Acast, a global podcast platform and production company, announced July 23, 2026, an exclusive partnership with The Washington Post to produce and distribute original audio and video programming hosted by prominent Post journalists, marking the latest in a series of high-profile publishing deals for the Stockholm-based company.
The partnership will feature shows hosted by Carolyn Hax, the Post’s most-read advice columnist; Shane O’Neill, a Style writer and author of the “Seriously?” pop culture newsletter; and Michelle Singletary, an award-winning personal finance columnist. Additional programming will include content from Post Opinion journalists Kate Andrews, Carine Hajjar, James Hohmann, and Adam O’Neal. Acast Productions will serve as the exclusive global partner for sales, distribution, and monetization of all shows, with programming launching later in 2026.
The deal represents Acast’s continued expansion into partnerships with established media publishers seeking to monetize and distribute editorial content through podcasting and audio platforms. The company has previously secured exclusive arrangements with The Athletic, a New York Times subsidiary; The Economist; Slate; TED; and Warner Bros. Discovery. These partnerships position Acast as a key infrastructure provider for legacy publishers entering the podcast market with established editorial brands and audience trust.
“Our partnership with The Washington Post is so exciting because this is exactly the type of high-quality publisher content Acast is designed to support and monetize,” said Greg Glenday, CEO of Acast. “The trust built over the years by columnists like Carolyn Hax, Michelle Singletary, and Shane O’Neill is what we mean when we say narrative influence. Podcasting is the natural medium for those relationships to grow, giving these distinct voices a new way to reach audiences and advertisers around the world.” James Murray, head of business development at The Washington Post, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Acast to strategically expand The Washington Post’s audio and video presence. Acast’s robust production and commercial capabilities will help scale our exceptional journalism with new audiences as part of our commitment to extending our journalism across formats and platforms.”
For podcast producers and audio professionals, the partnership underscores the growing demand for established editorial voices in the audio space and the strategic importance of distribution and monetization infrastructure. Independent creators and smaller production companies face increasing competition from partnerships pairing legacy publishers with well-capitalized platforms. The deal signals that columnists and opinion journalists—traditionally print-focused talent—now represent valuable IP for audio expansion, potentially reshaping how traditional media organizations value and develop their talent across platforms.
The partnership arrives as podcast advertising continues to mature as a revenue stream for major publishers. Traditional media companies including The New York Times, NPR, and others have invested significantly in podcast production and distribution over the past three years. Acast’s model of handling production, distribution, and advertising sales on behalf of publishers addresses a critical gap for legacy media organizations seeking to avoid building in-house podcast infrastructure while maintaining editorial control and brand integrity.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Acast, which went public on the Nasdaq in 2021 under ticker ACST, has reported steady growth in its creator and publisher partnerships. The company reported 67 million monthly listeners across its network in recent quarters and has positioned itself as a neutral platform for independent creators and institutional media partners alike, competing directly with Spotify Studios, Amazon Music’s podcast division, and iHeartMedia’s production capabilities.
The Washington Post partnership demonstrates how established publishers are leveraging podcast platforms to extend the reach of their most recognizable talent. As audiences increasingly consume news and opinion through audio formats, major media organizations are converting print-based editorial franchises into multimedia revenue streams. For Acast, each new publisher partnership strengthens its position as an essential intermediary between legacy media and the growing podcast advertising market, though the strategy also depends on demonstrating measurable audience growth and advertising performance for partner content.
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