Two veteran broadcasters. One rapidly changing media world.
Rob Archer and Charles Feldman — former hosts of KNX In Depth in Los Angeles — reunite for smart, unfiltered conversations about radio, journalism, media, politics, and the growing pressure on the First Amendment.
Drawing on decades in broadcasting, Archer & Feldman goes beyond headlines to explore how news is shaped, how the media business is changing, and what happens when trust in institutions begins to break down.
They’re joined regularly by legendary news anchor and voice talent Pat Powers, along with guests from across journalism, broadcasting, and public life.
Part insider conversation. Part media analysis. Part old-school radio chemistry.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has already become a box-office success, but the debate surrounding it may be even more interesting than the movie itself. Rob and Charles discuss the criticism, Nolan's interpretation of Homer's epic, and whether the story is really a warning about what happens when a civilization loses its sense of empathy.
They also examine ABC's response to the FCC investigation over The View, along with the overwhelming public opposition to using broadcast licenses as leverage over editorial decisions.
Finally, they break down the latest delay in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the mounting financial cost of the "ticking fee," and what the legal fight could mean for the future of media consolidation.
Topics include:
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
Why the film has become so controversial
Homer's original themes and modern society
ABC, The View, and the FCC
Public reaction to the license investigation
Paramount's merger delays
Larry Ellison and the growing cost of waiting
The future of television and media ownership
Archer & Feldman is hosted by veteran broadcasters Rob Archer and Charles Feldman, with conversations about journalism, broadcasting, media, technology, and the stories behind the headlines.
27 Jul 2026
Death and Delicatessens
All news, all sports, and all AM — are they dying?
Is AM radio approaching the end of the dial?
Archer and Feldman welcome Garrett Searight of Barrett Media to examine the shrinking audience for AM radio, the dramatic changes in how younger listeners consume news and sports, and whether heritage stations can remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.
The conversation explores declining listenership in Los Angeles, Audacy’s strategy of distributing its news and sports programming through SiriusXM, and the challenges facing new sports-radio stations without broadcast rights to a city’s biggest teams.
Can familiar brands, local programming and wider distribution give traditional radio a second life—or are they merely delaying the inevitable?
In this episode
Why AM radio is losing listeners, especially among younger audiences
Whether heritage and local relevance can keep AM stations alive
What Audacy’s SiriusXM partnership reveals about radio distribution
Why launching a sports station in Los Angeles is especially difficult
How team rights, audience habits and brand loyalty determine success
Whether radio can adapt quickly enough to survive
Guest
Garrett SearightBarrett Mediabarrettmedia.com
Listen to the complete episode of Archer & Feldman for a lively look at the uncertain future of AM, all-news and sports radio.
20 Jul 2026
A Wellness Check on the Media: Bill Handel on iHeart, Audacy, CNN, and the Future of Radio
Legendary KFI broadcaster Bill Handel joins Archer & Feldman for an unfiltered conversation about where radio—and the entire media business—is headed.
Bill shares his thoughts on the state of iHeartMedia, Audacy, the future of AM radio, and whether local broadcasting can survive another decade of consolidation. He also reflects on his own career, what has changed since he entered the business, and what today's broadcasters are up against.
We also examine the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, whether CNN could ever be sold or spun off, the economics driving modern media companies, political influence on journalism, and how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape broadcasting.
Topics include:
• Bill Handel on iHeartMedia and Audacy• Is radio's business model still sustainable?• The future of AM radio and local broadcasting• Why small-market radio may have the best chance to survive• The Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger• Could CNN ever be spun off?• Politics, media ownership, and public trust• AI's impact on news and talk radio• Bill Handel reflects on more than four decades in broadcasting
Whether you're a broadcaster, a radio fan, or simply interested in where journalism and media are headed, this is a conversation packed with insight from one of radio's most recognizable voices.
Subscribe to Archer & Feldman for weekly conversations about broadcasting, journalism, technology, and the future of media.
13 Jul 2026
Welcome to Our New AI Overlords... with Special Guest David Gerrold
What if we're asking the wrong questions about artificial intelligence?
Most conversations about AI focus on what jobs it will replace, whether it can think, or if it's coming for humanity. But legendary science fiction writer David Gerrold has a different perspective.
Best known for writing the classic The Trouble with Tribbles and dozens of influential novels and essays, Gerrold joins Rob Archer and Charles Feldman for a wide-ranging conversation about what AI really is, where it's headed, and whether our hopes and fears are keeping us from seeing the bigger picture.
Is AI a revolutionary creative partner? A dangerous illusion? Or simply another tool that humanity will learn to live with?
Topics include:
Why the public conversation about AI may be missing the point
What science fiction got right—and wrong—about artificial intelligence
Can AI actually be creative?
What happens to writers, journalists, and artists?
Should we be worried about AI... or ourselves?
The surprising opportunities AI may create
This isn't another doom-and-gloom discussion. It's an exploration of one of the most important technological shifts of our lifetime with one of science fiction's most thoughtful voices.
Guest: David Gerrold
Hosts: Rob Archer & Charles Feldman
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about media, technology, journalism, and the future, subscribe and join us each week for new episodes of Archer & Feldman.
#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DavidGerrold #ScienceFiction #Writing #Journalism #Technology #Future #StarTrek #ArcherAndFeldman
6 Jul 2026
Inside the iHeart Layoffs... with special guest Chris Little/KFI
Inside the iHeart Layoffs
One of the biggest rounds of layoffs in radio history is underway, and the effects are being felt across the country.
Rob Archer and Charles Feldman are joined by former KFI News Director Chris Little to examine what's happening inside iHeartMedia, why so many local broadcasters are losing their jobs, and what these cuts could mean for the future of radio.
The conversation looks beyond the headlines to explore the larger forces reshaping the industry, from automation and syndicated programming to the decline of local news coverage and the possibility that smaller broadcasters could eventually fill the gap.
In this episode:
Why the latest iHeart layoffs are so significant
What happens when local stations lose their on-air talent
How automation and AI are changing radio
The importance of local news during emergencies
Whether independent and regional broadcasters can revive local radio
What comes next for the broadcasting industry
Guest: Chris Little, former News Director, KFI Los Angeles
For more articles, podcasts, and commentary, visit Archer's Line at TheRobArcher.com.
29 Jun 2026
Radio's Biggest Layoff Ever... and the Future of Movies
The radio industry may have reached a turning point.
Veteran broadcaster and nationally syndicated host Mo'Kelly joins Rob Archer and Charles Feldman to break down what could be the biggest mass layoff in radio history, why companies keep cutting experienced talent, and what it means for the future of local broadcasting.
Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn: the future of movies.
As YouTube creators, AI, and new production tools reshape Hollywood, are traditional filmmakers facing the same disruption radio has already experienced? Mo explains why the next generation of storytellers may look very different from the last.
Topics include:
• The latest iHeartMedia layoffs and what they reveal about the industry's direction• Why automation and consolidation are changing radio forever• The challenge facing veteran broadcasters in today's job market• Whether podcasting is really the answer after radio• How independent creators are competing with legacy media• Why Hollywood may be headed for the same kind of disruption• AI, YouTube creators, and the changing economics of entertainment
Archer & Feldman is the podcast where two veteran broadcasters pull back the curtain on media, journalism, technology, and the future of the business.
Subscribe for new episodes every week.
#Radio #Broadcasting #Podcast #iHeartMedia #Media #Journalism #Hollywood #Movies #AI #ContentCreators
22 Jun 2026
Merger Mania — Paramount, WBD, CNN, CBS, and the Future of News
Two of the biggest names in media are merging — and somebody's going to lose their job. Veteran broadcaster Bob Butler (KCBS, SAG-AFTRA) joins Rob Archer & Charles Feldman to break down what the Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery deal really means for California workers, CBS News, CNN's non-union talent, and the journalists trying to do their jobs inside the machine.
Plus: Is radio news dying — or just evolving into something we don't recognize yet?
Topics this episode:
Who's most at risk when two giants consolidateWhy CNN's non-union status complicates everythingScott Pelley, editorial pressure, and what happens when the facts become negotiableThe survival case for local radio news
Archer & Feldman is the podcast where two industry veterans say the things the press release won't.
#MediaNews #Paramount #WarnerBrosDiscovery #CNN #CBS #RadioNews #Journalism #MediaMerger #Broadcasting #ArcherAndFeldman
12 Jun 2026
Media In a Post-Trump America
Archer and Feldman, from Los Angeles, with Rob Archer and Charles Feldman. In episode five they welcome guest Joel Denver to examine the future of news media in a post‑Trump America: changes at CBS and 60 Minutes, the erosion of trust in mainstream outlets, audience fragmentation, and whether news organizations can ever reverse course.
The conversation also explores radio’s reinvention through AI with Joel's SonicTrek AI — and is it a future where radio can survive.
1 Jun 2026
Staying Mentally Healthy in the Media Business (Frosted Noodles)
In episode four, Rob Archer and Charles Feldman riff on the changing media landscape with a humorous laugh-track experiment, then welcome Habit Coach Ronnie Loaiza to discuss anxiety, layoffs, artificial intelligence fears, and practical tools for coping and rebuilding momentum.
The conversation mixes personal stories, concrete habit-building advice, community and networking strategies, and where to find more from the hosts and their guest.
Check out Ronnie at https://ronnielolifecoach.com/
22 May 2026
CBS News Radio Post Mortem with Craig Swagler
On the day the CBS News Radio chimes go silent, Rob Archer and Charles Feldman talk with former CBS News Radio head Craig Swagler about what led to the network’s collapse, why the decision was made, and what it means for the future of broadcasting.
A candid inside look at the shrinking radio business, the decline of legacy media, and what may come next for journalism in America.
18 May 2026
Good Night and Good Luck, CBS News Radio
Rob Archer and Charles Feldman discuss the demise of CBS News Radio, the collapse of the traditional broadcasting model, and the changing mission of journalism in America.
The conversation explores the legacy of Edward R. Murrow, the shrinking world of radio news, corporate media consolidation, and whether moral clarity still has a place in modern broadcast journalism.
A thoughtful look at where the industry has been — and where it may be headed next.
12 May 2026
Archer & Feldman 001
Radio is changing. Journalism is under pressure. Trust in media is collapsing.
Former KNX In Depth hosts Rob Archer and Charles Feldman reunite to talk about what happened to radio, what’s happening to journalism, and why the First Amendment suddenly feels fragile again.
Joined by legendary anchor Pat Powers, the first episode mixes insider broadcasting stories, media analysis, newsroom memories, and blunt conversation about the future of the business.
If you care about journalism, media, radio, or free speech — welcome aboard.
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