Black Effect Podcast Festival Sets April Return To Atlanta.

Atlanta will once again become a gathering point for Black podcast creators and fans this spring as iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God bring the Black Effect Podcast Festival back to the city for its fourth year.

The daylong event is scheduled for April 25 and will feature live podcast tapings, creator-focused panels and networking opportunities aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. The festival is built around The Black Effect Podcast Network, which Charlamagne founded in partnership with iHeartMedia.

“Each year we return to Atlanta with purpose and intention to amplify storytelling, champion community, and celebrate excellence in podcasting with thousands of our cousins from around the world,” said Charlamagne in the announcement. He will host the event alongside DJ Envy of “The Breakfast Club” and Loren LoRosa, host of “The Latest with Loren LoRosa Podcast.”

This year’s programming leans into industry evolution, with panels including “AI: The Evolution and The Future,” “The Gen-Z Movement,” and an audio and media development discussion. Scheduled guests include Carlos King, host of “Reality With The King,” and finance expert Ian Dunlap.

Last year’s show brought together thousands of podcast fans with the Black Effect Podcast Network’s top talent for a day of live podcast recordings from the network’s most popular shows, including “Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts,” The Trap Nerds,” and “Good Moms, Bad Choices,” among others. Fans will again be able to watch podcasts being made at this year’s festival, with the full live podcast lineup to be announced soon.

“We celebrate and uplift the power of Black voices, creating space for creators to inspire, connect and shape culture,” said Dollie S. Bishop, President of The Black Effect Podcast Network. “From conversations on AI and investing to the future of audio, we’re bringing the culture together for connection, innovation and a few surprises.”

Beyond the stage, organizers are bringing back interactive elements such as the “Pitch Your Podcast” booth, giving aspiring creators a chance to present their concepts, and The Black Effect Marketplace, which will feature merchandise from Black-owned businesses and local food trucks.

The Black Effect Podcast Festival will be held from noon to 8pm at Pullman Yards, with State Farm as the presenting partner. Tickets go on sale March 12, with special student pricing available.

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a leading platform for Black creators with conversations around social justice, pop culture, sports, mental health, news, comedy and more. Launched in September 2020, the network has since debuted 47 shows curated by Charlamagne Tha God. The network stems from a years-long relationship between Charlamagne and iHeart, which syndicates his morning radio show, “The Breakfast Club,” from flagship hip-hop/R&B “Power 105.1” WWPR-FM New York. The replay podcast of the radio show serves as the flagship podcast for The Black Effect Podcast Network. The show is also among those now available on Netflix.