The Venture

Virgin Atlantic / Gimlet Creative
The Venture

The real adventures behind pioneering businesses, from the people who lived them. Brought to you by Virgin Atlantic and Gimlet Creative.

Episodes

  1. 05/23/2017

    The Onion: Challenging Convention

    It all started with coupons -- and it’s become a multi-million dollar, multi-platform media empire. It’s The Onion: A worldwide source for witty news satire. The Onion was started by a few college kids at the University of Wisconsin in the late ‘80s. Now it’s so engrained in our culture that we point out when the real news “looks like an Onion headline.”  The Onion has both observed the world, and changed it -- and become a must-read for millions of people every day. The Onion has had a profound influence on the business of comedy, and survived and thrived in a chaotic media landscape.  This is a story about a company that is unafraid to challenge convention, and is adamant about honoring its vision above everything else. The Venture is hosted by Ashley Milne-Tyte. This episode features: Mike Sacks, contributor, Vanity Fair, and author of Stinker Lets Loose! and Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Top Comedy WritersBaratunde Thurston, former Onion director of digital, author of How to Be BlackSarah Pappalardo & Beth Newell, co-founders and editors of Reductress, and authors of How to Win at Feminism: The Definitive Guide to Having it All - And Then Some!Scott Dikkers, former Onion editor-in-chief, and author of Trump’s America: Buy This Book And Mexico Will Pay For It, and How to Write FunnyMarnie Shure, managing editor of The OnionMike McAvoy, president and CEO of The Onion To learn more about The Venture, go to virginatlantic.com/theventure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    29 min
  2. 05/16/2017

    The Real World: Disrupting the Status Quo

    It all started when Jon Murray, a TV and documentary producer, and Mary-Ellis Bunim, a soap opera writer, approached MTV with an idea that ultimately changed television forever. The Real World popularized a new genre of television known as “reality TV.” Today, reality TV has splintered into innumerable forms, but its backbone was built with The Real World, and Bunim/Murray Productions continues to be at the forefront of the industry. They’re the team behind The Simple Life, Born This Way, and Keeping up with the Kardashians. In this episode, we talk to former cast members and industry experts, about the show that dared to be different, and the team that turned entertainment as we know it, on its head. The Venture is hosted by Ashley Milne-Tyte. This episode features: Jon Murray, creator of The Real World & co-founder of Bunim/Murray Productions  George Verschoor, producer and director of The Real World seasons 1-4. Current executive producer and showrunner at Critical Content Julie Gentry, original cast member of The Real World season 1. Tony DiSanto, former MTV president and founder of DiGa Studio Meredith Blake, entertainment reporter with the LA Times Special thanks to all of The Real World cast and crew members we spoke to for this episode, including Andre Comeau, Eric Neis, Jon Brennan, Pam Ling and Adam Beckman. To learn more about The Venture, go to virginatlantic.com/theventure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    30 min
  3. 04/25/2017

    Kill Rock Stars: We Wanted Everything to Change

    Kill Rock Stars is one of indie rock’s most respected record labels, known by fans for its superior taste in music, and by musicians for its ethical approach to business. Nirvana, Sleater-Kinney and Elliott Smith all have roots at the label. But there are a lot of bumps on the road, as you take a business from a one-bedroom apartment to the big time. Follow founder Slim Moon and current label president Portia Sabin, who happen to be married, as they face personal tragedy, their personal demons, and a massive change in their industry’s business model. Through it all, it’s a story about making a space for yourself, and putting people before profits. The Venture is hosted by Ashley Milne-Tyte This episode features: Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars Portia Sabin, president of Kill Rock Stars Corin Tucker, co-founder of Sleater-Kinney Cameron Esposito, comedian Rhea Butcher, comedian Sean Nelson, arts and music editor, The Stranger/member of Harvey Danger George Howard, co-founder, Music Audience Exchange and founder of Slow River Records Jessica Hopper, executive editor of MTV News and author of The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic Songs and Audio featured in this episode include: “Conflict Free Diamonds” by Kinski "Feels Blind" by Bikini Kill "Die" by Bratmobile "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill “Tip Toe Blues (Instrumental)” by Michael Smith “Mean” by Slim Moon (spoken word) “You Speak Jealousy” by Unwound “Reject All American” by Bikini Kill “Miss Misery (Early Version)” by Elliott Smith “Howl at the Moon (Instrumental)” by Werwulf "We Think She's a Nurse" by Kinski “Arresting and Existing (Edit) (Instrumental)” by Keen Collective “Needle in the Hay” by Elliott Smith “Steady Waltz (Alt. 1) (Instrumental)” by WZRDS “Automatic Music” by Stereo Total “Real Butcher” by Rhea Butcher (comedy) “Fremm” by bed. “Illegal” by Stereo Total Check out our Spotify playlist inspired by this episode, including many songs you heard in this story: To learn more about The Venture, go to virginatlantic.com/theventure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    37 min
4.4
out of 5
67 Ratings

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The real adventures behind pioneering businesses, from the people who lived them. Brought to you by Virgin Atlantic and Gimlet Creative.

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