Charlamagne Tha God and iHeartMedia are launching a podcast publishing company this fall called the Black Effect Podcast Network, which will publish 18 different podcasts to highlight Black voices and provide listeners with useful content surrounding Black culture.
Variety reports that social justice activist Tamika Mallory and attorney Eboni K. Williams will each have a podcast under the network, and so will comedian Jess Hilarious.
Other shows that will be under the Black Effect Podcast Network include rapper N.O.R.E’s “Drink Champs” podcast, Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean’s “The 85 South Show,” as well as Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s “All The Smoke.” The replay podcast of Charlamagne’s radio show “The Breakfast Club” will also be a part of the network and be its flagship show.
iHeartMedia says Black Effect Podcast Network will be the world’s biggest publisher of podcasts that cater to a Black audience, while Charlamagne said many of the shows will be hosted by women.
“It’s just about being intentional, like actually being intentional with the voices that we choose to put on various platforms and just being intentional about empowering the voices that need to be heard,” he explained. “Shut up, get out of the way and let Black women lead and that I truly believe they’ll take us to the promised land. … [The network] will help people see and realize that Black people aren’t monolithic. We have so many different interests.”
iHeartMedia’s chairman and chief executive officer, Bob Pittman, told CNN that although ideas for the Black Effect Podcast Network came before the current racial justice protests, it couldn’t be a better time than now to launch it.
“What we’ve all been hit in the face with in the past few months I think had a very important and profound impact,” Pittman said. “I think everyone who cares about society and cares about our neighbors and our fellow humans was looking for what can I do to contribute? And although this was certainly on the path for us, we all feel really good about it as a company.”
