You make a super valid argument, but I do think Alex interviews this way on purpose. She frequently gets guests saying they didn’t expect to talk about a topic or haven’t told anyone else about it, and I genuinely think that’s because she’s prioritizing interviewee comfort. Right down to the set which she clearly worked hard on making homey and cozy. It’s also clear the timing of the interview depends solely on the guest. I think that’s why she’s able to get interviews with guests when many other people in her shoes have been less successful, she’s able to get more high profile people on her show because they truly feel comfortable around her. Granted, that might not be serious journalism, but I do think that’s she’s a fantastic interviewer. She’s able to read a room and a situation in a second and switch on a dime. She’s done some really meaningful work with celebrities like Laverne Cox and Demi Lovato in giving them a safe space to share their struggles without feeling pressured. I think there’s a time and a place for her style and maybe it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Frankly, I thought Kamala’s interview really humanized her in a way I didn’t expect from a politician, and I left it feeling more positively about her than I did going in. And I think that’s exactly what Alex’s goal was!
Yes this was such an interesting and well-articulated read! However I personally never understood the noise about Alex Cooper considering herself a journalist either. I definitely agree that ‘soft questions’ don't add much to the space, but it ultimately comes down to what we think ‘journalism’ should be, which is so subjective. I think as journalists and writers it’s also frustrating to see influencers inhabit the spaces we’re ‘supposed’ to— I totally agree that I would LOVE to see more hard-hitting journalism that makes me uncomfortable and causes me to question what I think I know, but there’s a time and place for soft journalism and it can be meaningful too
This was so interesting! We are currently going through an election season in Australia and going through similar things with politicians opting to do interviews with influencers. I'm considering writing a piece about it if I have time!!
Yes! I've been thinking about this lately with the uproar of podcasts that focus on interviewing. The questions always seem to be very surface level, and I think it would benefit society to challenge not only the guest being interviewed but mainly the audience!
This is such a great read! I never understood why I don’t feel drawn to content from “soft journalists”, but you articulated the underlying reasons perfectly! I can’t believe I never considered how they were contributing to anti-intellectualism in this way. Really enjoyed this!
i'm sorry but this is new information to me—that call her daddy is a "serious journalism" podcast that is. i have never ever seen CHD as that lol, in fact i always thought it was kind of like a sexual/sex-life pro confident idk how to even explain this, type of podcast bc she's always asking her guests sex-related questions at the end or middle of the interview. thought it was wild that she got kamala on the show, even wilder that kamala agreed to sit for the show—depending on her status and the time frame she went of CHD, she should've been sat in interviews w like, Christine amanpour or smth. either way, idk about anyone else, but call her daddy isn't serious journalism to me lol. it's just another pop culture girlie podcast that brings on ppl to talk about and share tea idk idk. i do NOT go there to hear about serious things.
You make a super valid argument, but I do think Alex interviews this way on purpose. She frequently gets guests saying they didn’t expect to talk about a topic or haven’t told anyone else about it, and I genuinely think that’s because she’s prioritizing interviewee comfort. Right down to the set which she clearly worked hard on making homey and cozy. It’s also clear the timing of the interview depends solely on the guest. I think that’s why she’s able to get interviews with guests when many other people in her shoes have been less successful, she’s able to get more high profile people on her show because they truly feel comfortable around her. Granted, that might not be serious journalism, but I do think that’s she’s a fantastic interviewer. She’s able to read a room and a situation in a second and switch on a dime. She’s done some really meaningful work with celebrities like Laverne Cox and Demi Lovato in giving them a safe space to share their struggles without feeling pressured. I think there’s a time and a place for her style and maybe it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Frankly, I thought Kamala’s interview really humanized her in a way I didn’t expect from a politician, and I left it feeling more positively about her than I did going in. And I think that’s exactly what Alex’s goal was!
fair point!
Yes this was such an interesting and well-articulated read! However I personally never understood the noise about Alex Cooper considering herself a journalist either. I definitely agree that ‘soft questions’ don't add much to the space, but it ultimately comes down to what we think ‘journalism’ should be, which is so subjective. I think as journalists and writers it’s also frustrating to see influencers inhabit the spaces we’re ‘supposed’ to— I totally agree that I would LOVE to see more hard-hitting journalism that makes me uncomfortable and causes me to question what I think I know, but there’s a time and place for soft journalism and it can be meaningful too
This was so interesting! We are currently going through an election season in Australia and going through similar things with politicians opting to do interviews with influencers. I'm considering writing a piece about it if I have time!!
Thank you! You totally should!
I’d love to read this!
did you?
beautifully written
thank you!
I can’t even get through the episodes I like the guest’s but no to interviewer. It’s so silly 🤪 loose goose 🪿 questions.
Fascinating post on this podcast. I found your points valid and well said
Yes! I've been thinking about this lately with the uproar of podcasts that focus on interviewing. The questions always seem to be very surface level, and I think it would benefit society to challenge not only the guest being interviewed but mainly the audience!
Very insightful!
Oh I so agree to this..hard hitting journalism is negligible...all i see is this soft anti intellectual "journalism" which gets us nowhere
This is such a great read! I never understood why I don’t feel drawn to content from “soft journalists”, but you articulated the underlying reasons perfectly! I can’t believe I never considered how they were contributing to anti-intellectualism in this way. Really enjoyed this!
Thank you!!
i'm sorry but this is new information to me—that call her daddy is a "serious journalism" podcast that is. i have never ever seen CHD as that lol, in fact i always thought it was kind of like a sexual/sex-life pro confident idk how to even explain this, type of podcast bc she's always asking her guests sex-related questions at the end or middle of the interview. thought it was wild that she got kamala on the show, even wilder that kamala agreed to sit for the show—depending on her status and the time frame she went of CHD, she should've been sat in interviews w like, Christine amanpour or smth. either way, idk about anyone else, but call her daddy isn't serious journalism to me lol. it's just another pop culture girlie podcast that brings on ppl to talk about and share tea idk idk. i do NOT go there to hear about serious things.
the monica lewinsky episode was CRIMINALLY AWFUL