Category: News

Soccer legend, activist, and entrepreneur Megan Rapinoe and Vox Media today announced the launch of a new weekly interview show, Why Are You Like This?, hosted by Rapinoe. The show will highlight artists, athletes, activists, and architects of culture who share Rapinoe’s curiosity and refusal to accept the status quo: people who looked at the way things were and decided to build something different. Rapinoe, who’s famed for her game-changing impact on and off the field, will lead conversations that move between the personal and the professional, the origin story and the long game, the private cost, and the public legacy.    Why Are You Like This? will debut on Thursday, August 6, with new episodes dropping weekly.  “Since I was a kid I have always been curious about what makes people tick…the zigging left when everyone is zagging right and all the little choices that people make along the way,” said Rapinoe. “Why Are You Like This?” is a deep dive into this question with some of the world’s most interesting people.”  Two-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Megan Rapinoe is a fan favorite and soccer legend. A vocal leader in every aspect of her life, Rapinoe helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Championship, scoring some of the biggest goals of the tournament. She took home the tournament’s two top honors – the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament. She is a New York Times’ best-selling author, one of Time100’s Most Influential People, and Presidential Medal of Freedom award recipient. She previously co-hosted the women’s sports podcast A Touch More with Vox Media, under the A Touch More production company, which is operated by TOGETHXR. “We’re thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Megan, an iconoclast who’s as admired for her fearless voice as for her accomplishments in sports,” said Nishat Kurwa, SVP & executive producer at Vox Media. “Why Are You Like This? is an exciting opportunity to leverage her range and authority to reveal the layered backstories of her fellow trailblazers.” One of the largest U.S. podcast publishers according to leading industry tracker Podtrac, the Vox Media Podcast Network is home to some of the most influential talent across categories, including journalist Kara Swisher and entrepreneur Scott Galloway (hosts of Pivot), tennis champion Maria Sharapova (host of Pretty Tough), former Manhattan U.S. attorney Preet Bharara (host of Stay Tuned), research professor Brené Brown and organizational psychologist Adam Grant (hosts of The Curiosity Shop), creator and comedian Tefi Pessoa (host of Tefi Talks), journalists Sean Rameswaram and Noel King (hosts of Today, Explained), and more. Vox Media will oversee production, sales, marketing, and distribution for Why Are You Like This?, which joins a dynamic slate of shows that shape conversations across business, culture, and beyond. Follow Why Are You Like This? with Megan Rapinoe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. About the Vox Media Podcast Network The Vox Media Podcast Network is one of the largest U.S. podcast publishers and home to some of the most popular and influential shows. Reaching a monthly audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms, its podcasts spark conversations, frame issues, and define the popular zeitgeist across politics, technology, business, sports, entertainment, and more. Learn more at podcasts.voxmedia.com.

Video episodes of both shows will debut exclusively on Netflix the week of July 13.

Lupa Systems, James Murdoch’s media and technology holding company, today announced the completion of its acquisition of New York Magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network, and Vox. Initially announced in May, the transaction has now closed, and the three divisions will operate as a new subsidiary of Lupa Systems under the Vox Media name. Jim Bankoff, who co-founded Vox Media and has led its growth from its early days as a network of grassroots sports blogs and will serve as CEO of the new company. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for these exceptional brands and the extraordinary people behind them,” said James Murdoch, founder of Lupa Systems. “Vox Media joins our existing holdings and investments in news and culture. We look forward to providing the magazine, podcast network, and Vox with the resources and partnership they need to do their best work yet.” “Authoritative work from trusted brands and talent is more necessary than ever,” said Jim Bankoff. “James and Kathryn Murdoch understand that, have a demonstrated commitment to high-quality, independent journalism, and are deeply invested in the long-term success of this new company. This is an empowering moment to further focus our efforts and unlock new opportunities for growth.” The new Vox Media is home to three of the most distinctive assets in American media. New York Magazine, founded in 1968, publishes the iconic biweekly print magazine alongside six thriving digital verticals—Intelligencer, The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street—that collectively drive the national conversation across politics, culture, style, and more. Under editor-in-chief David Haskell, the magazine has been widely recognized for its powerful and distinctive journalism–winning the 2026 National Magazine Award for General Excellence, the industry’s highest honor, along with the 2026 George Polk Award for Photojournalism. The Vox Media Podcast Network, under the leadership of Ray Chao, general manager, and Nishat Kurwa, executive producer, has grown into a portfolio of nearly 50 leading shows and reaches an audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms—including Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Criminal, and Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel. Recently announced or launched podcast partnerships with influential hosts include Happy Hour with Ina Garten, Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant, and many more. The podcast network has also amassed a growing presence in live events, with nearly 50 live shows from across its portfolio in 2025 and more expected in 2026. Vox, under the leadership of editor-in-chief Swati Sharma, has grown a membership program with tens of thousands of paying subscribers, a thriving YouTube channel and podcasts including Unexplainable, The Gray Area, and America, Actually. ### ABOUT NEW YORK MAGAZINE Since its founding in 1968, New York Magazine has obsessively chronicled the ideas, people, and cultural events that shape our world. The beloved and influential New York brands include the groundbreaking biweekly print magazine New York and six thriving verticals: Intelligencer, The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street. New York is led by editor-in-chief David Haskell. ABOUT VOX Vox was launched in 2014 to address the disconnect between the widely reported facts of the day and a true understanding of why something happened. It developed a widely imitated explainer format that delivers understanding across digital platforms, newsletters, a YouTube channel with nearly 13 million subscribers, and a stable of podcasts. Under the leadership of editor-in-chief Swati Sharma, Vox has grown a membership program with tens of thousands of paying subscribers. ABOUT VOX MEDIA PODCAST NETWORK The Vox Media Podcast Network is one of the largest U.S. podcast publishers, home to some of the most popular and influential shows. Reaching a monthly audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms, its podcasts spark conversations, frame issues, and define the popular zeitgeist across politics, technology, business, sports, entertainment, and more. Learn more at podcasts.voxmedia.com. Vox Media Contact: Lauren Starke, lauren.starke@voxmedia.com ABOUT LUPA SYSTEMS Lupa Systems, founded by James Murdoch in March 2019, is a private holding company with locations in New York and Mumbai. Lupa’s portfolio includes MCH Group (Art Basel), Tribeca Enterprises, and a material stake in JioStar through Bodhi Tree Systems. Lupa Media Contact: Juleanna Glover, Juleanna@ridgelywalsh.com

On Saturday, July 18, Eater’s largest festival ever will bring together dozens of restaurant pop-ups and immersive food experiences representing more than 20 nations

Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff shared this note with the company’s staff this morning.

Lupa Systems, James Murdoch’s media and technology holding company, has agreed to acquire New York Magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network, and Vox from the digital media group Vox Media. The properties, known for editorial excellence and deeply engaged audiences, will operate as a subsidiary of Lupa Systems called Vox Media. Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation, The Dodo, and The Verge are not included in the transaction. These divisions’ roster of influential journalists, top-rated podcasts, and digital brands with large social footprints, together with the group’s iconic biweekly print magazine, will give Lupa exceptional new reach across platforms and fit neatly into Lupa’s growing global portfolio. “This acquisition aligns well with our existing holdings and investments and reflects both our interest in the forward edge of culture and our deep commitment to ambitious journalism and agenda-setting conversations,” said James Murdoch. “It will allow us to apply new tools across the businesses we are building, adding substantial production, distribution, and editorial capability to our group.” Lupa’s acquisition of New York Magazine includes its must-read verticals, The Cut, Vulture, Intelligencer, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street. Vox brings multiplatform leadership in video, text, and podcasts like Today, Explained. The Vox Media Podcast Network, home to popular shows such as Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, Criminal, and Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel, has been the fastest growing business within Vox Media and will immediately put Lupa at the top of the podcast field, which now reaches 58% of Americans monthly, according to Edison Research, including two out of three people between the ages of 18 and 54. The new Vox Media will be led by Jim Bankoff, who co-founded Vox Media and has led its growth since its early days as a network of a dozen grassroots sports blogs. He will be CEO of the new company upon closing. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with James and Lupa Systems. Each one of these Vox Media divisions is marked by its strong relevance with audiences, its commitment to quality, and its enormous growth potential. We are incredibly proud to have built and scaled several of the leading media properties of this generation. Together under Lupa’s stewardship we are primed to be the best home for talent and the most dynamic media company of this new era,” said Jim Bankoff.  Lupa’s acquisition of the Vox Media properties brings together two groups that place a premium on being at the center of the cultural conversation. Lupa’s holdings include MCH Group’s Art Basel, which sets the global art agenda at its annual events in Paris, Basel, Miami, Hong Kong, and Doha and Tribeca Enterprises, the media and entertainment company co-founded by Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal. Through Bodhi Tree Systems, Lupa also holds a material stake in India’s leading streaming entertainment and sports platform, JioStar with viewership of over 750M. James Murdoch has deep experience in media, having served as CEO of 21st Century Fox, as well as Europe’s BSkyB and Sky plc. Before that, he was CEO of Asia’s Star TV, which he built out into one of the region’s top news, sports and entertainment franchises. Since founding Lupa, James Murdoch has partnered with Uday Shankar to create Bodhi Tree Systems, which houses media and consumer businesses in South Asia, with a particular focus on India’s robust market. He and his wife, Kathryn have invested more than $50M through their foundation Quadrivium in support of better journalism, including founding SciLine, a service that connects journalists to scientific expertise, and the American Journalism Project, which supports local journalism with better business models. They were also founding investors in The Bulwark. Since its founding, Vox Media has grown both organically–launching new media brands including Vox–and through targeted acquisitions. Vox Media was early to podcasting, and nimble and forward-thinking in building a podcast network that positioned the company at the vanguard of a fast-changing media landscape. Vox, under the leadership of editor-in-chief Swati Sharma, has grown a membership program with tens of thousands of paying subscribers, a thriving YouTube channel with nearly 13 million subscribers, and podcasts including Unexplainable, The Gray Area, and America, Actually. In 2019, Vox Media acquired New York Magazine, reinforcing and diversifying its subscription and ecommerce revenue streams in addition to its traditional base of advertising, while continuing to publish stories that drive the national conversation. Under the leadership of editor-in-chief David Haskell and Vox Media president & vice chair Pam Wasserstein New York has thrived, challenging and fascinating a growing readership, building a diverse and growing business, and winning multiple accolades for the excellence of its prodigious editorial output. The Vox Media Podcast Network, under the leadership of Ray Chao, general manager, and Nishat Kurwa, executive producer, has grown into a portfolio of nearly 50 leading shows and reaches an audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms. The podcast network has also amassed a growing presence in live events, with nearly 50 live shows from across its portfolio in 2025 and more expected in 2026. LionTree acted as financial advisor to Vox Media in connection with the transaction. ABOUT LUPA SYSTEMS Lupa Systems, founded by James Murdoch in March 2019, is a private holding company with locations in New York and Mumbai. Media Contact: Juleanna Glover, Juleanna@ridgelywalsh.com ABOUT NEW YORK MAGAZINE Since its founding in 1968, New York Magazine has obsessively chronicled the ideas, people, and cultural events that shape our world. The beloved and influential New York brands include the groundbreaking biweekly print magazine New York and six thriving verticals: Intelligencer, delivering national news and sharp commentary on politics, business, technology, and the media; The Cut, covering style, self, culture, and power; Vulture, the premier site for culture news, criticism, and service; The Strategist, dedicated to shopping the internet smartly; Curbed, covering cities and city life; and Grub Street, home to food news and authoritative restaurant criticism.  Under Vox Media President Pam Wasserstein and Editor-in-Chief David Haskell, the magazine has won eight National Magazine

The Biweekly Series Hosted by Hit YouTuber and Author Premieres on Tuesday, May 26

Vox Media, in partnership with The Wisdomous Company, today announced a new podcast, Create or Destroy: Reimagining Marketing, a weekly business series created and hosted by Seth Matlins, one of global marketing’s most influential thinkers and voices.  Premiering Tuesday, May 12, Create or Destroy features Matlins in conversation with CMOs, CEOs, founders, and cultural thinkers—the people shaping how businesses grow, evolve, and create – or even destroy – value. Each episode offers candid discussions that are revealing, often surprising, and, when necessary, deliberately challenging. The show’s premise is that every decision a company makes—not just the marketing ones—either creates value or destroys it, and so marketing must be reimagined as an organizational mindset not just a function. Upcoming guests include Gary Vaynerchuk; Mathilde Delhoume, Brand Equity Advisor to LVMH General Management and Former Global Brand Officer LVMH; David Axlerod, Political Consultant and Advisor; Jim Mollica, President of the Luxury Division and CMO at Bose; Lara Balazs, Chief Marketing Officer and EVP, Global Marketing at Adobe; Soyoung Kang, President at eos; Carla Hassan, CMO, JPMorgan Chase and more.  Matlins said: “Create or Destroy isn’t a marketing show, it’s a business show, built for the CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and CMOs who understand, or are beginning to understand, that marketing and growth aren’t separate conversations, that marketing isn’t a function but a force multiplier, and that the distance between companies that create compounding value and the ones quietly destroying it is, at its core, a marketing gap.” In addition to the weekly show, Matlins, Vox Media and The Wisdomous Company are convening a global event series — multiday CMO summits, strategic workshops, and intimate discussions designed to bring the show’s thesis ideas to audiences from the C-suite to aspiring marketers and business leaders. The partnership’s first CMO gathering takes place this September in London, followed by a CMO and business leader retreat in the U.S. in Napa in October. The events are an extension of the show’s premise: that understanding marketing as a strategic enterprise capability isn’t just a competitive advantage, it’s a competitive requirement. “Seth has an unparalleled ability to convene community among business executives and distill key insights about growth,” said Ray Chao, SVP & GM of podcasts at Vox Media. “We’re excited to partner with Seth to build Create or Destroy and a new global slate of live events.”  Matlins brings over thirty years of work building brands and businesses across categories and around the world. Before founding The Wisdomous Company and partnering with Vox Media, he was Managing Director of the Forbes CMO Network, started the marketing practice at Creative Artists Agency, was the first Global CMO at Live Nation, led Cultural Strategy and Insights and Entertainment Marketing at Endeavor’s cultural marketing agency, and was President of Rock the Vote. Across each, his career reflects a single through-line: that enterprises willing to treat marketing as central to how they think and operate grow faster, more profitably and more sustainably. Create or Destroy is this argument, extended and probed. At Vox Media, Create or Destroy: Reimagining Marketing with Seth Matlins joins one of the largest podcast publishers in the U.S. and an industry-leading slate of business and technology programming — including Pivot (Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway), Decoder (Nilay Patel), Solutions (Henry Blodget), Channels (Peter Kafka), ACCESS (Alex Heath and Ellis Hamburger), and Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast (Marques Brownlee). Create or Destroy: Reimagining Marketing with Seth Matlins is available wherever you get your podcasts. About Vox Media Vox Media, the leader in modern media, is home to a portfolio of top talent and engaging editorial brands that ignite conversations and set trends, including Eater, Vox, The Verge, SB Nation, The Dodo, New York Magazine, The Cut, and Vulture. The company’s podcast network is one of the largest in the U.S., publishing premium shows that inform, entertain, and delight, including Pivot, Criminal, Today Explained, Where Should We Begin?, Stay Tuned with Preet, The Vergecast, Waveform, and A Touch More. Across platforms, Vox Media ignites culture through stories that shape all aspects of our audience’s lives. About The Wisdomous Company The Wisdomous Company is an editorially-driven media and events company focused on helping the world’s largest companies—and some of its smallest—drive more sustainable, profitable growth.  

Premiering May 14, the biweekly show will feature candid conversations with elite athletes, celebrities, and leaders navigating career and motherhood.