The Journal Podcast: A Deep Dive into Money, Business, and Power
The Journal, a daily news podcast co-produced by Spotify and The Wall Street Journal, has become a prominent source of information on money, business, and power since its debut in June 2019. With over 1,400 episodes, the podcast delivers weekday updates typically lasting between 15 and 25 minutes, featuring interviews with journalists from The Wall Street Journal.
Origins and Format
Launched as a counterpart to other daily news podcasts like The Daily (from The Novel York Times), The Journal quickly established itself as a travel-to resource for in-depth reporting. The podcast’s format centers on dissecting the day’s most essential business stories, offering context and analysis beyond headlines.
Hosts
The Journal is currently hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. Kate Linebaugh hosted the podcast from its inception in 2019 until 2025.
Key Topics Covered
Over the years, The Journal has tackled a wide range of significant events and trends, including:
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence
- Major corporate acquisitions, such as Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter
- Financial scandals, including the bankruptcy of FTX and the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried
- Investigations surrounding former and current political figures, including Donald Trump prior to his 2024 presidential campaign.
Musical Identity
The podcast’s distinctive opening theme is composed by So Wylie, a musician who has also contributed to other Spotify-produced podcasts like Dissect, The Habitat, and Murder Ballads.
Publication Schedule and Accessibility
New episodes of The Journal are released Monday through Friday by 4 p.m. ET and are available exclusively on Spotify.