iHeartMedia

This fully improvised comedy podcast, hosted by Katie Rich and Holly Laurent, features guest comedians including Jason Mantzoukas, Bobby Moynihan and Lisa Lampanelli 

The all star cast rotates through each hilarious episode, tailgating on the sidelines of a fictional youth soccer league

WHAT: “Soccer Moms,” a fully improvised comedy podcast celebrating the friendships that arise around two moms tailgating their kids’ soccer games, debuts today from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players podcast network (BMP).

Set on the sidelines of a suburban youth soccer league, this fictional series is hosted by seasoned improv comedians Katie Rich and Holly Laurent, AKA Leanne and Janet – two best friends who unpack life and friendship from the back of a crumb-filled Honda Odyssey. Each episode features guest comedians jumping in as characters, creating a rotating cast of unlikely sideline companions. Blending sharp improv with character-driven storytelling, “Soccer Moms” captures the humor and heart of suburban life, grounded in the enduring bond between two best friends and their ever-expanding community.

The premiere episode, “Zero vs. Zero,” features guest appearances from Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth, The Good Place), Lisa Lampanelli (2 Broke Girls, The Aristocrats) and Brendan Jennings (A.P. Bio, Thunder Force). Leanne and Janet launch their improvised podcast while tailgating their kids’ scoreless soccer game, pulling in the team’s new coach, Todd Greco (Mantzoukas), before Leanne’s blunt, oversharing mom Mickey (Lampanelli) crashes the scene, culminating in a chaotic and unexpectedly heartfelt moment with a message from Leanne’s husband Don (Jennings).

WHO: Seasoned improv comedians and Second City Chicago alumni Katie Rich and Holly Laurent. Full bios below.

WHEN: Debuting today, April 7, 2026 with new episodes available on Tuesdays.

WHERE: “Soccer Moms” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. See the full lineup of Big Money Player podcasts HERE.

EMBED PLAYER: <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-soccer-moms-328577271/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

ASSETS: Hi-Res Show Art HERE

About Katie Rich

Katie Rich is an Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning writer, actor and producer who attended Northwestern University before joining Chicago’s Second City. There, she wrote and starred in three Mainstage reviews, including the critically acclaimed “South Side of Heaven.” After Second City, Katie joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live, where she worked for seven seasons. She left SNL in 2020 to pursue narrative comedy, and so far has co-created, starred in and executive produced a show for Netflix (Chicago Party Aunt, Season Two coming soon!), developed a pilot with Fox based on her life growing up as the only college-bound member of a blue collar, Midwestern family, and served a co-ep on the Warner Brothers/DC Studios show Kite Man: Hell Yeah! You can see her in various commercials, on Netflix’s It’s Bruno!, or hear her on a ton of animated shows like Our Cartoon President as well as audio shows like HBO MAX's The Batman Audio Adventures and The Flash: Midnight Circus. She has written for and consulted on many award shows such as The Emmys, The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, The ESPYs, and NFL Honors as well as The White House Correspondents Dinner and various Comedy Central Roasts. Katie is currently the co-showrunner of the hit animated show Harley Quinn and just inked a deal with WB/MAX to develop a multi-generational animated half-hour comedy.

About Holly Laurent

Holly Laurent is the creator and host of the hit comedy podcast MEGA, and co-host and producer of It's a Wonderful Lie (audiochuck). Her writing has been featured in Defenestration Magazine, Mayday Magazine, and her essay, Villain, was Nominated for a 2021 Pushcart Prize. She is an alumnus of the Second City main stage in Chicago where she wrote and performed three critically acclaimed revues. She toured with the Second City national touring company and was a featured performer at the TBS Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Holly holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College. Her film and television credits include A.P. Bio (NBC), All Rise (CBS All Access), Tacoma FD (truTV), Drunk History (Comedy Central), Food: The Source of Life (Adult Swim), Key & Peele (Comedy Central), Barely Famous (VH1), Funny or Die: Exclusives, The Nosebleeds (UFC), The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS) and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Max).

Listen to “The Black Mother Wound Podcast” HERE

The “Pitch Your Podcast” booth returns to the 2026 Black Effect Podcast Festival Presented by State Farm® held on April 25 in Atlanta, GA

NEW YORK – April 7, 2026 – iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect today welcomed “The Black Mother Wound Podcast” to its network—the winner selected from the “Pitch Your Podcast” booth at the 2025 Black Effect Podcast Festival last year. 

The show, hosted by Jennifer Arnise, is a weekly space for Black women navigating the complicated, often painful relationships they have with their mothers – and the lasting impact those relationships have on their lives. “The Black Mother Wound Podcast” centers honest, unfiltered conversations about the generational patterns many were never allowed to name. Along with Arnise and her guest, the show will explore how the mother wound shows up in boundaries, relationships, bodies, ambition and sense of self. 

“Winning the ‘Pitch your Podcast’ contest was so validating and made me feel like my voice and the hidden stories of Black women really matter,” said host Arnise. “This podcast is a love letter to Black girls who never felt seen or heard by their mothers and feels like getting the best advice from your tough but loving big sister and your drunk bestie. It’s what I wish I would’ve had when I started my healing journey.”

“This show not only represents an underserved topic that impacts many women, but it's also a vehicle to healing and we’re proud to bring ‘The Black Mother Wound Podcast’ to our listeners,” said Dollie S. Bishop, President of Production and Creative Development for the Black Effect Podcast Network. “We were impressed with Jennifer’s pitch submitted at the Black Effect Festival’s ‘Pitch Your Podcast’ and are glad to have her meaningful and impactful show join our network.”

The launch comes ahead of the fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival Presented by State Farm where the “Pitch Your Podcast” booth will once again be available for festival attendees. The activation allows creators to pitch their shows to members of the Black Effect team for the chance to join the network. 

The 2026 Black Effect Podcast Festival Presented by State Farm will take place April 25 from noon to 8 p.m. ET at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA, and will be hosted by founder Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy of The Breakfast Club with Loren LoRosa, host of “The Latest with Loren LoRosa Podcast.” Tickets are on sale now. For more information on ticket pricing and this year’s festival lineup, visit blackeffect.com/podcastfestival.

The Black Effect Podcast Network is the leading platform for Black creators to raise their voices and be heard in the podcast space. It brings together the most influential and trusted voices in black culture for stimulating conversations around social justice, pop culture, sports, mental health, news, comedy and more. Launched in September 2020, the Black Effect Podcast Network has debuted a luminous roster of marquee talent and culture-shifting voices committed to enlightening, educating and entertaining audiences, curated by Charlamagne Tha God himself. The full list of network shows can be found here.

“The Black Mother Wound Podcast” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. New episodes available weekly on Tuesdays.

About Jennifer Arnise

Jennifer Arnise is a writer, speaker, and healing facilitator dedicated to helping Black women heal the painful relationship with their mother. She teaches women how to rebuild emotional safety, identity, self-worth, and autonomy. Her work blends psychology, spirituality, vulnerable storytelling, and lived experience to help women release shame, break survival patterns, and finally come home to themselves.

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. See the full catalog of shows, here.

 

Co-produced by Novel and iHeartPodcasts, season five episodes release weekly from April 13, wherever you get your podcasts

Trailer Here

LONDON and NEW YORK – April 6, 2026 – When a group of women from all over the country realise they’ve all dated the same prolific romance scammer, they vow to work together to finally bring him to justice.

The Global No. 1 podcast, "The Girlfriends” co-produced by Novel and iHeartPodcasts, returns next week with a brand new season; “Trust Me Babe.” Trailer here.

Over 6 episodes, award winning journalist and host Anna Sinfield will meet a group of funny, feisty, determined women, who all had the misfortune of dating con-man Derek Alldred who - in 2018 -was sentenced to 24 years in prison, and was linked to 25 victims.

She’ll learn about a mysterious man who went to almost unimaginable lengths - fake names, fake uniforms, false identities, forged documents, impersonating friends and family - to deceive the women he was dating. And all the while, developing a pattern of fraud that saw some victims lose life savings, homes, livelihoods, and perhaps worst of all, their ability to trust.

And on top of that, he seemed to keep getting away with it. Bouncing from one state to another, Derek just kept slipping through the cracks. The women he left behind faced dismissiveness from law enforcement, and stigma from the public whenever they came forward with their experiences.

In the void that was created by that inaction, from those who could’ve helped sooner, this group of girlfriends instead found each other. Across years and state lines, they formed a shared Facebook group chat, built timelines, kept track, and took the matter of justice into their own hands.

This season features a rescue operation orchestrated by some hockey-loving nurses in Minnesota, a pair of DIY detective sisters in Hawaii, a final showdown in the parking valet of a hospital in Texas, and so much more.

The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe isn’t your classic scam story about a charismatic con-man. It’s a story about a group of powerful women who looked out for each other when no one else would, and the protective forces of gossip, gut instinct, and trusting your besties.

“The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe” launches everywhere you get your podcasts on April 13, with new episodes published weekly on Mondays.

“The Girlfriends” podcast franchise is distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

About Anna Sinfield

Anna Sinfield is the multi award-winning journalist and creator behind iHeartPodcasts’ global No.1 hit podcast, “The Girlfriends.”

For over a decade Sinfield has reported on stories of extraordinary women who have fought back against injustice - or simply, done very cool things.  She has met and interviewed countless inspiring people, from women who’ve been wrongfully convicted and life-risking activists, to those who’ve escaped cults.

Her work combines a highly empathetic approach to interviewing, with razor sharp writing and a musician’s ear for emotional resonance. In 2025, Sinfield officially became “The Girlfriends” lead host and guiding star, introducing listeners around the world to new Girlfriends and their shocking and inspiring stories.

About Novel

Novel is a leading independent premium podcast company. Its stack of chart-topping, award-winning podcasts includes The Girlfriends, which reached the global number one spot, won the Ambie for Best True Crime Podcast in 2024.

The worldwide chart-topping hit true crime series Kill List was the winner of the Edward R Murrow Award for Journalism, the Best Podcast Award at the 2025 Broadcast Press Guild (BPG) Awards, as well as winner of the Signal Award for Best True Crime and Best Sound Design, and Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards and True Crime Awards 2025.

Further chart-topping, critically acclaimed and award-winning podcasts include Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera, Stolen Hearts, Come by Chance, Superhero Complex and Filthy Ritual. 

NEW YORK – April 3, 2026 – iHeartMedia recently highlighted new music and artists alike with special programming, including World Premiere debuts and more. 

On Friday, OneRepublic's "Need Your Love" had a World Premiere debut across all iHeartRadio CHR and Hot AC stations and Dan + Shay's "Say So" had a World Premiere debut across all iHeartCountry stations. 

Last week, Luke Bryan's "Country And She Knows It" had a World Premiere debut on March 27 across all iHeartCountry stations, Miley Cyrus' "Younger You" had a World Premiere debut on March 26 across all iHeartRadio CHR and Hot AC stations and Brantley Gilbert's "Good Damn" had a World Premiere debut on March 26 across all iHeartCountry stations. 

For the latest news, music fans can download the iHeartRadio app; follow iHeartRadio on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook and YouTube; and visit iHeartRadio.com.

New York, NY – iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America, today announced Ann Marie Licata as CEO of the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, the largest of the company’s three operating segments.  The company’s other two operating segments will continue to be led by Conal Byrne, CEO of the Digital Audio Group, and Mark Gray, CEO of the Audio and Media Services Group.

The Multiplatform Group includes the iHeartMedia Markets Group, which operates the company’s 860+ local broadcast radio stations; the iconic iHeart live events and sponsorships; the radio networks businesses, including Premiere and TTWN; the Enterprise Business Development Group; and data targeting and attribution products for broadcast radio. Licata was previously iHeart’s President, Markets Group & Sales Operations.

The company also announced that Bernie Weiss will be promoted to President of the Markets Group.  Weiss will oversee the operations of the company’s 160 markets. Weiss was previously Chief Operating Officer of the iHeartMedia Markets Group.

“We couldn’t be more pleased that Ann Marie will be leading the growth and innovation efforts for our company’s largest segment,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc.  “In addition to helping businesses and brands grow effectively and efficiently, the Multiplatform Group has been an important engine to develop our own important new businesses -- including podcasting and the iHeartRadio digital service -- as well as our iconic live music events and awards shows.  We look forward to the additional growth that will come as we move broadcast radio into the digital buying world through our data services and programmatic platforms.”

“We have a diversified business at iHeart, with our Multiplatform Group, the Digital Audio Group and the Audio and Media Services Group, and we’re very pleased that Ann Marie has taken on the responsibility for the Multiplatform Group at such an important time for the company,” said Rich Bressler, President and COO of iHeartMedia, Inc.

In this new organization, Julie Donohue, President of the Enterprise Development Group and Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks, will now report directly to Licata.

From Power to Parenthood, Tech Addiction and AI Acceleration, Segall Interviews Altman About AI’s Human Toll and The Weight Of His and OpenAI’s Influence

Listen to the Full Conversation on iHeartPodcasts’ “Mostly Human With Laurie Segall” HERE and Watch It on Mostly Human Media YouTube Channel HERE

Conversation Highlights Include:

• On OpenAI’s Deal with the Department of War, Altman tells Segall: “Are AI companies or are governments more powerful? And I think it's very important that the governments are more powerful… We have to work with government, but the intensity of the current mood of mistrust, I was miscalibrated on.”
• On Considering Integrating Sora Into ChatGPT Before Shuttering It: “It’s all about compute.” Adding, “Before the compute crunch came, we were talking about putting it into the ChatGPT app… but one thing we realized is that would have put a series of incentives on us and would've led to a bunch of decisions to win that we just didn't want to make.”
• On Parenting, Altman says: “I don't know when I would let [my son] talk to AI, but I’d rather be on the late end of what's reasonable… He'll grow up in a world where computers are smarter than him and do anything he wants, but… I wanted him to play in the dirt for now.”
• On AI Unicorns, Altman believes there’s already a one-person, billion dollar company powered fully by AI agents: “It is a legitimate single person… a massively successful company with one person.”
   

NEW YORK – April 2, 2026 – Award-winning tech journalist and Mostly Human CEO Laurie Segall today released a sit down conversation with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at his home for a wide-ranging, revealing interview unlike any he’s ever given before. For the first time, Altman discussed OpenAI’s shutdown of Sora and the Department of War deal since making headlines on both of those issues recently. During the conversation, Segall also asked Altman about the human stakes of the AI revolution and more. Segall, who has interviewed Altman many times over the past 15 years, offers a rare window into both the man himself and the human impact of the technology he’s shaping.

The interview was released today on the new iHeartPodcast, “Mostly Human with Laurie Segall,” a series that explores tech through the human lens. Audio of the full interview is available now on the iHeartRadio app and anywhere you get your podcasts. Video available on the Mostly Human Media YouTube channel.

In the interview, Altman revealed he thinks the first one-person, billion-dollar AI company already exists; warned of short-term job disruption requiring economic redesign; and shared his belief that "abundance" is the one word defining his life's work. He also describes a near-term future where automated AI researchers could compress a decade of scientific discovery into a single year, fundamentally reshaping innovation. But that idealism sits against a complex backdrop with fundamental human questions at stake. Perhaps most noteworthy, Altman and Segall debate in depth the complexities and opportunities of raising a child in a world that will be fundamentally transformed by the tech Altman has ushered in.

“Mostly Human with Laurie Segall” debuted last week with first guest Dr. Becky Kennedy, where the two moms confronted raising kids in an AI world. One intention of the podcast is to let episodes speak to each other. Segall played a clip from Dr. Becky for Sam Altman about AI’s impact on parenting, prompting Altman to discuss conversations he’s having with his own son about AI.

Mostly Human Media, Laurie Segall's creator-led media company and podcast of the same name, aims to bridge Silicon Valley power with real-world human impact, tackling AI's effect on parenting, jobs, relationships and our most fundamental human traits through immersive conversations and investigations.

The “Mostly Human with Laurie Segall” series is co-produced and distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

Click here to view/download more photos. Photo credit: Mostly Human with Laurie Segall.

Download the podcast cover art HERE. Credit: iHeartPodcasts

About Laurie Segall and Mostly Human Media:

Mostly Human Media is Laurie Segall’s creator-led media and entertainment network focused on the deeply human implications of technology. Through original reporting, intimate interviews, and investigations into the real-world impact of AI, the company aims to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and the people living with the consequences of its innovations.

Read more here.

NEW YORK – March 31, 2026 – iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in America, announced today that media veteran Jamie Cutburth has been named Executive Vice President of Marketing.

In his new role, Cutburth will help define and lead the company’s marketing strategy by bringing together positioning, go-to-market planning, sales enablement, tentpole storytelling and cross-platform packaging to drive advertiser demand. He will report to Lisa Coffey, Chief Business Officer for iHeartMedia.

“As we continue to expand iHeart’s unique multi-platform footprint, we’re thrilled to welcome Jamie and his decades of expertise in driving meaningful success for blue chip media companies,” said Lisa Coffey, Chief Business Officer for iHeartMedia. “Jamie swings big, experiences that inspire action, drive growth and leave lasting impressions on the audience. He will fit right in as our team continues to push innovative ideas at the leading edge of the industry.”

Cutburth joins iHeart after more than a decade at NBCUniversal, where he most recently served as EVP of Marketing & Brand Partnerships. In that role he led B2B marketing and advertiser strategy across NBC, Bravo, E!, Peacock, NBC News, Telemundo and a broad portfolio of live events and cultural franchises. He also led the team responsible for developing large-scale brand partnerships and go-to-market platforms around properties like Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, People’s Choice Awards, Bravo’s franchise ecosystem, and major live experiences including BravoCon and E!’s Live from the Red Carpet. Before NBCUniversal, Cutburth led partnerships at A+E Networks, HISTORY and A&E.

“My role sits at the intersection between brand, revenue, content and culture, and will ensure that iHeart shows up in the market with a clear story and a modern marketing engine,” said Jamie Cutburth. “I am excited to bring my years of building successful partnerships and experiences to this team and to a company so clearly focused on innovation and growth.”

Kaleidoscope expands Easter’s viral #1 wellness newsletter “Two Percent” into a fun, science-backed, and highly practical show, cutting through today’s overwhelming health advice

New episodes publish every Tuesday and Thursday

Watch the trailer HERE; Listen to the podcast HERE

Download show art HERE (Photo Credit: Kaleidoscope & iHeartPodcasts); Download host photo HERE (Photo Credit: Mike Blabac)

NEW YORK, NY – March 31, 2026 – Kaleidoscope, the New York-based media company redefining science and technology storytelling, today announced a historic new partnership with New York Times bestselling author and journalist Michael Easter to expand his viral wellness newsletter Two Percent into a twice-weekly video and audio podcast series, Two Percent with Michael Easter. 

The series marks Kaleidoscope’s first video-native podcast launch as the company cements its evolution into a multi-format science and technology media brand and joins Kaleidoscope’s slate of acclaimed science and technology content, including TechStuff, No Such Thing, and Shell Game. 

Episode 1 will air on Tuesday, April 7, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday and Thursday. Two Percent with Michael Easter is a Kaleidoscope production, distributed by iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac. 

Two Percent with Michael Easter builds on the momentum of Easter’s massively successful Two Percent Subtack newsletter, which reaches more than 150,000 subscribers and is the #1 wellness newsletter on social media. The podcast advances the form into a dynamic, accessible format that blends storytelling, research, humor, and actionable challenges designed for real life.

At a time when wellness culture often promotes complicated routines and endless optimization, Two Percent with Michael Easter takes a different approach. The show is built around a simple idea: small, deliberate actions, the “two percent” shifts most people avoid, can create outsized change in health, performance, and meaning. Each week, Easter examines the most pressing questions in modern health and performance. On Tuesdays, he sits down with leading thinkers, researchers, athletes, and cultural figures to unpack pivotal moments and hard-earned lessons. On Thursdays, he breaks down viral trends, new studies, and controversial health claims, translating research into clear, entertaining, and actionable takeaways listeners can apply immediately.

“Two Percent with Michael Easter marks a major step in Kaleidoscope’s strategic 2026 rollout of IP expansion, video-native formats, and multi-platform content,” said Oz Woloshyn, Co-founder of Kaleidoscope. “As the trusted home of science and technology storytelling, Kaleidoscope continues to partner with the industry’s most respected voices like Michael Easter, Walter Isaacson, Alice Hines, Zoë Lescaze, and Evan Ratliff to develop must-engage video and audio series. We look forward to partnering with Michael to delve deeper into his Two Percent newsletter, bringing even greater depth and insight to audiences while answering the most pressing questions in modern health today.” 

Michael Easter is the New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain, and his reporting has appeared in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Esquire, Outside, ESPN’s 538, Vice, and other major publications. He has been a guest on leading podcasts and television shows, including The Joe Rogan Experience, NPR’s Here & Now, The Rich Roll Podcast, The Huberman Lab Podcast, CBS Saturday Morning, and Good Morning America. Across platforms, Easter reaches more than 300,000 followers on social media and a wide-ranging audience of driven professionals, endurance athletes, military members, entrepreneurs, and everyday listeners seeking more meaning and better health.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Kaleidoscope. Their team brings strong journalistic judgement and incredible audio and video storytelling that will help me reach new audiences,” said Michael Easter, Host of Two Percent. “Together we’ll deliver actionable insights backed by science, rooted in story, and optimized to work for real people in the real world. And we’ll have a lot of fun along the way.”

Two Percent with Michael Easter is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and joins Kaleidoscope’s growing slate of premium science and technology storytelling. New episodes will be available every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, and everywhere podcasts are heard. Video content is available for download on Easter’s YouTube channel.

For more information on Kaleidoscope, please visit www.k-scope.com. 

Editor’s Note

Include the Two Percent with Michael Easter podcast player directly into your article or website using the below embed code:

<iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="200" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-two-percent-with-michael-327186583/…" frameborder="0"></iframe> 

About Michael Easter

Michael Easter is the New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain, and writes the #1 Health and Wellness Substack newsletter, Two Percent with Michael Easter. He travels the world to uncover practical, science-backed ideas that help us live healthier, happier, and more resilient lives. His work has been published in more than 100 countries. His ideas have been featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal and been adopted by professional sports teams, NASA, Tier-1 military units, Fortune 500 companies, and leading universities. Visit eastermichael.com or TWOPCT.com for more information.

About Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is a genre-defining media company, using human storytelling to transport audiences to the frontiers of discovery. Founded in 2022 by Oz Woloshyn and Mangesh Hattikudur, Kaleidoscope's network of science and technology programming works to make the most important ideas of our time accessible, engaging, and emotionally resonant — for everyone who wants a stake in this new future. Today, the network reaches millions 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.

WHAT:  iHeartPodcasts and Best Case Studios today announced “Rorschach: Muder at City Hall,” a 10-episode investigative true crime podcast series. 

July 2003, New York City Hall, downtown Manhattan. Two men arrive together and are ushered past the metal detectors. Both men are Black, handsome and wearing a suit. Both are carrying concealed weapons. Within an hour, both men are dead. Over 200 witnesses watched as Niel Askew shot former New York City police officer and current Councilman James E. Davis multiple times in the back in the balcony of the Council Chamber, and was then gunned down himself by a New City City cop on the security detail. 

The story shocks the city. Then details emerge, and rumors begin to circulate. All that summer, the two men had been seen around Brooklyn together: in Davis’ office, at political events across the city, getting haircuts at a barbershop. So, what was the true nature of their relationship? But despite this very public assassination, the story is now almost completely forgotten, along with the mystery of what really happened between Niel Askew and James Davis. 

Throughout 10 thirty-minutes episodes, “Rorschach: Murder at City Hall” explores double lives and fatal ambition, and how the destinies of these two men became entwined, along with the mystery behind this dramatic tragedy. But this is more than a murder story: it’s an investigation into an act of violence  -- one that takes listeners into the underbelly of New York City politics, where ambition and desperation are often two sides of the same coin. 

Executive producers are Brent Katz and Adam Pincus for Best Case Studios. The show is based on original reporting by journalist Brent Katz. Original Music by Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio and Wilder Zoby.

Episode 1: Shots Fired

Episode 2: How Could This Happen in City Hall?

Episode 3: A Victim of Blackmail

Episode 4: Niel’s Secret

Episode 5: Friends and Enemies

Episode 6: A City in Crisis

Episode 7: James Meets Niel

Episode 8: The Last Day

Episode 9: The Empty Seat 

Episode 10: It Stays with You

WHO: Host Jamal Jordan is a journalist and mixed-media documentarian, former editor at The Washington Post. Jordan has worked at The New York Times and was a video producer at Vice and NBC News and elsewhere. He is the author of Queer Love in Color (Penguin Random House), a photographic celebration of the love and relationships of queer people of color. He lives in Brooklyn and lectures at Stanford University. Jordan also has a large following online, with over 69K followers on X. (former Twitter)  

Journalist Brent Katz has produced podcasts for Audible, iHeartRadio, Spotify and elsewhere. He has written for the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, the Paris Review among others. “Rorschach: Murder at City Hall” began as his thesis at Columbia Journalism School. His debut short film, JOSH’S WEDDING, is coming out through the New Yorker. 

WHEN: “Rorschach: Murder at City Hall” will be available March 25th, with new episodes launching every Wednesday. Listen to the official trailer now. 

WHERE:  “Rorschach: Murder at City Hall” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Episodes available one week early to subscribers of iHeart’s True Crime+ channel on Apple Podcasts. Follow @bestcasestudios on Instagram for updates.

The awards show featured performances by Alex Warren, John Mellencamp, Kehlani, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, RAYE, and performing for the first time together, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue

Taylor Swift took home the most awards with seven total wins at this year’s award show

NEW YORK - March 26, 2026 - The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards gathered some of the most iconic artists on Thursday, March 26 to celebrate the best in music. Hosted by Ludacris, the event took place at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, aired LIVE on FOX and also broadcasted live on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app. The event is available to stream next day on Hulu. The awards show featured performances by Alex Warren, John Mellencamp, Kehlani, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, RAYE, and performing for the first time together, TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue.

iHeartRadio Music Awards featured special appearances by guests including Taylor Swift, the show’s most-nominated artist, who took home seven awards, along with Alysa Liu, NE-YO, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, Shaboozey, sombr, Teddi Mellencamp, Vin Diesel and Weezer.

John Mellencamp was honored with the 2026 iHeartRadio Icon Award, Ludacris received the 2026 iHeartRadio Landmark Award, Miley Cyrus was honored with the 2026 iHeartRadio Innovator Award and Alex Warren received the 2026 iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.

Ahead of the iHeartRadio Music Awards at this year’s red carpet Alex Warren, Chase Matthew, JENEVIEVE, Sailor, sombr and Return to Dust all were presented with iHeartRadio On The Verge Awards.

Additional highlights included:

• Ludacris welcomed the audience and viewers to the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. 
• Alex Warren transformed the stage into a New York subway scene to perform his hits “Ordinary” and “Fever Dream” before accepting the 2026 iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. 
• Jason Aldean introduced Lainey Wilson who captivated the crowd with her performance of “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” “Hang Tight Honey” and “Heart Like A Truck.” After her performance, Lainey Wilson presented Miley Cyrus with the 2026 iHeartRadio Innovator Award, calling her one of her biggest inspirations.
• Performing together for the first time TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue had the crowd singing along to a melody of “Hold On,” “Waterfalls,” “Shoop,” “What A Man,” “Scrubs,” “Free Your Mind,” “Push It” and “What About Your Friends,” giving fans a taste of their upcoming tour.
• Shaboozey presented Best New Artist (Country) to Ella Langley, who accepted the award from one of her biggest fans on stage.
• Teddi Mellencamp and her Dad, John Mellencamp shared a heartfelt moment on stage as she presented him with the 2026 iHeartRadio Icon Award. Teddi grew emotional as she talked about how her father has supported her through the years, her cancer battle and how his lyrics always help her. John immediately gave the award back to his daughter, dedicating it to her and reflecting on his 50-year career, wishing new artists enjoy their career just as much as he did.
• After receiving his award, John Mellencamp had the crowd on their feet for a special performance of “Jack and Diane” and “Pink Houses.”
• RAYE presented Taylor Swift with Pop Album of the Year, who thanked her fans and her fiancé Travis Kelce for making every day happy. 
• Kehlani performed her hit “Folded” before accepting R&B Song of the Year from NE-YO. She thanked her fans for always being with her throughout the ups and downs of her career, and said her new record feels like a win for them all.
• Weezer’s Brian Bell and Rivers Cuomo presented sombr with iHeartRadio Music Awards Alternative Album of the Year. sombr also took home the iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Artist (Alternative) and was presented with two iHeartRadio On The Verge Awards while on the red carpet.
• Vin Diesel presented host Ludacris with the 2026 iHeartRadio Landmark Award.
• Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy introduced RAYE, who kept the energy up with her hit “Where Is My Husband!”
• Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu presented Taylor Swift with her seventh award of the night, the Artist of the Year Award and recapped her other wins, which were Pop Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video and Favorite Tour Style.
• Ludacris performed a melody of his fan favorites “Pull Over,” “Rollout,” “Money Maker,” “My Chick Bad,” “Stand Up” and “Move B****.”
• Nikki Glaser presented Alex Warren with Song of the Year, for his hit “Ordinary.” In addition to the Song of the Year and the 2026 iHeartRadio Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award, Alex also took home iHeartRadio Music Awards for Best New Artist (Pop) and Favorite Debut Album, and on the red carpet he was presented with the iHeartRadio On The Verge Award. 

Category winners are: 

Song of the Year:        

• “Ordinary” – Alex Warren

Artist of the Year:

• Taylor Swift

Album of the Year: 

• “The Life of a Showgirl” - Taylor Swift 

Duo/Group of the Year:

• The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI

Best Collaboration:

• “APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Pop Artist of the Year:

• Sabrina Carpenter

 Pop Song of the Year:

• “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift

Pop Album of the Year: 

• “The Life of a Showgirl”- Taylor Swift 

Best New Artist (Pop):

• Alex Warren

Alternative Artist of the Year:

• twenty one pilots

Alternative Song of the Year:

• “Ensenada” – Sublime 

Alternative Album of the Year:

• “I Barely Know Her” - sombr

Best New Artist (Alternative):

• sombr

Rock Artist of the Year:

• Shinedown

Rock Song of the Year:

• “Heavy Is the Crown” – Linkin Park

Best New Artist (Rock):

• Sleep Theory

Country Artist of the Year:

• Morgan Wallen

Country Song of the Year:

• “Good News” – Shaboozey

Country Album of the Year: 

• “I'm The Problem” - Morgan Wallen 

Best New Artist (Country):

• Ella Langley

Dance Artist of the Year:

• David Guetta

Dance Song of the Year:

• “No Broke Boys” – Disco Lines & Tinashe

Dance Album of the Year:

• “MAYHEM” - Lady Gaga 

K-pop Artist of the Year:

• ROSÉ

K-pop Group of the Year:

• Stray Kids 

K-pop Song of the Year:

• “Golden” – The Singing Voice of HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI

K-pop Album of the Year:

• “Ruby” - Jennie 

Best New Artist (K-pop):

• Cortis

Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:

• Kendrick Lamar

Hip-Hop Song of the Year:

• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Hip-Hop Album of the Year:

• “GNX”– Kendrick Lamar 

Best New Artist (Hip-Hop):

• MOLIY

R&B Artist of the Year:

• Chris Brown

R&B Song of the Year:

• “Folded” – Kehlani

R&B Album of the Year:

• “PHOLKS”- Leon Thomas 

Best New Artist (R&B):

• Leon Thomas

World Artist of the Year:

• MOLIY

Latin Pop/Urban Artist of the Year:

• Bad Bunny

Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year:

• “DtMF” – Bad Bunny

 Latin Pop/Urban Album of the Year:

• “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”- Bad Bunny 

Best New Artist (Latin Pop/Urban):

• Beéle

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year:

• Grupo Frontera

Regional Mexican Song of the Year:

• “Amor Bonito” – Luis Angel “El Flaco”

 Regional Mexican Album of the Year: 

• “111XPANTIA” - Fuerza Regida 

Best New Artist (Regional Mexican):

• Los Dos De Tamaulipas

Producer of the Year:

• Andrew Watt

Songwriter of the Year:

• Amy Allen

Label of the Year:

• Interscope Capitol  

Tour of the Year:

• The Weeknd- After Hours Til Dawn Tour

Best Lyrics: *Socially Voted Category 

• “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift

Best Music Video: *Socially Voted Category 

• “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift

Favorite Tour Photographer: *Socially Voted Category 

• Rahul Bhatt for KATSEYE

Favorite On Screen: *Socially Voted Category 

• Jimin and Jungkook, “Are You Sure?!”

Favorite Soundtrack: *Socially Voted Category 

• “KPop Demon Hunters”

Favorite Tour Style: *Socially Voted Category 

• Taylor Swift, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour”

(New for 2026) Favorite TikTok Dance: *Socially Voted Category 

• “MONA LISA” – j-hope

Favorite Tour Tradition: *Socially Voted Category 

• Coldplay, Crowd cam

(New for 2026) Favorite K-pop Collab: *Socially Voted Category 

• “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” – j-hope, Miguel

Favorite Broadway Debut: *Socially Voted Category 

• Tom Felton, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

(New for 2026) Favorite Debut Album: *Socially Voted Category 

• Alex Warren, “You'll Be Alright, Kid”

Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannaé Rouzan-Clay for Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE); John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia; and FOX Entertainment Studios.

Proud partners of this year’s event on iHeart’s platforms include H&R Block, She Rises Studios, and Trashie.

Photos:

Password: iHRMA03262026!

Photo credit in caption: (ie: Rachel Kaplan for iHeartRadio)

• Show: https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rOrkACYmN9I/G0000rTEAAqF8xOM/Best-Of-The-2026-iHeartRadio-Music-Awards 
• Red Carpet: https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000zq1JaTq0kLI/G0000SPTl2240w04/Red-Carpet 
• Winners Walk:https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000zq1JaTq0kLI/G00003Kd6gUauE18/Winners-Walk 

B-roll:

• Red Carpet: HERE 
• Show + Winners Walk: HERE