Dhar Mann pushes into podcasting

Dhar Mann Studios is expanding into podcasting with the launch of What Happens Next, a weekly interview series that will see him chat to celebrities and creators about the defining moments in their careers.

Launching on 18 May across YouTube and major audio platforms, the podcast will feature guests including Jameela Jamil, Anderson Paak, Derek Hough, Allyson Felix, Jordan Matter and Roy Wood Jr. Mann said the show would focus on "deeper conversations about the defining moments in people's lives."

The launch is the latest expansion of Mann's growing content business, following the studio's move into scripted television and streaming through partnerships with Fox Entertainment and Samsung TV Plus. Mann – best known for his scripted inspirational videos – says his network has generated more than 60 billion lifetime views and has around 27 million YouTube subscribers.

Studio71 will handle distribution, advertising sales and marketing for the podcast, building on a wider partnership between the two companies announced in 2024.

The move reflects podcasting's continued growth within the creator economy, as major digital creators look for revenue streams less dependent on social platforms.

Netflix has been building out its own video podcast offering, with shows from Spotify, Barstool and iHeart now available on the platform alongside original productions. Newsletter platform Beehiiv launched podcast hosting in April, with the company saying more creators signed up on launch day than it had anticipated for the entire quarter.