Decoder with Nilay Patel

Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web's homepage

16 Mar 2026

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Jim Lanzone is the CEO of Yahoo. It's basically impossible to sum up Yahoo's story over the last 25 years, but the short version is that once upon a time, Yahoo paid Google to run the search box on its website, and everything immediately went sideways. Jim calls it Yahoo's original sin. But after a long series of mergers, spinouts, and a hot, weird minute as part of Verizon Yahoo is once again an independent, privately held company — and it's growing. Yahoo Sports, Finance, and email (yes, really) are all getting bigger. But can Yahoo really take market share from Google? And with so much of both sports and finance turning into straight up gambling, does Jim have any red lines he won’t cross with two of the biggest apps on the internet? Links: Yahoo sells Engadget to Static Media | The Verge Yahoo sells TechCrunch to Regent | The Verge Yahoo Finance launches crypto partnership with Coinbase | Yahoo Yahoo Scout looks like more web-friendly AI search | The Verge Yahoo Finance launches crypto deal with Polymarket | Yahoo Finance Yahoo resurrects Artifact inside AI-powered news app | The Verge Yahoo Mail adds more AI to simplify desktop email | The Verge Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Decoder with Nilay Patel

Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web's homepage

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from Decoder with Nilay Patel

Everyone hates Ticketmaster. Why'd Trump go easy on them?

Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated me

Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros. gamble

Anthropic doesn't trust the Pentagon, and neither should you

Hasbro's CEO lets AI Peppa Pig help design toys

Prediction markets want to be the news

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