Netflix expands podcast lineup with iHeartMedia, adds celebrity shows

Netflix widened its podcast bet on June 15 by adding new video versions of Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson, Suite 305 with Lele Pons and The Martha Stewart Podcast through its partnership with iHeartMedia. The move shows the streaming company treating podcasts less as a side experiment than as a way to keep audiences inside Netflix longer, with familiar names designed to travel across video, social media and live programming.

The new slate builds on an exclusive video podcast deal the companies announced on December 16, 2025. Under that agreement, more than 15 iHeartPodcasts were set to stream only on Netflix in the United States in early 2026, with more markets to follow. The arrangement included all new episodes and select library episodes, while iHeartMedia kept the audio-only rights and distribution. Bob Pittman framed the partnership as the creation of a new category that could reach new audiences, and Netflix cast the deal as a fit for its video-first service.

Netflix expanded the relationship again in May 2026 when it made The Breakfast Club its first daily live program, streaming each weekday with Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious. The show runs nearly three hours and includes exclusive material during breaks, giving Netflix a recurring live talk format that sits alongside its scripted series, films and live events.

The June 15 additions point to a broader strategy than celebrity packaging alone. Sibling Revelry centers on the Hudson siblings in free-form conversation about family dynamics and other siblings. Suite 305 launches with Shakira as the guest in its first episode, giving Lele Pons’ show an immediate marquee hook. The Martha Stewart Podcast brings another durable brand into Netflix’s lineup, with Stewart and guests driving the conversation.

Taken together, the deals suggest Netflix is building a broader entertainment system around video podcasts, live talk and sports. In a mature streaming market, where subscriber growth is harder to find and viewers can leave for competing apps in seconds, that kind of recurring programming can matter as much as another scripted series. The company is increasingly acting as if podcast franchises are not just audio products, but a way to deepen engagement, broaden discovery and keep attention anchored inside Netflix.