The Journal Podcast: A Daily Dose of Business and Power
The Journal, a daily news podcast co-produced by Spotify and The Wall Street Journal, delivers in-depth reporting on money, business, and power. Launched in June 2019, the podcast has grown to over 1,400 episodes, providing listeners with a weekday update on the day’s most important stories. Episodes typically range from 15 to 25 minutes in length.
Origins and Format
The Journal was created as a companion to The New York Times’ daily news podcast, The Daily. The podcast features interviews with journalists from The Wall Street Journal, offering insights and analysis based on their reporting. Episodes are released Monday through Friday by 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Key Topics Covered
Since its inception, The Journal has covered a wide range of significant events, including:
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- The rise of generative artificial intelligence
- Major acquisition deals, such as Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X)
- The bankruptcy of FTX and the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried
- Investigations surrounding former and current U.S. President Donald Trump
Hosts and Production
The podcast is currently hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. Kate Linebaugh was a host from 2019 to 2025. The opening theme music was composed by So Wylie, who has also created music for other Spotify podcasts like Dissect, The Habitat, and Murder Ballads.
Reception
Forbes has noted that the podcast “inevitably crosses over into the realms of politics, news and science.”