iHeartRadio Original

Podcast brings together some of the biggest names in the music and entertainment industry including Poo Bear, T Bone Burnett, Bill Flanagan and more

Austin, TX — March 11, 2019 — iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with over 20,000 podcasts available on its iHeartRadio platform, today announced “Bear and a Banjo,” a first-of-its-kind iHeartRadio Original musical podcast, set to launch on the iHeartPodcast Network later this year. The podcast will be accompanied by the debut of The Bear and A Banjo album, which will mark the first time a band has used the power of podcasting to release an album.

Created by Jingle Jared, Dennis Quaidand five-time Grammy winner Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd (“Despacito,” “Where Are You Now,” “I’m the One” and “Peaches and Cream”) with musical contributions from producerT Bone Burnett(O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Crazy Heart) and original lyrical contribution from Bob Dylan, each episode of the eight-part series will tell a self-contained story about a character called Mister Bear. Bear is a traveling musician who visits different towns across America and impacts people’s lives before vanishing again. He is often preceded into town by J. Banjo, a charming huckster/card player/preacher/medicine salesman who acts as Bear’s promoter and hype man.

“This is the beginning of an entirely new era of podcasts. With ‘Bear and a Banjo,’ we are delving into a more sophisticated form of storytelling that brings the audience into a lush and rich world – not just through words, but music," said Dennis Quaid.

Each story in the eight-part anthology is based on an original song from the soon-to-be-released The Bear and A Banjo album, written and performed by Jingle Jared and Poo Bear. The podcast is written by award-winning producer and author Bill Flanagan(creator of CMT's Crossroads and VH1's Storytellers), with narration by Dennis Quaid as Dr. Q, who is searching to understand why the band was virtually erased from musical history. Throughout his exploration of the “Bear and a Banjo” story, listeners will learn about the band’s impact, uncoveringwhy the musicians’ history was nearly forgotten – until now.

“The sheer volume of talent that came together to collaborate on this project is truly remarkable,” said Jared Gutstadt, co-founder and president of the Jingle Punks. “It was an honor to work with the best and brightest minds in the industry to create a podcast that is unlike any other. The songs and storytelling will resonate with listeners everywhere, and we can’t wait to unveil it to the world.” 

“When we heard the idea for this podcast, we knew immediately that it would be a perfect fit for the iHeartPodcast Network,” said Gayle Troberman, CMO of iHeartMedia. “The massive reach of our broadcast radio stations combined with our No. 1 podcast platform will ensure listeners everywhere can enjoy ‘Bear and a Banjo,” and we’re excited to help brands find their voice and tell their stories through this unique audio experience.’

iHeartMedia announced “Bear and a Banjo” at an exclusive event featuring Dennis Quaid, with performances by the Jingle Punks and Tim McGraw, at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Dennis Quaid is represented  by WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller.

Season two will kick off with Tim McGraw at a live episode recording open to badge holders at the 2019 SXSW Interactive Festival on March 10

Austin, TX -- March 7, 2019 -- iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with over 20,000 podcasts available on its iHeartRadio platform, today announced season two of the popular podcast “Spit,” an iHeartRadio podcast with consumer genetics company 23andMe. Launched in August 2018 and hosted by Baratunde Thurston, “Spit” welcomes an eclectic mix of artists, scientists and thinkers to discuss how DNA testing is changing the way people see themselves and the world around them. “Spit” allows listeners to eavesdrop on intimate conversations that span topics like identity, race, family and health.

To kick off the second season of “Spit,” iHeartRadio and 23andMe will host a live recording session for the first episode at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, TX on March 10 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the JW Marriott as part of the Health and MedTech track. The SXSW session will feature Tim McGraw – singer/songwriter and long-time activist and advocate for health and wellness – alongside host Baratunde Thurston and guests Julia Hu, the CEO & Founder of Lark Health – the leader in chronic disease prevention and management using AI – and Tracey Brown, the CEO of the American Diabetes Association, for a thought-provoking conversation around one of the major challenges to health in the 21st century – the national type 2 diabetes epidemic – and answer the question of how we can use new technology, genetics and advocacy to help solve this health crisis. The live recording session is open to anyone holding an official badge for the festival. Episode one for season two of “Spit” will be available to everyone beginning March 27, 2019.

“The iHeartPodcast Network is leading the way in branded storytelling by asking brands what conversations they should have with listeners” said Gayle Troberman, CMO of iHeartMedia. “The result is a compelling chart-topping iHeartRadio podcast with 23andMe debating how the world changes when we all understand our DNA. ‘Spit’ provides fresh creative to fuel broadcast radio campaigns and drives results at scale.”

“The ‘Spit’ podcast underlines the growing interest in how genetics changes our understanding of who we are and how we interact with the world,” said Tracy Keim, VP of Consumer Marketing at 23andMe. “In season two, we are excited to dive into more thought-provoking conversations around health and genetics. We will explore specific health conditions, starting with type 2 diabetes in the first episode - a condition that could be reversed with the right knowledge.”

The first season of “Spit” featured fascinating conversations about identity with John Legend, race with Wyclef Jean and mental health with Mike Shinoda. It was one of the iHeartPodcast Network’s highest performing shows, appearing on the iTunes Podcast Charts within 24 hours of launch and remaining in the top 15 overall podcast list for a month after. Listeners can hear “Spit” on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere else podcasts are heard.

Listen to “Family Secrets” now on iHeartRadio and Everywhere Podcasts are Heard

NEW YORK-- February 14, 2019 -- iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with over 20,000 podcasts available on its platform, today announced the launch of “Family Secrets” produced in collaboration with iHeartRadio and best-selling author, Dani Shapiro. Shapiro invites listeners to join her on a personal journey and to discover what has empowered her to write her instant New York Times Best-Selling memoir, INHERITANCE. The 10-part series debuts today with three episodes on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. New episodes will air weekly each Thursday. In addition, “Family Secrets” will also debut the first two episodes on iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations around the U.S. on February 20.

In her first-ever podcast “Family Secrets,” Shapiro will share with listeners her honest experience and perspective from finding out a life-altering secret her parents had kept from her. She will examine family and explore the way society is taught to construct identity. By owning her hidden truth, Shapiro will inspire her listeners to boldly do the same. Throughout the podcast, Shapiro will discuss an array of personal and thought-provoking family dynamic topics such as paternity, DNA, personal identity, crime, addiction, abuse, neglect, shame and guilt -- allowing others to have a platform to liberate themselves from the power that a family secret can hold over them.

“Ever since discovering my own huge family secret, people have opened up to me and told me theirs -- the bringing to light of these secrets is nothing short of profound, both for the teller and the listener,” said Shapiro. “I’m thrilled to be working with iHeartRadio to reach a whole new audience and create a community in which revealing our secrets becomes our strength. In ‘Family Secrets,’ I dive deep with each guest into a range of stories that are powerful, intense and ultimately uplifting. These are tales of courage and thriving. My guests have taken what has been hidden from them all their lives, and together, we turn them into narrative gold.”

“Dani is a powerful voice for so many people who are harboring their own family secrets,” said Conal Byrne, President of The iHeartPodcast Network. “This podcast provides people a place to share their personal truths in a way that is truly moving and shows others they are not alone. We are proud to welcome her to the iHeartRadio family as she continues to inspire and liberate both her loyal fans and new listeners through the ‘Family Secrets’ podcast.”

Shapiro is the best-selling author of four memoirs, including Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Throughout her writing career, Shapiro has explored family secrets, without knowing that she, herself, was the family secret. Her brand-new memoir, INHERITANCE, which is currently enjoying its third week on the New York Times Best-Seller List, was also named a Most Anticipated Book of 2019 by Washington Post, USA Today, Oprah Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, Vulture, Bustle, Real Simple, PopSugar and LitHub. It has received rave reviews across the country and has been featured on national NPR and The Today Show.

iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music, podcast, on-demand and live streaming radio service, is partnered with all major podcast publishers ranging from NPR and WNYC to ESPN and Gimlet.  iHeartMedia also recently acquired Stuff Media, LLC, the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content, which includes the HowStuffWorks podcasting business. With iHeartRadio, listeners can enjoy their music and podcasts side-by-side across more than 250 unique platforms including in-car, in-home, on wearables, across gaming consoles and more – making their favorite audio content available everywhere they are, on the devices they use most. VisitiHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to “Family Secrets” on your favorite device.

About Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro is the best-selling author of four memoirs, Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Dani’s new memoir, INHERITANCE, was just published by Knopf. Her books span diverse subjects from her tumultuous upbringing in an Orthodox Jewish community and the tragic death of her father to her explorations of spirituality and the nature of our deepest relationships.  Dani is a sought-after speaker whose recent essays on the lures and dangers of the Internet and social media have stirred up controversy and are now being taught in many universities—along with her book Still Writing, a searching meditation on the artistic process.

Her books Devotion and Slow Motion were the subject of an hour-long conversation between Dani and Oprah Winfrey, which aired on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday in 2013. Dani’s work has appeared in numerous publications including the New Yorker, Salon, n+1, Tin House, and Elle, and has been widely anthologized. She contributes regularly to the New York Times Book Review and is a contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveler. A portion of Slow Motion was broadcast on This American Life.

Along with teaching writing workshops around the world, Dani has taught at Columbia and New York University, and is the cofounder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy.

NEW YORK - February 20, 2018 - Jake Brennan, host and producer of the rock and roll true crime podcast "Disgraceland", and iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with over 20,000 podcasts on its platform, today announced at the Winter Podcast Upfront a new partnership to bring listeners two additional seasons of “Disgraceland” to the iHeartPodcast Network. Season 3 will feature 10 episodes and will debut everywhere March 14 with part one of a two-part episode on Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, part two will follow on March 19. Subsequent new episodes will be released bi-weekly on Tuesdays beginning March 26 with an episode on Snoop Dogg. In addition, “Disgraceland” will debut the Season 3 premiere first on iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations across the U.S. on March 13 before it’s available digitally on March 14. Fans can check out the official trailer for “Disgraceland” Season 3 now here.

"I can’t wait for ‘Disgraceland’ listeners to hear Season 3,” said Host and Creator Jake Brennan. “They can expect more of the same highly entertaining stories from the seedy underbelly of rock and roll past and present, but with a whole new cast of characters: Kurt and Courtney, Ike and Tina, Johnny Cash and Amy Winehouse to name a few. More death, self-destruction, scandal, amazing music and pre-set mellotron loops.”

The partnership will also include a new slate of iHeartRadio Original podcasts led by Brennan set to be released later this year. Two of the originals include “Rocka Rolla,” a serialized version of Disgraceland with a 10-episode arc on the madness and genius of Phil Spector, and “The 27 Club,” a new anthology series that will explore the lives of rock stars who died mysteriously at the age of 27. The new slate of shows will be hosted by Brennan and co-produced by iHeartRadio in the style of “Disgraceland.”

"Partnering with iHeart allows me to expand the show and the Disgraceland Universe. The primary feedback that I’ve received from listeners since launching was, in a word, ‘MORE!’ More episodes, more stories, more ‘Disgraceland’,” explained Brennan. “Through this new partnership with iHeart, I now have the resources to expand the length of each episode and to invest the time and energy needed to produce other podcast series that will maintain the same high level of production as ‘Disgraceland’ while exploring similar subject matter.”

“Today’s listeners have an insatiable appetite for true crime and music, and ‘Disgraceland’ perfectly blends the two together offering listeners suspense through an engaging scripted series,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “We are excited to be partnering with Jake on both the launch of the next two seasons of ‘Disgraceland’ and also a slate of new iHeartRadio Originals, introducing entertaining new content to listeners across the country.”

Last year, Variety named “Disgraceland” “One of the 10 Best Music Podcasts” and called it the “rock ‘n’ roll version of the Peabody Award-winning Serial,” while Thrillist named it “One of the Best New Podcasts of 2018” and said, “Brennan’s voice is soothing and articulate, and he delivers nuggets of lesser-known information with the confidence and clarity of a creator who clearly loves what he’s doing.”

With iHeartRadio, listeners can enjoy their music and podcasts across more than 250 unique device platforms including in-car, in-home, on wearables, across gaming consoles and more – making their favorite audio content available everywhere they are, on the devices they use most. Visit iHeart.com/appsto download iHeartRadio and listen to “Disgraceland” on your favorite device now.

DisGraceLand Season 3 Trailer from Jeremy Fraga on Vimeo.

About Disgraceland

Disgraceland is a true-crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. It is hosted and produced by Jake Brennan. Thirty minute episodes that trace the most insane criminal stories surrounding our most interesting and infamous pop stars.

The iHeartRadio Original scripted podcast series for teens debuts October 29 with two episodes

NEW YORK – October 15, 2018 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with more than 20,000 podcasts available on its platform, and Einhorn’s Epic Productions (“EEP”), an entertainment creative house that builds heroic franchise intellectual property, today gave a first look into Lethal Lit, an iHeartRadio Original scripted mystery podcast, with the release of the official trailer. Lethal Lit will debut October 29 with two episodes and subsequent episodes will air each Monday. Listeners can hear the official trailer here.

Lethal Lit is a six-episode scripted podcast that follows teen detective Tig Torres as she returns to her small hometown of Hollow Falls where her aunt was framed as a serial killer ten years ago. Tig explores the mystery of the Lit Killer murders, each based on a murder from classic literature, and documents her findings on her own true crime podcast. But as she gets closer to the truth, the killings begin all over again — with her as the final target.

“We announced the debut of Lethal Lit back in May and we can’t wait to see how this unique podcast is received when it’s released on October 29th,” said Chris Peterson, Executive Vice President of Podcasting at iHeartMedia. “There’s never been a more exciting time for podcasting than now and I speak for the entire team when I say we are absolutely delighted and energized by the potential and opportunity in this space. Lethal Lit introduces a new podcast format and audience for us, and it’s just the beginning of our larger effort to expand and diversify the types of shows iHeartRadio will offer.”

Rebecca Soler will play the lead role of Tig Torres — a strong, smart, independent Cuban-American teen detective who is fascinated by classic literature and true crime. Additional voices to be played by JB Blanc, Matt Gumley, Paul Guyet, Jennifer Jiles, Rachel Oremland, Alba Ponce de Leon, Luke Slattery and Shelly Shenoy. Heather Einhorn, Adam Staffaroni, Alex Segura and Monica Gallagher co-created the series with each episode written by Segura and Gallagher; directed by JB Blanc; and produced by Einhorn, Staffaroni and Aroop Sanakkayala for EEP, Segura and Gallagher, and Sandy Smallens and Chris Peterson for iHeartMedia.

“Creating Lethal Lit has been an amazing experience” said Heather Einhorn, CEO of EEP, “The young adult podcast audience has been largely overlooked, so we’re especially excited to bring a strong, female heroic character to life in this exciting new format.” 

iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music, podcast, on demand and live streaming radio service, is partnered with all major podcast publishers ranging from NPR and WNYC to ESPN and Gimlet.  iHeartMedia also recently acquired Stuff Media, LLC, the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content, which includes the HowStuffWorks podcasting business. With iHeartRadio, listeners can enjoy their music and podcasts side-by-side across more than 250 unique platforms including in-car, in-home, on wearables, across gaming consoles and more – making their favorite audio content available everywhere they are, on the devices they use most. Visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to podcasts on your favorite device.

Lethal Lit is part of the iHeartRadio Podcast Network.

Season One of the New Podcast Will Explore the Salem Witch Trials

New York - September 26, 2018 - iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in America which also has a greater reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet, today announced the upcoming launch of Unobscured, a new iHeartRadio Original Podcast produced in collaboration with HowStuffWorks. Unobscured will be a narrative documentary series written and hosted by Aaron Mahnke, creator of Lore, an award-winning, critically-acclaimed podcast about true life scary stories. Unobscured will launch October 3, 2018 and trailer is available now.

For its inaugural season, Unobscured will explore the Salem witch trials, one of the darkest and least understood chapters in American history. Mahnke will use his signature storytelling to pull back the layers of time and introduce the individuals, traditions and superstitions that together tell the complete story of what really happened in Salem.

Scored by Billboard No. 1 classical pianist Chad Lawson, each of the 12 episodes are intertwined with interviews from the world’s foremost scholars on the Salem witch trials. iHeartMedia and HowStuffWorks have plans to bring this same narrative documentary approach to other misunderstood historical moments through future seasons of Unobscured.

"The Salem witch trials is one of the most infamous and intriguing pieces of early American history, and yet there’s so much about it that we’ve forgotten," said Aaron Mahnke, podcast creator, producer and host of Unobscured. "Through Unobscured, I hope to give those dark events a moment in the spotlight and show just how relevant they still are today."

This announcement comes on the heels of the news that iHeartMedia is acquiring Stuff Media, LLC, the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content, which includes the HowStuffWorks (HSW) podcasting business as well as a slate of premium podcast content.

“This is a momentous time for iHeartMedia and HowStuffWorks, having just announced that we are acquiring Stuff Media,” Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio and iHeartMedia Networks Group. “With HowStuffWorks’ expert content producers and iHeartMedia’s unparalleled reach and expertise in all things audio, the caliber of our collaboratively-produced podcasts will be unprecedented. Unobscured is the introduction to this new chapter in podcasting for iHeartMedia and HowStuffWorks."

Unobscured host Aaron Mahnke is the creator, producer and host of the hit podcast Lore (Best of iTunes 2015 & 2016) as well as Executive Producer of the Lore television show on Amazon (from the producer of The Walking Dead) and author of The World of Lore book series (Penguin Random House / Del Rey). Unobscured will be the second podcast produced by HowStuffWorks and Mahnke, the first being Cabinet of Curiosities. Visit HistoryUnobscured.com to learn more.

iHeartRadio is partnered with all major podcast publishers and features more than 20,000 podcasts ranging from NPR and WNYC to ESPN and Gimlet. The iHeartRadio Podcast Network also hosts more than 750 iHeartRadio Original shows. With iHeartRadio, listeners can enjoy their music and podcasts across more than 250 unique platforms including in-car, in-home, on wearables, across gaming consoles and more – making their favorite audio content available everywhere they are, on the devices they use most. Visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to the trailer for Unobscured on your favorite device.

About Stuff Media
Stuff Media is the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content. With more than 30 brands, including Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Atlanta Monster and Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities, the Stuff Media team reaches a highly engaged fan base across multiple platforms and distribution partners and has amassed a library of more than 10,000 podcast episodes and driving more than 1 billion downloads to date.

With this expansive and award-winning collection of audio podcasts, Stuff Media’s HowStuffWorks is ranked #2 in global downloads and streams. Stuff Media is headquartered in Atlanta, and also operates studios and teams out of Los Angeles and New York.