iHeartPodcasts Debuts ‘Native Land Pod’ with Angela Rye, Tiffany D. Cross and Andrew Gillum
Welcome Home: iHeartPodcasts Debuts New No-Holds-Barred Political Roundtable Series “Native Land Pod,” Hosted By Angela Rye, Tiffany D. Cross and Andrew Gillum
The original podcast guides listeners through the political landscape wielding insights and unapologetic analysis, while unraveling the threads that connect Black Americans and marginalized communities to a place they can courageously call home
NEW YORK – January 4, 2024 – iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, announced today the launch of “Native Land Pod” hosted by Angela Rye, Tiffany D. Cross and Andrew Gillum. The iHeartRadio original podcast series will embark on a journey of reflection, taking stock of the news of the week during the country’s road to the polls in 2024. New episodes will be released weekly each Thursday beginning January 11. Listeners can hear the official audio trailer now.
“This new, groundbreaking podcast brings together an electrifying ensemble of hosts, hailing from a wide range of media backgrounds,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “As we head into an election year, we’re excited to see how ‘Native Land Pod’ elevates the political discourse and empowers listeners with new knowledge and diverse perspectives.”
Each week Angela Rye, award-winning television host, social justice advocate, lawyer, commentator and self-described “bringer of truth;” Tiffany Cross, television personality, political analyst and author; and Andrew Gillum, former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, and fierce advocate for fair and just public policy reforms, will provide sharp political insights, navigate the intricate dance between past and present, and weave together a narrative of hope and empowerment for listeners across the country.
“Launching ‘Native Land Pod’ before one of the most consequential elections in our lifetime is our mandate,” said Rye. “Being able to co-host along with friends who have become family to talk about political and social issues from our perspective is an honor. This is a weekly show you do not want to miss!”
In the premiere episode, the trio will discuss the kickoff to a crucial election year, challenges in the current American body politic and their personal stories from navigating the landscape of the cable news industry including their own time in the headlines.
“The cable news industry has stubbornly refused to speak to the rising majority of America. That’s where we come in,” said Cross. “I’m thrilled to join my co-hosts in informative discussions that speak authentically to listeners from Capitol Hill to corner offices, from cyphers on the block to the Sunday brunch crowd. We are your relatable political group chat where news is digestible and speaks directly to you.”
“I’m excited to join Angela and Tiffany for some much-needed tough talk about our politics, our people and our collective work to reshape the way political conversations are had that ultimately inspires listeners to do the work that leads to our greater freedom and political liberation,” said Gillum. “Listeners can expect to be invited into our conversations and finally find a home where their lived experiences are reflected and where their ideas are validated. Welcome home.”
“Native Land Pod” will be the flagship show for an all-new political podcast network, Reasoned Choice Media, set to launch later this year. The network will provide a platform for diverse voices and perspectives throughout the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle.
“Native Land Pod” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.
About Angela Rye
Angela Rye is an award-winning host, social justice advocate, lawyer, commentator, and self-described empowerment embodies what it means to be a “bringer of truth.” Named and raised accordingly, the attorney’s no holds barred commentary has resonated with demographics all over the world. Her thoughtful yet incisive commentary and real talk about social justice, politics, culture, and history spark much-needed conversation about the state of America. She’s the Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm formerly based in Washington, DC. She is the host of the weekly podcast “On One with Angela Rye”. She has also been seen on several programs and outlets from Breakfast Club to the Daily Show, BET where she has been nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, HBO, TV One, CNN, ABC, ESPN, NBC, NPR, and many others. She was also a special correspondent on ESPN and a liberal political commentator on CNN.
About Tiffany D. Cross
Tiffany D. Cross most recently hosted The Cross Connection on MSNBC. She is the author of Say It Louder: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy (Amistad/HarperCollins) and previously served as a Resident Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (Spring 2020). Her broad experience across media, politics, and policy includes more than two decades of navigating newsrooms and campaigns while engaging different constituencies on the ground. She is a former DC Bureau Chief of BET News and cut her teeth in media at CNN where she worked as an Associate Producer covering Capitol Hill for the network’s weekend show unit. She also previously served as a Field Producer for America’s Most Wanted and Discovery Communications. She also co-founded The Beat DC, a national platform intersecting politics, policy, business, media, and people of color.
About Andrew Gillum
Andrew Gillum’s history-making political career began more than 20 years ago when he was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission at age 23—the youngest person elected in the city’s history. Elected to serve as the Mayor of Tallahassee in 2014, Gillum championed investments in early education and restorative justice programs, spearheaded the construction of a 20-megawatt solar farm, and contributed to Tallahassee being named as an All-America City, a top 30 City for entrepreneurs in America, and one of just 50 TechHire cities in the nation. After being sued by the gun lobby and defeating them in Court, Gillum created the Campaign to Defend Local Solutions, an effort to build awareness of the threat and help local officials fight back to protect their communities.
In 2018, Gillum became the first African American nominee for governor of a major party after defeating four better-funded candidates. Shattering all previous records, more than two million new midterm voters turned out in Florida in 2018, and Gillum came within 0.4% of victory with over 8 million votes cast— forcing the state’s first-ever gubernatorial recount.
For more than 15 years, Gillum worked at People for the American Way Foundation where he helped create Young People For, a leadership training program for progressive college students around the country, and established the Young Elected Officials Network, a network of progressive elected officials aged 35 and younger—consisting now of more than 1,000 members around the nation.
Following his historic run for governor, Gillum was honored as one of the EBONY Power 100 and served as a 2019 Resident Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He has also served as a political commentator for CNN and contributed to numerous other cable and network news outlets. He currently runs his own consultancy firm out of Tallahassee, FL, where he resides with his wife and their three children.
About iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 90% of Americans every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have more consumer reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the reach of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled reach of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next four podcast publishers combined, and has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.