This is an archived page from 2021. Find out more
Documentary studio XTR, has launched Radio XTR, a new podcast division that will create, develop and produce original nonfiction podcasts. A slate of new shows is in development that will premiere this fall.
The first podcast is a documentary deep-dive show Human Drama Thing, hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Davy Rothbart (This American Life) and David Weinberg (KCRW).
Radio XTR’s slate of premium podcasts will cover several genres including true crime, pop culture, music and autobiographical nonfiction stories. Human Drama Thing will premiere this fall.
“As a lifelong documentary junkie, making a podcast where we can take a magnifying glass to our all-time favorite docs— and the incredible subjects at the heart of them — is a dream come true,” said podcast host Davy Rothbart. “It’s especially thrilling to collaborate with KCRW legend David Weinberg, one of the most distinctive, funny, and gripping storytellers on the airwaves — and to team with XTR and Documentary+, who are supporting and showcasing the best documentary work in the world. Whether you’ve been watching documentaries your whole life or are a more recent convert, we can’t wait for audiences to hear what we’ve been cooking up!”
Radio XTR has also enlisted the talents of Ashley Ray Harris, comedian, writer and pop culture critic host of TV, I Say, a podcast which has featured guests to the likes Seth Rogen, Roxane Gay and Nicco Annan. Harris will be producing an exclusive crossover series that will stream exclusively on Documentary+. Radio XTR is also announcing a partnership with SomeFriends, the premium audio-first media company telling stories with the mission of championing inclusion through diversity, led by Andrew Kuo and Kareem Rahma, who also serves as a Senior Advisor to XTR.
Among Radio XTR’s slate includes an upcoming series,_ Shelved_, in partnership with Audible and Gunpowder & Sky. _Shelved _is an investigative podcast series that will examine songs and albums that, for one reason or another, were shelved. The podcast will explore unlikely collaborations, off-brand outbursts, and other recordings deemed too odd or ahead of their time, while uncovering the deeper stories of ego, deceit, death, and the strange intersection of art and commerce. Shelved is based on musician and music journalist Tom Maxwell’s article series by the same title, originally published on Longreads.
“XTR’s focus has always been to build the best nonfiction studio in the world and podcasts are the next evolution of that and have always been part of the roadmap,” said Justin Lacob, Head of Development at XTR. “With the launch of Documentary+, we are able to house some of the best documentaries of our time and give audiences what they want - we’re excited to explore audio as a new way to dive into nonfiction stories and give it our own spin.”