Podfund creators to bring original podcasts and new seasons to fans in spring/summer 2020
Podcasting is proving to be resilient and purposeful in the midst of our global crisis, and the storytellers from the Podfund portfolio are more active and inspired than ever.
Listeners will get to enjoy new content from their favorite shows in the Podfund portfolio:
- Double Elvis’ Dear Young Rocker will return for season two, this time following Chelsea to college where she continues to shape her identity.
- Pushkin will publish new seasons of their greatest hits, including Revisionist History, Against The Rules, Solvable, and The Happiness Lab.
- Fans can stay current even while games are suspended with Locked On Podcasts’ coverage of the NFL Draft in April and the NBA Draft in June.
We’ll also hear brand new podcasts from the portfolio this spring:
- The Nam brothers from DIVE Studios watch samples of K-dramas and films before deciding to cut bait or forge ahead on Commit or Quit, launching April 3.
- Osiris Podcasts is launching two new shows: Past, Present, Future, Live! traces a musician or band’s journey to the present and includes a new live recording, and Festival Circuit — New Orleans tells the story of Jazz Fest.
- Follow step-by-step and hear perspectives from both sides as a real-life extramarital affair unfolds on Domino Sound’s The Cheat Code.
- Minnuna | مننا (“from us”) is an Arabic-language podcast from Kerning Cultures telling stories of dynamic, courageous women.
Upcoming releases
Pushkin Industries
Deep Cover
Premieres April 20
Marijuana, guns, a dictator, the Cold War, and the greatest undercover drug bust in history. Deep Cover is the true story that begins with a Detroit FBI agent going undercover in an outlaw motorcycle gang and ends with the US invasion of a foreign country. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern guides listeners on this wild journey, perfect for fans of Narcos, Sons of Anarchy, or anything by the Coen Brothers.
Season 2 premieres April 27
In these very stressful and troubling times, The Happiness Lab is the right content from the right host. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. In Season 2, over the course of 10 new episodes, Dr. Santos continues to take listeners through the latest research and shares surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way we think about happiness. This season, she explores themes of altruism, tribalism, fairness, breaking bad habits, smartphones, rituals, and finding meaning in work. She has also launched a series of interview episodes focused on how to maintain some sense of well-being in the middle of a pandemic.
Season 2 premieres May 5
Against the Rules is best-selling author and journalist Michael Lewis’s searing look at fairness in every aspect of American life — financial markets, newsrooms, sports arenas, courts of law and more. In Season 2, he examines the role of coaches in society. It seems like there’s a coach for everything and, in most cases, they are revered. But who has access to these coaches and who doesn’t? And what does that mean for all of us?
The Last Archive
Premieres May 14
Who killed truth? In The Last Archive, acclaimed historian Jill Lepore is hot on the trail of the “murderer,” dodging fake news and alternate facts as she examines ten events across the 20th century — from a brutal death in Vermont, to the invention of the lie detector, to the first use of data in a presidential election. Each story is a clue in her case. Listeners accompany her on literal and figurative journeys as she reanimates the past with rich archival audio, lively field investigations, and radio drama-style reenactments. The Last Archive unfurls like a classic 1930s radio drama, but takes on the big issues of today.
Season 5 premieres June 18
Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past — an event, a person, an idea, even a song — and asks whether we got it right the first time. It has been singled out as a top history podcast by Time, Oprah, and Good Housekeeping, to name a few, and is a mainstay of top podcast charts. Gladwell is a best-selling author, New Yorker writer, and podcast pioneer. Revisionist History’s fifth season will explore how we memorialize war, why museums are hoarders, and whether lotteries would yield better results than elections.
Axios Daily News Show
Premieres Summer 2020
Pushkin is partnering with Axios to produce a daily news podcast, leveraging Axios’ newsroom and punchy style, as well as Pushkin’s audio expertise. The show will launch this summer.
Season 2 premieres Summer 2020
Solvable showcases the world’s most innovative thinkers proposing solutions to the world’s most daunting problems. The interviews launch a dialogue that acknowledges the complexity of issues while inspiring hope that the problems are, in fact, solvable. The show is presented by Jacob Weisberg with interview contributions from Weisberg, Malcolm Gladwell, and Anne Applebaum. The first season guest list included three former world leaders and two Nobel Laureates, and the new season will be filled with equally esteemed guests.
About Pushkin Industries: Pushkin Industries is an audio production company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg that is dedicated to creating premium content in a collaborative environment. Our shows include Gladwell’s Revisionist History, Michael Lewis’ Against the Rules, Laurie Santos’ The Happiness Lab, and Broken Record, in which hosts Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam interview some of the biggest names in music. We partner with some of the most interesting creative minds in the world to produce podcasts that will inspire curiosity and incite joy. Pushkin is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the podcasting business, and, like our namesake Alexander Pushkin, endlessly innovating.
Double Elvis
Season 2 premieres Spring 2020
Dear Young Rocker is a first-person, coming of age story about the struggles of young adulthood and the power of music, told from a young female perspective. While highly entertaining, the show also creates a dialogue around the issues of body image, gender power dynamics and mental health, and shines a spotlight on the way these issues are severely magnified during our formative years.
Season 2 will continue where the story left off with Chelsea in college and going into young adulthood struggling to determine if and how the one thing she loves more than anything, music, will have a place in her life. Listeners of all ages who’ve felt seen and understood by the story and who’ve benefited from the advice given will find more of the same this season even as our character becomes an adult. The themes of the story will persist even in new settings — working for billionaires on an island, a trip to Sweden, and even a stint in a yoga cult.
About Double Elvis Productions: Double Elvis Productions is an audio-driven media company rooted in podcasting. With a focus on music and pop culture, co-founders Jake Brennan (Disgraceland) and Brady Sadler develop wildly entertaining original content and experiences, while creating a platform for artists and modern storytellers.
QCODE
Premiered March 23
An idealistic journalist (Tessa Thompson) tries to make a name for herself by following a group of paranormal explorers, obsessed with a seemingly harmless pastime known as the Left/Right Game. The journey takes her into a supernatural world that she and the other members of the expedition cannot handle. Or survive.
About QCODE: QCODE is a new podcast and media studio launched in 2018 by Rob Herting in partnership with production company Automatik and management firm Grandview. The company is focused on working with creators to originate and innovate stories in the audio format. QCODE developed and produced its first series last year, Blackout, starring Rami Malek. QCODE’s second original series, Carrier, is an immersive first person POV fiction thriller which stars Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo. Most recently, they released The Edge of Sleep starring YouTube creator Mark Fischbach aka “Markiplier.”
Osiris Media
Eric Krasno Plus One
Premieres April 20
A new podcast from Osiris Media, brings the audience backstage to listen in on the tales told between Grammy award-winning guitarist Eric Krasno and musicians he’s met over his career. The first three episodes will feature Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks and Marcus King. From discussions about early inspirations, to the state of the music industry, to the challenges of life on the road, Krasno’s engaged approach creates interviews that feel like conversations between friends.
Past, Present, Future, Live!
Premieres May 4
A weekly podcast series that offers musicians a unique platform to share their personal evolution — from early inspirations and projects, through the present phase of their career, to what’s on their creative and life horizon. Each episode has two parts: part 1 is the guest in conversation about their musical journey, and part 2 is a musical performance, from their home or a studio. The first guest will be Ivan Neville.
Festival Circuit — New Orleans
Season 1 premieres June 15
The first season of a multi-season podcast focused on music festivals. Season 1 will be devoted to the jazz music and festival of New Orleans. Over more than 50 years, New Orleans still has one of the most influential and enduring jazz festivals in the world. In this limited series, we will talk to artists, historians, journalists and others about the unique music and culture of the city, and what keeps people coming back to New Orleans.
About Osiris Media: Osiris Media is transforming how music fans connect with the music they love. We deepen the connection between artists and fans through the power and intimacy of audio storytelling, and bring people together for unique musical experiences. Our 35 podcasts include shows with high-profile artists, stories about music, and interview-based shows on various musical and cultural topics. We also host live music interviews and performances.
Kerning Cultures Network
Season 2 premiered March 20
Al Empire features exceptional Arabs around the world and their journey to the top. Each episode gets into the intimate, and sometimes uncomfortable questions, confronting romanticized views of reaching success by celebrating our guests’ wins but also unpacking their challenges. Language: English
Minnuna | مننا (translated: from us)
Season 1 premieres mid-April 2020
“I want to get to know us. What we experience. What we learn. What we know. What we’ve been through.” Fashion Icon Alaa Balkhy delves into topics close to the heart with inspiring women. Everything from the light-hearted to the taboo, listen to learned experiences that brought these women to where they are today. Language: Arabic
About Kerning Cultures Network: Kerning Cultures Network is the first venture-funded podcast company in the Middle East. We also happen to be female-led. Featuring a line up of immersive Arabic and English podcasts for curious listeners. At Kerning Cultures, we tell the kinds of stories in which we can actually see ourselves. Because we love stories — really good stories, and there are so many from our region just waiting to be told.
Frequency Machine (fka Fugitive Minds)
Premieres May 5
It’s never been easier to travel the world (pandemic aside) but there’s still so much we don’t understand about each other. Passport is a show about the stories you hear when you throw away the guidebook. Every week, a new place, and a new amazing story. It’s your ticket to everywhere.
About Frequency Machine: Frequency Machine is a podcast company specializing in cinematic narrative and travel shows. Every Frequency Machine project is a deep dive into a story. Sometimes that’s a single episode format filled with fascinating tales from around the world — beer smuggling in Jerusalem, Game of Thrones conflict tourism in Belfast, doomsday prepping in Helsinki. Sometimes that’s a multi-episode arched series that unveils a thrilling story — like the exploits of the greatest conmen the world has ever seen. All Frequency Machine stories are adventures at the speed of sound.
DIVE Studios
Commit or Quit
Premiered April 3
What do you do when you’re stuck at home in self-quarantine and have a lot more free time on your hands? You find something good to watch, of course. Join K-pop singer and personality Eric Nam, along with his brothers Eddie Nam and Brian Nam, as the three watch and review popular K-dramas and films. Except, there’s one caveat: They must discuss and debate whether to continue watching after only sampling the beginning of a TV series or film. In short: Do they COMMIT or QUIT to watch to the end? Tune in for your weekly dose of Nam Brothers mayhem plus some great TV and movie recommendations.
About DIVE Studios: Founded by a team of music business creatives, DIVE Studios is an English-language podcast network focused on K-pop and Asian culture. Within six weeks of launch, their first podcast, K-Pop Daebak with Eric Nam, reached #1 in the music category on Apple Podcasts in 18 different countries. Their second show, The Tablo Podcast, debuted August 2019 and reached #1 in the music category on Apple Podcasts in 22 different countries, quickly amassing a cult following.
Domino Sound
Premiered March 21
Domino Sound’s newest narrative podcast, The Cheat Code, is the unbelievable, epic true story of an affair between one man and one woman, told over ten episodes. It begins in New York City during the aughts — when T-Mobile Sidekicks were still a thing and the only way you could DM someone was through Facebook. And it’s still happening, over a decade later. What are the questions you’ve always wanted to ask a person who has made the conscious decision to have an affair? If you listen closely, you just might get the answers you’ve been looking for…
About Domino Sound: Domino Sound is a woman-owned, Brooklyn-based podcast studio that aims to bring equity to the world of podcasting by promoting acceptance, inclusion, and awareness through authentic storytelling. Led by Alexandra DiPalma (formerly Brand Studio Director at Stitcher) and Kenya Anderson (who hails from the TV and film world), Domino produces both original shows and branded podcasts, and provides production services to clients. Their slate includes Food 4 Thot, Akimbo with Seth Godin, Raising Rebels, and Scream, Queen!.
Upcoming notable episodes
Locked On Podcast Network
Despite the disruption to most sports in March, the NFL off-season is as exciting as ever with free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft in April. To be followed in June by the always entertaining and often surprising NBA Draft. The Locked On Podcast Network covers league drafts from every angle — big news, blockbuster trades, free-agency signings, and more — with daily podcasts for every NFL and NBA team and some of the most popular league wide draft podcasts.
Locked On NFL
Former NFL scout Matt Williamson and league insider Brian Peacock (also host of Locked On 49ers) deliver the NFL in 30 minutes every day, covering the biggest stories from around the league, offseason trades, free agency signings, and the hugely popular NFL Draft. The pinnacle of Locked On’s pre-draft coverage is the network’s 6-episode Mock Draft Special starting Friday, April 10 on the Locked On NFL podcast. There’s nothing comparable to the multiday mock draft which includes nearly 40 NFL experts and draft analysts.
Locked On NFL Draft
For NFL and college football fans the NFL Draft may just be the most special time of the year. Trevor Sikkema and Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network deliver daily NFL Draft coverage, news and analysis into one of the sporting world’s biggest events. It’s not just one of the most popular NFL draft podcasts, it’s an entertaining way to get ready for the draft as the pair breakdown team needs, deliver scouting reports, and conduct mock drafts with league insiders and team experts.
Chad Ford’s NBA Big Board
After a two-year hiatus, former of ESPN.com draft guru Chad Ford returned to the spotlight with a brand-new podcast. Ford brings 25 years of NBA draft knowledge to a twice-weekly show titled Chad Ford’s NBA Big Board. The podcast gives passionate fans a smart, well-informed, deeper look into what makes the NBA Draft one of the most exciting and puzzling events in pro sports. Listeners get a 360-degree view of the draft process with guests from all sides — NBA front office, agents and players. Plus, a weekly series of re-drafts will go back in time and take a second look at what went right and what went wrong in previous drafts over the past 15 years.
About Locked On Podcasts: Locked On is the #1 daily, local sports podcast network and one of the top publishers of podcast episodes. Locked On covers every NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL team, as well as leading major college sports teams and conferences. Locked On’s 150 podcast shows, featuring local experts, reach avid sports fans wherever they live. The company also produces league-wide podcasts covering the major sports leagues and has some of the industry’s top-ranked draft and fantasy sports podcasts.
The NewsWorthy
The NewsWorthy podcast is providing wide-ranging news updates about COVID-19 each weekday morning. The show gives listeners important yet quick information about the serious concerns and warnings surrounding this pandemic, while also highlighting potential solutions, positive action, and the changes to Americans’ everyday lives.
During weekly bonus interview segments, The NewsWorthy is featuring various guests to add to the always-changing conversation about COVID-19. So far, this podcast has had guests such as Dr. Syra Madad (from the Netflix doc Pandemic), Dr. Oz, and record-setting NASA astronaut Christina Koch (to speak about her experience with isolation in space).
About The NewsWorthy: Award-winning broadcast journalist and former CBS news reporter Erica Mandy is on a mission to help people stay informed in a convenient, unbiased and less depressing way with the daily news podcast, The NewsWorthy. It provides a wide variety of the day’s news in less than 10 minutes each weekday. In the past year, The NewsWorthy has been named a ‘Best Podcast’ by Harper’s Bazaar, recommended as a ‘Best News App’ by Fast Company, featured as a ‘Can’t Miss’ podcast on Stitcher, and more.
Dot Dot Dot
Episode Highlight: Remote Work Pioneer Matt Mullenweg On Staying Productive on March 19
Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress and Automattic, was an early evangelist of remote work. Back in the early 2000s, many of his first hires at Wordpress were people he had never met in person. Today, Automattic has nearly 1,200 employees spread across 75 countries around the globe. With the current pandemic now forcing many companies to unexpectedly adopt similar policies, Matt gives Laurie advice on transitioning to this new lifestyle and answers listener questions on the best ways for employees and employers to stay productive.
About Dot Dot Dot: Dot Dot Dot is a news and entertainment company that explores the intersection of tech and humanity. We cover topics like mental health, love and sex, ethics, and the unintended consequences of technology in our daily lives. Our mission is to help us feel human again in today’s connected world.
If These Ovaries Could Talk
Episode Highlight: Phases of Parenting: Trapped At Home on March 30
One week into pandemic isolation, Jaimie and Robin talk about how they’re coping with homeschooling, social distancing and job uncertainty. Why listen? This episode is a timely and helpful chat about what it’s like to parent in the middle of a pandemic. There’s real talk about family struggles as well as tips for how to get through and what’s working well during this time. Also, we talk about how to remain positive in the midst of a news cycle that can feel like never-ending negativity.
About If These Ovaries Could Talk: If These Ovaries Could Talk is a podcast where two lesbians chat about making babies and non-traditional families. Each episode highlights LGBTQ families, lifting them up, normalizing them for the rest of the world to see as well as acknowledging that we’re just like other parents who are trying not to yell at our kids when they refuse to put their shoes on and we’re 25 minutes late for school. Prominent guests such as Judy Gold, Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls, Staceyann Chin, Ophira Eisenberg and Bravo TV’s The Abbys. In the past year, ITOCT has been featured on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, selected as Editor’s Choice on Stitcher and Castbox.fm, and won the LGBTQ category for the People’s Choice Podcast Awards.
Unmistakable Creative
Episode Highlights: Self- Reinstallation, Creativity and Community in the Midst of a Global Pandemic April 6–10
Social distancing and the challenges of the coronavirus can easily be used to panic, read news, newest updates, and numb ourselves on Netflix. What if we use this period collectively to slow down, reflect, do something creative, learn something new and think about the future? At Unmistakable Creative, we are in this together and we are revisiting episodes about productivity, stress, and creativity and turning to online community, support, accountability and ideas to feel less alone.
About Unmistakable Creative: Our listeners say, “If TEDTalks met Oprah you’d have Unmistakable Creative.” Eliminate the feeling of being stuck in your life, blocked in your creativity, and discover higher levels of meaning and purpose in your life and career. Listen to deeply personal, insightful, and thought-provoking stories from the world’s leading thinkers and doers including best-selling authors, artists, peak performance psychologists, happiness researchers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, artists, venture capitalists, and even former bank robbers. Former guests have included Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Justine Musk, Scott Adams, Rob Bell, David Heinemeier Hansson, Elle Luna, Jordan Harbinger, Brett Mckay, and Simon Sinek.
