The Media Machine Podcast

Los Angeles — The Media Machine, the fast-rising podcast created and hosted by media systems builder Johanna Salazar, is expanding its leadership team with the addition of Julie Kellman Reading as Co-Host and Executive Producer ahead of its January 2026 Season 2 return.

Launched by Salazar, The Media Machine has built a strong following for its candid, insider conversations at the intersection of media, business, and technology. Known for examining how media systems are built, scaled, and disrupted, the podcast offers practical insight for executives, founders, and creators navigating rapid industry change.

The show returns in January across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Joining Salazar for Season 2, Kellman Reading brings experience spanning Disney, MTV, and her content company and lifestyle brand Love + Daydreams, along with a track record as a tech-forward executive producer and entrepreneur. Together, Salazar and Kellman Reading bring an established rapport to the show, shaping conversations that are candid, compelling, and grounded in real-world insight.

Season 1 of The Media Machine features conversations with leading voices shaping the future of media, including Stuart Snyder former President of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang, and WWE; Evan Shapiro, Media Universe Cartographer and former television executive; Cathy Hackl, global futurist and immersive technology expert; Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios; Alan Wolk, Co-Founder and Lead Analyst at TVREV; and Rebecca Sirmons, General Manager of NASA+ streaming. Additional guests include Doug Herzog, former President of Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1; Larry Jones, former President of TV Land; Ken Gibbs Jr., former BET executive who later transitioned to Amazon; Kevin Flores of LinkedIn and 23andMe; Nicki Sun, creator economy leader; Rebecca Ricoy, International Marketing Director at Duolingo; and other executives, creators, and strategists navigating the evolving media landscape.

“This industry is changing fast, and the people navigating it need honest, grounded conversations. Julie understands how media actually gets built, across both the creative and business sides, and together we’re building a space that reflects where the industry is headed, not where it’s been,” Salazar says.

“I have been so impressed with what Johanna has built. I am thrilled to join The Media Machine and help create this next chapter together,” Reading adds.

With Salazar and Kellman Reading at the helm, The Media Machine enters its next chapter as a destination for thoughtful, unfiltered conversations about how media is built, scaled, and evolving in real time.

Season 2 of The Media Machine is produced by Lioness Global Network and Love + Daydreams.