As fresh research shows that conservatives are listening to podcasts more than ever, host Megyn Kelly is launching her own podcast network. MK Media will feature shows from creators in the news and entertainment space, with the first shows on the network from journalist Mark Halperin, cultural columnist Maureen Callahan, and influencer and political commentator Link Lauren.
“I am so excited about this trio because they really cover the gamut,” Kelly says in a blog post. “You will be able to find these shows on their own podcast feeds, YouTube channels, and social media accounts in the near future. And we are not done. MK Media will continue to expand with more announcements to come soon — some beyond just news and entertainment. Basically, I am looking to help promote more sane, reasonable and entertaining people with unique perspectives and courage to say the truth, and MK Media will give me the ability to do so. I am extremely grateful for the platform and audience that we have, but I also think it is important to have options.”
Steve Krakauer, Executive Producer of The Megyn Kelly Show and AM Update, will oversee the MK Media shows. The new programs are scheduled to launch in April and May.
Next Up with Mark Halperin is the first podcast for the veteran reporter of Bloomberg News, Showtime and ABC News. “Well, this will be fun. And an honor. And a great new platform and format for me,” Halperin said. “America is filled with quality sandboxes; I can say without fear of contradiction that the Megyn Kelly sandbox is as good as it gets these days.”
The Nerve with Maureen Callahan will bring “The Daily Mail” columnist into the audio realm. She previously worked for Vanity Fair and The New York Post and is also a best-selling author. “What an unexpected joy getting to know (and love) Megyn Kelly. But for her to give me my own show, on her new network, is beyond anything I could have anticipated,” Callahan said. “I can’t wait to get going over on The Nerve, digging into pop culture, celebrity scandals, and all the stories that captivate, aggravate and fascinate.”
Spot On with Link Lauren brings the Gen-Z social media influencer with a massive following on TikTok and other platforms to podcasting. Lauren has also served as a senior advisor on communications for the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Megyn and her team for valuing my voice in the discourse,” said Lauren. “Megyn is a powerhouse whose work ethic and journalism inspire me. This venture is a win not only for me, but for my existing audience and those who’ve been dismissed by the mainstream media. My goal is to always deliver the news in a way that’s fact-based and entertaining.”
Kelly’s launch of MK Media follows the announcement in February of a new show, AM Update with Megyn Kelly, a 15-minute news program that pairs with Kelly’s own political talk show hit The Megyn Kelly Show. Kelly’s show launched as an audio-only podcast in September 2020 before partnering with SiriusXM in 2021 to become a live, daily radio show and expand to video. It is now one of the most consumed independent conservative talk shows.
Edison Research reported this month that a rapid ascension of conservative media stars into podcasting has resulted in a change in who podcast listeners are. Edison says while Republicans made up less than a quarter (23%) of podcast listeners in 2019, the latest data shows that three-in-ten podcast listeners identify with the GOP. The number of those who identify as Democrats has also slipped three points to 37% during that same period.
The changing composition of podcast listeners was reflected in Edison Research’s quarterly ranking of the most listened-to shows during the fourth quarter. That included a move by The Megyn Kelly Show from No. 50 in the third quarter of 2024, to No. 27 in Q4.
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