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Audible, the leading provider of premium audio storytelling, and Fresh Produce Media, the audio-first entertainment company, are collaborating with SiriusXM for 20 new episodes of the award-winning politics and national security podcast, In the Room with Peter Bergen. The new episodes come on the heels of a recently launched content cross-share collaboration between Audible and SiriusXM giving subscribers the opportunity to experience both companies’ offerings. In addition to SiriusXM’s roster of widely available podcasts, Audible listeners now have on-demand access to a selection of SiriusXM talk programming across a range of genres, and SiriusXM subscribers can enjoy a selection of bestselling audiobook excerpts across multiple genres.
Available to stream on Audible and the SiriusXM app beginning on Tuesday, August 13, the weekly podcast hosted by Peter Bergen — the renowned national security journalist and best-selling author who rose to prominence when he produced the first-ever television interview with Osama bin Laden several years before 9/11 — will continue to explore the news from a nonpartisan lens in its third season, while also placing particular focus on the national security implications of the upcoming election. Every Tuesday, Bergen uses his extensive network of connections to bring listeners “in the room'' with experts across the fields of policy, foreign affairs, government, cybersecurity, and more. With Bergen as host, each episode is a sound-rich, compelling narrative that helps listeners to unpack the most important and captivating news stories today and to determine, in an increasingly alarmist news landscape, which threats we need to worry about, and which we don’t. New episodes will cover timely topics such as the Democratic National Convention, ensuring the integrity of local elections, why people are drawn to conspiracy theories, and whether international sanctions really make a difference.
Since its launch in 2023, guests on In the Room have included the Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Christine Abizaid; Roger D. Carstens, Biden’s top hostage negotiator at the State Department; Jen Easterly, who leads the Biden administration’s cyber defense efforts; Sean M. Kirkpatrick who headed the Pentagon’s UFO office; Joshua Geltzer, a top advisor in the Biden White House; Admiral William McRaven; and General David Petraeus; former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton; Independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; author of the State Department section of Project 2025, Kiron Skinner, and more. Everything from the Israel-Hamas War to artificial intelligence is explored with a rich narrative storytelling style, featuring multiple guest interviews interwoven together to showcase the full range of their perspectives, as well as rare one-on-one interviews with key experts. Alongside these notable specialists, In the Room also prioritizes the voices of the lesser known, but equally important, “in the room” guests — such as Diane Foley, a mother whose son was held hostage and murdered by ISIS, and Breshna Musazai, a law student who was shot by the Taliban– to piece together deeply reported stories with nothing but the facts.
In just over a year since its debut, In the Room has earned a wide array of accolades, including “Best Conversational Podcast” from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Chi Delta Awards, a winner of the Signal Awards’ “Best Host for a Limited Series,” a finalist for the Shorty Awards’ “Best News and Politics Award,” and a nomination for The Webby Awards’ “News & Politics” category. The program has also been recognized by domestic and international news outlets such as The Guardian, NPR, Rolling Stone, Politico, The Daily Beast, and more. Host Peter Bergen also serves as CNN’s National Security Analyst, and is the author of a New York Times, and Washington Post-praised book about foreign affairs and security during the Trump administration, among many other accolades.
Peter Bergen said, “Beginning this audio reporting journey in 2023 has been one of the absolute highlights of my journalism career. Using this widely accessible and easily digestible medium has allowed for greater audiences to stay informed on the news that matters and we’re incredibly excited to extend that reach with the help of SiriusXM.”
Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist and Executive Producer Alison Craiglow of Fresh Produce Media added: “Peter’s unmatched access to the most influential decision-makers has made In the Room a must-listen, and I couldn’t think of a better host to bring these stories forward. Listeners tell us our show is a refreshing exception in a sea of shouting and sameness, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue helping listeners weigh the importance of the news and understand how it affects our lives and our security.”
As part of the Audible SiriusXM cross-content promotional collaboration, a special two-month extended free trial of Audible Premium Plus is also available to SiriusXM customers, and a special four-month extended free trial of the SiriusXM All Access (App Only) is available to Audible members. Since launching the collaboration, Audible and SiriusXM have released two new, co-produced original podcasts, available exclusively on both services, designed to bring fans closer to their favorite authors and books. “Authorized with Audible” features in-depth interviews with authors about their work, inspirations and backgrounds, with new episodes published monthly. “Audible Editors’ Picks” features conversations with Audible editors sharing their top recommendations during cultural moments and seasonal themes. These shows join “Chapter and Verse,” which has been co-produced by Audible and SiriusXM since 2021 and features notable authors talking about how music inspires the creative process and influences their writing.
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