iHeart Releases Native Land Pod About News & Politics

I'm not sure that we need another news and politics podcast, but iHeart does. This new podcast does have the virtue of three co-hosts who have impressive resumes, sharp intellects, and a refreshing perspective.

iHeartPodcasts announced the launch of “Native Land Pod” hosted by Angela Rye, Tiffany D. Cross and Andrew Gillum. The show is touted as: "The new iHeartPodcast series will embark on a journey of reflection, take stock of the news of the week during the country's road to the polls in 2024, provide sharp political insights and weave together a narrative of hope and empowerment for listeners across the country."

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.”

New episodes will be released weekly each Thursday beginning January 11.

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."

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.

The key to the success of any podcast like this one is the hosts and the chemistry between them.

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.” 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 was also a special correspondent on ESPN and a liberal political commentator on CNN.

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). 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.

Andrew Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission at age 23—the youngest person elected in the city’s history. Gillum was elected to serve as the Mayor of Tallahassee in 2014. In 2018, Gillum became the first African American nominee for governor of a major party after defeating four better-funded candidates. Gillum came within 0.4% of victory with over eight million votes cast— forcing the state’s first-ever gubernatorial recount.

In March 2020, Gillum was found by Miami Beach Police in a Mondrian South Beach hotel room with an apparent overdose victim, a man who, according to local media reports, claimed to be a “pornstar performer” and advertised his services as a gay male escort.

Police found three bags of suspected crystal meth in the room. Gillum, 40, said he’d had too much to drink but hadn’t been using drugs. Gillum had admitted to dealing with the trauma over his loss in the gubernatorial election and did seek mental health care.

In June 2023, Gillum and his political adviser, Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, were charged with 19 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with each count carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison. Gillum is also facing a count of making false statements to the FBI, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Gillum currently runs his own consultancy firm out of Tallahassee, FL, where he resides with his wife and their three children.

Check out Native Land Pod. It should be interesting.