Nicholas Quah has been Vulture and New York Magazine's podcast critic since 2021. Prior to joining Vulture, he wrote the Hot Pod newsletter. He is a juror for the Peabody Awards.
the industry
The Podcast World’s Year From HellDozens of hosts, producers, and executives vent about a tough year for the audio industry — and cautiously look ahead to 2024.
emergency discussion
Squid Game’s Next ChallengeThe results of this twisted reality-TV experiment have us wondering where it goes from here.
best of 2023
The Best Podcasts of 2023Despite a tough year for the industry, the podcast world remains vast in its pleasures.
Planet Money Goes AIThe long-standing NPR series puts together a nearly passable episode using only artificial intelligence.
emergency discussion
It’s the End of Top Chef As We Know ItWith Padma Lakshmi’s departure, the venerable series is losing something irreplaceable. But its latest season hints at an even deeper identity crisis.
Universes Collide in American Born ChineseThere’s a tender, vibrant coming-of-age story in Disney+’s new series, if you can find it beneath all the tiresome celestial conflict.
podcasts
The Podcast That Isn’t Afraid of James DolanReign of Error takes on the notorious businessman who controls Madison Square Garden (and the Knicks, Rangers, and Rockettes) with an iron fist.
1.5x speed
Sex, Lies, and Podcast AudioJo Piazza’s podcast She Wants More gets women to open up about their extramarital relationships.
Did Kendall Do a Deep Fake?Logan Roy returned to Succession via a couple of obviously doctored videos, but exactly how they were doctored is less clear.