“I come bearing news: I’m bringing my run at Hot Pod to a close.” –Nick Quah, Hot Pod founder
Weekly podcast business newsletter Hot Pod has been acquired by digital culture publication The Verge. No financials are disclosed in the announcement sent by parent company Vox Media. Although the press release is framed in future tense, the grab and its role changes seem to be happening now.
Preeminent among them is a new role for Hot Pod founder and chief writer Nick Quah, who will cease writing Hot Pod, and shift over to Vox properties New York and Vulture, where he will be a “full-time podcast critic.” Ashley Carman, a senior writer at The Verge who covers audio, podcasting, and digital lifestyles, will take over the main Hot Pod content.
“I can’t think of a better home for Hot Pod than The Verge,” says The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel. “The story of the podcast industry is the story of technology and culture colliding, and Ashley is the perfect reporter to take it over and bring it everything The Verge can offer. As long-time fans of Hot Pod, we’re excited to keep growing the community Nick has fostered.”
“Seven years is an eternity. It’s time for a change.” –Nick Quah
“Stepping away from Hot Pod is, of course, bittersweet, but I have absolute faith that The Verge will build a great future for the publication and its readership,” says Quah. “And I’m excited to join some of the best writers in the world at Vulture. I’ll try to keep up.”
Quah founded Hot Pod in 2014, and has been a speaker at RAIN’s Podcast Business Summit.
.