The Hollywood Reporter’s resident awards guru, Scott Feinberg, recently celebrated a major milestone by recording the 500th episode of his Awards Chatter podcast. The special guest for this momentous occasion was John Mulaney, who was promoting his Netflix comedy special, Baby J. The episode was recorded live in front of 40 guests at a private celebration inside the Beverly Hills home of filmmaker Gabe Polsky. This achievement led Feinberg to reflect on the incredible journey of his podcast.
Feinberg, who serves as executive editor of awards at The Hollywood Reporter, shared some interesting statistics about the podcast. “I ran the numbers before the taping and we’ve averaged one episode every 5.6 days since it launched in September 2015,” he said. This demonstrates the immense amount of effort and preparation that goes into each episode. Despite the demanding nature of the podcast, Feinberg finds it to be the most rewarding part of his job.
One of the most gratifying aspects of the Awards Chatter podcast for Feinberg is hearing from listeners who stumble upon episodes from several years ago and find them exciting or revelatory. Feinberg acknowledges that when they started the podcast, people weren’t necessarily familiar with the concept of podcasts. However, thanks to the hard work of his first producer, Dóra Takács, and his current longtime producer, Matt Whitehurst, Awards Chatter has become a well-respected podcast with a guest list and quality of conversations that can rival any other podcast out there.
Over the years, Feinberg has had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Guests have included Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Barry Jenkins, Bono, George Clooney, and hundreds more. For the 500th episode, Feinberg was fortunate to have John Mulaney as his guest. Although Feinberg knew that Mulaney was a talented comedian, he was still impressed by the conversation they had during the taping. Feinberg was also thrilled that Mulaney stayed for dinner after the recording.
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During the podcast, Feinberg asked Mulaney if he would ever consider hosting the Oscars. To everyone’s surprise, Mulaney enthusiastically said yes, and this response was witnessed by Janet Yang, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who was in attendance at the live taping. This exciting tidbit left the guests with much to discuss and digest.
The success of the Awards Chatter podcast is a testament to Feinberg’s dedication and passion for the industry. Since its launch, the podcast has become a go-to source for insightful and engaging conversations with some of the most influential figures in Hollywood. Feinberg’s ability to connect with his guests and spark interesting discussions has solidified the podcast’s reputation as a must-listen for industry insiders and fans alike.
As Feinberg continues his journey with Awards Chatter, he remains committed to bringing listeners compelling interviews with the biggest names in the entertainment industry. With each passing episode, he hopes to provide his audience with exciting and revelatory insights that will keep them coming back for more.
