184 episodes

Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, reporters, and style-setters. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL. 

Morning Meeting Air Mail

    • News
    • 4.6 • 165 Ratings

Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, reporters, and style-setters. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL. 

    Princess Diana's Brother Lived His Own Special Hell

    Princess Diana's Brother Lived His Own Special Hell

    This week, Andrew Ryvkin shares his thoughts on the election in Russia being held for Vladimir Putin. Then Pico Iyer gives us his review of A Very Private School, a new book by Princess Diana’s brother in which he details his brutal tenure as a young boy at a British boarding school rife with sexual and emotional abuse. And finally, the acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney discusses the making of his poignant new film about the musician Paul Simon.

    • 34 min
    Is a Porn Star All That Stands Between Trump and the End of Democracy?

    Is a Porn Star All That Stands Between Trump and the End of Democracy?

    This week, Jeffrey Toobin explains how Stormy Daniels may just be the unlikely savior of American democracy. Then Alexandra Marshall joins us from Paris. Yes, the rest of the world is dreaming of seeing the Olympics sparkle in the City of Light when the Games open on July 26, but as Marshall reports, the construction and chaos have left the city and its residents on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And finally, John Mauceri shares the story of how an all-Black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1967 starring Pearl Bailey electrified audiences and ushered in a new era on Broadway.

    • 35 min
    Tales of Excess—What Happened to the Media Power Lunch?

    Tales of Excess—What Happened to the Media Power Lunch?

    This week, Dana Brown reports on how and why one of New York’s great institutions—the media power lunch—seems to have seen its last days. Then, Linda Wells, knower of all things beauty-and-wellness-related, looks at an extremely unhealthy behavior too many of us engage in: lying to our doctors. And finally, Johanna Berkman tells us about a woman at the United Nations who is optimistic that peace can be achieved between Israel and Hamas.

    • 35 min
    Why Do Today's Leading Men Dress Like Rent Boys?

    Why Do Today's Leading Men Dress Like Rent Boys?

    This week, Katya V. joins us from Moscow with her report on how those inside Russia’s opposition plan to confront Putin in the wake of Alexei Navalny’s death. Then Nicholas Griffin has the inspiring story of Rachel Silverstein, a determined environmentalist who went full Erin Brockovich on some of Florida’s most powerful players, and beat them. And finally, the always entertaining man of style George Hahn has answers to your burning questions, including: Has Joe Biden made Aviator sunglasses uncool? And WTF is happening to the wardrobes of leading men on the red carpet?

    • 34 min
    Meet the One Swan Truman Capote Did Not Betray

    Meet the One Swan Truman Capote Did Not Betray

    If you have been watching the limited series Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, you know the famed writer betrayed every one of his friendships with those women. Yet, as Joseph Rodota reveals, there was actually one woman Capote did not sell down the river; he tells us who she was and why. Then, speaking of feuds, Kurt Wagner has the untold story of the lengths to which Twitter founder Jack Dorsey went to sway his company’s acquisition in Elon Musk’s favor. And on the subject of the rise and decline of media properties, Bill Keenan has the crazy story of how a father and son created ESPN on a wing and a prayer—and then walked out with almost nothing to show for it.

    • 37 min
    Have You Flown Britney Spears Airlines?

    Have You Flown Britney Spears Airlines?

    It’s been a year of meltdowns in the media, and Brian Stelter has the scoop on how—and why—a start-up called the Messenger, which promised to re-invent journalism, burned through $50 million in funding in less than 12 months and went down the tubes. Then, we all know Vladimir Putin wants to win at all costs, but it’s not just with his troops in Ukraine. As Andrew Ryvkin reports, the Russian leader is now forcing Russian musicians to support his war in Ukraine. And finally, it wasn’t all that long ago that British Airways was known as “the world’s favorite airline.” Today, however, most Brits call it the Britney Spears of carriers. Mark Ellwood explains.

    • 31 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
165 Ratings

165 Ratings

StuONeil ,

Addicted! ☕️💯

I listen to every episode every week without fail, which is a pattern of behavior that applies to no other podcast. Ashley and Michael are beyond lovely, and the correspondents they bring in provide brilliant entertainment with decades of knowledge of their worlds. Couldn’t love it more. Kudos to Graydon Carter yet again.

flatter Me! ,

Completely

I dissolve into each podcast completely!

24 sugar hill ,

Gay Talese interview

After listening to this I bought his new book. But more importantly I listened to it over and over again. He’s an amazing speaker and Michael had the good sense to just let him roll. A master class in journalism in that 10-15 minute interview. Thanks! Loved it!!!

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