How Press-Shy Stars Are Finding Their Voice in Hollywood During the Podcast Era
Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix and other stars are shortchanging traditional junkets for long-form podcasts.
What to Hear
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tv+
Chris Pine Narrates ‘Cardiac Cowboys’ Podcast Series About Maverick Doctors Who Pioneered Open-Heart Surgery
The actor tells the true story of the renegade medical pros who risked their reputations to establish life-saving techniques in heart surgery.
‘Louis Theroux Podcast’ Sets Season 6 Guests
Interviewees will include Florence Pugh, David Byrne, Malala Yousafzai and more
‘Variety Confidential: The Life and Legend of River Phoenix’ Podcast Premieres
Variety and iHeartPodcasts have launched the second season of the popular podcast, which depicts not just true crime but the dark side of fame.
The Best Albums of 2025 (So Far)
From Bad Bunny and Bon Iver to Lucy Dacus and Lady Gaga
Audiobooks
Variety Recommends
Dive into the audiobooks and podcasts getting Hollywood's attention, for your next vacation or commute.
By Andy Weir
Narrated By Ray Porter
'Hail Mary'
Get ready for the new Ryan Gosling sci-fi movie with this gripping space tale.
By Holly Brickley
Narrated By Jayme Mattler
'Deep Cuts'
Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler are set to star in the upcoming A24 film based on this music-laced romance, with Sean Durkin set to direct.
By May Cobb
Narrated by Erin Bennett
'The Hunting Wives'
Can't get enough of the steamy Netflix series? Listen to the novel it was based on.
By Percival Everett
Narrated by Dominic Hoffman
'James'
The Pulitzer Prize-winning riff on Huckleberry Finn will be a feature film from Universal, with Steven Spielberg executive producing.
By Liz Moore
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
'The God of the Woods'
Sony TV has acquired series rights to this twisty thriller about a teen who disappears from her summer camp in 1975.
By Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
Narrated by Prince Harry
'Spare'
For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty.
Partner Content
Audible Recommends
Our partners at Audible give their picks for the best audio books to consider.
By John Legend
Narrated by John Legend
'Living Legend'
The story of John Legend starts with John Stephens, a homeschooled kid who later worked as a financial consultant on the way to becoming a Grammy-winning musical sensation.
By Cate Blanchett, Danny Kennedy
Narrated by Cate Blanchett, Danny Kennedy
'Climate of Change' (Series 2)
Cate Blanchett and Danny Kennedy look into climate solutions from electric rickshaws in Delhi to the first solar plant in a refugee camp in Jordan in conversations that aim to foster hope.
By Russell Wilson, Trevor Moawad, Harry Wilson
Narrated by Russell Wilson, Harry Wilson, Trevor Moawad
'Think Like a Champion'
Quarterback Russell Wilson and mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad welcome guests like Von Miller and Arianna Huffington to learn about mastering emotions, embracing change and personal growth.
By Rob Fresco
Narrated by Taylor Kitsch, Kate Mara, Darrin Kozlowski, Michael Hyatt, Xander Berkeley, Chris Diamantopoulos, full cast
'KOZ'
Based on a true story, ATF agent Darrin "Koz" Kozlowski infiltrated one of L.A.'s most dangerous motorcycle clubs, pulling off one of the largest organized crime busts in a generation.
By Ryan Kalil
Narrated by Ryan Kalil
'Block Forever'
NFL All-Pro Ryan Kalil gives an insider's view of football, talking about the biggest games of the week with top players, coaches and former pros.
By Stephen Curry, Alex Vespestad, Stefan Marolachakis
Narrated by Joe Tessitore, Stephen Curry
'The Greatest Sports Stories Never Told'
The NBA star picks compelling under-the-radar stories with celebrity guests and first-hand accounts from athletes, artists and heroes from the worlds of basketball, baseball and more.
By Mark Forward, Jonathan Torrens
Narrated by Samantha Bee, Andrew Phung, Colin Mochrie, Jennifer Robertson, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Nick Mohammed, full cast
'Wildlife Confidential'
A surreal interview show about real animals in the news, portrayed by a cast including host Cameron the Crow, played by Samantha Bee.
Podcasts
Trending
From daily news to true crime, find the next can't-miss podcasts that everyone is talking about and are sure to get you hooked.
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'Pivot'
Tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics.
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'Office Ladies'
Each week Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey break down an episode of The Office and give exclusive behind the scene stories.
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'The Late Show Pod Show With Stephen Colbert'
Keep up with Colbert before 'The Late Show' goes off the air in 2026.
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'Films to Be Buried With'
Comedian and actor Brett Goldstein special guests discuss life, death and what films they're taking into the grave with them.
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'Variety Confidential'
Variety's Tatiana Siegel speaks exclusively with River's co-stars and friends, including Corey Feldman and Samantha Mathis, to shed light on who River really was off camera.
Podcasts
Variety Produced
Keep it in the family with our suite of Variety produced podcasts covering everything from awards, Broadway and business.
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'Daily Variety'
SubscribeConversations with Variety journalists and guests about news, personalities and trends making headlines in the entertainment industry, hosted by Cynthia Littleton, co-editor in chief of Variety.
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'Variety Confidential'
SubscribeVariety's Tatiana Siegel speaks exclusively with River's co-stars and friends, including Corey Feldman and Samantha Mathis, to shed light on who River really was off camera and explore the brilliance…
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'Stagecraft'
SubscribeBehind the scenes with the biggest stars on Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond. Hosted by Gordon Cox.
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'Strictly Business'
SubscribeIndustry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.
Music
Album Reviews
Who doesn't love new music? Our critics pick the best new albums of the moment.
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‘The Tortured Poets Department'
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in an Audacious, Transfixing Album
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‘Only God Was Above Us’
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend Reinvents Its Sound (Again) With 'Only God Was Above Us'
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‘Diamonds and Pearls’
Beyoncé
ListenBeyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Is a Sprawling, Endlessly Entertaining Tour de Force
What To Hear News
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Ashley Flowers’ ‘Crime Junkie’ Podcast Company Inks $150 Million Multiyear Pact With Fox Corp.’s Tubi Media Group in Exit From SiriusXM
Tubi is making its first podcast play: The Fox Corp.’s Tubi Media Group struck a multiyear deal with Audiochuck, founded by Ashley Flowers, for exclusive distribution and ad sales…
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‘Family Matters’ Rewatch Podcast, Co-Hosted by Two Stars of ’90s Fan-Favorite Sitcom, Coming From iHeartPodcasts
Did they do that? A retrospective podcast on classic sitcom “Family Matters” is coming soon, in the latest project looking to mine nostalgia for TV hits of yore. “Welcome to…
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‘SNL’ Alum Ego Nwodim Moves Podcast to iHeartMedia, With Heidi Gardner Among Guests in New Season
After exiting “Saturday Night Live,” Ego Nwodim is keeping plenty busy — including with the second season of her award-winning interview podcast “Thanks Dad,” set to premiere…
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Audible ‘Harry Potter’ Series Finalizes Cast With Bill Nighy as Slughorn, Plus Voice Actors for Draco Malfoy, Sirius Black and More
The full cast for Audible’s adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books is set, with veteran British thespian Bill Nighy among the last group to be announced for the…
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Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone’s ‘New Girl’ Rewatch Podcast Joins Headgum (EXCLUSIVE)
The “New Girl” rewatch podcast, called “The Mess Around,” has found a new home for listeners to go behind-the-scenes of Apartment 4D. The podcast’s creators — “New Girl”…
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‘How I Met Your Mother’ Rewatch Podcast Joins Office Ladies Network for Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)
The “How I Met Your Mother” rewatch podcast, called “How We Made Your Mother” — from the show’s star Josh Radnor and its co-creator Craig Thomas — has joined Jenna Fischer and…
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‘Louis Theroux Podcast’ Sets Season 6 Guests: Florence Pugh, David Byrne, Malala Yousafzai and More (EXCLUSIVE)
“The Louis Theroux Podcast” has unveiled its slate of Season 6 guests, including Florence Pugh, David Byrne and Malala Yousafzai. The Spotify and Mindhouse podcast, hosted by…
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Ari Emanuel Launches Video Podcast Debating GOATs in Different Domains, Exclusively on His Friend Elon Musk’s X
Who are the GOATs — the greatest of all time — deserving the honor of being chiseled into Mount Rushmore? Hollywood power agent and dealmaker Ari Emanuel has launched a new…
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Chris Pine Narrates ‘Cardiac Cowboys’ Podcast Series About Maverick Doctors Who Pioneered Open-Heart Surgery
On the silver screen, Chris Pine has played heart-stopping action heroes. Now, as narrator of podcast series “Cardiac Cowboys,” he tells the true story of the renegade medical…
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Lester Holt Finds New ‘Appeal’ in ‘Dateline’ Podcast, Tackling Much-Scrutinized Texas Death Sentence Case
Lester Holt is counting on some of the skills he developed during one of the earliest points of his career to keep it going into the future. The NBC News veteran, who got his…
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How Press-Shy Stars Are Finding Their Voice in Hollywood During the Podcast Era
Celebrities are the “hot ones,” but they’re giving the cold shoulder to traditional media, at least in podcast form. In the shifting landscape of Hollywood publicity, a…
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Theo Von Demands Dept. of Homeland Security Remove Clip That Features Him: ‘Keep Me Out of Your ‘Banger’ Deportation Videos’
[UPDATE: As of Wednesday afternoon, the posts on X by Theo Von and DHS’s video with Von were removed.] Theo Von, comedian and host of popular podcast “This Past Weekend,”…
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Alex Wagner to Launch Podcast With Crooked Media About Trump’s Impact on Americans
Veteran political journalist Alex Wagner, the MSNBC contributor whose primetime show on the network was canceled earlier this year, is launching a new podcast with Crooked…
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