Graydon Carter On When the Going Was Good

Join Michael Zeldin in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation with Graydon Carter as they explore his memoir When the Going Was Good, a richly detailed look at a defining chapter in media history. Carter reflects on his extraordinary career, from his early days as a writer to co-creating Spy and ultimately leading Vanity Fair for 25 years, where he helped shape the voice, influence, and cultural relevance of modern magazine journalism.

Throughout the conversation, Carter shares behind-the-scenes stories, editorial instincts, and hard-earned insights into what made the “last golden age of magazines” so impactful. The discussion goes beyond nostalgia, offering a thoughtful perspective on how storytelling, power, and personality intersected to define an era, and what today’s communicators can learn from a time when print media commanded both attention and authority