iHeartMedia

Premiering May 13, the weekly podcast will feature Madison in unfiltered conversations with visionaries and pop culture icons like Tina Knowles, Chappell Roan, Sasha Colby, Laverne Cox, Lil Nas X and more

Listen to the trailer HERE

NEW YORK – May 6, 2025 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced “Outlaws” with TS Madison -- a new original podcast series joining the Outspoken Podcast Network and hosted by cultural icon, LGBTQ+ activist and entertainer TS Madison. Premiering Tuesday, May 13, the first episode will feature a candid conversation with Tina Knowles, businesswoman, philanthropist, author and mother of Beyoncé and Solange. Fans can listen to the trailer now, here.

No one does it like TS Madison. Each week on “Outlaws,” the host will chop it up with the internet’s most wanted—living legends and rising stars who will shed their armor for an hour, owning their stories in conversations that feel like odysseys. Listeners can expect some episodes to crack them up—while others might crack them open. It won’t be church, but it will feel sacred. It won’t be therapy, but something will always shift. It won’t be a living room, but it might be the most at-home listeners have felt in a while. It’s the kind of space Madison has spent her whole career creating.

“Being yourself loudly, truthfully and unapologetically has always been my mission, even when it made people uncomfortable,” said TS Madison. “‘Outlaws’ is about reclaiming the power in being different, in being vocal and in standing firm in your truth. Sometimes the world will label you an ‘Outlaw’ just for living out loud, and I wear that title with pride. This podcast is a space for reflection, real talk and revolution. Because when you speak up and stand tall, you don’t just break the mold, you make change.”

“We’re proud to launch a series that amplifies bold voices and uncompromising stories of resilience,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “TS Madison brings unmatched energy, insight and heart to every conversation, making ‘Outlaws’ as fearless and impactful as she is.”

Additional guests will include Chappell Roan, Sasha Colby, Lil Nas X, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and Laverne Cox, among others. 

"Outlaws” with TS Madison is co-created by Tyler Rabinowitz and Olivia Peace, with Rabinowitz and Maya Howard (iHeartPodcasts) serving as executive producer alongside Madison. The series is a part of iHeartMedia’s Outspoken Podcast Network and is co-produced by Turtle Run Entertainment.

All shows on the Outspoken Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts. The network aims to amplify, elevate and reflect the diversity, richness and humanity of the voices throughout the LGBTQ+ community. See the current Outspoken Podcast Network lineup of shows here. 

The first episode of “Outlaws” with TS Madison will be available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms beginning Tuesday, May 13, 2025. 

Editor's Note: 

Podcast cover art is available for download HERE. Please use the below embed code to include the podcast audio player in your article. 

Embed Code: ​​https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-outlaws-with-ts-madison-273947965/

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ABOUT TS MADISON

TS Madison is an award-winning media mogul, actress, executive producer, and cultural icon whose influence spans film, television, music, social media, live events—and now, podcasting. She rose to prominence on Vine with the six-second clip “New Weave 22 Inches,” and made history as the first Black trans woman to star in and executive produce her own reality series with "The TS Madison Experience" on WeTV. Her screen credits include A24’s "Zola," Universal’s "Bros," and Netflix + Tyler Perry’s "Beauty in Black." Madison’s voice was immortalized on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album “Renaissance,” via the song “Cozy,” where her YouTube monologue, “Bitch, I’m Black,” became the heartbeat of a self-love anthem, and a defining moment in modern music history. She’s a fan-favorite rotating judge on "RuPaul’s Drag Race" and the host of "Bring Back My Girls," the official reunion series of the Drag Race franchise. Over the past decade, Madison has built a loyal following through her live-streamed and touring talk shows "Maddie in the Morning" and "Phag Tawlk" (with Craig Stewart), cementing her status as a self-made media powerhouse and architect of pop culture. In 2025, she launched the TS Madison Starter House in Atlanta—transforming the first home she’d purchased into a safe re-entry housing program for formerly incarcerated Black trans women. This full-circle act of reinvestment redefines what it means to give back –– cementing Madison’s legacy not just as an entertainer, but as a builder of futures and a voice for systemic change. Honors include the 2024 Logo Legend Award, Out Magazine’s Out100 list, and serving as Grand Marshal for the 2022 NYC Pride Parade. On the horizon, Madison announced that Lee Daniels is adapting her life story into a biopic series.

New Podcast Offers a Deep Dive into the Untamed Stories that Shape the West; Expands MeatEater’s History Content Offerings

BOZEMAN, MT - May 6, 2025 - MeatEater, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of The American West with Dan Flores, an expansive new audio series that brings the myth, grit, and complexity of Western American history to life. Hosted by renowned historian and bestselling author Dr. Dan Flores, the 26-episode series will debut today on the MeatEater Podcast Network with new episodes dropping every other week. Episodes will also be available in video format exclusively on the MeatEater Podcast Network’s Youtube channel.  

The former Endowed Chair of Western History at the University of Montana, Flores brings his voice to the podcasting world, offering a radically fresh take on the West’s history – placing its rich ecological history and the people who shaped it at the center of the story. Through immersive episodes and thought-provoking dialogue with his former students Steven Rinella and Randall Williams (historian, public lands advocate, and Senior Editor at MeatEater’s book department), Flores explores famous, infamous, and forgotten stories of the American West. 

“This is the history class you wish you had in school. It’s raw, real, and rooted in the very landscapes we still explore today,” said Steven Rinella, MeatEater Founder. “Dan has a way of making history feel alive, and more relevant than ever. This podcast is the result of decades of his thinking and I can’t wait for our audience to experience it.” 

“This series tells the story of a West that’s much older, wilder, and more complex than the Hollywood version,” said Dan Flores. “It’s not just cowboys and shootouts, it’s extinction events, ancient civilizations, trickster gods, and lost rivers of time. This is a podcast about what made the American West so wild, so inspiring, and so complex.”

The first few episodes include:

• West of Everything: Following the collapse of the grand Chacoan Empire, refugees founded eight thriving new towns along the Galisteo River of New Mexico, but ultimately discovered it difficult to sustain an arid climate civilization across the next five hundred years.
• Clovisia the Beautiful: Humans belonging to Clovis and Folsom cultures entered an America teeming with a remarkable diversity of Africa-like creatures, but confronted an extinction crisis that was possibly precipitated by their own arrival.
• Raven’s and Coyote’s America: Native America existed for 10,000 years in a West marked by many earlier extinctions, but somehow found it possible to preserve almost all the biological richness of the continent until the arrival of Europeans.
• Old Man America: When Native people cast about for an American animal to carry their creation stories, the intelligent survivor, coyote, became deity Coyote, an avatar for humans who taught them about human nature for thousands of years.
• The Wild New World of the American Serengeti: When American explorers first entered the West, they found an unfamiliar world of landscapes and animals their journals and accounts preserve as an ecological baseline for what the West was only 200 years ago.
• Jefferson’s ‘Other’ Lewis & Clark: When Thomas Jefferson acquired the 800-million acre Louisiana Purchase, he launched a second major exploring expedition into the West, one with an entirely different outcome than Lewis and Clark’s, an outcome that shines a new light on what Lewis and Clark’s journey really meant for America.

The series is the inaugural podcast under the new MeatEater American History banner, bringing rigorous, story-driven history to a community passionate about wild places. With the launch of this podcast, MeatEater is expanding its growing slate of well received history-focused content. The podcast follows the success of its American History audiobooks, MeatEater's American History: The Long Hunters (1761-1775) and MeatEater's American History: The Mountain Men (1806-1840), and furthers the brand’s signature focus on the intersection of nature, history, and the American experience.

“We’ve always believed that a deeper connection to the outdoors starts with understanding the forces that shaped it. With Dan Flores, we’re launching a new chapter of content that enriches our audience’s experience of the natural world,” said Andrew Barge, MeatEater’s Chief Content Officer. “This podcast bridges the gap between the wild world we explore and the stories that give it meaning. It’s a natural evolution of MeatEater’s mission.” 

The American West with Dan Flores is distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

It will be available on the iHeartRadio app, all other major podcast platforms and at themeateater.com. 

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About MeatEater, Inc.

MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle media and consumer products company founded by renowned writer and TV/podcast personality Steven Rinella. Host of the long-running TV series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast (among the top ten sports podcasts), Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters, anglers, and others through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. With the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater brings together leading influencers in the categories of hunting, fishing, wild foods, and conservation to provide a community of fans with premium content, apparel, equipment, and experiences. MeatEater, Inc. is the parent company of First Lite (technical hunting apparel), FHF Gear (outdoor accessories), Phelps Game Calls, and Dave Smith Decoys. MeatEater’s video content is distributed via Netflix, Outdoor Sportsman Group cable networks, YouTube, its website www.themeateater.com, its own free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel, and numerous ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) platforms including Roku, PlutoTV, Tubi, and Amazon Prime Video. The company is based in Bozeman, MT.

Join Andrea Barber and Jodie Sweetin for an Unforgettable Night with John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, and Special Surprise Guests on June 5, 2025 in Los Angeles

Tickets Now Available Here

WHAT: iHeartPodcasts’ “How Rude, Tanneritos!” is going live with the ultimate Full House celebration! One of TV’s most beloved couples, Uncle Jesse and Rebecca Donaldson, will be reliving their iconic love story.

WHO: “How Rude, Tanneritos!” hosts, Andrea Barber and Jodie Sweetin, will be joined by John Stamos and Lori Loughlin to look back on the fun and nostalgia of their memorable TV wedding and share moments from their time on the show. Fans can expect to hear behind-the-scenes stories, shared in an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime event. Plus, there will be special surprise guest appearances!

Tickets are now available for purchase at: https://www.universe.com/events/how-rude-tanneritos-the-wedding-special-tickets-SG2F5B

A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Altadena Builds Back Foundation. 

WHEN: Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 6 p.m. PT. Tickets on sale now

WHERE: iHeartRadio Theater / 3000 W Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91523. Purchase tickets HERE.

Follow @howrudepodcast, @jodiesweetin, and @andreabarber on Instagram for updates.

Tim McGraw shared a video during the show announcing he will be a performer at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival in September 2025

Hulu served as Official Streaming Destination of the festival and it was broadcast across iHeartCountry stations nationwide

NEW YORK- May 5, 2025- The twelfth annual iHeartCountry Festival Presented by Capital One celebrated Country music’s hottest artists including Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Cole Swindell, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith and special guest Dasha at the award-winning Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The festival was once again hosted by iHeartMedia's nationally syndicated top on-air Country personality, Bobby Bones. Hulu was the Official Streaming Destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed exclusively to all Hulu subscribers. The event also broadcasted across iHeartCountry stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app on Saturday, May 3 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (7 p.m. CT).

The Daytime Village at the iHeartCountry Festival featured performances from Nate Smith, Megan Moroney, Matt Stell, Tucker Wetmore and Dasha. Presenters at the mainstage event included Chet Hanks and Drew Arthur of “Something Out West” and James Van Der Beek.

Highlights from this year’s festival include:

• Thomas Rhett opened up the 2025 iHeartCountry Festival having the crowd sing along to his hits “Make Me Wanna,” “Look What God Gave Her,” “Beautiful As You,” “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman,” “After All the Bars Are Closed,” and “Die a Happy Man.”
• Rascal Flatts kept the energy up with their hits “Here’s to you,” “Yours if You Want It,” “Fast Cars,” “I Dare You,” “What Hurts,” and “Life is a Highway.”
• Nate Smith performed his fan favorites “Bulletproof,” “Whiskey on You,” “Fix What You Didn’t Break,” and “World on Fire.”
• Megan Moroney rocked the stage in a red heart dress, performing her fan favorites “Am I Okay?” “No Caller ID” and the crowd sand along to her hit “Tennessee Orange.”
• Tim McGraw shared a video during the show announcing he will be a performer at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival in September 2025.
• Dasha had the crowd dancing along to her hit “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’).”
• Bailey Zimmerman took the stage exciting the crowd with “Religiously,” “Back Up Plan,” “Where It Ends,” and “Rock.”
• Cole Swindell charmed the crowd with his hits “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” “Chillin It,” “Forever To Me,” “You Should Be Here,” “We Can Always Move On,” and “Heads Carolina.”
• Sam Hunt brought the crowd to their feet performing “House Party,” “Kinfolks,” “Outskirts,” “Country House,” “Take Your Time,” “Break Up In A Small Town,” and “Body Like A Backroad.”
• Brooks & Dunn closed out the night with a special nostalgic performance of country fan favorites including “Brand New Man,” “Red Dirt Road,” “Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You,” “Rock My World,” “Play Somethin’ Country,” “Neon Moon,” “My Maria,” “Boot Scoot,” “Only In America.”

iHeartCountry Festival Presented by Capital One is an iHeartMedia Production. Proud partners of this year’s event include Capital One, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, belVita, Chumba Casino, Coffee Toppers™ Cold Foam, Wild Turkey® Bourbon and Country Crock®.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® is the benefiting charity partner of the 2025 iHeartCountry Festival. Music unites, heals, and changes lives and that’s why the country music community is proud to support St. Jude in the fight against childhood cancer and invites fans to help too. Fans can visit musicgives.org today and become a Partner in Hope. Donations ensure that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.

For more information visit iHeartRadio.com/countryfestival.

To access photos and b-roll from the event, please use the links below:

B-roll: HERE

Photos:

Show: https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000XZNE9Te9sG0/G0000khc_SHPW3bY/Best-Of-The-2025-iHeartCountry-Festival

Red Carpet: https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000CaUUOgVNgSM/G0000ehM414GDXpQ/Press-Room

Photo credit: Name in caption (ie: Rick Kern for iHeartRadio)

NEW YORK – April 24, 2025 – iHeartMedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: IHRT) announced today that David Hillman has been named its Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.   

In his new role, Hillman will oversee all legal matters for the company, including the compliance, regulatory and corporate governance functions, as well as the company’s Government Affairs, Business Affairs and Privacy teams.  

Hillman comes to iHeart with broad media experience. Most recently he served as Chief Legal Officer and member of the founding leadership team of Venu Sports, a sports streaming joint venture between ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery.  Prior to Venu, Hillman worked at Paramount Global, last serving as EVP and General Counsel of CBS Sports and CBS News & Stations. He also served as General Counsel at both Simon & Schuster and Westwood One. 

“David has very relevant experience across a range of media businesses, as well as specific familiarity with the audio industry,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc.  “We believe his wealth of experience will make him an ideal addition to the iHeart executive team as we continue to grow our momentum as the #1 audio company in America.”

“iHeart is the leader in the audio space in America, backed by a management team deeply committed to growth and innovation, and I’m excited to join and contribute to what’s next,” said Hillman. “I look forward to working with iHeart’s leadership, partners, and the talented Legal team to help advance the company across every corner of the audio landscape.”

Hosted by MandiiB and WeezyWTF of “Decisions, Decisions,” the event featured live tapings of popular shows, thoughtful panel discussions with leading content creators and media executives, and fun fan activations

Special guests included Charlamagne Tha God, Clayton English, Dr. Jay Barnett, Devi Brown, Amber Grimes, Tank, J. Valentine, Jacquees, Tyler Watts, Cam Newton, Porsha Williams, Cari Champion, Iman Shumpert, Donald Albright, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Toya Johnson

NEW YORK AND ATLANTA – April 29, 2025 – Last Saturday, iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God celebrated The Third Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA held to highlight, uplift and amplify Black voices in the podcast industry. For the third year in a row, the festival brought together podcast fans and The Black Effect Podcast Network’s top talent for a day of live podcast recordings from network’s most popular shows including “Trap Nerds Podcast,” “Good Moms, Bad Choices,” “R&B Money Podcast with Tank and J. Valentine,” “Naked Sports with Cari Champion” and “Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts.”

The festival also featured a special live recording of the hit podcast “Funky Friday with Cam Newton.” Additionally, the event delivered two thought provoking and informative panel discussions: “Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness” and “Adapting to Trends: The Future of Podcasting.”  

Festival highlights include:

• The day began with WeezyWTF and Mandii B of “Decisions,” Decisions” introducing the “Trap Nerds Podcast” hosts Exavier, Dre, Eli and Tony for a live recording featuring comedian Clayton English. The hosts took their signature blend of humor, culture and fandom to the stage and led an epic, sports-style bracket showdown to determine the ultimate champion across superheroes and supervillains.  
• Charlamagne Tha God, Dr. Jay Barnett, Devi Brown and Dr. Shawn Bethea, MD participated in the “Prioritizing Mental Wellness and Physical Health” panel moderated by Amber Grimes, Executive Vice President and General Manager at LVRN Records – a progressive record label that launched an entire division focused on mental health and wellness for their roster of artists. The group discussed ways to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle, health and preventative care for people of color, holistic self-care, community wellness and more.
• “R&B Money with Tank and J. Valentine” turned the festival into a concert when they brought out their special guest Jacquees. The Atlanta-born singer joined the stage while singing his hit song "B.E.D." He also invited his new artist Tyler Watts to join him for his conversation with the hosts about the evolution of his career and the R&B genre.  
• “Good Moms, Bad Choices” hosts Erica and Milah had the entire audience amped up after they busted out a few dance moves on the stage after their conversation about motherhood with special guest Dreka Gates.
• Cam Newton invited Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams onstage for a rare edition of his show “Funky Friday.” The two shared moments of inspiration and lessons on resilience, reinvention and staying authentic in the public eye. He also recorded another impromptu episode with rapper and songwriter Trinidad James offstage.
• Cari Champion invited former NBA star Iman Shumpert onstage for a live taping of “Naked Sports” for an honest, funny and deeply human conversation about life and sports. They tackled heated topics including Lebron vs. Michael Jordan, the greatest player in the league and top picks for the 2025 NBA championship.
• Dollie S. Bishop, President of Black Effect Podcast Network moderated the “Adapting to Trends: The Future of Podcasting” panel; a forward-looking discussion about where podcasting is headed, including trends such as video podcasting, brand partnerships, live-streamed shows and interactive formats. Panelists included Charlamagne Tha God, Oby Eniya, Head of Media, The Coca-Cola Company, Carrie Lieberman, COO, iHeartPodcasts, Donald Albright, Founder of TenderfootTV and Mick Hunt, host of “Mick Unplugged.”
• Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts closed the show with a heartfelt special edition of “Woman Evolve” featuring special guest Toya Johnson. Through candid reflections on their personal and professional journeys, Sarah and Toya offered valuable insights on navigating transitions, empowering others and evolving as women. They reminded festivalgoers that growth is a continuous, transformative process.  

Festival sponsors included AT&T, Nissan and Coca-Cola™. Sponsor activations included the Pitch Your Podcast booth presented by Nissan, offering aspiring creators the opportunity to pitch their podcast ideas to Black Effect Network executives.

For more information about The Black Effect Podcast Festival, click HERE.

Download Event Photos: 

The Best of The Third Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival | PW: iHeartBlackEffect25!

Credit: Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network – @d_whyte @gettyentertainment on Instagram

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God in a historic joint venture with the world’s number-one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia. Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the essential Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and sports. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspectives and creative visions have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in podcast culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform, and empower.

iHeartRadio Album Release Party celebrates Coco Jones

NEW YORK, N.Y. – April 25, 2025 – iHeartMedia recently highlighted new music and artists alike with special programming, including new ‘On The Verge’ artists, World Premiere debuts and live events. 

Earlier this month, iHeartMedia named rapper SAILORR as the latest ‘On The Verge’ Hip Hop artist with her song “Pookie's Requiem” ft. Summer Walker and singer Sombr as the latest ‘On The Verge’ Alternative artist with his song “Back To Friends.” iHeartMedia’s ‘On The Verge’ program helps build awareness for up-and-coming artists through its radio airplay and historically, all ‘On The Verge’ artists have charted in the top 30, with more than half landing in the top 10 and over a third claiming the No. 1 chart slot. 

On April 25, iHeartMedia World Premiered a pair of new singles: Sammy Hagar’s “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” across all iHeartRadio Classic Rock stations and Chris Janson’s “Me and a Beer” across all iHeartCountry stations. 

Additionally, the iHeartRadio Album Release Party with Coco Jones was broadcast across iHeartRadio R&B stations and on R&B Jams digital stations on April 25 at 1 p.m. local time in celebration of her debut album “Why Not More?” During the event, Jones performed new songs as well as fan favorites and chatted with iHeartRadio's J-Kruz about inspiration for the new album, out now. 

For the latest news, music fans can follow iHeartRadio on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and visit iHeartRadio.com.

“Kill Switch,” hosted by Emmy and Pulitzer-winning journalist Dexter Thomas, Ph.D., debuts Today, April 23, with new episodes every Wednesday 

Listen to “Kill Switch” now HERE 

Show art HERE; Host Dexter Thomas photos HERE 

NEW YORK, NY – April 23, 2025 – Today, Kaleidoscope, a leading science and technology podcast network, and iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, announced the launch of “Kill Switch,” a new, boundary-pushing podcast that will dive into the technology shaping our world right now, hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Dexter Thomas, Ph.D. The first episode of “Kill Switch” will debut today April 23, with new episodes dropping weekly every Wednesday. Listen now HERE.

“Kill Switch” is a technology survival guide to modern culture, pulling back the curtain on the systems listeners rely on daily, from AI and privacy to the strange and absurd corners of the internet. Host Dexter Thomas will answer questions big and small—like who’s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer? Episodes of “Kill Switch” will also feature “How to Now” segments, bringing the DIY back into technology and offering listeners practical steps to better utilize it, ranging from topics like how to run their own large language model (LLM) to keeping their data safe. The podcast will combat the difficulty of understanding increasingly user-friendly technology and aims to help listeners reclaim their agency and tech literacy in a world increasingly run by algorithms and automation. 

“Kill Switch” is hosted by media veteran Dexter Thomas, a three-time Emmy-winning journalist from San Bernardino, CA. Thomas began his reporting tenure as a culture and technology reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where his coverage contributed to a Pulitzer Prize and has since written for other major outlets including WIRED, The Guardian, VICE, and NPR. Thomas also is a former on-air correspondent for VICE News Tonight, airing across HBO MAX, Showtime and VICE TV, covering topics from drugs and videogames in the US to politics in South Africa. Thomas hosted and produced RESET, a 10-episode TV series covering the dark side of video games. A former Fulbright scholar, Thomas holds a doctoral degree in Asian Studies from Cornell University, where he wrote his dissertation on Japanese hip-hop and served as a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University. Also a musician and DJ, Thomas has written music appearing on various projects for HBO and VICE TV.

​“We’re living in a moment where technology is advancing faster than most people can realistically track or understand,” said Dexter Thomas. “Enter ‘Kill Switch,’ where we demystify the science and dissect the tech of the immediate now, breaking things down in a way that’s real, useful and applicable to our day-to-day lives. It’s an honor to be joining Kaleidoscope and iHeart’s slate of premier shows.”

“The future is now. ‘Kill Switch’ is looking at how tech is affecting our lives and the ways we understand the world right now,” said Kate Osborn, Executive Producer and Chief Strategy Officer at Kaleidoscope. “We look forward to helping people not just keep up with the latest shifts in our supercharged technological reality, but to feel empowered to reclaim control of their lives within it.”

“Kill Switch” is the latest addition to Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts’ growing slate of acclaimed shows, joining their flagship show “TechStuff” with hosts Oz Woloshyn and Karah Preiss; “Levittown,” a deepfake AI true crime series in collaboration with Bloomberg; “Part-Time Genius” hosted by Mangesh Hattikudur and Will Pearson; and “On Musk With Walter Isaacson” among others. With “Kill Switch,” Kaleidoscope continues expanding its mission to spotlight today’s most interesting, urgent and important topics in science and technology. 

“‘Kill Switch’ is a powerful addition to Kaleidoscope’s mission of telling thrilling, consequential stories that bring today’s scientific renaissance to life,” said Oz Woloshyn, CEO of Kaleidoscope. “Dexter Thomas brings a rare combination of journalistic rigor, cultural insight, and approachability to this series that makes the most complex tech feel personal and accessible. As we continue building the premiere destination for science and technology storytelling, ‘Kill Switch’ is a natural progression of that vision.”

“At iHeartPodcasts, we’re always looking for shows that push boundaries, spark curiosity, and speak to the cultural moment, and ‘Kill Switch’ does exactly that,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “Dexter Thomas brings an unmatched voice to the tech space and we’re proud to launch this show with Kaleidoscope to help audiences better understand the fast-moving world around them.”

“Kill Switch” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. It is available now on the iHeartRadio App and everywhere podcasts are heard. New episodes post on Wednesdays. 

About Kill Switch
Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On Kill Switch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host Dexter Thomas answers questions big and small – like who’s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer?

Kill Switch also brings the DIY back to tech – “How to Now” on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more “user-friendly” our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We’re here to help you take back control. And if we can’t… Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.

About Dexter Thomas
Dexter Thomas is from San Bernardino, CA. As a scholar, Dexter’s most recent academic post was at Princeton University. He holds a Ph. D. in Asian Studies from Cornell University, specializing in underground Japanese hip-hop culture. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and at UC Riverside, his alma mater, he established the world's largest publicly-accessible collection of Japanese hip-hop music and cultural materials. He has also taught a course on the concept of 'cool' in Japanese pop culture at UCLA. As a journalist, he is a three-time Emmy winner, working as on-camera correspondent for VICE News Tonight, with documentaries appearing on HBO, VICE TV, and Showtime, covering topics from policing and opioids in the US to hip-hop in China and elections in South Africa. He was also host and producer of RESET, a 10-episode TV series covering the dark side of video games. As a musician and DJ, he has written music appearing on HBO and VICE TV.

About Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope is the leading science and technology podcast network, telling thrilling stories of consequence that unpack the new scientific renaissance. Founded by Oz Woloshyn and Mangesh Hattikudur in 2022, Kaleidoscope's network reaches millions of listeners and is home to hit shows including On Musk: with Walter Isaacson and The Last Soviet: with Lance Bass. Visit www.k-scope.com for more information.

Press Contacts

Kaleidoscope

Michael Goldberg: michael@mmstratcomms.com  

Liz Keller: liz@mmstratcomms.com  

iHeartMedia, Inc.

Jenn Powers: jennpowers@iheartmedia.com

Khim Aday: khimaday@iheartmedia.com 

Former pro athlete Dr. Jay Barnett will deliver real conversations and offer practical tools to help listeners turn pain into purpose and take steps towards mental wellness

 Listen to the first episode now HERE 

WHAT: “Just Heal with Dr. Jay” premieres today from iHeartRadio and Charlamagne Tha God’s The Black Effect Podcast Network. Hosted by former athlete, author and acclaimed mental health advocate Dr. Jay Barnett, the new mental health podcast will offer powerful, actionable steps to help listeners navigate their healing journeys and unlock personal growth.  

Blending his lived experience as a former professional athlete with his expertise in mental health, Dr. Barnett will create a space every week for real talk and real change in “Just Heal.” Each episode will feature honest conversations, practical tools and empowering stories designed to help listeners take control of their own mental and emotional wellbeing. 

“Too many people are surviving instead of thriving,” said Dr. Jay. “‘Just Heal’ is about giving people the tools they need to heal, grow and build something greater from their pain.”

In the first episode, “Finding Love After Healing,” Dr. Barnett will sit down with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of "Dear Wifey Podcast," to discuss the importance of vulnerability in men, healing from past mistakes and understanding the role of a husband.

WHO: Dr. Jay Barnett is an esteemed author, dynamic speaker and widely acknowledged expert in mental health who is making an indelible mark in his field with impactful storytelling, innovative strategies, and insightful lessons. In his mental health access mission, he focuses on underserved communities and youth development. A former professional football player, Dr. Jay integrates the principles of athletic discipline into his clinical work, fostering a winning mindset. His collection of books are heartfelt, enlightening, and deeply rooted in his passion for mental health and youth advocacy.

WHEN: “Just Heal with Dr. Jay” premieres today April 22, 2025, with new episodes weekly on Tuesdays. 

WHERE: “Just Heal with Dr. Jay” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. 

SHOW PAGE: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-just-heal-with-dr-jay-272562807/

PODCAST PLAYER EMBED CODE: <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-just-heal-with-dr-jay-272562807/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

HI-RES COVER ART: HERE

About The Black Effect Podcast Network
The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God in a historic joint venture with the world’s number-one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia. Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the essential Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and sports. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspectives and creative visions have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in podcast culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform, and empower.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – April 11, 2025 – iHeartMedia recently highlighted new music and artists alike with special programming, including World Premiere debuts, live events and more. 

This week, iHeartMedia named the band Sleep Token as its latest ‘On The Verge’ Active Rock artist with their song “Emergence.” iHeartMedia’s ‘On The Verge’ program helps build awareness for up-and-coming artists through its radio airplay and historically, all ‘On The Verge’ artists have charted in the top 30, with more than half landing in the top 10 and over a third claiming the No. 1 chart slot. 

This month, iHeartMedia World Premiered new music, including Prince Royce’s “How Deep Is Your Love” on April 11 across all iHeartRadio Spanish Contemporary & Tropical Latin stations; Brett Young’s “Drink With You” on April 10 across all iHeartCountry stations; Ed Sheeran’s “Azizam” on April 4 across all iHeartRadio CHR & Hot AC stations; Chris Young’s “Til the Last One Dies” on April 3 across all iHeartCountry stations; and Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists” on April 1 across all iHeartRadio Alternative stations. Brett Young’s “Drink With You” and Chris Young’s “Til the Last One Dies” had a 24-hour exclusive debut on radio before its streaming release at midnight. 

For the latest news, music fans can follow iHeartRadio on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and visit iHeartRadio.com.