Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Is “peak TV” actually over… and does anyone even know what to watch anymore?
On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner, Grubes, and the crew sit down with longtime writer and TV critic Chris Vognar to talk about the evolving world of television, journalism, and media.
Chris takes us through his journey—from growing up in Berkeley, to building a 20+ year career at the Dallas Morning News, to landing at the Boston Globe, one of the most respected newsrooms in the country.
The conversation dives into:
Why there may be less great TV… but more good TV than ever
How streaming completely changed how we watch and discover shows
What it’s like working inside a newsroom that actually matters to its community
The rise, fall, and future of modern journalism
And how critics help navigate a world with too much content
Along the way, there’s nostalgia for old-school media, stories from Dallas and Boston, and a look at how storytelling still connects everything—from newspapers to streaming platforms.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed scrolling for something to watch—or wondered what’s happening to journalism—this episode hits.
⏱ Chapters
0:00 — Lightning Strikes and Classic Rhyner Open
The show kicks off with chaos, Rangers talk, and vintage YDC energy
1:17 — Introducing Chris Vognar
From Dallas to Boston Globe—why his work stands out
3:36 — From Berkeley to the Dallas Morning News
Chris’s early career path and getting started in journalism
5:53 — 23 Years at the Dallas Morning News
Opportunities, covering movies, and wild assignments
6:59 — Why the Boston Globe Feels Different
A newsroom that still matters to its community
10:00 — Boston vs Texas Living
Weather, culture, and adjusting to a completely different city
12:09 — Freelancing vs Being in a Newsroom
Why having a “team” still matters in journalism
16:00 — Is Peak TV Over?
Why there’s less “great” TV—but more good TV than ever
17:40 — What’s Actually Worth Watching Right Now
Streaming picks, trends, and navigating content overload
22:01 — How Streaming Changed Everything
Why TV is more complicated—and more crowded—than ever
27:27 — Content Overload and Cultural Shifts
Too many shows, longer series, and audience fatigue
29:42 — Sponsor: CBD House of Healing
30:51 — The Changing World of Interviews and Media Access
34:40 — Dallas Memories and Media Nostalgia
37:06 — What’s Next for Chris Vognar
Career reflections, future goals, and possibly writing a book
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode:
patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/
X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445
The Old Grey Wolf:
X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579
To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
On this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner, Grubes, and the crew sit down with longtime writer and TV critic Chris Vognar to talk about the evolving world of television, journalism, and media.
Chris takes us through his journey—from growing up in Berkeley, to building a 20+ year career at the Dallas Morning News, to landing at the Boston Globe, one of the most respected newsrooms in the country.
The conversation dives into:
Why there may be less great TV… but more good TV than ever
How streaming completely changed how we watch and discover shows
What it’s like working inside a newsroom that actually matters to its community
The rise, fall, and future of modern journalism
And how critics help navigate a world with too much content
Along the way, there’s nostalgia for old-school media, stories from Dallas and Boston, and a look at how storytelling still connects everything—from newspapers to streaming platforms.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed scrolling for something to watch—or wondered what’s happening to journalism—this episode hits.
⏱ Chapters
0:00 — Lightning Strikes and Classic Rhyner Open
The show kicks off with chaos, Rangers talk, and vintage YDC energy
1:17 — Introducing Chris Vognar
From Dallas to Boston Globe—why his work stands out
3:36 — From Berkeley to the Dallas Morning News
Chris’s early career path and getting started in journalism
5:53 — 23 Years at the Dallas Morning News
Opportunities, covering movies, and wild assignments
6:59 — Why the Boston Globe Feels Different
A newsroom that still matters to its community
10:00 — Boston vs Texas Living
Weather, culture, and adjusting to a completely different city
12:09 — Freelancing vs Being in a Newsroom
Why having a “team” still matters in journalism
16:00 — Is Peak TV Over?
Why there’s less “great” TV—but more good TV than ever
17:40 — What’s Actually Worth Watching Right Now
Streaming picks, trends, and navigating content overload
22:01 — How Streaming Changed Everything
Why TV is more complicated—and more crowded—than ever
27:27 — Content Overload and Cultural Shifts
Too many shows, longer series, and audience fatigue
29:42 — Sponsor: CBD House of Healing
30:51 — The Changing World of Interviews and Media Access
34:40 — Dallas Memories and Media Nostalgia
37:06 — What’s Next for Chris Vognar
Career reflections, future goals, and possibly writing a book
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode:
patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/
X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445
The Old Grey Wolf:
X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579
To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com
Creators and Guests
Host
Mike Rhyner
Mike Rhyner… "a little on the bumpy side, but rather likable"…so stated famously by a grade school teacher in Oak Cliff, where Mike grew up. A complicated guy, yet a guy who can do long division and remember call strike three to A Rod. Probably best left unattended. Don't expect assistance from him if a medical situation arises.
What is Your Dark Companion Podcast?
"Whatever I want it to be about on a given day; is what it is." Your Dark Companion couples your familiar friends from radio, Mike and Grubes! Mike brings his classic interviews that draw you in, and Grubes—The Devil—drops…well the drops, and throws the occasional grenade. Mike likes to draw on his fascinating acquaintances and friends allowing them to tell their stories as you've never heard them. But he also goes outside his network, sharing Grubes' network, and often outside of both, to bring you those they don't know, but believe have a story that will make you laugh, make you think, think differently, or just entertain you…"that's what we are trying to do here."