iHeartMedia

The collaboration furthers Smith’s commitment to providing a platform for personalities whose perspectives shape compelling conversation around sports, society and culture

The new audio network welcomes popular podcast “Comeback Stories” to its debut lineup with new original shows set to quickly follow

New York – August 3, 2023 – Inflection Network (IN), an innovative new sports podcast network from renowned sports journalist Michael Smith and veteran entertainment attorney Terrence Williams, proudly announces its official launch in collaboration with iHeartMedia’s iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac. The new podcast network will debut with season three of listener favorite “Comeback Stories” beginning today, with new originals joining the slate soon.

"We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with iHeartPodcasts," said Terrence Williams, co-founder, along with Smith, of Inflection Point Entertainment, the duo’s media production company and IN’s parent company. "With the help of iHeart’s unmatched expertise and platform, we are building a robust content slate and what I believe will be an enjoyable and unique listening experience."

Together with iHeartPodcasts, Inflection Network will develop and produce original audio content. IN’s strategic distribution and marketing partnership with iHeart promises to bring captivating conversations to a broad audience.

“IN’s approach is guided by inspiring and transformative power-rich storytelling and authentic, entertaining and thought-provoking conversation," Smith said. "We want to elevate and empower creatives; amplify diverse voices and perspectives; and enlighten, entertain and engage our audience. At IN our mantra is, ‘Louder for the folks in the back!’“

“Comeback Stories,” hosted by New York Giants tight end Darren Waller and mental health and mindfulness coach Donny Starkins, will join the new podcast network starting today with the debut of a new third season. The show will continue to spotlight real-life tales of resiliency including insight into the hosts’ ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests whose stories illustrate a broad spectrum of “comeback” stories.

“We partnered with Inflection Network because they saw our potential and how intentional we are in our mission of impacting others,” Waller said. “Our work aligns directly with IN's vision statement.”

Later this month, just in time for the kickoff of the 2023 football season, Inflection Network will debut a new original fantasy football podcast: “Michael Smith presents … The Dynasty Exchange.” Hosted by dynasty diehards Dylan Egloff, Davis Nuaimi and Josh Walsh, the show will also feature regular appearances from longtime football analyst and fantasy football legend Smith. With new episodes available every Tuesday and Friday, “Michael Smith presents … The Dynasty Exchange” will deliver dynasty team owners the fantasy football insight, tips and strategies they need to stay ahead of the game when it comes to building and sustaining perennial championship contenders.

Additionally, Inflection Network will soon expand its existing slate with projects from esteemed sports personalities including Ibtihaj Muhamma, entrepreneur, activist, New York Times’ Best-Selling Author and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in fencing who in 2016 became widely known for being the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab; LoLo Jones, world-champion hurdler and bobsledder, and one of the few athletes to compete in a Summer and Winter Olympics; and Spencer Paysinger, seven-year NFL veteran, Super Bowl XLVI champion and producer of CW’s hit series “All-American” (loosely based on his life) alongside his Moore Street Productions partner Dane Morck (coproducer, “All-American.”)

Inflection Network will be led by Charita Johnson, a two-time Emmy Award-winning sports media executive who spent 26 years at ESPN and in 2011 developed and produced Smith’s groundbreaking “His & Hers” podcast. Her creativity, editorial judgment, and entrepreneurial prowess were among the many reasons Smith was adamant that she be the foundational member of the IN team. “She’s the backbone of this initiative,” Williams said.

“Standing up this portfolio of podcasts has been extremely rewarding,” Johnson said. “I’ve been intentional about who and what deserves to be under the IN umbrella. The stories that we’re telling reflect the audience we wish to attract. I’m really proud that there’s something for everyone.”

The Inflection Network is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. All shows will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. These shows join Michael Smith’s existing shows in collaboration with NBC Sports including “Brother From Another” on Peacock and Smith’s new solo NBC Sports podcast project, “My Main Man Michael Smith.”

About Inflection Point Entertainment

Inflection Point Entertainment is a multimedia company that tells the stories of inflections within the journeys of individuals, institutions, and industries. IPE’s scripted and unscripted content spans and converges the worlds of television, radio, podcasts, shorts, feature-length films - the full gamut of what you want to and need to see.

About Michael Smith

One of sports media’s most respected, versatile, and accomplished storytellers, Michael is the co-founder of the California- and Connecticut-based content studio, Inflection Point Entertainment. Since 2020, he’s been a host and commentator for NBC Sports, serving as co-host and executive producer of the sports, current events, and culture show Brother From Another on Peacock as well as the NBC Audio podcast My Main Man Michael Smith, and contributed to NBC’s pregame coverage of Super Bowl LVI. Previously, over 15 years at ESPN, Michael served as a reporter, commentator, host, and anchor. He began his time in Bristol as an NFL insider and E:60 correspondent, before going on to co-host his own daily talk show, His & Hers, and co-anchoring SportsCenter. Prior to joining ESPN, Michael was a reporter for The Boston Globe, serving as the paper’s NFL and New England Patriots beat writer. Smith began his career while a student at Loyola University in his hometown of New Orleans. He received his B.S. in mass communication from Loyola in 2001.

About Terrence Williams

Co-founder of Inflection Point Entertainment, Terrence Williams began his career working in legal affairs for Fox Broadcasting after graduating from Pepperdine School of Law. He works as an entertainment lawyer for various high profile production companies, entertainers, and musicians. In 2013, he launched a professional Arena Football League team in his hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, later selling the team in 2018. His producing/directorial debut came in 2019 for Deborah Joy Winans’s music video for “When I Rose” for Lionsgate in season four of the hit OWN series, “Greenleaf.” Williams produced the award-winning short film “Last Words” in 2019 and two seasons of the digital holiday show “Holiday A.F.” Williams established a non-profit organization in Michigan using sports and entertainment as a vector toward higher education and community growth.

About Charita Johnson

A media executive with nearly three decades of experience, including stints at ESPN (VP, Production), Peloton (VP, Content and Creative Strategy), NASCAR, and now as Inflection Network’s Head of Content, Johnson is also the founder and CEO of Johnson Bridge Media, a boutique talent representation agency that also develops and executes content strategies for media organizations and multi-platforms channels.

Hosted by Jess Hilarious The Event Also Featured Special Appearances From LL COOL J, Jeezy, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG and ScarLip

The Event Exclusively Streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook and Broadcast on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B Stations and the iHeartRadio App on August 2

NEW YORK- August 3, 2023- iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in the U.S., today announced the third annual “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” 2023 Block Party a special event that featured performances by Usher, Miguel, GloRilla, Coco Jones and NLE Choppa on Market Street in Inglewood, California, a hub for Black art, music, and culture in Los Angeles. The event also featured special appearances from LL COOL J, Jeezy, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG, ScarLip and more. “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” exclusively streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook and broadcast on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B stations and the iHeartRadio app on August 2 at 7 p.m. local time and will be available through August 30, 2023. The event also featured iHeartRadio personalities including The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy and Charlamagne tha God, Angela Yee, Big Boy and Nyla Symone.

“iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” event is inspired by the culture, history and innovation of Black culture and Hip-Hop. In addition to the music, the hour-long special is an interactive block party that brings Black culture to life while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

iHeartRadio’s Living Black! included these special performances:

• Wearing all black leather, Usher closed out the show with an iconic performance of “GLU.” He went on to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop by giving a shout out to several Hip-Hop icons who shaped his career. He surprised the crowd by bringing out Jeezy to perform “Love in This Club.”
• Miguel slowed things down with a soulful performance of “Give it to Me” and had the crowd dancing and singing along to “Sure Thing.”
• GloRilla and her backup dancers stormed the stage delivering an energetic performance of her fan favorites “Tomorrow 2,” “Lick Or Sum” and “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).”
• Coco Jones captivated the audience with a cover of Method Man and Mary J. Blige’s classic “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” and her hit “ICU,” sparkling in a long white dress.
• NLE Choppa opened up the block party with his hits “Ain’t Gonna Answer” and “Slut Me Out.”

In addition to the music, “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” featured moments with special guests including:

• LL COOL J shared a special message on the importance of Hip-Hop in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.
• Roddy Ricch joins Big Boy at Fixin’s Soul Kitchen in Los Angeles to discuss what the program “feeding the streets” means to him and why he wants to give back to the community.
• Chlöe shared how grateful she was to get Missy Elliot on her song “In Pieces” and how much she has inspired her career.
• Mic Drop: These segments celebrated artists who are on their ascension to superstardom. Throughout the show, D Smoke, SleazyWorld Go and Kash Doll dropped a hot 16 bar freestyle right in the center of the block party.
• In The Booth: Special guests including DDG, Lola Brooke, Warren G, Ty Dolla $ign and ScarLip shared intimate details about their time in the studio, including who was there, how they felt and what they witnessed.
• HAIR-itage: Angela Yee welcomed celebrity stylist Jay Christopher to the block party to discuss some of the most iconic and influential hair looks of the past five decades of Hip-Hop and explored how some of those looks are relevant today.
• FundaMENTAL Bars: Charlamagne tha God sat with Elliot Connie to talk about how Hip-Hop started as an authentic Black voice and how it has evolved over the last 50 years and is now on a path of healing. Charlamagne and Elliot will celebrate a few lyrics from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar and talked about its relevance in today’s culture.
• Flip The Script: Big Boy’s Neighborhood: Big Boy's Neighborhood has been a trusted voice in Hip Hop for decades. Big Boy reminisced on iconic Hip-Hop moments, breaking news on radio and reflect on the impact his show has had on Black and Hip-Hop culture.
• DJ Envy sat down with current Historically Black College students to discuss HBCU power and pride.
• iHeartRadio’s Nyla Symone kept the crowd moving throughout the night spinning Hip-Hop classics.

“iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” was produced by Emmy and Grammy award-winning producer Rikki Hughes and the Magic Lemonade Team, with executive Producers Doc Wynter, Thea Mitchem, John Sykes and Newal Dehan for iHeartMedia. “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” is sponsored in part by Hyundai. For more information on iHeartRadio’s Living Black! visit iheart.com/livingblack.

For b-roll of performance, see below:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dcv4gjqfj5qqrbg/AABo9a60cG_cENGPliyfRfpha?dl=0

To access photos from the 2022 iHeartRadio Living Black! please visit

https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000IDvST3Mb5Yc/G0000nUCzHpNdQWY/Best-Of-2023-Living-Black

PW: L!vingBlack23

Series explores Sex, Money, and Murder in Tinseltown

August 2, 2023, New York -- Variety, the iconic entertainment publication, and iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, announced today the co-production of an exciting new true crime podcast, “Variety Confidential.” The podcast dives into Variety’s archives exploring stories of sex, money, and murder in the entertainment industry.

The podcast was created by Jon Ponder, Tracy Pattin, Variety’s Chief Operating and Marketing Officer Dea Lawrence, and EVP of Content and Executive Editor Steve Gaydos. Pattin will host and Sydney Kramer, Managing Director and Senior Executive Producer for the Variety Content Studio, will produce along with Ponder. Ponder and Pattin have previously teamed on Wondrey’s “Hollywood & Crime.” 

The first six-part episode season, “Sex for Fame, Hollywood’s Ugliest Game” examines the notorious casting couch and sexual predation through the decades. The series will draw parallels between recent sex scandals and those of the past illustrating that sexual predators in the industry are as old as the Hollywood Hills. Commentary will be provided from Variety insiders such as co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton, Executive Editor of Film and Television Tatiana Siegel, and Chief Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister. 

“With the true crime genre ranking among the most popular in podcasting, it seems a natural fit for Variety to bring to life some of the crime stories from our archives,” said Lawrence. “We are excited about this new series and thrilled that iHeartPodcasts is joining us in a co-production.” 

“As a society, we continue to be fascinated with the true crime genre and the emotional rollercoaster these stories take us on,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We are excited to partner with Variety on this new podcast, which will combine their incredible archive of stories with first-hand insider perspectives. This will be a podcast true crime fans won’t want to miss.”

“Variety Confidential,” distributed by iHeartPodcasts, will launch its first two episodes on September 18 and will follow with a weekly release of the remaining four episodes. The podcast will be available on the iHeartRadio app, Variety.com, as well as other major podcast platforms. 

About Variety

Now celebrating its 118th year, Variety is the #1 entertainment business news brand, the most read in the world with over 30MM uniques users and 9.5MM social followers. Featuring award-winning breaking news reporting, insightful award-season coverage, must-read feature spotlights and intelligent analysis of the industry’s most prominent players, Variety is the trusted source for the business of global entertainment. Read by a highly engaged audience of industry insiders, Variety’s multi-platform content coverage expands across digital, mobile, social, print, podcasts, branded content, events, and summits.

Nine-Part Series Centers on Courtney “Cookie” Hood, Her Quest For The Truth And The Danger She Faced From All Sides, Including The U.S. Government

Listen To the First Two Episodes Now  

NEW YORK – August 1, 2023 – iHeartPodcasts announced today the launch of “Journalista,” the true story of Courtney "Cookie" Hood, former model and ex-wife of a Colombian drug cartel kingpin, hired to manage the CBS field office in Nicaragua during the civil war in the 1980’s. What starts as another big party for her, ends up being the history making adventure of a lifetime, blowing the lid off the Iran-Contra scandal and almost taking down the Reagan presidency.

Two episodes premiered today, which will be followed by a new episode every Tuesday. The trailer for the podcast can be found here.  

“Life as a journalist during wartime was intense. We worked hard and partied even harder, because we never knew what was going to happen the next day,” said Courtney “Cookie” Hood. “The CBS office in Nicaragua was many things – a news office, a respite from war and party central. Every day and night journalists, movie stars, rock stars, politicians and royalty would arrive. It was the place to be and be seen. By sharing these adventures, I hope our listeners understand the chaos and danger from these most uncertain times.”

“Journalista” follows the dangerous and improbable life of Hood, who teams up with legendary CBS producer Larry Doyle to take listeners through the courage of the wartime journalists covering the civil wars, revolutions and U.S. missteps in 1980’s Central America.

“During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Cookie Hood was the single driving force behind the most successful television coverage of Central America that appeared across the United States,” said Stephen Kinzer, former bureau chief of The New York Times. ”’Journalista’ is a series of stories over four decades in the making and will entrance each listener to the realities of what really happened during that time.”

“Journalista” is hosted by Steven Esteb, starring Cookie Hood, written and produced by Steven Esteb (“Hate Crime,”“Dirty Politics”), executive producers, Tyler Klang for iHeartMedia, Sean J. Donnelly (“Hate Crime”), Cookie Hood, Ellen K (Ellen K Morning Show) and Jason Waggenspack, CEO of the Ranch Film Studios and producer of “The True Don Quixote” and “The Look-Alike”.

“Journalista” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Listen to new episodes on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Upon the conclusion of the podcast, a documentary will be released with Hood diving into the background of the story and sharing insights that have been kept secret for over 40 years. For more information, visit JournalistaPodcast.com.

Embed Code: <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-journalista-119092920/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Download Cover Art Here.

Conducted with Amazon Ads, Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media, Studies Highlight the Strength of Audio Ads in Driving Attention and Brand Outcomes

NEW YORK (August 1, 2023) – Dentsu today announced new research measuring attention in audio advertising for the first time.  Conducted in partnership with Lumen Research, dentsu measured attention in various audio formats and environments across three unique studies in podcasts, radio and music streaming. The podcast study was conducted with participating partners Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media. The radio study was conducted with Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia. Separately, Amazon Ads conducted a study with Amazon Music for advertising on the music streaming service.

“Dentsu has been pioneering attention research via our Attention Economy for more than five years, codifying, longer than anyone else, the value of engagement in video and display channels. Now, we’re thrilled to unlock new insights on attention in audio—a meaningful first for the industry,” said Doug Rozen, CEO, dentsu Media Americas. “This enables us to uniquely serve clients by proving the value of their audio, video and display ads based on real engagement measures that drive growth.” 

As dentsu expands its Attention Economy research, the study measured attention to audio ads across Podcasts, Radio and with music streaming:

The study found that audio advertising (including podcasts, radio and music streaming) drove significant attention compared to other ad platforms:

• Average attentive seconds per (000) APM for audio advertising was 10,126 compared to dentsu norms of 6,501 APM
• On average, 41% of audio ads generated correct brand recall (vs. 38% of dentsu norms)
• Brand choice uplift for audio ads was 10% (vs. 6% for dentsu norms)

The study also found that each audio destination has its own unique strength in driving attention and brand impact.

• Podcasts (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media) drove the highest attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. In addition, we saw that brand choice uplift was higher for host reads compared to traditional audio ads within podcasts.
• Radio (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media and iHeartMedia) also impressively drove higher attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. Radio shined as the most efficient of the audio formats studied, proving to be 10x more efficient when compared to the average online video ads measured through dentsu’s Attention Economy. 
• Music Streaming (measured on Amazon Music across voice with Alexa and on mobile or desktop) drove key branding metrics. Brand recall was highest for ad-supported streaming music played on Alexa-enabled devices, and drove even higher brand choice uplift for :30 ads compared to those same ads listened to through a desktop/mobile device.

”We understand that radio advertising is a cost-efficient way to build reach, that podcast listeners have great affinity not only to the programming but also podcast hosts, and that smart speakers are a compelling new destination for audio ads on streaming services. It’s nice to see each of these unique strengths of different audio formats validated by our audio Attention Economy Study,” said Jennifer Hungerbuhler, EVP, Local and Audio Investment Lead, dentsu Media US. 

Expanding dentsu’s Attention Economy research into audio advertising for the first time, the media agency network worked with research partner Lumen to devise a methodology to measure attention in audio that is equivalent with measurement across visual media platforms. To conduct the study, respondents were exposed to listening environments similar to their native audio experiences (e.g., selecting a podcast, radio station or genre of music on a streaming platform). Post-listening, they were administered dentsu's Attention Economy Survey to gauge ad recall and brand choice uplift compared to a similarly recruited control group. Lumen modeled an attention score which is equivalent to that based on visual attention using the factors collected (including passively collected audio listening data, survey results and type of ad exposure).   

Mike Follett, CEO of Lumen Research added, “Dentsu has been a leading partner of Lumen Research as together we’ve chartered new territory in understanding attention and building new norms and metrics in the space. We’re excited to have a new way to measure attention in audio and eager to continue to define the future of attention with dentsu and their clients.” 
   
The study is the latest to be released by dentsu’s Attention Economy which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year since launching in 2018. The Attention Economy was the industry’s first attention-focused study and is the world’s largest in scale and scope of its kind. The program has defined the true value of attention across channels, platforms, and formats and revolutionized the way the advertising industry plans, measures, and buys media. Visit the Attention Economy website to learn more. 

About dentsu  
Dentsu is the network designed for what’s next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society. www.dentsu.com  

“The Pen Pals Podcast” is hosted by comedic duo Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk and features celebrity guests including Nick Kroll, Will Ferrell, Conan O’Brien, Mandy Moore, Rose Byrne and more

Listen now HERE

WHAT: iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network (BMP) welcome “The Pen Pals Podcast” to the iHeartPodcast Network, with all new and previous episodes available on the iHeartRadio app and podcast platforms everywhere. “The Pen Pals Podcast” sees hosts Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk respond to the letters listeners send them on topics ranging from free will to freeway etiquette, from mental health to manatees; and so much more. These letters could be seeking advice, telling a story or simply venting – Scovel and Van Kirk are ready for whatever listeners throw at them. 

The duo also welcomes an array of celebrity guests to talk through listener letters, including Will Ferrell, Conan O’Brien, Mandy Moore, Rose Byrne and many more. The latest episode features Nick Kroll, in which he reads a letter about his connection to his baby-to-be. The show’s next episode will feature Sarah Silverman. 

WHO: Daniel Van Kirk is a stand-up comedian from Rochelle, Illinois. His album, "Thanks Diane" debuted at #1 on Apple Music and he's been named a “Comic To Watch” by Comedy Central and one of JFL’s 42 in Toronto. He has appeared on “Bob’s Burgers” as several characters, as well as “Physical,” “Central Park” and more. Rory Scovel is an actor and comedian known for starring opposite Amy Schumer in “I Feel Pretty,” the series “Physical” and “The House'' with BMP founder Will Ferrell. He also recently wrapped production on the latest Nick Stoller film “You’re Cordially Invited” with Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. 

WHERE: “The Pen Pals Podcast” is now part of the Big Money Players Network and is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Fans can listen on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

WHEN: Binge the entire series now, with new episodes airing weekly on Wednesdays.

The 10-episode series airs every Thursday beginning August 3, 2023

Listen to the official audio trailer now

“Shattering The System” investigates a variety of crimes and the systems and structures that make them possible. Hosted by pioneering audio journalist Sonari Glinton, the series looks into the true crimes of our day to tell the stories and dig into the issues that affect us all. Drawing from his decades covering politics and the economy, Sonari and his team expose systems that make it possible for criminals of all kinds to get away with the unthinkable. Using expert interviews, victim testimonials, evidence and the innovative use of sound, Sonari unveils the ugly truths, injustices and loopholes within society.

Season one tells what happens in West Hollywood when the party’s over and what doesn't happen, when gay black men turn up dead in the same apartment. This 10-episode podcast delves into the strange, twisted world of Ed Buck. It’s a story that has implications far beyond Hollywood or the gay world. Shattering The System is doing something different, and telling stories from a fresh perspective while taking a hard look at what happens when the system isn’t just broken but shattered.

“Shattering The System” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

EMBED CODE:

<iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-shattering-the-system-119253467/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

COVER ART HERE.

About Sonari Glinton:

Pioneering audio journalist Sonari Glinton has covered everything from corruption at Cook County’s Juvenile Jail to the ascent of Barack Obama to breaking the Volkswagen diesel scandal. In his almost two decades of work in public radio, he’s proudly done “nearly every job.” He’s produced segments for This American Life, directed NPR’s All Things Considered, reported for NPR's business and politics desks and guest hosted the ground-breaking podcast Planet Money and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. In 2004, he co-created The Rundown, one of the first and longest-running daily news podcasts. Whether he’s organizing his colleagues in public media, working with youth journalists from YR Media, or co-creating virtual camp for teens, Sonari has shown his commitment to fostering the next generation of journalists and creating more diverse and inclusive newsrooms. Currently, he sits on the national board of Mikva Challenge, which funds and supports civic education and participation for teens.

About MACRO:

Launched in 2015 by Founder & CEO Charles D. King, MACRO is a multi-platform media company representing the voice and perspectives of Black people, indigenous people and people of color. The company’s multiple business verticals include film (MACRO Film Studios) and television studios (MACRO Television Studios) that finance, develop and produce theatrical and streaming features and premium television, a wholly-owned talent, brand management and entertainment strategy firm (UNCMMN) and an in-house branding and creative agency (Brand MACRO). In addition, MACRO has a majority interest in the company’s joint venture—a full-service talent management firm (M88) and affiliated venture firm (MaCVenture Capital). The company’s film projects have fifteen Oscar nominations and three wins. MACRO Film Studios co-financed the critically acclaimed Judas and the Black Messiah, Mudbound, Fences, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Just Mercy, Sorry to Bother You, Nine Days, Farewell Amor, Blast Beat, The Land and Blue Bayou. MACRO Television Studios has two critically-acclaimed Netflix series— Raising Dion and the Peabody Award nominee Gentefied; as well as Emmy nominated FX docu-series Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur. It will also launch its first podcast, Shattering The System, with iHeartMedia in August 2023. https://www.staymacro.com/about

THE CHALLENGE: USA Premieres on CBS Thursday, Aug.10 with New Episodes of “MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast” to Begin Rolling Out August 11th through the iHeartPodcast Network Featuring Hosts Devyn Simone and Tori Deal

“MTV's Official The Challenge Podcast” returns alongside the second fierce season of the "THE CHALLENGE: USA," featuring reality titans from CBS’s reality competition shows "SURVIVOR," "BIG BROTHER" and "THE AMAZING RACE." Each podcast episode will recap one episode of "THE CHALLENGE: USA" after it airs on television. Hosts Devyn Simone and Tori Deal will have behind-the-scenes discussions recapping the epic brand-new challenges, ruthless eliminations, and cunning strategies that changed the game.

Plus, for the first time in "THE CHALLENGE: USA" history, legendary veterans from past seasons of "MTV’s THE CHALLENGE" are entering the competition, including podcast co-host Tori Deal. Having a co-host who is also a competitor this season will provide listeners with an unfiltered and direct insight into the competition.

Please find the official trailer HERE.

The podcast is produced by Paramount Audio and MTV Entertainment in collaboration with iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms.

"THE CHALLENGE: USA" returns with a two-part premiere kicking off Thursday, Aug. 10, and part two airs Sunday, Aug. 13 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS and Paramount+. Fans can catch episodes of the podcast every Friday and Monday starting Monday, Aug. 11.

Premiering on August 1, the weekly interview series will feature celebrity guests including Gabriel Iglesias, Tony Hawk, Angela Kinsey, and Lewis Black

LISTEN TO THE TRAILER HERE

WHAT: iHeartPodcasts and Craig Ferguson today debut a new weekly series “Joy, A Podcast. Hosted by Craig Ferguson.” Ferguson will bring his interview talents and singular world view to a discussion of the modern state of JOY, sitting down with notable guests from the worlds of entertainment, science, government and more. How's our Joy doing? Bridled? On life support? Where do we find joy in a world that seems by any rational measure to be collapsing around us?

WHO: Hosted by Grammy nominated, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director, comedian and storied late-night talk show host Craig Ferguson. Upcoming guests include Gabriel Iglesias, Tony Hawk, Angela Kinsey, Kathie Lee Gifford, Diedrich Bader, Lewis Black, Wendie Malick, Shirley Manson, and Tom Papa.

WHEN: Premieres Tuesday, August 1, with new episodes airing every Tuesday. Listen to the official trailer now.

WHERE: “Joy, A Podcast. Hosted by Craig Ferguson” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Fans can listen on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

SHOW PAGE: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-joy-a-podcast-hosted-by-c-119508923/

ASSETS: Show art is available for download HERE

EMBED CODE: <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-joy-a-podcast-hosted-by-c-119508923/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

ABOUT CRAIG FERGUSON

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Craig Ferguson is a Grammy nominated, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian with a diverse career that encompasses film, television and the stage. He is a New York Times bestselling author and has recorded numerous standup specials for Netflix, Epix, Comedy Central and Amazon. The wildly popular Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson ran on CBS for ten years and remains a cult favorite on YouTube racking up millions of views every year on fan posted bootleg clips.

In addition to comedy, Ferguson is a film writer and director, with film credits that include “The Big Tease, “Saving Grace,” “I'll Be There,” “Niagara Motel,” “Lenny the Wonder Dog,” “Prendimi l’anima,” “Life Without Dick,” “Chain of Fools” and “Born Romantic,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Brave,” and “How To Train Your Dragon.” He has five widely acclaimed stand-up comedy specials: “A Wee Bit O’ Revolution, “Does This Need to Be Said,” “I’m Here to Help,” “Just Being Honest,” “Tickle Fight,” and “Hobo Fabulous.”

In 2006, Ferguson debuted his first novel entitled Between the Bridge and the River, which made it onto the bestseller list. In 2009, he released his memoir American on Purpose, a book about why and how he became an American. The book was listed on the New York Times bestseller list and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word. His most recent book Riding the Elephant is a series of linked biographical stories.

Travis Scott “Takes Over” iHeartRadio to World Premiere Latest Single with Bad Bunny and The Weeknd

NEW YORK, N.Y. – July 21, 2023 – iHeartMedia celebrated new music and artists recently with World Premiere debuts and more. Chris Stapleton’s new single “White Horse” had a World Premiere debut on July 21 across iHeartCountry stations.

On July 21, iHeartLand will host Niall Horan at State Farm Park to celebrate the release of his third solo album “The Show.” During his exclusive show in iHeartLand, the singer/songwriter will perform songs from his new album, as well as open up about the project and more during a special Q&A hosted by iHeartRadio's JoJo Wright. Fans can experience Niall Horan in iHeartLand in Fortnite and on Roblox for two days only, starting Friday, July 21st at 7pm ET/4pm PT. Visit iHeartLand for more information.

Late into the night on July 20, Travis Scott interrupted regularly scheduled programming across 160 iHeartRadio Hip Hop, CHR and RCHR stations to World Premiere his new single “K-POP” with Bad Bunny and The Weeknd. The new single was exclusively broadcasted across iHeartRadio stations an hour before it was released to the public. Scott will also be performing at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival, which takes place on Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 at Las Vegas’ hottest entertainment venue, T-Mobile Arena. Tickets are available now at AXS.com.

On July 20, iHeartMedia hosted the “iHeartCountry Album Preview Party: Featuring Shot In The Dark by Ashley Cooke” in Nashville. iHeartRadio listeners had early access to Ashley Cooke’s new album “shot in the dark,” out now, and a special moment as Cooke and Colbie Caillat made surprise appearances for an acoustic performance of their song “mean girl.” Cooke also participated in a Q&A during the Album Preview Party at iHeartMedia’s Big 98 office in Nashville. Winners from radio promotions received an exclusive invite to the Album Preview Party and received tickets to Cooke’s “shot in the dark Tour” coming to Nashville on October 19, 2023.

iHeartRadio stations across the country held a “New Music Friday” feature to celebrate BARBIE THE ALBUM on July 21, the soundtrack to one of the hottest movies of the summer. Songs from the album were featured across iHeartRadio CHR, Hot AC and Rhythm CHR stations. The spotlight comes after a full week of programming thanks to “Barbie’s Best Week Ever,” which started on July 17 and culminated with the feature on Friday.

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