Bubbler, iHeartMedia Launch LGBTQ-Focused Marketing Podcast. | Story

Bubbler Media and iHeartPodcasts are expanding their growing lineup of marketing-focused audio programming with the launch of “gay-i,” a new podcast that examines marketing, media and culture through an LGBTQ+ perspective.

The series premieres today (June 15) and is co-hosted by Gayle Troberman, co-founder of Bubbler Media and former Chief Marketing Officer of iHeartMedia, alongside Daryl Lee, Global Chairman of McCann.

The podcast aims to explore how LGBTQ+ voices, trends and cultural movements influence broader conversations in advertising, entertainment and consumer behavior. Each episode will feature marketers, creators, executives and cultural leaders discussing the campaigns, fandoms and cultural moments shaping audiences and brand strategies.

“Marketing is ultimately about understanding people and connecting through culture,” Troberman says. “The LGBTQ+ community has always had a knack for spotting what’s next and shaping the conversations, trends and creative ideas that move culture forward.”

Troberman was Chief Marketing Officer at iHeartMedia for a decade before transitioning to a senior advisor role in 2024.

The debut of “gay-i” focuses on HBO’s “Heated Rivalry,” a gay hockey romance that has become an unexpected cultural phenomenon. The discussion examines what the show’s popularity says about changing attitudes toward LGBTQ+ representation in sports and entertainment, and how brands are responding to those shifts.

Guests on the first episode include NHL Chief Marketing Officer Heidi Browning, who discusses the show’s impact on hockey audiences, and McCann Chief Entertainment Officer Brendan Gaul, who explores the growing mainstream appeal of stories that previously occupied niche audiences.

“In a time of fear and caution, ‘Heated Rivalry’ came along to shake us up and remind us that the stories of gay culture are also stories of universal human struggles — for achievement, for acceptance and for love,” Lee says. “The wild success of this gay romance and its effect on brands in the NHL is a reminder of the power of the LGBTQ+ community in generating excitement, conversation and sales.”

The podcast is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available through the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms.

The launch of “gay-i,” adds to a broader partnership between Bubbler Media and iHeartPodcasts focused on business and marketing content. Other shows in the slate include “So, Get This,” hosted by The Harris Poll’s John Gerzema and Libby Rodney; “Unbossing” with Rishad Tobaccowala and Drew Ianni; and “Market Says?” hosted by Marcus Collins and students from the University of Michigan.