Charlamagne Tha God, the Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartRadio will celebrate the third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival this weekend at Pullman Yards. The festival highlights, uplifts and amplifies Black voices in the podcast industry.
Charlamagne Tha God and Dollie S. Bishop, President of Production and Creative Development, discuss what to expect at this year’s festival.
This marks the third year in a row for the Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta. Why has Atlanta remained the home base, and what does the city bring to the experience?
Dollie: Atlanta is a cultural hub with a rich history of Black creativity and entrepreneurship. It’s the perfect place for the Black Effect to hold our festival. We have so many voices here—on the platform and in the audience—that really connect with each other.
Charlamagne: Atlanta brings an energy that’s unmatched. It’s home for us. We’re especially excited this year because we’ve added two new Atlanta-based podcasts to the Black Effect lineup. The city continues to be a breeding ground for unique, authentic voices.
In today’s media landscape, where it can sometimes feel like certain voices are being silenced, how do you ensure truth and integrity remain central to what you’re doing with the Black Effect and the festival?
Charlamagne: Honestly, telling the truth has nothing to do with who’s in office. You’re either committed to speaking truth to power, or you’re not. For us, it’s about choosing to work with people whose voices we believe in—either because we’re fans of what they do or what they represent. Once they’re on our platform, whether it’s an established podcast or one we’ve helped launch, we trust that their integrity and authenticity will come through. That’s what resonates with our audience.
Let’s talk about Atlanta’s presence in the national podcasting space. Some platforms have questioned the city’s visibility in media—what’s your take on that?
Charlamagne: Atlanta’s podcast scene is booming—no question. Sure, during the height of Atlanta’s dominance in hip-hop, there wasn’t a lot of local media covering it, which may have contributed to that narrative. But now? You’ve got Big Facts, 85 South Show, Pour Minds, Baller Alert, T.I.’s Expeditiously, Jeezy’s podcast—we could go on. Atlanta has a deep bench of podcast talent that’s reshaping the culture in real time.
What impact do you hope the festival has on the next generation, especially with Atlanta’s proximity to HBCUs like Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta?
Dollie: We think about that a lot. Our audience isn’t just there to be entertained—they’re creators, writers, podcasters, students of life. We program everything with them in mind. This festival isn’t just about watching your favorite podcast live. It’s about leaving with something tangible—whether that’s inspiration, knowledge, or a new connection. Charlamagne’s original vision for the Black Effect and the festival was to amplify Black voices and provide access to tools and opportunities. That’s still our mission.
Finally, what’s the biggest takeaway you want people to have from attending the festival?
Dollie: When you walk into that space and see thousands of people brought together by podcasting—it’s powerful. Podcasting is still a young medium, not even 15 years old, but we’ve already reached a point where we can build entire festivals around it.
Charlamagne: Whether you’re a listener, a creator, or someone curious about the business, this festival is for you. It’s where entertainment meets purpose, and where inspiration becomes action.
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