Chip & Joanna Gaines Announce Podcast Network & "What Had Happened Was" Interviews Questlove

 Chip & Joanna Gaines start new podcast network 

Chip & Joanna Gaines have renovated everything from small houses to an entire city block. The talented couple have taken houses down to the studs and then rebuilt them. The question is whether they can build a podcast network from the ground up. No word yet if the podcast network will use shiplap.

Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Blind Nil Media and The Roost Podcast Network, have announced their partnership to build a new podcast network, Blind Nil Audio. The Texas-based media companies will launch this new network with two debut programs on October 1.

“We believe in the power of storytelling and are excited to explore new formats with this platform,” said Chip and Joanna Gaines, Co-Founders of Blind Nil Media. “The Roost has done incredible things in podcasts, and we’re thrilled to bring our teams together to see what new voices and stories there are to share with the world.”

Debut programming includes “50 Fires: A Conversation of Money and Meaning,” where Carl Richards hosts hard conversations that will make people laugh, cry, and most importantly, navigate the complexities of money while uncovering the profoundly personal nature of our financial choices. 

Also, the long-running series “This Morning Walk,” a podcast hosted by Libby DeLana and Alex Elle that motivates listeners with the power of an everyday walk.

"Chip and Joanna have a distinct vision for programming that will resonate with their community and welcome more listeners," said AJ Feliciano, head of the Roost Podcast Network. "As a Texan myself, I appreciate their dedication to building a storytelling platform that will support the thriving podcast industry in the state. I am excited to see what we can create together."

Recently, other power couples have failed in their quest to build a podcast network. And it's well known to anyone who watches Fixer Upper that Chip Gaines gets most excited about demo day.

"What Had Happened Was" podcast starts fourth season with Questlove

Talkhouse has announced the fourth season of What Had Happened Was, devoted to exploring the life, legacy and indispensable work of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. For the past three installments of the podcast series, host and rapper Open Mike Eagle has profiled legendary creators in hip-hop through in-depth interviews discussing their impact and immense catalogs. 

In this initial session, Questlove unpacks his childhood musical beginnings, his introduction to hip-hop, the lie that led to the formation of The Roots in high school, the education he gets at 30 Rock, and how this very podcast "saved his life" during the pandemic. New episodes will continue to drop weekly on Wednesdays, sharing all the stories behind The Roots' first four albums, and Questlove's personal rise alongside Black Thought, Dilla, D'Angelo, Jill Scott and many others.

Previous subjects include DJ Prince Paul (De La Soul, Handsome Boy Modeling School), El-P (Company Flow, Run the Jewels), and most recently A&R/producer Dante Ross, but now the focus will shift to the Oscar and GRAMMY-winning drummer, DJ, producer, director, culinary entrepreneur, best-selling author and bandleader.

Together, Open Mike Eagle and Questlove will unpack all the stories behind The Roots' first four albums, his personal rise alongside Black Thought, Dilla, D'Angelo and Jill Scott, and so much more over the course of the upcoming episodes, dropping on a weekly basis, which started on October 11th.