JRE 2214 · October 16, 2024
Shane Smith
Who is Shane Smith?
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Topics and Timestamps
- 01Shane Smith discusses his journalism career and founding VICE Media from the ground up
- 02Conversation covers global reporting experiences and investigative journalism in conflict zones
- 03Shane talks about his new video podcast series 'Shane Smith Has Questions' coming soon
- 04Discussion includes the evolution of media and digital content creation over the past two decades
- 05Shane shares insights on interviewing world leaders and getting access to restricted areas for stories
- 06Episode touches on the future of journalism and independent media in the modern landscape
- ▶Shane discusses founding VICE Media and early days building the company0:05:00
- ▶Conversation about dangerous reporting assignments and conflict zone journalism0:18:30
- ▶Shane talks about interviewing world leaders and getting exclusive access0:32:15
- ▶Discussion on how traditional media failed to adapt to digital landscape0:48:00
- ▶Shane announces details about new podcast series 'Shane Smith Has Questions'0:58:45
The Show
Joe brings on Shane Smith, the legendary co-founder of VICE Media and seasoned journalist who built one of the most influential alternative media empires from nothing. This is a fascinating conversation about the evolution of media, what it takes to get real stories from dangerous places, and how journalism has fundamentally changed in the digital age.
Shane walks through his journey starting VICE as a scrappy magazine focused on youth culture and how it evolved into a full-scale media operation with global reach. He talks about the mentality needed to actually go places other journalists won't go, getting access to leaders and conflict zones that most media outlets can't touch. The guy basically built his reputation on being willing to show up places that were too risky or too politically charged for traditional outlets.
There's solid discussion around how media companies need to adapt or die, and how the old guard of journalism really struggled to understand what audiences actually wanted. Shane's perspective on building VICE as a vertical media company that could do everything from short-form clips to long-form documentaries was way ahead of its time. He talks about the business side of media too, not just the editorial side.
Toward the end they get into Shane's new podcast project 'Shane Smith Has Questions' which sounds like it'll be him doing what he does best: asking the hard questions to interesting people. Joe and Shane vibe on the future of independent media and how creators now have more power and reach than traditional gatekeepers ever did. It's the kind of conversation that shows why Shane became such a key figure in reshaping how news and content gets created and distributed.
Best Quotes
“We built VICE because we wanted to show the world in a way that nobody else was showing it”
— Shane Smith
From the JRE 2214 conversation with Shane Smith.
“You have to be willing to go where other people won't go if you want to tell the real story”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2214 conversation with Shane Smith.
“Traditional media didn't understand that the audience was already ahead of them”
— Shane Smith
From the JRE 2214 conversation with Shane Smith.
“The best stories come from places where the stakes are highest”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2214 conversation with Shane Smith.
“Independent creators now have more power than any media empire ever did”
— Shane Smith
From the JRE 2214 conversation with Shane Smith.
Mentioned in This Episode
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