Amazon’s Wondery Adds ‘Armchair Expert’ Podcast in $80 Million Deal

Amazon entered into an $80 million deal that will bring comedian Dax Shepard’s podcast “Armchair Expert” to the Wondery platform.

Wondery will exclusively distribute and sell ads for the podcast, co-produce two new podcasts, offer a livestream of the show each year, and get a first-look option for any new podcasts Shepard creates, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday (July 11).

In addition, Amazon will launch new video episodes of “Armchair Expert,” distribute translated versions of the podcast globally, and distribute and sell ads for the podcast’s 600-episode back catalog, according to the report.

Members of the Wondery+ subscription service will be able to access new episodes of the podcast a week before they are distributed to other platforms, the report said. They will also receive the podcast ad-free.

The podcast will move to the Wondery platform from Spotify, per the report.

Wondery CEO Jen Sargent told Variety in a report posted Thursday: “‘Armchair Expert’ consistently delivers relatable, thought-provoking and entertaining social commentary based on shared human experiences and interests from the most recognizable entertainment and cultural figures in the world. This incredible show is a natural fit for the Wondery roster built to entertain, engage and delight podcast fans globally.”

The podcast’s guests have included Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Hillary Clinton, Trevor Noah, Stacey Abrams, Bill Gates, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell (who is married to Shepard), according to the Variety report.

Shepard told Variety: “The Wondery logo actually means something. They are the HBO of the podcast space. We are extremely excited to join forces and bring fresh new content to listeners around the world.”

Amazon purchased Wondery in December 2020, saying that in partnership with Amazon Music, Wondery would “be able to provide even more high-quality, innovative content and continue their mission of bringing a world of entertainment and knowledge to their audiences, wherever they listen.”

The eCommerce giant’s music streaming service had begun offering podcasts about two months earlier. The idea behind the acquisition of Wondery was to expand what Amazon Music offers to include more podcasts as that format was continuing to gain in popularity.