E1: Jackie Goldstein (NYPost & Vox)

In the first episode of the Smooth Operator podcast, host Blake Saunders engages in a compelling conversation with Jackie Goldstein, VP of Commerce at the New York Post. They delve into the transformation of traditional publishers into the realm of commerce. Goldstein shares her experience as the former Senior Director of Commerce at Vox Media, where she recognized untapped potential in podcasting and commerce. Her perspective shifted as she witnessed the financial impact and began to view these avenues as essential for revenue diversification. Goldstein discusses the challenge of aligning commerce with editorial teams, emphasizing the importance of framing sales as engagement metrics to alleviate concerns and highlight the value of content to audiences. She further explores the successful integration of commerce and podcasts at the New York Post, where separate sections are dedicated to affiliate content in "The Shopping Section." Ultimately, Goldstein emphasizes the significance of strong vision, transparency, and ongoing communication to gain support from veteran writers and editors. She believes that showcasing success through examples and case studies will pave the way for wider acceptance of commerce initiatives in the publishing industry.