, creator-led businesses, and the next generation of intellectual property development. **** GUEST SOCIAL PAGES LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kaufman-61448b7] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skaufman99/ [https://www.instagram.com/skaufman99/] **** WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE * How the media deal market has changed since the creator boom of 2021 and 2022 * Why buyers are becoming more data-driven and selective * Who is actually writing checks in today's media environment * How creators are expected to bring audiences and business infrastructure to deals * Why audience ownership and IP control matter more than visibility alone * How podcast deal structures are evolving * Why minimum guarantees are becoming less common in podcasting * How creators and brands are partnering in more integrated ways * What publishers and buyers now expect from creators before making deals * Why books remain foundational intellectual property in the modern media ecosystem * The growing relationship between brands, creators, and long-form content * What opportunities still exist for emerging creators and producers **** KEY TAKEAWAYS * Leverage has changed in the creator economy. Audience size alone is no longer enough. Buyers increasingly prioritize ownership, engagement, monetization potential, and audience relationships. * Media buyers are more disciplined. Studios, publishers, podcast networks, and brands are scrutinizing deals more carefully and relying heavily on analytics and data before committing capital. * Creators are expected to arrive with infrastructure. Today's creators are often expected to bring audiences, engagement, proof of concept, and monetization pathways before deals are made. * Podcast economics are evolving. Large minimum guarantees are becoming less common as podcast networks move toward more revenue-share-driven models. * Brands are becoming media companies. Brands are investing more heavily in creator partnerships and original content as they compete for audience attention and cultural relevance. * Books remain powerful foundational IP. Scott explains why books continue to serve as valuable intellectual property that can expand into podcasts, television, film, and live experiences. **** STANDOUT QUOTES "Audience size alone is no longer enough." "The onus is really on us to build our audiences before we take projects to market." "Buyers are still buying. They're just being much more selective." "You can now create your own platform and have your own voice." "Leverage today comes from having a foundation." "Brands are becoming media companies." "Books are foundational IP." **** SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW If someone sent you this episode, it's because they care about your future in media. Follow The Media Machine for weekly conversations breaking down the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media. **** CREDITS Created by: Johanna Salazar Hosts: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Executive Producers: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Edited by: Love + Daydreams, Canvas Films Colombia **** WEBSITE LINK the-mediamachine.com **** SOCIAL LINKS Instagram: @themediamachinepodcast TikTok: @themediamachinepodcast Facebook: @themediamachinepodcast X/Twitter: @themediamachinepod YouTube: @TheMediaMachinePod **** PODCAST LINKS * Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn [https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine] **** HOST SOCIALS Johanna Salazar * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/ [https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/] * Website: the-mediamachine.com Julie Kellman Reading * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/ [https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/] * Website: https://www.loveanddaydreams.com [https://www.loveanddaydreams.com] **** ABOUT THE HOSTS Johanna Salazar Johanna Salazar is a media systems builder with more than two decades of experience operating across television, streaming, sports, and digital platforms. She brings an operator's lens to the industry, breaking down how media systems function and how incentives and decisions shape outcomes. Julie Kellman Reading Julie Kellman Reading is a creative executive, executive producer, and founder with experience spanning television, digital media, and independent ventures. She brings a people-first perspective and deep creative insight into how media is built, scaled, and sustained. **** ABOUT THE PODCAST THE MEDIA MACHINE is a strategy podcast that breaks down how media really works. Created by Johanna Salazar, the show explores the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media, tech, and content. Each episode examines the industry through four core pillars: * Process: the strategies, tools, and systems shaping media production and distribution. * Profits: the business models, investments, and revenue engines driving the industry. * People: the creators, executives, and operators redefining the landscape. * Planet: the broader cultural and societal impact of media. The goal is not to react faster, but to see more clearly, understand long-term shifts, and make smarter short-term decisions. This show is for operators, builders, and decision-makers who want signal over noise, clarity over hype, and confidence over urgency.

AI Is Moving Faster Than Ethics. Who Is Responsible?

Artificial intelligence is transforming everything, from the way we work to the way we create media. But one question is becoming impossible to ignore: Who is responsible for making sure AI is safe, fair, and ethical? In this episode of The Media Machine, host Johanna Salazar sits down with Soribel Feliz, founder and CEO of Responsible AI = Inclusive AI and former Meta program manager, to explore the human side of artificial intelligence. While AI promises massive productivity gains and new creative possibilities, it is also raising serious questions about the future of work, economic inequality, and the systems being built behind the scenes. Soribel shares insights from inside the tech industry on: • How AI is reshaping the global labor market • Why many experienced professionals are struggling to transition in the AI era • The hidden workforce responsible for moderating and training AI systems • Why diversity in AI development is critical to preventing biased technology • The growing role of governments and companies in AI regulation • How generative AI could reshape media, storytelling, and content creation This conversation also explores a critical concept rarely discussed in public conversations about AI: the "integrity workers" behind the technology, the people responsible for monitoring, auditing, and correcting AI systems. As artificial intelligence continues to scale globally, Soribel argues that ethics cannot be an afterthought. It must be built into the system from the beginning. If you work in media, technology, or the creative industries, this episode will challenge the way you think about AI and the responsibility we all share in shaping its future. Note: This conversation was recorded in 2023, published in 2025 during Season 1 of TMM, but the issues discussed have only become more urgent as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

Rewriting the Economics of Storytelling with Michael Sugar

Hollywood says it's harder than ever to get a project made. Studios are tightening budgets, streamers are slowing development, and creators across the industry are facing increasing friction in getting projects financed. In this episode of The Media Machine, Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading sit down with Academy Award–winning producer Michael Sugar, founder and CEO of Sugar23, to explore how the business of storytelling is evolving. Best known for producing the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, Michael has spent the last several years building Sugar23 into a hybrid media company operating across management, production, brand partnerships, and venture investment. The conversation explores how brands, creators, and studios can work together to finance premium entertainment in a rapidly changing media ecosystem. Drawing on his experience producing award-winning films and television series, Michael shares how Sugar23 is building a new marketplace connecting Hollywood creators with global brands to help get projects made. **** WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The traditional model for financing film and television is under pressure. Budgets are tightening, buyers are more risk-averse, and creators face increasing barriers to getting projects developed and produced. At the same time, brands are spending billions on marketing while struggling to capture audience attention in an increasingly fragmented media environment. This episode explores how those two worlds are beginning to reconnect. Michael Sugar shares how Sugar23 is building a model that brings brands, creators, and studios together earlier in the development process, helping unlock new pathways to finance and distribute premium storytelling. For producers, marketers, and media leaders, this conversation offers insight into how the economics of storytelling may evolve over the next decade. **** ABOUT THE GUEST Michael Sugar is an Academy Award–winning producer and founder and CEO of Sugar23, a hybrid management, production, and investment company operating across film, television, and brand partnerships. He produced the Best Picture–winning film Spotlight and has served as executive producer on series including: • The Knick • The OA • Maniac • 13 Reasons Why He also produced the political drama The Report. Prior to founding Sugar23 in 2017, Sugar was a partner at Anonymous Content, where he helped develop and produce a wide range of film and television projects. Through Sugar23, he is building a media ecosystem that connects talent, creators, brands, and distributors to help finance and produce premium entertainment. **** GUEST SOCIAL PAGES https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sugar https://www.sugar23.com [https://www.sugar23.com] **** WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE • Why Hollywood has become significantly harder for producers trying to finance new projects • How Sugar23 is connecting brands and creators to unlock new financing models • The process Sugar23 uses to match brand strategy with premium entertainment projects • Why brand partnerships must focus on storytelling rather than product placement • How early brand involvement can help reduce financial risk in development • The difference between projects that are "brand ready" versus "Hollywood ready" • What the success of Spotlight revealed about the cultural power of storytelling • How media fragmentation is forcing studios, brands, and creators to rethink traditional models • Why the audience, not studios or platforms, ultimately controls culture **** KEY TAKEAWAYS * Hollywood's financing model is under pressure * Studios and streamers are becoming more selective, creating friction for producers trying to get new projects developed and financed. * Brands represent an untapped funding partner for storytelling * Brands are increasingly exploring long-form entertainment as a way to build audience loyalty and cultural relevance. * Brand partnerships work best when integrated early * Bringing brands into the development process early allows creative teams to shape projects that align with brand values without compromising storytelling. * Great projects must still succeed without a brand * Sugar23 only pursues projects that could succeed in Hollywood on their own before introducing brand partnerships. * Consumers ultimately drive culture * While platforms and studios shape distribution, Michael argues that audiences, not companies, ultimately determine what stories succeed. **** STANDOUT QUOTES "Hollywood is under a lot of pressure, and there's a lot of friction around getting things made." "The core premise we bet the company on was: what if we could rewrite the relationship between brands and Hollywood?" "If audiences love the story and they know a brand helped bring it to life, that creates brand loyalty." "If it's not good enough that we could sell it in Hollywood, we don't bring it to a brand." "Consumers control culture." **** SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW If someone sent you this episode, it's because they care about your future in media. Follow The Media Machine for weekly conversations breaking down the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media. **** CREDITS Created by: Johanna Salazar Hosts: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Executive Producers: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading Edited by: Love + Daydreams **** WEBSITE LINK the-mediamachine.com [http://the-mediamachine.com] **** SOCIAL LINKS Instagram: @themediamachinepodcast TikTok: @themediamachinepodcast Facebook: @themediamachinepodcast X/Twitter: @themediamachinepod YouTube: @TheMediaMachinePod **** PODCAST LINKS Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-media-machine/id1805996037] Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn [https://open.spotify.com/show/66NrkMVorc47Ov6qDsvfwn] Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d9671a97-b026-45a5-8cf0-1e389f052b9e/the-media-machine] **** HOST SOCIALS Johanna Salazar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/ [https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/] Website: the-mediamachine.com Julie Kellman Reading Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/ [https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/] Website: https://www.loveanddaydreams.com [https://www.loveanddaydreams.com] **** ABOUT THE HOSTS Johanna Salazar Johanna Salazar is a media systems builder with more than two decades of experience operating across television, streaming, sports, and digital platforms. She brings an operator's lens to the industry, breaking down how media systems function and how incentives and decisions shape outcomes. Julie Kellman Reading Julie Kellman Reading is a creative executive, executive producer, and founder with experience spanning television, digital media, and independent ventures. She brings a people-first perspective and deep creative insight into how media is built, scaled, and sustained. **** ABOUT THE PODCAST THE MEDIA MACHINE is a strategy podcast that breaks down how media really works. Created by Johanna Salazar, the show explores the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media, tech, and content. Each episode examines the industry through four core pillars: Process: the strategies, tools, and systems shaping media production and distribution. Profits: the business models, investments, and revenue engines driving the industry. People: the creators, executives, and operators redefining the landscape. Planet: the broader cultural and societal impact of media. The goal is not to react faster, but to see more clearly, understand long-term shifts, and make smarter short-term decisions. This show is for operators, builders, and decision-makers who want signal over noise, clarity over hype, and confidence over urgency.