iHeartPodcast Network

To Premiere September 15th Via iHeartPodcast Network

Listen To The Trailer Here

September 7th, 2021- Today, Meghan Trainor has announced her new podcast, Workin’ On It, that she will co-host alongside her brother and best friend, Ryan Trainor. The podcast will premiere on Wednesday, September 15th and will see the dynamic duo take on a new topic each week, share their stories, and bring listeners into the conversation. Co-produced by Cloud10 Media and iHeartMedia, the pair will tackle topics such as becoming a new mom, navigating Hollywood, mental health, and everything in between. Meghan, Ryan, and friends will speak their truth and leave no details behind.

“Ryan is one of my favorite humans ever. He always keeps me humble and real and I’m so grateful to have a brother/bestie like him,” Meghan says. “I hope that getting to share our stories will make people laugh with and at us.”

“I might be biased but I think that Meghan is the funniest person in the world.” Ryan says. “I can’t wait for everyone to realize that she’s not just ‘that Bass girl.’”

Workin’ On It will be available on iHeartRadio and all other major podcast streaming platforms — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more. This is one of many new endeavors for Meghan as she began 2021 by penning a deal with NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Entertainment for a cross-platform partnership. Coming this fall, fans will also get to watch her as the host of Top Chef Family Style on Peacock and as a judge on Clash of the Cover Bands on E!.

Workin’ On It is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network.

Editor’s Note: Use below player code to embed the official audio trailer for “Workin’ On It” into any article for direct audio play right in your story or website:

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About Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor first made history in 2014 with her diamond-certified smash single “All About That Bass.” Since then, the award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has garnered a GRAMMY® for Best New Artist, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two platinum albums, sold out three world tours, penned multi-platinum hits for peers across pop and country, and received countless industry awards and nominations. Expanding her influence on pop culture, she starred on FOX’s hit series THE FOUR: Battle for Stardom for two seasons and on the superstar coaching panel of The Voice UK alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and Olly Murs. She kicked off 2020 with the release of her third full-length album, Treat Myself (Epic Records), which includes the platinum smash “No Excuses” as well as powerful anthems and collaborations such as “Nice To Meet Ya” [feat. Nicki Minaj], “Genetics” [feat. Pussycat Dolls], and “Wave” [feat. Mike Sabath]. At the end of 2020 she released her first-ever Christmas album, A Very Trainor Christmas, featuring the #1 holiday radio single “White Christmas.”

About Ryan Trainor

Ryan has worked with Meghan as her videographer and photographer for the last 6 years. During the lockdown he started streaming on Twitch, growing from an audience mainly consisting of Meghan fans to his very own community. He recently made the decision to exclusively stream on YouTube Gaming. He is currently training hard for the New York City Marathon in November.

About Cloud10 Media

Cloud10 Media is a podcast network that provides listeners an outlet for best-in-class podcast discovery, while offering support every step of the process, including development, promotion, marketing and sales. 

Cloud 10 currently has a multi-year creative partnership with iHeartMedia’s digital audio group, the world’s number one publisher of podcasts.

This growing network has over 25 top-ranked podcasts amassing millions of downloads across all categories including True Crime, Comedy, Wellness, Society & Culture, Entertainment and more.

The Network will Include Both Scripted and Unscripted Podcasts That Deliver Progressive Journalism and Stories From Emerging and Established Podcasters

Building Off Evans’ Long Line of Hit Podcasts, Cool Zone Media to Launch with a Dozen Podcasts Including New Daily Show “It Could Happen Here” Which Debuts Today - Listen HERE

NEW YORK -- August 16, 2021 - iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, announced today Cool Zone Media, a new podcast network powered by journalist Robert Evans that will chronicle the divisive truths of the past and present in order to bring about a better, more informed future. Cool Zone Media will expand upon iHeartMedia’s existing slate of hit podcasts with author and investigative journalist including the bizarre life histories of some of the greatest villains in “Behind the Bastards,” which consistently ranks among the top 10 most downloaded shows on the iHeartPodcast Network; a fictional Texas wracked by civil war in “After the Revolution,” the top fiction series in iHeartPodcast Network history; and other popular series. Additionally, Evans, who will serve as the head of content for Cool Zone Media, will be joined by the iHeartPodcast Network’s executive producer, Sophie Lichterman, who will become Cool Zone Media’s head of creative, to help curate and elevate other vital voices in today’s progressive political landscape for the network. Cool Zone Media will debut today with the first episode of the new daily podcast “It Could Happen Here,” available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

“Remember when the world didn't feel like it was coming apart? Neither do I,” said Evans. “Cool Zone Media won’t mince words: we are currently living through the collapse of the known and the birth of a new unknown. This new network will chronicle the journey and provide advice and access to those voices trying to build a better future.”         

The new daily series “It Could Happen Here” will focus on climate change and picks up where Evans’ fast-paced, terrifying and fascinating 10-episode weekly podcast by the same name left off. In his first adaptation, Evans revealed how, in his travels across the cities shattered by the Ukrainian Civil War, he heard one sentence over and over again: "I never thought this could happen here." The idea of a new American Civil War may seem histrionic, absurd and impossible, but an increasing number of experts have come to agree: It can happen here, and this new series accepts this fact and provides a roadmap to survival in the burning ruins of the “old world.” The first episode launches today, August 16.

This September, Cool Zone Media will debut its second original podcast “Assault on America.” Written and co-produced by one of the United Kingdom’s leading independent podcast companies, Novel, the show will examine the events of January 6, 2021 when a vast constellation of right-wing groups converged on Washington D.C., united by a falsehood that the Democrats stole the 2020 election, and ransacked the United States Capitol resulting in five deaths and hundreds of injuries. Hosted by Evans, an expert on the far-right who published a report on January 5, 2021 warning of the events coming, “Assault on America” will dig into the events of January 6th in forensic detail, identifying key players who spread disinformation and helped to create a riot. He will trace the stories of instigators, militia leaders and far right influencers, and unpack a mighty disinformation campaign that was years in the making. As Evans journeys deep into the digital fever swamp, he considers a crucial question: was the storming of the U.S. Capitol the final convulsion of a dying movement, or was it the first shot in a new civil war?

Other creators joining Cool Zone Media will include rapper and author Jason “Propaganda” Petty, who will bring with him his podcast “Hood Politics,” where he breaks down the seemingly confusing political landscape in an understandable way, assuring listeners that If they have survived junior high school, lived in an urban city or understand gang life, they can understand geopolitics. Journalist and filmmaker Jake Hanrahan, will also join the network with his current podcast “Q Clearance: The Hunt for QAnon,” as well as collaborate on a slate of forthcoming shows for Cool Zone Media. Additionally the network will feature upcoming projects from podcasters Bridget Todd (“There Are No Girls On The Internet”) and Jamie Loftus (“Lolita Podcast,” “Aack Cast”) as well as researcher Christopher Wong and journalist Garrison Davis.

“We are excited to launch Cool Zone Media to help elevate vital political voices and viewpoints that are so often overlooked,” said Will Pearson, Chief Operating Officer, iHeartPodcast Network. “With a combined 100 million plus downloads across Robert’s current iHeartRadio podcasts, the appetite for this unfiltered brand of investigative journalism is clear, and we know Cool Zone Media’s content creators will inspire thought-provoking conversation as Robert and the team work to illuminate some of the most complex issues within the rapidly changing global political landscape.”

More podcasts and creators set to join Cool Zone media will be announced in the coming months.

About Cool Zone Media

Cool Zone Media is a podcast network helmed by investigative journalist Robert Evans and executive producer Sophie Lichterman, with a mission to build a brighter future through storytelling from vital voices. The network is named for a phrase popularized in 2020, “The Cool Zone,” used to describe periods of history where anything appears possible - for better or worse. With more than 100 million downloads across its podcasts, Cool Zone Media chronicles the divisive truths of the past and present with a message to bring about a better, more informed future. Current slate includes: “After the Revolution;” “Behind the Bastards,” which ranks among the top 10 most downloaded shows across the iHeartPodcast Network; “Behind the Insurrectionists;” “Behind the Police;” “Hood Politics with Prop;” “It Could Happen Here;” “Q Clearance: The Hunt for QAnon;” “Uprising: A Guide to Portland;” “The Women’s War;” “Worst Year Ever;” and “Assault on America.” Cool Zone Media is distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network.

 New Podcast Examines the History and 250-Year Journey to the COVID-19 Vaccines. Listen to the trailer here.

WHAT:

iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, has teamed up with School of Humans to launch “Long Shot,” a new original podcast that examines the history and 250-year journey to the COVID-19 vaccines. Hosted by Shaun Raviv, a journalist who has written for top publications including Wired, The Intercept, BuzzFeed, The Ringer, Smithsonian, Deadspin and The Washington Post, "Long Shot" examines the long history of research and trials that led to the COVID-19 vaccines being developed in record time. The true story of the COVID-19 vaccines goes back hundreds of years, and “Long Shot” will draw a throughline from today’s research back in time to the first inoculators.

While a universal pandemic may be unprecedented in our lifetimes, this podcast discusses how our history has been shaped by plagues, pandemics, viruses and diseases, and the fight against them. In the debut episode, Raviv explores the myths and legends of early inoculators dating back to 11th-century China, and speaks with evolutionary biologists Joel Wertheim and Edward Holmes. Listeners will learn the origins of inoculation and RNA-based viruses, which evolved side by side with our species.

Throughout the season, Raviv will sit down with various medical research experts and influential figures including: Paul Offit, who created a rotavirus vaccine; Jason McLellan, who was fundamental to creating today's COVID-19 vaccines; the founders of Moderna; the daughter of a scientist whose own cells were used as the basis of vaccines; and participants in a human challenge trial, among many others.

WHEN:

Beginning Wednesday, August 4, 2021, on iHeartRadio and all major platforms.

WHERE: “Long Shot” is co-produced by School of Humans and is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network. Listen to new episodes on iHeartRadio and everywhere else podcasts are heard.

EMBED WIDGET: <iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-long-shot-85239511/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Deal includes translation of a curated slate of iHeartRadio Original most popular titles, making hundreds of episodes accessible to French-speaking listeners each year

In France, NRJ will monetize translated podcasts as well as original-language iHeart podcasts, leveraging Triton Digital’s Advanced Tech Stack including its Supply Side Platform

Paris & New York – August 5, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 audio company in America and the No. 1 podcast publisher globally as per podtrac, and the French multimedia group NRJ announced today a strategic partnership to develop, translate, distribute and monetize a specially curated slate of iHeartRadio Original podcasts for French listeners. The first translated podcasts will be available on the iHeartRadio app, in France on NRJ Group’s platforms and everywhere podcasts are heard from the last quarter of 2021, with regular new additions thereafter.

Podcasts to be translated include the iconic “Stuff You Should Know,” the first-ever podcast to surpass one billion downloads. Launched in April 2008, the podcast has continuously educated listeners on a variety of topics in science, history, pop culture, urban legends, conspiracy theories and more. With thousands of episodes, a number of sold-out live events, a television season and a book deal, the show and its riveting hosts have garnered a loyal following across the globe.

Additional shows in the curated slate are set to include other popular curiosity podcasts including “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” “BrainStuff,” “Unobscured with Aaron Mahnke” and “Cabinet of Curiosities,” music podcast “Rivals” as well as some of the most riveting true-crime podcasts like “Piketon Massacre,” “Missing in Alaska,” “Murder in Oregon,” and “Paper Ghosts” with more to come.

“NRJ Group is proud to work with the world’s leading podcast publisher, sharing the same mission : making high-quality entertainment podcasts available to the widest audience. This deal enables us to significantly enrich our offer to French listeners while clearly positioning NRJ Global as the top reference in France for the monetization of podcasts,” said Cécile Chambaudrie, NRJ Global President & CEO of NRJ Group digital activities.

In addition, the partnership will also include a slate of new co-produced podcasts featuring top French talent with more details to be announced in the future.

As part of the deal, NRJ Group will distribute select iHeartRadio Original English-language podcasts across their apps and websites; and will lead the monetization efforts in France with exclusive monetization rights for the French translation versions. and the co-produced slate of new podcasts from existing and emerging French talent. And to drive revenue faster, NRJ Global will leverage Triton Digital’s (recently acquired by iHeartMedia) industry-leading supply side platform Yield-Op and its programmatic audio marketplace.

“As podcast audiences continue to explode in the United States, the medium is also going global, beginning to grow meaningful fanbases around the world,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “iHeartMedia is in a unique position to partner with the best audio companies from each territory - like NRJ in France - offering them deep archives of existing hits for translation, co-production of new shows to better support the French podcast creator community, and ad technology from Triton to build sustainable podcast revenue fast as part of the premiere worldwide audio marketplace.”

iHeartMedia’s iHeartPodcast Network is home to more than 750 iHeartRadio Original Podcasts which see more than 250 million downloads each month globally. These podcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between – making iHeartMedia the largest publisher of podcast content in the world.

About NRJ Group

NRJ Group is among the main media groups in France, producing, publishing, distributing and monetizing a wide variety of content, with a leading position in privately-owned radios thanks to its 4 brands (NRJ, Chérie FM, Nostalgie and Rire & Chansons), a significant role in TV both free (NRJ12 and Chérie 25) and pay (NRJ Hits), and a major actor of broadcasting through its subsidiary TowerCast. NRJ brands also live online with websites, mobile and voice-operated apps and over 240 digital radios, making NRJ the 1st privately-owned digital radios’ publisher in France. NRJ Group operates in 17 other countries.

NEW YORK – July 28, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and the National Basketball Association (NBA), today announced a multi-year podcast partnership, which will feature the launch of more than 20 new iHeartRadio-NBA co-produced podcasts. The new slate of NBA podcasts will be distributed widely by the iHeartPodcast Network with the first show set to debut this Fall.

The new shows will be produced using a wide variety of content from the NBA archives to tell the backstories of some of the greatest moments in sports history, along with a mix of the latest league news, player commentary, insider analysis, and much more – available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are found.

“We are excited to expand the league’s audio offerings to fans by teaming up with iHeartMedia to deliver NBA content and storytelling to the iHeartPodcast Network,” said David Denenberg, Senior Vice President, National & Local Network Partnerships. “We look forward to reaching more fans with content about our teams, players and history through this partnership.”

“The NBA is one of the toughest leagues in the world. These are relentless athletes, with a grueling schedule, at the absolute height of their game,” said Kevin LeGrett, President of iHeartMedia Sports. “Their stories are the stuff of legend and deserve mass-reach audiences and top-tier brand partners. iHeart alone can deliver that.”

The partnership provides the NBA and its teams access to iHeartMedia’s massive reach across multiple audio platforms including podcasts, streaming and broadcast radio, as well as the opportunity to develop a new slate of groundbreaking shows each year.

More details around the upcoming slate of NBA podcasts will be announced at a later date.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2020-21 season featured 107 international players from 41 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.9 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

INSPIRATIONAL GUEST TEACHERS & HEALERS INCLUDE JEFFREY MARSH, DR. ETHAN KROSS, BETHANY WEBSTER AND MORE; LISTEN TO SEASON 2 TRAILER HERE

Download Artwork HERE

 PR Photos HERE (Photo Credit: Norman Seeff)

Los Angeles, CA - July 19 2021 - Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter, actress, and mental health advocate LeAnn Rimes continues her wellness journey with the second season premiere of her mental health and wholeness podcast, Wholly Human, produced in partnership with iHeartRadio. Listen to the season two trailer here: LINK

In the first season of Wholly Human, which reached #2 on iTunes Health & Fitness chart and in the Top 35 overall for podcasts worldwide, Rimes turned her attention and intention to helping others overcome the fragmentation that keeps us from feeling more complete and connected in today’s world. Featured guests included GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc, journalist and best-selling author Dan Harris, life coach Ryan Weiss, breathwork teaser Ashley Neese, and more.  

In the second season, Rimes will continue her wellness exploration with guests such as experimental psychologist Dr. Ethan Kross who specializes in emotion regulation, bestselling author Danielle LaPorte who specializes in heart-centered conscious, TikTok & Instagram star Jeffrey Marsh described as "the internet's most beloved anti-bully," bestselling author Steven Kotler who is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance, Bethany Webster considered the global expert on healing the “Mother Wound,” among others.

Following the release of the first season, Wholly Human quickly drew five-star ratings and praise from listeners worldwide: 

• “I am on quite a journey right now and without this podcast and your guidance I don’t know where I would be. Love this podcast and look forward to it every week.”
• “Most podcasts seem very self-absorbed, but I feel very aligned with her journey and it feels like we are on it together. Her vulnerability is so refreshing and honest.”
• “It has changed the way I react to difficult situations… Thanks for being vulnerable, honest and totally yourself. Happy to have found this.”
• “Rimes makes you feel like you’re just listening to a good friend while having a glass of wine! From someone who has had all the highs and all the lows, when she speaks of healing you can trust that it comes from experience and hard self work.”
• “LeAnn has a point of view unlike any other. That’s a fact. And she’s providing discourse on an important topic, the human experience in all its complexities, and adding insight to the discussion.”

Today, the GRAMMY Award-winning artist stands stronger than ever and remains dedicated to using her singular voice to uplift others. As she celebrates her 25th anniversary, Rimes will continue her country-wide tour, and in early fall, will release her next studio album, God’s Work. To find out more, visit: https://leannrimes.com/

Wholly Human is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and is available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

About LeAnn Rimes:

LeAnn Rimes is an international multi-platinum selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter who has sold more than 44 million units globally, won 2 Grammy® Awards; 12 Billboard Music Awards; 2 World Music Awards; 3 Academy of Country Music Awards; one Country Music Association Award and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won "Best New Artist” making her the youngest recipient to take home a Grammy® Award. LeAnn has been honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for over 20 years of equal rights support, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy, and 2009 ACM Humanitarian Award, among other recognitions, solidifying her dedication to making the world a better place.

The powerhouse vocalist lit up television screens throughout the 2018 holiday season as she starred and served as an Executive Producer in Hallmark’s “It’s Christmas, Eve,” which earned the highest TV original movie debut to-date for the channel premiering to over 4.3 million viewers. In 2020, Rimes shined the brightest and won season four of FOX’s The Masked Singer, with Entertainment Weekly stating that she delivered “... the most beautiful performance in the history of The Masked Singer.”

Passionate about using her voice to help heal the world, LeAnn released a chant record in November of 2020 called CHANT: The Human and The Holy (Soul of EverLe / Thirty Tigers). Rimes continued her wellness journey with the launch of an iHeartRadio podcast, Wholly Human, which brings her lifestyle blog, Soul of EverLe, to life and introduces fans to the teachers and wise souls that have made a positive impact on her life. Next up, LeAnn will celebrate her 25th anniversary as a recording artist in 2021 with the release of her next studio album, God’s Work.

Hosted by drug policy pioneer Ethan Nadelmann, the new podcast tackles all things drugs. Listen to the trailer here.

WHAT:

iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and Protozoa Pictures, the production company of Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, announced today a partnership to launch a new original podcast “PSYCHOACTIVE,” making this Aronofsky and Protozoa Pictures’ first entry into the podcasting space. The podcast is hosted by Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance and known as “The Godfather of Drug Policy Reform,” who will get to the bottom of our nation’s strange relationship to drugs by talking with scientists, politicians, activists and celebrities.

“PSYCHOACTIVE” is more timely than ever, with psychedelic research and start-ups booming, new synthetic drugs being created weekly, overdose fatalities reaching unprecedented levels, an awakening to racial inequity and mass incarceration, new marijuana policy reform around the country, illicit drug markets moving rapidly online, disruptive technologies transforming the tobacco industry and the federal government at last beginning to support harm reduction programs. “PSYCHOACTIVE” will be the first of its kind—a home for honest and informed conversations about drugs.

Ethan will sit down with former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Juan Manuel Santos on the international drug war and crafting drug diplomacy with President Obama; Dan Savage on how psychoactive drugs can benefit relationships...including his own; bestseller Dr. Andrew Weil on the health benefits of psychoactive substances; legal scholar and Pulitzer winner James Forman Jr. on the impact of the Drug War on the Black community; Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at National Institutes of Health on crafting government drug research policy under the last four presidents; lifestyle writer Tim Ferriss on mental health and the future of psychedelics; writer Michael Pollan on his new book This Is Your Mind on Plants; investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe on his investigations into Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family; and many more.

WHEN:

New episodes will debut every Thursday on iHeartRadio and all major platforms.

WHERE:

“PSYCHOACTIVE” is co-produced by Protozoa Pictures and is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network. Listen to new episodes on iHeartRadio and everywhere else podcasts are heard.

EMBED WIDGET:

About Protozoa Pictures

Protozoa Pictures is Academy Award®-nominated director Darren Aronofsky's production company. Founded in 1996, the company’s work includes the critically-acclaimed films Some Kind of Heaven, mother!, Jackie, Noah, Black Swan, The Wrestler, The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, and π; and the television series One Strange Rock for Nat Geo. PSYCHOACTIVE is Protozoa’s first podcast.

“Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama” and “Exactly Amara” headline the new content offerings for the new Latinx-focused podcast network

NEW YORK – July 7, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, today announced four new shows launching in July from My Cultura, iHeartMedia’s new podcast network dedicated to elevating Latinx voices and creators, while also sharing the Latinx experience with millions of listeners. The network’s initial lineup will include “Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama,” “Exactly Amara,” “Transportista” (published in both English and Spanish) and “Life As a Gringo.” With a driven commitment to the creation of a platform that helps amplify the Latinx community, Coca-Cola, State Farm and Walgreens will be My Cultura’s inaugural sponsors, building connectivity amongst this growing audience. All of the new podcast series will be available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard. 

This lineup officially kicks off the My Cultura podcast network which is set to release 30 total shows in its first year. My Cultura was announced last month with “In the Heights: El Sueñito,” a special limited podcast series with Lin-Manuel Miranda and hosted by Eva Longoria. Additionally, My Cultura’s future podcast series will span a variety of genres including pop culture, music, comedy, mental health, finance, news and more. 

“The wait is over. We’re thrilled to announce that these new shows are joining iHeartMedia’s My Cultura and to showcase the incredible storytelling talents and diverse perspectives of Latinx creators,” said Gisselle Bances, Lead Executive Producer for iHeartMedia’s My Cultura. “From Amara La Negra’s authentic perspective on being Afro-Latina in ‘Exactly Amara’ to investigating the world of cartels in ‘Transportista’ to amplifying the voices of the world’s essential workers in ‘Essential Voices,’ and much more, this new slate of My Cultura shows promises to entertain, educate and inspire.”

My Cultura podcasts being released this month include: 

July 8

“Exactly Amara” -- A weekly talk-show style podcast hosted by reality star, model and singer Amara La Negra alongside co-host Stevey Newnez. The pair will get personal on just about everything and will discuss dating, sex, relationships, social media, plastic surgery, body positivity and everything in between. In each episode, Amara will add her Spanglish sazón, getting raw and real with topics that hit close to home. Listen to the official trailer now here. 

July 14

“Transportista” -- This weekly limited-series podcast opens the door into a hidden world of drug trafficking and its ties to political power. Told from a North Carolina Federal Prison via a smuggled cell phone, the show explores the story of a now-incarcerated head of transportation for some of the world’s most dangerous drug lords in Latin America. Brought to life in both English and Spanish, the podcast will shine a light on the life of a man who had access to the top cartels’ women, wealth and supply chain, until it all came to a screeching halt. Buckle up, the plane is taking off and El Transportista is talking about it all. Listeners can hear the official trailer in English or Spanish.

July 20

“Life as a Gringo”-- Hosted by The Breakfast Club and Z100’s Dramos, this podcast shares the perspective and voices of American-born Latinos who live their lives existing in a gray area: those who are looked at as a gringo by their family in their native land while being constantly reminded that their house smelled different or their parents’ music was “weird” by people they grew up with in the states. This is life as heard from the voice of a “gringo”. New episodes will post every Tuesday and Thursday.

July 27

“Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama” - Hosted by actor, producer and activist Wilmer Valderrama(NCIS, That ‘70s Show), this weekly podcast will share intimate conversations with people on the frontlines of food service, transportation, child-care and other systems where workers’ voices are often overlooked. While COVID-19 introduced many people to the phrase “essential workers,” this group of people existed far before the pandemic and will continue to play a vital role in society long after it’s over. The show seeks to illustrate the invisible connections between all of us and point us toward strategies for meaningful change. 

In addition to the shows announced today, listeners can expect a steady stream of new podcasts launching each month this year with My Cultura, which will be distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. 

Eleven Part Long-Form Investigative Series on Mysterious Death of Ferguson Protestor

NowThis’ First Foray into Social Justice-Focused True Crime Content

NEW YORK – June 14, 2021 – NowThis, the no.1 most-watched mobile news brand globally [Tubular Labs, June 2020], announced the release of its second long-form podcast series, produced with podcasting start-up Double Asterisk and iHeartMedia. After the Uprising is an 11-part investigation into the mysterious death of Danyé Jones, a prominent activist in Ferguson, MO, also produced in association with non-fiction media company True Stories. The first episode launches on June 15, with new episodes airing every Tuesday on iHeartRadio and available everywhere podcasts are heard.

“NowThis is thrilled to deepen its partnership with iHeartRadio and deliver another compelling podcast series that breaks down some of the most pressing and relevant issues of the day,” said NowThis Chief Content Officer Tina Exarhos. “NowThis is committed to covering important social justice stories, and we look forward to bringing audiences this powerful story about one family’s fight for justice and accountability in the birthplace of the Black Lives Matter movement.”

When 24-year-old activist Danyé Jones was found dead in 2018, police declared it a suicide. But his Ferguson frontline activist mother Melissa grabbed headlines with her viral post alleging her son had in fact died by lynching. Who was right? Starting only six weeks after Danyé died, journalists John Duffy and Ray Nowosielski spent two and a half years working with his mother, family members, close friends and many in the activist community to follow the trail and find out what exactly happened to him. After the Uprising is the result, an investigative podcast series that documents every shocking twist and turn in the investigation. The take-away: almost seven years after the Black Lives Matter movement was launched from this community, something is still terribly wrong in North County.

After the Uprising marks the continued expansion of NowThis’ podcast offerings, following the successful political biography show Who Is?, short-form daily news podcast NowThis Brief, and the family-oriented news podcast NowThis Kids. With high-profile guests like former Senator Harry Reid, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and the New Yorker’s Jane Mayer, Who Is? (also in partnership with iHeartMedia) is regularly featured on Apple and Spotify politics and civic-engagement focused playlists, geared towards informing audiences on the power players and issues driving our national political discourse. The long-form political biography podcast has racked up millions of downloads and has been nominated for Digiday’s Best Podcast of the Year.

After the Uprising is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network. Listen to After the Uprising on iHeartRadio and follow the podcast to be alerted when new episodes are available.

About NowThis

NowThis is the #1 mobile news brand in the U.S. [Nielsen DCR, June 2020]. They have a singular mission: to make news engaging and relevant for young adults by humanizing our complicated world. By providing insightful context from a youth perspective, NowThis has revolutionized how news is consumed today. Launched in 2012, NowThis’ entertaining, inspiring and informative videos are created for a mobile generation and receive over 2.6 billion monthly views [platform analytics, June 2020]. In December 2016, NowThis joined forces with Thrillist, The Dodo and Seeker to form Group Nine Media -- the #1 video publisher on mobile in the U.S. [Nielsen DCR, June 2020].

About Double Asterisk

Double Asterisk is the midwest-based investigative media company of John Duffy and Ray Nowosielski. Duffy’s Who Is Rich Blee? was an early investigative true crime podcast that garnered headlines in 2011 for exposing an alleged human rights abuser still working in the CIA, detailed in his 2018 book The Watchdogs Didn’t Bark. Nowosielski directed on the Emmy-nom 3rd season of VICE on HBO and was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy for Tricky Dick & the Man in Black, a Netflix Original about Johnny Cash, for which he was a producer. Rounding out the team is producer Dave Cassidy, a Peabody winner and multi-Emmy nominee.

NAACP Image Award nominee J. Alphonse Nicholson voices lead role

“Mordeo” pairs iHeartMedia’s world-class audio production capabilities with Blumhouse Television and Crypt TV’s expertise in the horror genre to bring this haunting tale to life

NEW YORK – May 26, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, today announced “Mordeo,” a new iHeartRadio Original Podcast co-produced with Blumhouse Television and Crypt TV. The 10-episode scripted thriller directed by Alex Kemp will recount the tale of two brothers who disappear in the Monongahela Forest and will follow Isaiah Williams, voiced by J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley, Just Mercy), the lone survivor, as he emerges from the forest starving, disoriented and traumatized one month after his disappearance. Nicholson garnered a 2021 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for P-Valley.

Listeners will be catapulted into the terrorizing world of The Mordeo, a ravenous, bloodthirsty creature, as Isaiah grapples with his harrowing experience in the woods and his darkest secret threatens to turn him into the very monster he thought he left behind. “Mordeo,” produced in association with Wolf At The Door, will premiere on June 2 with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. Listeners can hear the official audio trailer now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

“‘Mordeo’ serves fans of horror more of what they love. Crypt TV is an extension of the Blumhouse family and it was a natural fit to help expand their storytelling into a new medium with proven partners like iHeartMedia,” said Chris McCumber, President Blumhouse Television.

"Crypt is thrilled to expand Mordeo as a podcast and there is truly no better creative partner for Crypt's first adaptation in audio than Blumhouse and iHeartMedia,” said Jack Davis, CEO for Crypt TV. “Mordeo is one of Crypt's biggest IPs and I'm so excited for Crypt fans to see one of our favorite monsters in a new medium; and for genre and audio fans everywhere to experience all 10 episodes of this show."

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the brilliant creative minds at Blumhouse and Crypt TV to bring this captivating, haunting story to life,” said Will Pearson, COO of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Both are masterful storytelling teams, responsible for so many of the best horror movies and television shows in existence. It's been a genuine pleasure to pair their expertise with our own and we're excited to see what audiences think of this latest thriller.”

The new show is part of the larger strategic partnership between iHeartMedia and Blumhouse Television announced in October 2019. Under the deal, the two companies are collaborating to develop and produce scripted podcasts across the horror genre, ranging from suspenseful thrillers and murder mysteries to science fiction audio-plays. Previous collaborations include “Aaron Mahnke’s 13 Days of Halloween,” an immersive horror podcast narrated by Keegan-Michael Key.

Mordeo is one of Crypt TV's biggest intellectual properties with over 35 million views across Crypt's YouTube and Facebook channels. “Mordeo,” the podcast, with Blumhouse and iHeartMedia marks the first adaptation of Crypt IP into audio. The original Mordeo was directed by Ben Sottak. Episodes written by Katelyn Crabb and co-produced by Sottak. Daniel Persitz oversaw production on behalf of Crypt TV.

“Mordeo” is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network. Listeners can visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to the official trailer today on their favorite device.

About Blumhouse

Blumhouse is known for pioneering a new model of studio filmmaking: producing high-quality micro-budget films and provocative television series. Regarded as the driving force in the horror renaissance, Blumhouse has produced over 150 movies and television series with theatrical grosses amounting to over $4.8 billion. The company has produced iconic, genre, film franchises like Halloween, Paranormal Activity, The Purge, and prolific films like Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man; Glass, The Visit and Split from M. NIght Shyamalan; Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman; Get Out from Jordan Peele; among several others. Blum’s television company operates in horror programming - with streaming anthology series like Welcome to the Blumhouse for Amazon and Into the Dark for Hulu - and has also expanded beyond genre with provocative and acclaimed scripted and unscripted  series and documentaries, such as The Good Lord Bird, starring Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke, for Showtime; The Loudest Voice, starring Golden Globe winner Russell Crowe for Showtime; A Wilderness of Error (FX); The Jinx for HBO; A Secret Love, from executive producer Ryan Murphy, for Netflix; and lauded HBO series Sharp Objects, starring Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson, among others.

About Crypt TV

Crypt TV is a genre IP and multi-media company growing the next generation of iconic monsters for gen-Z.  Currently appearing on a half-dozen different mediums, Crypt's shared universe of original characters began on social media, amassing over two billion views and over 3.5 million YouTube subscribers. Most recently,  brought its IP to major television with the new Peacock Series GIRL IN THE WOODS helmed by director Krysten Ritter and with its partnership bringing three of its iconic characters - The Look-See, Mordeo & The Birch - to Dead by Daylight, the biggest horror video game. Crypt's monsters have also appeared at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and Knott's Scary Farm. Previously Crypt has made a slate of five original series for Facebook Watch and multiple installments in Netflix's Anthology DON'T WATCH THIS.

Crypt TV was co-founded in 2015 by CEO Jack Davis. Davis and Crypt COO Darren Brandl serve as executive producer on adaptations of Crypt IP. Crypt TV can be watched everywhere @CryptTV & @CryptMonsters