At SXSW 2018, Vox Media kicked off its inaugural event aptly named The Deep End. True to its mission, The Deep End took our passionate audience deeper into SXSW by creating a space that ignited curiosity and drove meaningful human connection. Over the course of three days, we hosted over 5,000 guests at The Belmont in Austin. The event featured an exclusive lineup of live podcast recordings from Vox Media’s networks, musical performances presented by Twix, Eater-curated food, a SB Nation Selection Sunday game show presented by Great Clips, and a Polygon speakeasy arcade presented by Nest. Guests throughout the weekend recharged (themselves and their phones) in the Tempur-Pedic Lounge, sampled flights of kombucha from KeVita, and pitched their business start-up ideas in the MailChimp x Vox Creative Explainer Booth.

Grid View

• All of Vox Media’s editorial networks: Vox, Eater, Racked, Curbed, SB Nation, Recode, The Verge and Polygon.
• SB Nation’s Elena Bergeron and Charlotte Wilder fanning out with visitors in The Deep End for Sunday FUNday to celebrate college basketball. And, hey! Is that DJ Jazzy Jeff? YES IT IS.
• Signature refreshments from The Deep End bar! 
• NBD - Vox’s Ezra Klein catching up with the inspiring Melinda Gates on our podcast stage.
• Oh, hey Kara Swisher and the extraordinary Jose Andres
• Thanks to Whiskey Shivers for the Saturday afternoon jams, presented by Twix.
• bites, curated by Eater to pair with the refreshments and live music!
• Bill Hader and Bill Simmons laughing it up during a live recording of the Bill Simmons Podcast!
• Mapy Violinist ROCKING IT.
• more Eater treats, because why not.
• LIZZO IN THE HOUSE!
• LIZZO IN THE HOUSE!
• Another look at our Deep End space at The Belmont, Austin!
• Another look at our Deep End space at The Belmont, Austin!
• Guests in the Vox Media Deep End were able to sit down and power up in the Tempur-Pedic lounge!
• Game on! Guests enjoyed vintage arcade classics curated by Polygon in the Nest Speakeasy arcade.
• Not feelin’ a signature cocktail? Attendees in The Deep end also got to enjoy lots of delicious Kevita Kombucha!
• Startups came to pitch their best ideas in The Explainer Studio powered by MailChimp for a chance to win a signature explainer-style video from Vox Creative! 
• Curbed’s Asad Syrkett and Floyd CEO and Founder Kyle Hoff chat about how direct-to-consumer brands are (or aren’t) upending the home goods space.
• The Verge’s Ashley Carman and Kaitlyn Tiffany recorded a special episode of Why’d You Push That Button live from The Deep End where they chatted about ghosting!
• Just enjoying another refreshing Kevita Kombucha!
• Recode Editor in Chief Dan Frommer sat down with Milk Bar chef Christina Tosi!
• Kara Swisher recorded an episode of Recode Decode live from The Deep End where she interviewed former advisor to Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett.
• CMO Lindsay Nelson hosted leaders from MailChimp, Midroll, and Vayner Media for a discussion about the opportunities and challenges for brand advertising and alignment in the ever-growing world of podcasting.
• Some sock swag from our friends at TWIX!
• Kara Swisher and psychotherapist and NYT Bestselling author Esther Perel chatted all about the boundaries tech has created in our relationships on a live recording of Recode Decode.
• CMO Lindsay Nelson hosted top advertising industry experts from McCann and Diageo and Planned Parenthood’s Chief Brand Officer to dive into the complex landscape of brands engaging with social movements.
• Recode’s Peter Kafka and Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum, the Hollywood producer behind such hits as “Paranormal Activity” and “Get Out,” discuss the future of media.
• Kara Swisher records Recode Decode with Maria Shriver and her Christina Schwarzenegger ahead of the release of their Netflix documentary “Take Your Pills.”
• The Verge crew got together in The Deep End for a special SXSW-themed recording of Vergecast Live with Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Casey Newton and Ashley Carman.
• A huge shout out and thanks to our partners who made sure our guests in The Deep End left feeling like royalty!

photo credit: Ryan Muir

The Deep End by Vox Media proved that SXSW can be about more than just NBDB and FOMO. We were able to show that it can still be “…about the art.” And about the substantive conversations, “where it hardly seemed remarkable that Katie Couric, Bill de Blasio, and Kara Swisher were seated together at a private dinner.” The event was covered by national and local media, including Adweek, Vanity Fair, POLITICO, Business Insider, USA Today, Food & Wine, Austin American-Statesman, Austin360 and more. We’re so grateful to all of you who could jump in. You were what made it so special and we’ll look forward to an even better Deep End experience at SXSW 2019!

Couldn’t make it to The Deep End? Find out more about future Vox Media events by signing up for our newsletter!

Plus, check out all of the amazing podcasts (and subscribe!) below.

Live from The Deep End

Recode Decode: Kara Swisher interviews Maria Shriver and Christina Schwarzenegger

Maria Shriver and her daughter, Christina Schwartzenegger, joined Recode’s Kara Swisher on The Deep End stage to discuss their new Netflix documentary “Take Your Pills.” Subscribe here.

Recode Media Live: Peter Kafka & Jason Blum

Recode’s Peter Kafka was joined by Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum, the innovative Hollywood producer behind such hits as “Paranormal Activity” and “Get Out,” for which director Jordan Peele won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, for a discussion on the future of media. Subscribe here.

Recode Decode Live: Kara Swisher & Esther Perel

Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel joined Recode’s Kara Swisher for a candid conversation about the boundaries tech has created in our relationships. Subscribe here.

Recode’s Dan Frommer Live with MilkBar Chef Christina Tosi

As the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, Christina Tosi has build an empire that includes retail stores, cool product collaborations, classes and books, all while engaging and enticing an ever-growing fan base. She joined Recode’s editor in chief Dan Frommer on stage to talk about what it takes to build a business that not only delights customers but keeps them coming back again and again.

Recode Decode Live: Kara Swisher & Jose Andres

Celebrity Chef and activist Jose Andres discussed his humanitarian venture, World Central Kitchen, and the roles that social media and food can play in post-disaster community building with Recode’s Kara Swisher. Subscribe here.

The Ezra Klein Show Live: Ezra Klein & Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates joined Vox’s Ezra Klein in The Deep End for a live recording of The Ezra Klein Show where the two discussed diversity in tech, ending malaria, and the problems money can’t solve. Subscribe here.

Recode Decode: Kara Swisher and Former Advisor to Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett

Recode’s Kara Swisher interviewed former advisor to Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett about diversity and inclusion in the tech industry and much more. Subscribe here.

The Bill Simmons Podcast with Bill Hader

Bill Hader joined Bill Simmons in The Deep End for a live recording of The Bill Simmons Podcast to discuss his new HBO comedy, Barry, some of his best stories from working on Saturday Night Live, and the state of satire in the world today. Subscribe here.

Vergecast Live

The Verge’s Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Ashley Carman, and Casey Newton got together to talk about the week’s tech news and be heckled by Verge fans in Austin for a live recording of Vergecast from The Deep End. Subscribe here.

Why’d You Push That Button Live

The Verge’s Ashley Carman and Kaitlyn Tiffany were live from The Deep End for a special live recording of Why’d You Push That Button featuring OKCupid’s Jordan Guggenheim and Bumble’s Dr. Jess Carbino for a discussion about ghosting. Subscribe here.