Kara Swisher
Born 1962 · Age 63
American technology journalist and podcaster who has covered the business of the internet since the 1990s; co-founder of Recode and co-producer/host of the Code / All Things D conferences; longtime Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reporter; host of multiple podcasts and author.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Kara Swisher and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Father dies; family moves to Princeton, NJ
Her father died when she was five; family moved to Princeton, New Jersey where she grew up.
Writes for college newspaper The Hoya
While attending Georgetown University, Swisher wrote for The Hoya and The Georgetown Voice, launching her journalism path.
Interned at The Washington Post
During sophomore/junior years at Georgetown she interned at The Washington Post, which solidified her journalism career.
Graduated Georgetown University (BS)
Received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1984.
Graduated Columbia University Journalism (MS)
Earned a Master of Science degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in 1985.
Joined The Washington Post (news aid / reporter)
Returned to The Washington Post as a news aid on the Style desk and later covered local retail and other beats.
Fellowship in Kreuzberg, Berlin
After the fall of the Berlin Wall she received a fellowship allowing her to live almost a year in Kreuzberg, studying and preparing for future work.
Began covering the business of the internet
By the mid-1990s (notably 1994) she began reporting on the business of the internet, a beat she has maintained since.
Joined The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco bureau
Joined WSJ's San Francisco bureau and created the 'BoomTown' column covering Silicon Valley companies and personalities.
Published 'aol.com' book
Published aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web (Times Business Books) in July 1998.
Named co-executive editor, All Things Digital
Began expanding work with Walt Mossberg on All Things Digital; listed as co-executive editor by 2001-era bios.
Launched D: All Things Digital conference (co-producer)
With Walt Mossberg she launched the D: All Things Digital conference series in 2003—an influential tech/media interview conference.
Published 'There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere'
Published the sequel There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future in fall 2003 (Crown Business).
Launched AllThingsD.com daily blog
Expanded the D conference into a daily website AllThingsD.com (listed as co-executive editors from 2007 onward).
Moderated joint Gates–Jobs interview at All Things D
In 2007 she and Walt Mossberg conducted the notable joint interview with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs at the All Things D conference.
Suffered a mini-stroke on long-haul flight
Experienced a 'mini-stroke' while on a flight to Hong Kong in 2011 and was hospitalized and placed on anticoagulants.
Won Gerald Loeb Award for Blogging
Received a Gerald Loeb Award in 2011 for blogging (liveblogging Yahoo earnings calls in 2010).
Stopped as co-executive editor of AllThingsD.com
AllThingsD team listed as co-executive editors until the end of 2013; transition preceded founding Recode.
Separated from Megan Smith
Swisher and Megan Smith separated in 2014 (divorce finalized by 2017).
Co-founded Recode (with Walt Mossberg)
Swisher and Walt Mossberg launched the Recode website on January 1, 2014, based in San Francisco.
Inaugural Code Conference (Recode) held
Held the inaugural Code (Code Conference) in spring 2014 as Recode's marquee conference (conference series built from D conferences).
Appeared as herself on HBO's Silicon Valley
Made a cameo appearance as herself in an episode of HBO's Silicon Valley (appearance noted in 2015-era bios).
Described as 'Silicon Valley’s most feared but revered journalist'
By this period press profiles (New York Magazine and others) labeled Swisher a top tech journalist with unusual access and influence.
Appeared on The Simpsons as herself
Credited with an appearance/voice as herself on Fox's The Simpsons (bio references this cameo; commonly cited around 2015).
Judge for NYC BigApps competition (date unspecified)
Served as a judge for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's NYC BigApps competition (year not precisely specified in bios; active biographical role).
Vox Media acquires Recode
Vox Media acquired Recode in May 2015; Recode became part of Vox while Swisher continued on its programs.
Launched Recode Decode podcast
Launched the Recode Decode weekly interview podcast in June 2015; first guest was Slack cofounder Stewart Butterfield.
Announced plan to run for San Francisco mayor (intention)
In 2016 she said she planned to run for mayor of San Francisco as a Democrat in the 2023 cycle (publicly floated civic ambitions).
Married Megan Smith (first marriage in 1999; multiple legal ceremonies noted)
Marriage history: Swisher married Megan Smith in 1999 (multiple additional legal ceremonies in 2003, 2004, 2008); they had two sons and separated in 2014 (divorced by 2017). Included here as a grouped personal timeline event.
Featured interview appearance on Tim Ferriss Show
Appeared on Tim Ferriss's podcast (episode published January 26, 2017) discussing career and interviewing craft.
Joined The New York Times Opinion as contributing writer
Became a contributing writer to the New York Times Opinion section in August 2018 focusing on technology and power.
Launched Pivot podcast (with Scott Galloway)
Recode and Vox Media launched Pivot, a semi-weekly news commentary podcast co-hosted by Swisher and Scott Galloway, in September 2018.
Pivot joins New York Magazine; Swisher to be editor-at-large
In April 2020 New York Magazine announced Pivot would join its properties and Swisher would become editor-at-large.
Tweets she had not edited Recode for years
In May 2020 Swisher tweeted that she had not been involved in editing or assigning stories on Recode for many years.
Launched Sway podcast (New York Times)
The New York Times premiered Sway, a semiweekly podcast hosted by Swisher about power; first guest was Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Sep 2020).
Married Amanda Katz
Married Amanda Katz on October 3, 2020; they later had two children together.
Hosted Succession companion podcast (season 3)
Hosted the official companion podcast for HBO's Succession Season 3 in 2021.
Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.
Signed two-book memoir deal with Simon & Schuster
In 2021 it was announced she signed a two-book memoir deal with Simon & Schuster.
Announced departure from The New York Times
In June 2022 Swisher announced she would leave The New York Times to pursue a new project at New York Magazine.
Joined New York Magazine as editor-at-large; premiered 'On with Kara Swisher'
Became editor-at-large at New York Magazine and launched the podcast 'On with Kara Swisher'; first episode premiered September 26, 2022.
Hosted Succession companion podcast (season 4)
Hosted the official companion podcast for HBO's Succession Season 4 (2023).
Pivot and other podcasts win critical recognition
Pivot named one of the 'Best Podcasts of 2022' by The New York Times and 'Best Thought Leadership Podcast' at the 2022 Adweek Audio Awards; recognition carried into 2023 coverage.
Named to Hollywood Reporter's 'Podcast Power Players' & Out 100; won iHeart 'Pioneer Icon' award
Named to The Hollywood Reporter's 'Podcast Power Players' list (2022 & 2023), the 2023 Out 100, and received the 'Pioneer Icon' award at the 2023 iHeart Podcast Awards.
Received criticism for 'Burn Book' and public discussion about its tone
Following publication of Burn Book in 2024, the book received mixed critical commentary including claims it was 'anti-worker' from some critics.
High-profile ongoing speaking & media roles
Continues to serve as editor-at-large at New York Magazine, host of 'On with Kara Swisher', co-host of Pivot (until 2022/ongoing events), regular TV appearances and major tech conference moderations.
Published 'Burn Book: A Tech Love Story'
Released Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster) — a memoir and history of the internet business and its founders — in February 2024.
Appeared with Senator Elizabeth Warren at SXSW (photo caption)
Image captions and bios note Swisher with Senator Elizabeth Warren at SXSW 2025—continued active role speaking at major conferences.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Kara Swisher and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Liz Phair
Born 1967 · Age 58
American rock singer-songwriter and musician best known as Liz Phair. Broke out with 1993 debut Exile in Guyville and has released seven studio albums, worked in TV composition, written a memoir, and toured internationally.
Andy Ihnatko
Born 1967 · Age 58
American technology author, longtime Mac/tech journalist, podcaster and commentator. Longtime columnist for Mac publications and the Chicago Sun-Times; frequent contributor to WGBH/Boston Public Radio and the TWiT network; host/co-host of multiple podcasts (The Ihnatko Almanac, Material) and regular panelist on MacBreak Weekly.
Kimberly Bryant
Born 1967 · Age 58
American electrical engineer and social entrepreneur; founder of Black Girls Code and founder/CEO of Black Innovation Lab; advocate for tech inclusion for girls of color.
Satya Nadella
Born 1967 · Age 58
Indian-born American business executive; Chairman and CEO of Microsoft (CEO since Feb 2014; Chairman since Jun 2021). Led Microsoft's cloud transformation and major acquisitions (LinkedIn, GitHub, Mojang).
Joe Rogan
Born 1967 · Age 58
American stand-up comedian, podcaster (The Joe Rogan Experience), UFC color commentator, actor, television host, and entrepreneur.
Sam Harris
Born 1967 · Age 58
American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, meditation teacher and podcast host; prominent critic of religion and proponent of secular spirituality (one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism).