New podcast slate

Podcasts Across Genres Include a Scripted Series About the Mirabal Sisters and Two Unscripted Shows Hosted by Eva Longoria

The First Podcast, “Connections” Hosted by Eva Longoria, Premieres on March 31

Listen to the Official “Connections with Eva Longoria” Trailer HERE

LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2022) -- iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced a slate of original podcasts as part of its My Cultura Podcast Network launching in partnership with award-winning actress, producer, director and activist, Eva Longoria. The upcoming shows further My Cultura’s dedication to celebrating and elevating Latinx voices, stories and content creators like Longoria. The projects span across genres -- two of the series will be hosted by Longoria herself including an interview series and a food and culture show; Longoria, along with actress Dania Ramirez, will also executively produce a scripted podcast series based on a true story.  

“We’re incredibly excited about this partnership, and the growth of our network, as we continue to tell our stories and celebrate our Latinidad,” said Gisselle Bances, SVP, Head of Production and Development for iHeartMedia’s My Cultura. “We’re thrilled to partner with Eva as we continue to increase the representation and visibility of our community and cultura in the podcast industry and beyond.”

“I’m excited to be partnering with iHeartMedia to bring you a new slate of podcasts, which touches on everything I love while also celebrating our culture and uplifting the stories of our community. As a longtime podcast listener, these are three shows that I personally would want to listen to and can’t wait to bring listeners along on this journey,” said Longoria.

In the first show to launch, “Connections with Eva Longoria,” premiering March 31, Longoria and her guests take on complex topics that affect us all and break them down into lively, meaningful conversations ranging from spirituality to money, romance, food, politics and parenting. Podcasts coming later this year include the scripted series, “Sisters of the Underground,” that tells the true story of the Mirabal sisters -- the Dominican women behind the take down of Rafael Trujillo; as well as “Hungry for History,” where Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejón explore the origins of some of the most delicious dishes and ingredients from la cultura.

iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Network x Eva Longoria Slate Includes:

• “Connections with Eva Longoria,” Launching March 31, Unscripted

Eva Longoria is taking us back to the very foundation of what makes us human - our desire to authentically connect with others. In open and honest conversations with some of the brightest thought leaders of the moment, Eva seeks to reinvigorate our focus on the power and critical importance of connection. Eva and her guests take on complex topics that affect us all and break them down into lively, meaningful conversations. Covering a wide range of topics, from spirituality to money, romance, food, politics and parenting, Eva’s signature style will give you a new perspective on your most powerful connections - with the world around you, and with yourself. Guests include: Jay Shetty, Huda Kattan, Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Elsa Marie Collins, and many more.

• “Sisters of the Underground,” Summer 2022, Scripted

An 8-episode scripted series by executive producers Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez. It follows the true story of Las Hermanas Mirabal, the Mirabal sisters. Their lifelong activism in the Dominican Republic and state-orchestrated assassination ignited outrage that led to the downfall of one of the most brutal and enduring dictators of the 20th Century, Rafael Trujillo (aka El Jefe). This series takes us back to a period when the Mirabal Sisters inspired an entire nation to emancipate themselves from a tyrannical regime that lasted for more than 30 years. While the martyrdom of the Mirabal Sisters is the stuff of legend in the DR, Sisters of the Underground brings these hidden figures to life for a global audience in a vivid, immersive, audio drama.

• “Hungry for History,” Launching October 2022, Unscripted

Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez-Rejón explore the origins of some of the most delicious dishes, and ingredients from Mexico. They’ll share personal memories and family stories about the topic, decode culinary customs, and even provide a recipe or two for listeners to try at home. Through lighthearted dialogue and historical facts, our hosts will take us on a culinary journey that will connect our past with our present and prove that we are “Hungry for History.”

The first episode of “Connections with Eva Longoria” will be available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms on Thursday, March 31. Subscribe to listen HERE.

About Eva Longoria

Having worked consistently in Hollywood for over 20 years, Eva Longoria has cemented herself as an industry staple known for her work both in front of and behind the camera.  An award-winning actress, Emmy-nominated director, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist, Longoria has been leading the charge of diverse and female representation since her starring role in the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives. Through her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Longoria has become one the most significant trailblazers and recently renewed her overall deal with Twentieth Television. Founded in 2005, the company actively chooses purposeful projects that accurately represent the stories of the Latinx and other underrepresented communities. The company has also partnered with ViacomCBS’ Entertainment & Youth Group for their First Time Directors program highlighting BIPOC and women filmmakers to produce 50 films across the group’s portfolio of networks and streaming services. Longoria has directed countless hours of television and recently wrapped production on her feature directorial debut, the biopic Flamin’ Hot for Searchlight. Named by Variety Magazine as one of the directors to watch in 2021, she is also preparing to direct two other feature films – the workplace comedy 24/7 for Universal Pictures in which she will executive produce and star opposite Kerry Washington, and female action comedy Spa Day for Sony Pictures. Additionally, Longoria directed the documentary La Guerra Civil, produced by her Emmy-nominated UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which tells the story of boxers Oscar de la Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez, delving into the historic bouts between the two Latino giants. La Guerra Civil premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and will be released later this year. In September 2021, Longoria launched Casa Del Sol tequila, a luxury sipping Tequila, inspired by the magic of golden hour and the legend of the Aztec goddess of agave, Mayahuel. As a Mexican-American, she is proud to be a co-founder of a brand with authentic Mexican roots with a strong female influence. Recently named by People Magazine as one of the “Women Changing the World”, Longoria is a dedicated philanthropist and activist who has consistently lent her voice to the issues she is passionate about, ranging from immigration to STEM education. Committed to empowering Latinas everywhere, Longoria established the Eva Longoria Foundation (ELF) in 2012 to help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through educational programs, scholarships, mentorship and entrepreneurship. She is a co-founder of Latino Victory Fund, Momento Latino and Poderistas. Longoria has also been the face of L’Oréal Paris for over 15 years. A native of Texas, Longoria currently resides in Los Angeles with her family. 

Los Angeles, December 6, 2021 – Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard announced the launch of their new podcast division, Imagine Audio, fueled by an exclusive slate deal with iHeartMedia, the number one podcast publisher globally. The deal will include a slate of co-produced, unscripted podcasts, further expanding Imagine’s IP verticals beyond the traditional screens. The partnership will collaborate to launch six new series over the next two years distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. The division will be overseen by Imagine’s Chief Strategy Officer, Justin Wilkes and led by producer, Kara Welker.

"We couldn’t be more excited to have iHeart as our partner as we launch the Imagine brand into the audio space,” said Imagine’s Justin Wilkes. “Audio has proven to be a fantastic incubator and engine for IP development and between our connectivity to talent and storytellers, as well as our ability to create high-quality content, we’re incredibly well positioned to enter the category.”

Imagine Audio will take a 360 approach to content across the Imagine brand by not only creating podcasts, but fully immersive experiences that will extend into TV, film, live events and tours and merchandise, while leveraging all of Imagine’s divisions and vast library of memorable IP. Imagine Audio will differentiate itself in the marketplace by producing premium scripted and non-scripted content that’s sonically rich and benefits from the highest level of production value. The division is currently working with established talent as well as new voices across a slate audio productions in development and production which will be announced in the new year.

Welker, who is also a talent manager and producer, brings years of expertise of spotting talent and stories, and developing her clients and their projects into multi-platform revenue generators. Summer Sagansky has also joined the division as a Creative Executive.

“Imagine stands for the very highest quality content – behind some of the greatest film, TV and digital content the world has seen,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “As the largest podcast network in the world, our goal is simple and consistent: We want to work with the most innovative, passionate storytellers in the world – producers who don’t just work in mediums, but who pioneer them. That’s Imagine.”

iHeartMedia’s iHeartPodcast Network is home to more than 750 iHeartRadio Original Podcasts which see more than 321 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 Imagine Entertainment

Founded in 1986 by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Imagine Entertainment is an award-wining global entertainment company telling stories that inspire and empower, and create unforgettable entertainment experiences across all genres across Imagine Features, Imagine Television Studios, Imagine Documentaries, Imagine Kids+Family, and Imagine Brands as well as award-winning Jax Media and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions. Imagine’s productions have been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards including 45 Academy Award nominations and 202 Emmy® award nominations. Past productions include the Academy Award Best Picture winner A Beautiful Mind, as well as Grammy Award Best Film winner The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years. Additional films include Get on Up, Rush, J. Edgar, Frost/Nixon, American Gangster, The Da Vinci Code, Apollo 13, 8 Mile, Liar, Liar, Backdraft and Parenthood to name a few. Recent films include tick, tick, …Boom! directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the critically acclaimed documentaries Rebuilding Paradise, Dads, Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, D.Wade: Life Unexpected, and Pavarotti. Current film productions include Thirteen Lives directed by Ron Howard; a documentary on chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen; Curious George based on the beloved children’s character; and a re-imaging of the hit Imagine films Friday Night Lights and Fear. Current television projects include Genius: Aretha (NatGeo); Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu); Swagger (Apple); Why Women Kill (CBS All Access); Supervillain: The Rise of Tekashi 6ix9ine (Showtime); the Crime Scene anthology docuseries (Netflix); Jax Media’s Emily in Paris (Netflix) and Jigsaw’s Tiger documentary (HBO). Additional television productions include Fox’s Empire, Shots Fired and the 24 franchise; NatGeo’s Genius anthology series; NBC’s Parenthood and Friday Night Lights; Fox’s and Netflix’s Arrested Development; The Astronauts (Nickelodeon); and HBO's From the Earth to the Moon, for which Howard and Grazer won the Emmy® for Outstanding Mini-Series. Grazer and Howard began their collaboration in the early 80’s with the hit comedies Night Shift and Splash, and continue to run Imagine Entertainment as executive chairmen. www.imagine-entertainment.com

Upcoming Projects Include “Unsung,” Created in Collaboration With The Award-Winning Story Pirates, And “Diane’s Inferno” Starring Actress and Musician Maya Hawke and Interscope Recording Artist Yungblud

LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK – MARCH 2, 2021 – Veteran film producer Jonathan Glickman’s Glickmania Media (RESPECT, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2) and iHeartMedia, the number one podcast publisher globally as per Podtrac, today announced a joint venture that will include a two-year podcast co-production deal, focusing on a slate of original music-driven podcasts across many genres. As part of the deal, Glickmania and iHeartMedia will aim to release a minimum of two new podcasts per year together, which will be available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.

The collaboration will kick off with this summer’s “Unsung” series, which will be created in partnership with the wildly popular Story Pirates, creators of the number one podcast for kids. Additional co-produced titles will include the horror-musical “Diane’s Inferno” starring Maya Hawke and Yungblud, written and directed by Lisa Duva with original music overseen by executive producer Zach Dawes; “Lost You On The Dance Floor,” a murder mystery set against the rise and fall of the disco phenomenon, penned by renowned music journalist Matt Diehl; and from Jonathan Ezra and Robbie Roth comes the musical drama/journalism series, “Ballad Of An Outlaw,” which considers would-be Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr.’s integration back into society.

“I believe there’s no better way to communicate a narrative than matching brilliant storytellers with equally talented music composers and performers,” said Glickmania Founder and CEO Jonathan Glickman. “By combining the spectacularly supportive iHeartRadio’s expertise with our deep well of existing relationships, we can support a panorama of experienced and emerging artists in a creative environment that enables everyone to take meaningful ownership of their work in the podcast space and beyond.”

“Glickman is a name that is synonymous with developing some of the most creative and compelling IP in the entertainment space,” said Conal Byrne, CEO, iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “They know how to tell stories in totally new ways - and those are the creators we love to support. We are excited to join forces with Glickmania Media to introduce this innovative, music-first slate of podcasts to millions of listeners across the globe.”

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About the slate:

UNSUNG, which will unite Glickman with the number one family podcast creators, the Story Pirates, is described as “Schoolhouse Rock meets Hamilton.” The podcast will create original hip-hop-driven tracks to create mini-musicals telling the stories of under-celebrated heroes across all fields, ranging from trailblazers who made a difference through social change to leaders in the areas of science, sports, and the arts. Enhancing the musical performances, each episode will highlight a different unsung hero through an engaging discussion between a kid and a modern-day expert in that subject’s field. “Unsung” will provide a spectrum of heroes – ranging from tennis player Althea Gibson to early Space Exploration pioneer Mary G. Ross to musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe – their moment to shine in a vibrant podcast using musical storytelling to connect with all generations of listeners.

DIANE’S INFERNO, written and directed by Lisa Duva, is a gender-flipped, horror musical retelling of Dante’s Inferno, set through the modern hellscape of New York’s underworld. Maya Hawke (STRANGER THINGS) voices Diane, a backup singer who crosses the East River, takes the H Train, and fights demons as she seeks vengeance on the killer of her rock star boyfriend, voiced by singer-songwriter Yungblud. Producer Zach Dawes (credits include Lana Del Rey, Sharon Van Etten, Arctic Monkeys) will oversee the music created forthis “Rocky Horror x The Warriors” toned musical.

LOST YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR is a murder mystery set against the rise and fall of the 1970s Disco era. Acclaimed journalist and author Matt Diehl pens the story of a woman who discovers that her biological father was actually a legendary music impresario who vanished under a cloud of suspicion. Diehl’s work has been seen in every publication from Rolling Stone and Billboard to the New York Times. His book Notorious C.O.P.is being developed into a TV show, and will be produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

BALLAD OF AN OUTLAW is a part journalism/part fiction podcast about the life of John Hinckley Jr. and the people whose lives collide with his. The anthology series is created by playwright/journalist Jonathan Ezra and writer/composer Robbie Roth, directed by Ezra, and featuring original songs by Roth. 

The entire slate will be co-produced by Glickmania Media and iHeartRadio and will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network. Executive producers for UNSUNG are Benjamin Salka, Lee Overtree, and Jonathan Glickman; for DIANE’S INFERNO are Glickman and Molly Mankiewicz; for LOST YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR are Glickman and Matt Diehl; and for BALLAD OF AN OUTLAW are Glickman, Jonathan Ezra, Robbie Roth and Helena Budnik. Matthew Frederick and Alex Williams will executive produce the full slate of shows for iHeartRadio. CAA brokered the deal on behalf of Glickmania.

About Glickmania Media Group

Glickmania is a new vision independent film and television production company, founded in February 2020 by veteran entertainment executive Jonathan Glickman. Glickmania is the natural evolution of Glickman’s continued focus on developing IP in partnership with the industry’s foremost creative talent and most interesting emerging storytellers. Glickman’s deeply rooted foundation and respect for Hollywood innovation and tradition has inspired his determination to explore the creation of properties across all content platforms, including film, television, podcasting and music outlets. Glickmania’s first productions include RESPECT, the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 to be released October 9, 2021, WEDNESDAY, a new coming-of-age Netflix comedy series directed by Tim Burton and based on Wednesday Addams, and the film SCANDALOUS!, based on the clandestine affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis, Jr, starring Jeremy Pope (Hollywood), to be directed by Janet Mock (Pose).

iHeartMedia’s partnership with the leading UK podcasting company will include eleven new podcast docuseries over the next three years, focused on stranger-than-fiction true stories

NEW YORK – February 24, 2021 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced a new partnership with Novel, one of the UK’s leading independent podcast companies, to co-produce a series of narrative, in-depth investigative podcasts. Together, iHeartMedia and Novel will launch eleven new, original podcast series over the next three years, starting with “The Assault on America” and “Deliver Us From Ervil.”           

The expansive new slate features a collection of ambitious audio docuseries aimed at giving listeners access to worlds they never knew existed. From the real-life superheroes appearing at Black Lives Matter protests to a violent fundamentalist Mormon cult installed near the US-Mexican border, these new iHeartRadio Original Podcasts feature in-depth, narrative investigations of unexplored subcultures and stranger-than-fiction true stories.

"We're thrilled to be entering into such an exciting partnership with iHeartMedia,” said Sean Glynn, CEO of Novel. “Pairing Novel's best-in-class storytelling credentials with iHeartMedia's excellent editorial judgment and global distribution is an incredibly compelling combination.”

“This new partnership will allow us to produce deeply researched, narratively rich investigative series at scale that grip listeners right off the bat,” added Max O’Brien, Head of Content at Novel. “We couldn't be more proud to be the first UK-based podcast company to sign a slate deal with iHeartMedia."

In addition to announcing the deal, the companies also shared details on the first two podcast series set to debut as part of the partnership. 

“The Assault on America” tells the inside story of the insurrection at the Capitol like you’ve never heard before. Working with open-source investigative journalists Bellingcat, Novel painstakingly collected thousands of hours of smartphone footage, including 1,200 videos that directly incriminate protestors. Scouring the darkest corners of right-wing websites like 8chan, Parler and Gab, this series uncovers chilling, never-before-heard footage and comments posted by mob members. Much of this exclusive material has since been deleted from the web, but has been preserved by Bellingcat. Now, we’ll hear the events of January 6th brought to life in 360-degree detail.

“Deliver Us From Ervil” is an investigative true-crime series in which a groundbreaking team of journalists enters a lawless town on the border of Mexico run by a secretive religious sect living in exile and outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. government since 1924. The journalists will speak to the inhabitants of this strange town and uncover the secrets behind the surreal desert fortress with a murderous past that continues to haunt all who enter.     

“We’re eager to collaborate with the brilliant minds at Novel to bring listeners an incredible new lineup of history, true-crime and documentary podcasts,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Novel has a penchant for producing award-winning docuseries, and we couldn’t be more excited to join forces and bring their storytelling talent and expertise to the iHeartPodcast Network.”

The new slate of co-produced podcasts will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 253 million downloads and streams each month.

About Novel

Novel is one of the UK’s leading independent podcasting companies. The team is made up of 13 members of full-time in-house staff and two board members, one of whom is the former CEO of VICE UK. Recent highlights include: The Bellingcat Podcast (Audio Production Award Gold winner, two-time ARIA winner, British Podcast Award winner, PSA Political Podcast Of The Year — Financial Times: “Extraordinary in detail, tenacity and execution;” Esquire: “Clear-eyed original reporting … dramatic”); Kim Noble’s Futile Attempts (At Surviving Tomorrow) (The Observer: “Wilder and more interesting than almost everything else out there;” The Sunday Times: “Brutal and deeply compelling;” Financial Times: “Unlike anything else you’ve heard;” The Guardian: “Darkly comic and beautiful”); The Political Butterfly Effect (Sunday Times: “Neatly, briskly, sharply produced;” New Statesman: “Fun, forensic hypothesizing ;” Politico “Essential listening”) and Remembering Christopher Hitchens. Visit we-are-novel.com for more company information.