Little Gold Men Podcast: Inside Hollywood

 Two generations ago, print magazines existed as a primary form of communication, cultural exchange, and social commentary. The advent of the digital age has issued a terminal notice to print magazines with only limited methods for recovery. 

Vanity Fair is an American monthly magazine of popular culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast in the US. It was, at one time, at the center of the social and cultural discussion. 

The first version of Vanity Fair was published from 1913 to 1936. The imprint was revived in 1983 after Conde Nast took over the magazine company. Vanity Fair currently includes five international editions of the magazine -- United Kingdom (since 1991), Italy (since 2003), Spain (since 2008), France (since 2013), and Mexico (since 2015). As of 2018, the Editor-in-Chief is Radhika Jones.

Like more nimble companies that own print magazines, Vanity Fair (VF) has adapted. It now has an impressive roster of podcasts -- from Inside The Hive to Still Watching. What I admire about VF's podcast roster is that the shows coalesce around similar themes so audience's expectations are met. Remember the CW TV network before it got acquired by Nexstar and essentially disemboweled in 2022? The CW was the home of young adult entertainment from Riverdale to The Flash to Supergirl. Viewers knew to expect and the network actively recruited these viewers. 

VF's podcast are at the intersection of entertainment, culture, and supporting industries. The podcasts are not tell-alls about Reality TV and melodramatic trashiness. 

  Little Gold Men is a Vanity Fair podcast that details the inside story of Hollywood, from awards shows and red-carpet premieres to the hard work and whisper campaigns that get people there.

Weekly episodes feature conversations about the best of television and film, with special guest appearances from stars, creators, and critics. Little Gold Men also dives deep into Oscar history, and offers insight into all the other awards that make up Hollywood’s continual dash toward glitz and glory.

For more on Little Gold Men, click on the link.

Little Gold Men has been podcasting for nine years and is getting close to 600 episodes. David Canfield, along with a roster of VF correspondents, capably host the podcast.

David Canfield joined Entertainment Weekly in 2017 as an editorial assistant. He was promoted to associate editor the following year, writing features and reviews for the brand's Books section. He was also the co-host of the EW radio show Shelf Life. David then became a movies' editor at Entertainment Weekly, with special interest in Oscars coverage. Additionally, he hosted The Awardist podcast for EW. He left EW in 2021. He previously worked as an intern at both IndieWire and Slate magazine before becoming a news reporter at Vulture.

Recent episodes of note include  an aughts Saturday Night Live reunion as Maya Rudolph and Seth Meyers join the podcast. First, Rudolph dug into the new season of her Apple TV+ comedy Loot and the career that’s led to this long-awaited starring vehicle. Then Meyers reflected on the 10th anniversary of his talk series Late Night, and how he’s kept things fresh in a turbulent media ecosystem. As a bonus, the pair shares their favorite memories of each other from their time on SNL.

 Another excellent episode was the May 7th interview with Emmy winner Jean Smart by VF senior Hollywood correspondent Julie Miller about the third season of Hacks. The interview ranged from the show's increased physical demands on the actress to the deepening of her relationship with co-star Hannah Einbinder. Then, staff writer Savannah Walsh caught up with Nicole Beharie, the scene-stealing powerhouse who brought The Morning Show to new heights.

  Little Gold Men is an ideal podcast for those who are fascinated by the "behind the scenes" view of Hollywood, which include TV and film.