Lemonada Media Explained

Lemonada Media
Logo Alt:Lemonada Media Logo
Industry:Podcasting

Lemonada Media is an American podcast network.[1] The company was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.[2] [3] In 2019, Lemonada Media debuted their first podcast, Last Day, offering a personal view on the opioid crisis in the U.S. (Kramer and Wachs both had younger brothers who died from an accidental opioid overdose.)

As of 2023, Lemonada has launched more than 40 podcasts,[4] including Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which was named the 2023 Apple Podcast of the Year, and Being Trans/ Being Golden, which pioneered an unscripted format similar to reality TV, and won three Webby Awards in 2023.[5]

History

In 2018, Cordova Kramer and Wittels Wachs met after discovering they had each lost a brother to accidental overdoses. Cordova Kramer reached out to Wittels Wachs after hearing her in an interview. Wittels Wachs initially said no to a podcast partnership with Cordova Kramer but later changed her mind.[6] In 2019, they launched Lemonada Media and their first podcast, Last Day which explores the final days of people who have died to opioids, suicide, and gun violence. The company set out to make the hard things in life a little easier for listeners to cope with. The company's name refers to the adage "turning lemons into lemonade" as well as the famous Jerry Seinfeld standup routine where he says "(the car) better not be a lemona, or I'll call my lawya"

Last Day is Lemonada Media's flagship podcast. The first season focused on the opioid epidemic. The first episode covered the last days of Cordova Kramer's brother prior to his fatal overdose. The second season of Last Day focused on suicide and was sponsored by The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention.

In 2019, Lemonada Media debuted two additional podcasts, Good Kids and As Me with Sinéad. In April 2020, In the Bubble hosted by Andy Slavitt debuted. In March 2022, Lemonada Media had more than 20 original shows. These include The Cost of Care, The Untold Story: Policing and Good Sex.[7]

In 2020, Lemonada show In the Bubble won the "Favorite Shows" award of Apple Podcasts "Shows of the Year".[8] Last day also won iHeartRadio's Podcast Award for Best Wellness and Fitness Podcast.[9] Lemonada shows received an average of two million listens in each month of 2020.

Lemonada partnered with Neighborhood Villages in late 2020, an organization that advocates for policy reform for early childhood education and care, to create No One Is Coming to Save Us hosted by former ABC news correspondent Gloria Riviera. The podcast discusses the U.S. childcare system. Kristin Bell has made guest appearances.[10]

In 2021, Lemonada added 10 podcasts to its network including, Written Off and Believe Her. Believe Her debuted at the top of the podcast ratings charts. They launched, BEING Studios, a new division to develop a new audio genre called Audio Reality, a cross of reality programming and podcasting.[11] Their debut show, BEING Trans was executive produced by Kasey Barrett who has previously worked on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Real World, and Born This Way.[12] Wittels Wachs stated that creating Being Trans was intended to build the empathy. The second season of BEING studios features senior citizens and is called BEING Golden.

In 2022, Add to Cart won the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best Beauty and Fashion Podcast.[13]

Lemonada has a global presence with its two shows in Europe: As Me with Sinéad (Ireland) and In Giro Con Fra (Italy).[14]

Organization

Jessica Cordova Kramer is the company's CEO. She previously served as the executive producer of Pod Save the People. Stephanie Wittels Wachs is the company's chief creative officer. She previously published the book: Everything is Horrible and Wonderful.

In 2020, the company reported $1.5 million in revenue. In 2021, they reported nearly $5 million in revenue.[15] In January 2022, Lemonada Media announced they had secured $8 million in Series A funding and had 43 full-time employees.

Podcasts

!Title!Host(s) or Starring!Notes!Ref
Add to CartSuChin Pak and Kulap VilaysackFocuses on consumerism[16]
After 1954Aimée Eubanks DavisExplores Brown v. Board of Education Case[17] [18]
As Me With SinéadSinéad BurkeDiscusses self-acceptance, self-love, empathy, and biases[19]
BEING GoldenDiscusses life as a senior in the golden years. From BEING Studios Audio Reality®[20]
BEING TransExplores life experiences of transgender individuals. First show in the new Audio Reality genre from BEING Studios Audio Reality®[21]
Believe HerJustine van der LeunDiscusses the story of Nikki Addimando and examines domestic and sexual violence and trauma[22] [23]
Blind PleaLiz FlockExamines the American criminal justice system[24]
BurnoutConnor FrantaExamines burnout[25] [26]
Call DeclinedMelissa BeckExplores resilience, friendship, the power of creativity, mental health, and the American prison system[27]
Call For HelpStephanie Wittels Wachs and Zak WilliamsExplores mental health and the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline[28]
Choice Words with Samantha BeeSamantha BeeExamines navigating the real world, life choices, and decision making[29]
DiscardedGloria RivieraExamines the health and environmental impacts of plastic use[30]
Everything Happens with Kate BowlerKate BowlerExplores success, failure, suffering, happiness, and humor[31]
Fail Better with David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyExplores the topic of failure[32]
FIRST! with Kareem RahmaKareem RahmaDiscusses people who have had groundbreaking impacts on racial barriers, society, and culture [33]
Good GriefExplores grief, coping, love, and loss[34]
Good KidsDiscusses parenting
Good SexDiscusses sex[35]
Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdyJennette McCurdyExplores difficult life experiences[36]
Here Lies MeHillary Frank, Michael Chernus, June Diane Raphael, W. Kamau Bell, Rob Huebel, Stephanie Wittels WachsLemonada's first scripted podcast. Discusses the adolescent experience with realism. Explores harassment, classism, sexism, racism, trauma, consent, and finding your voice[37]
I Need To Ask You SomethingDr. Monica P. BandExplores difficult conversations, emotional health, and relationship building[38]
I'm SorryMohanad Elshieky, Kiki Monique, and Hoja LopezDiscusses cancel culture and apologies[39] [40]
In Giro Con FraFrancesca LazzarinLemonada's first non-English language podcast, hosted in Italian. Discusses culture, lifestyles, and personal challenges[41] [42]
In Recovery with Dr. Nzinga HarrisonDr. Nzinga HarrisonExplores psychiatry, mental health, and addiction medicine [43] [44]
In the Bubble with Andy SlavittAndy SlavittCovers the COVID-19 pandemic[45]
Last DayStephanie Wittels WachsFlagship podcast on Lemonada's podcast network. Explores grief, the opioid epidemic, suicide, and gun violence[46]
MouthpeaceMichael Bennett and Pele BennettDiscusses parenting and football[47]
New DayClaire Bidwell SmithCovers coping strategies
No One Is Coming to Save UsGloria Riviera and Kristin BellCovers childcare in America[48]
Our America with Julián CastroJulián CastroDiscusses politics[49]
Raised by RickiRicki LakeCovers cultural issues
The Cost of CareDavid SmithProblems within America's healthcare system[50]
The Sarah Silverman PodcastSarah SilvermanCovers cultural issues
The Untold StoryJay EllisCovered policing issues[51] [52]
Written OffWalter Thompson-HernandezCovers social justice and features formerly incarcerated writers[53]
V Interesting with V SpeharVitus Spehar
Uncared ForSuChin Pak
The Letter
Let's Tawk with Jaime Primak SullivanJaime Primak Sullivan
Funny Cuz It's True with Elyse MyersElyse Myers
FIRST! with Kareem RahmaKareem Rahma
Wiser Than MeJulia Louis-DreyfusInterviews with wise women on their life experiences
Lemonada has plans to expand the number of shows to more than 30 in 2022.

After 1954

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Brown v Board of Education that the segregation of white and Black students was unconstitutional.[54] The After 1954 podcast, hosted by Aimée Eubanks Davis, explores this historic event and its unintended consequence–the firing of approximately 38,000 Black teachers in the Southern states. Davis also explores the importance of Black educators as key figures in the lives of Black children.[55]

Add to Cart

Add to Cart is co-hosted by journalist SuChin Pak and writer, comedian, and director Kulap Vilaysack.[56] Their podcast focuses on shopping and consumerism, exploring trending products and discussing whether those products are worth the cost.

As Me with Sinéad

As Me is hosted by teacher, fashion enthusiast, and disability activist Sinéad Burke. Burke has also given a TED Talk on design accessibility, and was a guest speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Burke has a suite of high-profile guests on her podcast including Victoria Beckham and Jamie Lee Curtis.[57] [58] Burke has also made a guest appearance on Lemonada Media's podcast Good Kids.

Wiser Than Me with Julia-Louis Dreyfus

Launched in 2023, Wiser Than Me features host Julia Louis-Dreyfus interviewing women older than her on their lived experience and earned wisdom. Guests have included Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Isabel Allende and Amy Tan. The show was named Apple's Best Podcast of the Year in 2023.[59]

Reception and awards

Lemonada and its podcasts have received positive reviews in a wide range of press. The New York Times describes Lemonada as "a podcast network that creates feel-good stories about feel-bad issues (...) Their roster of sweet-tart shows is deeply personal, mission-driven and solution-minded."

Lemonada has been nominated for more than 15 podcast industry awards, including:

Notes and References

  1. News: Soloski . Alexis . May 20, 2021 . IN Crisis? Lemonada Media Has a Podcast for You. . en-US . . October 31, 2022.
  2. Web site: Greiving . Tim . October 22, 2020 . They Lost Their Brothers to Addiction. Now They're Tackling Deadly Stigmas Head On, With Humor . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Greiving . Tim . April 6, 2022 . 'Last Day' Podcast Tackles the Explosive Topic of Gun Violence With a Disarming Approach . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2023-11-10 . Jessica Cordova Kramer . 2024-01-21 . Podcast Business Journal . en-US.
  5. Web site: May 2023 . Webby Award Winner: Being TRANS/Being GOLDEN . Jan 21, 2024 . Webby Awards.
  6. Web site: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make a Podcast . 2022-12-06 . Houstonia Magazine . en-US.
  7. Web site: March 31, 2022 . Lemonada Media Rapidly Expands Its Slate of Podcasts . October 31, 2022 . Radio Online . en-US.
  8. Web site: Cridland . James . December 2, 2020 . The Best Podcasts in the World – Apple Podcasts 2020 . October 31, 2022 . podnews.net . en-US.
  9. Web site: Marquina . Sierra . January 18, 2020 . 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  10. Web site: White . Peter . May 6, 2021 . ABC News' Gloria Riviera Sets Childcare Crisis Podcast With Help From Kristen Bell . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  11. News: Soloski . Alexis . April 28, 2022 . With Being Studios, Podcasting Meets Reality Television . en-US . . October 31, 2022 . 0362-4331.
  12. Web site: Baron . Katelyn . May 2, 2022 . BEING Studios Ushers in Lemonada Media's Groundbreaking Audio Reality Era . October 31, 2022 . werrrk.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: Fields . Taylor . February 3, 2022 . 2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: See the Full List of Winners . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: Skjong . Alex . January 28, 2022 . Lemonada Media Secures $8 Million Series A . October 31, 2022 . tech.mn . en-US.
  15. Web site: Chan . J. Clara . January 27, 2022 . Lemonada Media Podcast Network Raises $8M in Series A Funding (Exclusive) . October 31, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  16. Web site: Vilaysack . SuChin Pak, Kulap . March 4, 2022 . We're Opposites in the Kitchen, United in Our Love of the Perfect Pot . October 31, 2022 . The Strategist . en-us.
  17. Web site: March 29, 2022 . Podcast features Atlanta educator on importance of Black mentorship in the classroom . October 31, 2022 . WABE . en-US.
  18. Web site: May 11, 2022 . New Chicago podcast explores the ripple effects of 1954 school desegregation . October 31, 2022 . FOX 32 Chicago . en-US.
  19. Web site: Bownass . Helen . December 4, 2019 . Sinéad Burke is the inspirational voice we need to hear right now . October 31, 2022 . Stylist . en.
  20. Web site: BEING Golden . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  21. Web site: BEING Trans . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  22. Web site: 'Believe Her' host Justine van der Leun discusses what happens when a woman kills her abusive partner . October 31, 2022 . Podsauce . en-US.
  23. Web site: Believe Her . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  24. Web site: Blind Plea . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  25. Web site: From 'I'm Listening' to 'More Than A Feeling:' Get in the right headspace with these 17 podcasts . October 31, 2022 . Podsauce . en-US.
  26. Web site: Burnout . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  27. Web site: Call Declined . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  28. Web site: Introducing: Call For Help . 2023-11-27 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  29. Web site: Choice Words with Samantha Bee . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  30. Web site: Discarded . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  31. Web site: Everything Happens with Kate Bowler . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  32. Web site: Spangler . Todd . David Duchovny to Host His First Podcast, About How to ‘Fail Better,’ With Guests Ben Stiller, Bette Midler and More . . 7 May 2024 . 27 February 2024.
  33. Web site: FIRST! with Kareem Rahma . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  34. Web site: Good Grief . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  35. Web site: Good Sex . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  36. Web site: Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdy . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  37. Web site: Here Lies Me . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  38. Web site: I Need To Ask You Something . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  39. Web site: Comedians Hoja Lopez, Kiki Monique and Former Portlander Mohanad Elshieky Have a New Podcast About Apologies . October 31, 2022 . Willamette Week . en.
  40. Web site: I'm Sorry . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  41. Web site: Villacres . Myriam Paola . October 18, 2021 . JCU Welcomes Jessica Cordova Kramer (CEO of Lemonada Media) for a Lecture on Podcasts . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  42. Web site: In Giro Con Fra . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  43. Web site: In Recovery with Dr. Nzinga Harrison . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  44. Web site: Wagner . William . November 5, 2020 . Nzinga Harrison, M.D., Leads at the Intersection of Advocacy and Addiction . October 31, 2022 . Treatment Magazine . en-US.
  45. Web site: In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  46. Web site: Last Day . 2023-11-28 . Lemonada Media . en-US.
  47. Web site: March 11, 2020 . Michael and Pele Bennett Became Friends By Accident Barrett Media . October 31, 2022 . en-US.
  48. Web site: Hale . James . February 15, 2021 . CAA Signs Podcast Startup Lemonada Media . October 31, 2022 . . en-US.
  49. Web site: Julián Castro launches podcast "Our America with Julián Castro" . October 31, 2022 . Hola America News . en-US.
  50. Web site: $629 bandaids? 'The Cost of Care' explores America's broken healthcare system and what we can do to fix it . October 31, 2022 . Podsauce . en-US.
  51. Web site: VannDigital . Jay Ellis Is Back To Host Season 2 Of "The Untold Story" Podcast From Lemonada Media . October 31, 2022 . www.vanndigital.com . en-US.
  52. Web site: Jay Ellis Confronts The Criminal Justice System In Season 2 Of "The Untold Story" Podcast . October 31, 2022 . Essence . en-US.
  53. Web site: White . Peter . June 30, 2021 . John Legend, Issa Rae and Randall Park Amplifying Voices Of Formerly Incarcerated Writers In Podcast From Jay Ellis, Walter Thompson-Hernández and Lemonada . October 31, 2022 . Deadline . en-US.
  54. News: 2022-11-14 . US schools still have a racial segregation problem . Financial Times . 2022-12-06.
  55. Web site: 'After 1954' spotlights the importance of Black educators and their impact on students' lives . 2022-12-06 . Podsauce . en-US.
  56. Web site: 2022-03-03 . Why Do Shopping Podcasts Sound So Good Right Now? . 2022-12-06 . ELLE . en-us.
  57. Web site: 2019-10-24 . Sinéad Burke's New Podcast Is A Chance For Public Figures To Tell Their Personal Stories . 2022-12-06 . British Vogue . en-GB.
  58. Web site: 2020-11-01 . Sinéad Burke: 'My goal was to change the entire fashion system' . 2022-12-06 . the Guardian . en.
  59. News: Weprin . Alex . Dec 5, 2023 . Apple Names Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ ‘Wiser Than Me’ Its Podcast of the Year . The Hollywood Reporter . December 20, 2023.
  60. Web site: Last Day Entry on IMDB.com . Jan 21, 2024 . The Internet Movie Database.
  61. Web site: May 2023 . Webby Winner: Add to Cart . Jan 21, 2024 . The Webby Awards.
  62. Web site: May 2023 . Webby Winer: Believe Her Podcast . Jan 21, 2024 . The Webby Awards.
  63. Web site: May 2023 . Webby Award Winner: In the Bubble . Jan 21, 2024 . The Webby Awards.
  64. Web site: May 2023 . Webby Honoree: No One is Coming to Save Us podcast . Jan 21, 2024 . The Webby Awards.

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