iHeartMedia Hosts “We the People: An Audio Townhall with Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” on iHeartRadio Stations Nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App

Live from Detroit, Mich. October 15 at 5 p.m. EST

WHAT:  iHeartMedia and multimedia mogul Charlamagne Tha God, on air host of New York's Power 105's wildly popular and nationally syndicated hit radio show "The Breakfast Club” announced “We the People: An Audio Townhall with Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” an hour-long town hall-style event hosted live in Detroit, Mich.

Just 25 days before the 2024 elections, iHeartRadio’s Charlamagne Tha God will have an important and thought-provoking discussion with the Democratic nominee for President of the United States on a variety of significant topics about the election.

In addition to a thorough discussion about the election, Vice President Harris will answer some questions from voters across the country.               

"Our listeners are very passionate," said Charlamagne during his morning show. "I want local voices from Detroit and voices from all the battleground states to get the opportunity to ask Vice President Kamala Harris some questions.  I know we got some pressing issues to talk about. The future of the nation is decided by who we elect."               

WHO: Hosted by iHeartRadio’s Charlamagne Tha God with guest Vice President Kamala Harris.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 15 5pm EST/2pm PST.

WHERE: The town hall will broadcast live and stream across 130 iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App at iHeartRadio.com/WeThePeople.

The audio event will be available on demand following the live broadcast at iHeartRadio.com/WeThePeople.

Listeners can also follow @BreakfastClubAM and @iHeartRadio on social platforms for the latest news and info.

MORE DETAILS: Listeners can submit their questions to Vice President Harris right now by downloading the iHeartRadio app and using the Talk Back function. Listeners can simply click the microphone icon on their favorite iHeartRadio station, record their question and hit "send."

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TUNE IN: The Black Effect Podcast Network and Elliott Connie to Host Live Discussion On World Mental Health Day

Connie Will Be Joined by Special Guest Mysonne, Co-Host of The Black Effect’s “TMI” Podcast To Explore the Mental Health Impacts of the Election Cycle and Offer Practical Tips and Advice

What: As the election cycle heats up, many of us are feeling the pressure. Join iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s The Black Effect Podcast Network and “Family Therapy, The Podcast” host Elliott Connie for a candid and insightful Instagram Live discussion on the mental health impacts of the 2024 election and the broader political landscape. Connie will be joined by Mysonne, Co-Host of The Black Effect’s “TMI” podcast. The two will discuss pressing topics including the 2024 election, women’s reproductive health, voter suppression, immigration and more. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed and anxious or looking for tips to navigate these challenging times, the live discussion will offer valuable insights and practical advice to add to your mental health toolkit.

When: Today, Thursday, October 10th at 7pm EST. 

Where: The Black Effect Podcast Network’s Official Instagram Page HERE. Join us live and be a part of the conversation. 

Who: 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 most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture.

Elliott Connie, MA, LPC is a purpose-driven hope dealer with a mission to end the stigma surrounding mental health care. With his superpower of asking the right questions, Elliott has helped thousands of individuals, couples, and families move towards their desired futures. He has authored or co-authored five books, including “The Art of Solution. Focused Therapy,” “Solution Building in Couples Therapy,” “Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Clients Managing Trauma,” "The Solution Focused Marriage,” and “The Solution Focused Brief Therapy Diamond.”

Mysonne, co-host of The Black Effect Podcast Network’s “TMI” podcast is an independent, Bronx-based Rapper. In addition to his introspective style and brutally honest lyrics, he is known for his commitment on the streets as a Social Justice Activist and powerhouse. As co-founder of Until Freedom, He is devoted to the BLM movement, so much so, that he Wrote His first book, "I Know my Rights: Bill of Rights."

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 most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision 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.

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iHeartPodcasts and Jemele Hill Team Up for New Narrative – Style Sports and Political Podcast “SPOLITICS"

In the new podcast series, Hill will explore the intersection between sports, race, gender, sexuality and culture

Special guests will include Sports Personality Dan Le Batard, Former NFL Star Lesean McCoy, Michigan Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist, Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian and more

Listen to the trailer HERE

WHAT: Today, iHeartPodcasts and Jemele Hill announced “SPOLITICS,” a new podcast that will delve into the intersection of sports, race, gender, sexuality and politics. The series aims to spark important political and cultural conversations that challenge the narratives surrounding these critical issues in the world of sports. "SPOLITICS" joins iHeartMedia’s new political podcast slate Reasoned Choice Media, which amplifies diverse voices throughout the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Hosted by Jemele Hill, “SPOLITICS” will feature sharp commentary, in-depth discussions and pressing conversations with athletes, prominent sports figures and politicians including sports personality Dan Le Batard, Former NFL player Lesean McCoy, Michigan Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian and more. Each week, Hill will tackle topics such as immigration, reproductive rights, affordable housing and gender equity. 

In episode one, Hill will sit down with Dan Le Batard to discuss his career as a sports media personality, his life growing up as the child of Cuban exiles and how it shaped his perspective on politics. Hil will also be joined by Bill Rhoden, author of “Forty Million Dollar Slaves,” to discuss the history of sports and politics dating back to George Washington’s presidency in the 1700s. 

QUOTE: “I’m very excited to join iHeartPodcasts during this critical time in American politics. Sports and politics always have been connected and on this podcast, I’ll be exploring that deep connection with important newsmakers and smart people. The goal is to use the unifying element of sports as a lens to make people better understand that politics touches every corner of our lives.” - Jemele Hill, Host of “SPOLITICS”

WHO: An Emmy Award winning journalist, Jemele Hill is the Co-founder of Lodge Freeway Media and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. On October 25, 2022, Henry Holt and Company published Hill’s memoir, UPHILL: A Memoir. In this character-rich, unapologetically provocative memoir, Hill reveals her tumultuous childhood, complicated family dynamics, and her life-saving journey into journalism.

Hill’s 20-plus year journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media network and several reputable newspapers. She originally joined ESPN in 2006 as a national columnist for espn.com.  Her profile gradually rose as she began to make appearances on television, including SportsCenter, First Take, Around the Horn, The Sports Reporters and Outside the Lines. She also spent a season as a sideline reporter for ESPN college football games. 

Her foray into daily television began in 2013, when her and co-host Michael Smith began the daily, sports discussion show, His & Hers, which sprang from their popular podcast of the same name. In February 2017, Hill and Smith co-anchored the 6 p.m., SportsCenter, which debuted as a more personality-driven approach to the traditional SportsCenter. After her stint as SportsCenter host, Hill was a senior columnist for The Undefeated, ESPN’s sub-site that focuses on the intersection of sports, race, culture and politics. 

In addition to breaking ground as a podcaster, Hill continued her celebrated television broadcasting career. In 2020, Hill and her longtime friend, former ESPN anchor Cari Champion, launched a weekly, late-night show on Vice Network called Cari & Jemele: Won’t Stick to Sports. The show covered politics, sports, news, current events, and pop culture.  

Hill is also stretching her muscles behind the camera. She is executive producer of former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick’s documentary, which will air on ESPN and is directed by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee. She also is currently developing a comedy series with acclaimed actress Gabrielle Union.

WHEN: “SPOLITICS” will premiere on October 17. New episodes will publish on Thursdays.

WHERE: “SPOLITICS” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

COVER ART: Download official show logo + cover art HERE.

PODCAST LISTENING EMBED WIDGET:  <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spolitics-222755070/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

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iHeartMedia and Whalar Group Announce Partnership to Expand Opportunities for Creators and Marketers and Build Scale Through iHeart’s Industry-Leading Audio Platforms

New York, NY -- October 7, 2024 -- iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in America by reach, and Whalar Group, the leading global Creator Company on a mission to liberate creative voices , today announced a unique  partnership that will provide creators and marketers additional opportunities to reach their audiences across iHeart’s industry-leading broadcast, podcast, digital, live events and social platforms.  The two companies will collaborate to provide advertisers and marketers innovative ways to strategically pair content creators with their brands and deliver scale by leveraging iHeart’s multiple platforms with its trusted talent on both the national and local levels. 

Nine out of 10 Americans listen to iHeart broadcast radio every month, and iHeart is the #1 podcast publisher in America as measured by Podtrac. Through this new partnership, iHeart and Whalar Group will collaborate to identify and support creators who want to expand their reach beyond social, giving them a pathway to develop and distribute content across iHeart’s audio platforms. Additionally, iHeart’s broadcast radio and podcast influencers will be able to draw on Whalar Group's creative services, industry-leading technology, creator community, and social insights to help shape content in real time.

“Demand continues to grow for meaningful partnerships between creators and marketers. As brands work to maximize the trusted relationships and connections that personalities have built with their audio and social followers, our partnership with Whalar will provide another opportunity for advertisers to reach our listeners with the right messages,” said Greg Ashlock, President of the iHeart Influencer Network.  “We are excited to work with Whalar Group to leverage their social expertise and technology across our industry-leading spectrum of audio platforms to benefit both creators and advertisers.”

“Audio storytelling is a powerful medium that's been a high growth area of the Creator Economy already given how it resonates deeply with creators and their teams, offering a unique avenue for expression and connection with their communities,” said Whalar Group Co-CEO & Co-Founder Neil Waller. “With iHeart’s unparalleled reach across multiple audio platforms, we're poised to elevate storytelling and further integrate it into the fabric of the Creator Economy, amplifying the impact and opportunities available to all creators." 

About Whalar Group

Whalar Group is a global creator company on a mission to liberate the creative voice. Our proximity, understanding, and trust of creators evolved into a first-of-its-kind creator ecosystem that includes a full-service creator agency, a 360° talent management company, a physical campus for creators and teams, a suite of AI tools and templates, a venture studio, and a ground-breaking gaming studio. With a team of 300 people around the world, we bring brands and businesses into value-driven, creator-led communities. Whalar Group melds entrepreneurship, technology, and creativity to unlock limitless possibilities. For more information, visit: www.whalargroup.com.

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iHeartPodcasts Announces “What in the Winkler?!” Hosted By Stacey Winkler and Her Daughter Zoe Winkler

“What in the Winkler?!” debuts October 30 on the legendary Henry “The Fonz” Winkler’s 79th birthday

Listen to the trailer here!
 

WHO: iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac,  today announced “What in the Winkler?!,” an exciting new, weekly podcast hosted by Stacey and Zoe Winkler. The beloved wife and daughter of the iconic TV star Henry Winkler, aka “The Fonz” from “Happy Days,” are gearing up to take fans and listeners on a nostalgic and joyful ride. 

WHAT:  Premiering on Henry Winkler’s birthday, Stacey and Zoe will share what it was really like to grow up Winkler in Hollywood during an iconic era. They’ll be spilling untold stories and sharing hilarious anecdotes from life in the spotlight. Tune in for heartwarming chats, throwback moments and a fresh take on family, fame and fun. 

WHEN:  Weekly beginning Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

WHERE:  “What in the Winkler?!” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Listen to the trailer now HERE.

Follow @whatinthewinklerpod on Instagram and TikTok for episode clips and updates.

Audio Embed Code:  <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-what-in-the-winkler-223098037/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Download cover art here // credit: iHeartPodcasts

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iHeartPodcasts Announces New Women’s Sports Series “Levels To This” Hosted by Professional Women’s Basketball MVP Sheryl Swoopes and Sports Journalist Terrika Foster-Brasby

Launching October 10, the weekly podcast joins iHeartMedia’s Women’s Sports Audio Network, the first-ever audio platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports

Listen to the Trailer HERE 

WHAT: iHeartPodcasts today announced a new weekly women’s sports series “Levels To This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby,” hosted by three-time WNBA MVP and Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and sports journalist Terrika Foster-Brasby (Tee). The duo will sit down for real conversations with powerful women (and sometimes men) about what it takes to be at the top of their game and the best at their craft. They will discuss the hard work, the obstacles and how life sometimes has its own plans. Swoopes and Tee know first-hand there are levels to the sh*t women go through and have no problem going there. The podcast will join iHeartMedia’s Women's Sports Audio Network (WSAN), the first-ever audio platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports – from soccer and basketball to tennis, golf, volleyball and more – featuring top athletes and personalities at the helm.

WHO: Sheryl Swoopes was one of the original players signed to the WNBA when the new league for women’s professional basketball was launched in 1996. Before that, Swoopes spent her storied college career at Texas Tech where she was a First Team All-American in 1992 and 1993 as well as being named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the WBCA Player of the Year her senior season. Swoopes still holds the school record for highest career scoring average and most points in a season. In 1993, she scored an NCAA record 47 points in the national championship game and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. During her time in the WNBA, Swoopes was named MVP three times (2000, 2002, 2005) and won four straight championships as a member of the Houston Comets (1997-2000). At the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game, Swoopes was recognized as one of the 15 greatest players in league history. Her time with USA Basketball included three Olympic gold medals and one FIBA World Championships gold medal. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Terrika Foster-Brasby is a multimedia journalist, sports reporter and broadcaster. Self-driven, self-motivated, and most of all, selfless, Terrika covers the games to tell the stories of others. While the WNBA and NCAA basketball are her passions, she's covered NBA, NFL and MLB. You can find her bylines with espnW, Andscape, The New York Times, Fansided and WSlam Magazine to name a few. Terrika began her media career as a contributor for La Dulce Locura digital magazine in 2013 and quickly rose in the digital space. Within months, she began hosting The Gridiron Gurl on the Sportzfam Radio network on Friday nights, and soon after started contributing NFL and NCAA editorial content for Yahoo! Sports. In December 2014, Terrika began a career as a digital audio editor for the sports conglomerate ESPN. She is most notably known as the co-host and co-creator of ESPN's WNBA show Around the Rim, alongside acclaimed women's basketball analyst LaChina Robinson. Currently Terrika serves as sideline reporter for the Connecticut Sun and basketball analyst for CBS Sports' streaming show CBS Sports HQ. She can also be seen in-studio during college  basketball season at the desk for CBS Sports Network's Inside College Basketball.

WHEN: “Levels To This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby” will premiere October 10, 2024, with new episodes weekly on Thursdays. 

WHERE: “Levels To This” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Listen to the official trailer now.

SHOW PAGE: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-levels-to-this-with-shery-223098038/

PODCAST PLAYER EMBED CODE: 

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HI-RES COVER ART: HERE

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Katie Couric Media And iHeartPodcasts’ Hit Series, “Next Question with Katie Couric,” Returns For Its 10th Season Ahead of 2024 Election

Premiering October 3, this season will feature Couric in conversation with political experts and journalists together with cultural commentators

Guests include Samantha Bee, Jen Psaki, Ezra Klein, Charlamagne tha God and more

WHAT: The presidential election is in the homestretch right in time for a new season of “Next Question with Katie Couric." This season is for people who need a little perspective and insight, and award-winning journalist Katie Couric will bring in some friends to help out. Listeners will hear from some of the best minds in the business like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Astead Herndon, Mark Cuban, and Chris Hayes. But Couric will also bring some fun to the conversation  with friends like Samantha Bee, Roy Wood Jr. and Evan Ross Katz. Plus, the show will take viewer questions – isn't that what democracy is all about after all? Power to the podcast for the people! So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of “Next Question” is for you. Episode one featuring journalist, political analyst, and New York Times columnist, Ezra Klein and author and journalist Liz Plank is available now. 

WHEN:Next Question with Katie Couric” returns today, October 3 with new episodes released every Thursday.

WHERE: Distributed by iHeartPodcasts, “Next Question with Katie Couric” is available now on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

WHO: Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author of her memoir, Going There, which was published in October 2021. She is also a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) which has raised almost $800 million for cancer research. Couric was the first woman to solo anchor a network evening newscast, serving as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 2006 to 2011 following 15-years as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. In 2017, she founded Katie Couric Media (KCM), which has developed a number of media projects, including a daily newsletter, “Wake-Up Call”, a podcast, “Next Question”, digital video series and several documentaries. You can find it all at katiecouric.com

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iHeartPodcasts and CNN Political Commentator S.E. Cupp Announce  New Podcast Focused on Mental Health – “Off the Cupp”

Launching today, the weekly iHeartPodcast offers a break from the barrage of news and triggering political headlines through fun and insightful conversations on mental health with notable guests across entertainment, sports, politics and journalism

Celebrity guests include Josh Gad, Larry Wilmore, Andy Cohen, Paul Stanley, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rizzo, Steven Weber, Henry Winkler, and more 

Listen Now HERE 

WHAT: Launching today from iHeartPodcasts is new weekly series “Off the Cupp with S.E. Cupp” – a reprieve from the mental load, your break from breaking news. S.E. Cupp needs a break – from the news, from politics, from the triggering headlines and heated discussions, from the mental load of it all. “Off the Cupp” is a place to get loose and personal, to talk about what’s going on in our lives – beyond (and, yes, maybe because of) the news. Through a lens of mental health, S.E. invites her famous guests — celebrities, athletes, authors, journalists, politicians, reality stars — to share their life stories, their trials and tribulations and to talk about what it’s like living in this world, even when this world can feel like a lot.  

To close out each episode, S.E. moderates a lightning round of questions with her guests to bring back some levity to conversations that may have gone to deep places, with each question tailored specifically to the guest — sometimes through quizzes and sometimes with questions that pertain to their lives and expertise. An initial slate of guests include Josh Gad, Josh Mankiewicz, Larry Wilmore, Molly Jong-Fast, Andy Cohen, Paul Stanley, Kelly Rizzo, Steven Weber, Shep Rose, Donny Deutsch, Brad Garrett, Henry Winkler, and Rob Morrow. 

"Off the Cupp with S.E. Cupp" joins iHeartMedia’s new political podcast slate Reasoned Choice Media, which amplifies diverse voices throughout the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

WHO: S.E. Cupp is a TV commentator, nationally syndicated columnist, book author, and public speaker. She’s also a mom, oyster-eating enthusiast, travel fiend, Bravoholic, and margarita connoisseur.

WHEN:Off the Cupp” premieres October 2, 2024, with new episodes weekly on Wednesdays. 

WHERE:Off the Cupp” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available now on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

SHOW PAGE: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-off-the-cupp-with-se-cupp-219755925/

EDITOR’S NOTE: Podcast cover art is available for download HERE. Use the below embed code to include the podcast audio player in your article.

PODCAST PLAYER EMBED CODE: 

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The New Home For Lovers of Literature: iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network Announce New Original Series “BLK LIT: A Guide To Our Stories”  

Hosted by The Black Effect Podcast Network’s Jacquees Thomas, the 16-part series will dissect classic and contemporary literary works and discover the stories of the writers behind them

Listen to episode one HERE

WHAT: The Black Effect Podcast Network, the historic joint media venture partnership between iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God announced “BLK LIT,” a new podcast series that will highlight prolific Black authors and their contributions to literature. Hosted by Jacquees Thomas, the podcast will delve into unique literary works including novels and poetry and spend an intimate amount of time with each writer’s expression through interviews, reenactments and in-depth discussions. New episodes will launch every other Tuesday on the iHeartRadio app and wherever podcasts are heard. 

In the first episode, Thomas will explore the genre of science fiction highlighting the life and work of Octavia Butler to discuss the themes present in her novels, including race, social disparities, and climate change.

WHO: Jacquees Thomas is a producer and artist with an affinity for filmmaking, storytelling, and podcasting. Thomas has produced diverse projects including “Naked Sports With Cari Champion,” “Damsels: A Short Film” and more. With a passion for exploration and a deep-seated belief in the power of narrative, her mission is to empower black female queer artists by challenging stereotypes and celebrating the richness of their stories. She firmly believes that these narratives not only deserve to be told but are essential for fostering progress and understanding in society. 

WHEN:BLK LIT” premieres on The Black Effect Podcast Network on Tuesday, October 1. New episodes will publish every other Tuesday.

WHERE: BLK LIT is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

SHOW ART: Download official show cover art HERE.

PODCAST LISTENING EMBED WIDGET: Editor’s Note: Include the podcast audio player directly into your article or website with the below embed code: 

<iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-blk-lit-219755924/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

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 most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision 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.

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iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans Debut Captivating New Narrative History Series “Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of ‘74”

Commemorating the 50th anniversary, this original podcast will go behind the scenes of the historic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman and the Zaire ’74 music festival.

NEW YORK – October 2, 2024 – iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and School of Humans announced today “Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of ‘74.” The original narrative non-fiction podcast, hosted by investigative journalist Zaron Burnett, will commemorate the 50th anniversary of two historic events: the legendary heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, Africa and the historic Zaire ’74 music festival that featured performances by the likes of James Brown, B.B King, the Spinners, Bill Withers, and Miriam Makeba.  

Premiering on October 9, the compelling new podcast will be set against the backdrop of a tumultuous political and social landscape across the globe marked by a season of assassinations in the US,  Mobutu Sese Seko's authoritarian rule in Zaire, the fallout from the Watergate scandal, and the Vietnam War coming to an end, The 13-episode series invites listeners behind the scenes with stories of the staggeringly powerful ensemble of fighters, performers, producers and activists, who uplifted the enduring legacy of Black Excellence. Fans can listen to the official trailer now, HERE.

Host Burnett will guide listeners through the monumental effort behind and lead up to the highly politicized super fight and festival, which were scheduled to take place on the same weekend as part of Mobutu's strategy to forge ties between Zaire and the United States. An unexpected injury forced Foreman to postpone the fight by six weeks, however, leaving the festival to proceed as planned with Ali ultimately attending, viewing it as a celebration of Black empowerment in the newly liberated Zaire. 

“I’m excited to be working again with iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans on this project, specifically because they’re both dedicated to telling stories that connect people, explore emotional landscapes, enlarge and inform our worldviews – stories that take hold of our hearts and ask us to consider, in this case, the best of humanity,” said host Zaron Burnett. “It’s a rare privilege to work with these storytellers because they grant the freedom to find new and interesting ways to convey the significance of this monumental and historic event to listeners.”

Throughout the series, listeners will hear various personal accounts around the two events including stories about the song-filled flight carrying all the artists to Zaire; James Brown's insistence on bringing all his gear on board despite safety risks; Ali’s inspiring discussions on freedom in the greenroom; and more. Featured interviews will include Nico Ali-Walsh (Ali's grandson), Shirley King (B.B. King's daughter), Selema Masekela (son of Hugh Masekela and X Games host), Lola! Love (James Brown's dancer), Fred Wesley (James Brown's band leader), photographer Lynn Goldsmith, author of Rumble in the Jungle Lewis Erenberg, author of Ali: A Life Jonathan Eig, Elijah Muhammad III, and ESPN's Mark Kriegel. 

“Partnering with visionary storytellers like Zaron Burnett and School of Humans embodies our commitment to sharing powerful narratives such as this one, at the intersection of sports, politics, and music,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We’re honored to help bring this pivotal moment in history to life, reminding us of the stories and figures of resilience and influence who have helped shape our world.” 

“This project is sprawling in the best way. These two events mark the ascendance of Black Excellence on the world stage - and the journey there is packed with nuance and catharsis,” said Julia Christgau, Director and Producer, School of Humans. “We are thrilled to have partnered with iHeartPodcasts and Zaron Burnett to shine a spotlight on these impactful moments 50 years later and offer a holistic telling of these significant histories.”

Rumble” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Executive Producers include Virginia Prescott, LC Crowley and Brandon Barr for School of Humans; Jason English and Sean Titone for iHeartPodcasts; and series creator Gary Stromberg.

ABOUT ZARON BURNETT

Zaron Burnett is an investigative journalist and longform features writer who covers crime, exposes scams, and interviews more than his fair share of criminals. He's the creator of the hit podcasts Black Cowboys and Ridiculous Crime.

SCHOOL OF HUMANS 

School of Humans is a multi-platform production company producing series for television (Dirty Jobs, Stuff You Should Know). The company launched its audio division with the hit true crime podcast HELL AND GONE. The perennial top ten podcast is now in its fourth season, with over 16 million downloads to date. School of Humans Audio now boasts a slate of successful non-fiction titles distributed under a multi-year deal with iHeartMedia. Among them, Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children (#1 Apple and Spotify History Podcast charts); Sanctum Unmasked (with VOGUE Sex Columnist Karley Scirotino); ASTRAY ( #15 on Apple podcasts); and RACKET (A Vulture “Best New True Crime Podcasts” pick). School of Humans’ first scripted podcast, Sisters of The Underground starring Dania Ramirez (X-Men, Sweet Tooth) and Judy Reyes (Succession, Scrubs) was produced in conjunction with My Cultura and Eva Longoria.

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