Pushkin Industries
Pushkin Industries is a private New York-based audio production company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, producing premium narrative podcasts and audiobooks distributed through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and its own Pushkin+ subscription, serving general consumers of high-quality audio content.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Pushkin Industries does
Pushkin Industries is a privately held audio production company founded in 2017 by journalist-author Malcolm Gladwell and former Slate Group CEO Jacob Weisberg, headquartered in New York. The company produces and distributes premium narrative podcasts and audiobooks, operating a catalog of more than 50 podcasts (including flagship shows such as Revisionist History, Heavyweight, The Happiness Lab, Against the Rules, Deep Cover, and Broken Record) and a growing audiobook library featuring works by Gladwell, Michael Lewis, Joshua Cohen, and Mary Oliver. Its underlying delivery infrastructure relies on the SupportingCast platform (originally developed by Slate) to distribute audiobooks via RSS-style links that open in users' preferred podcast applications — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocketcasts, Castbox, and others — eliminating the need for a proprietary listening app.
Pushkin monetizes through four primary streams: the Pushkin+ subscription service (recurring monthly access to ad-free versions of 20+ podcasts plus exclusive bonus content), direct-to-consumer audiobook sales on pushkin.fm (processed via Stripe), branded/sponsored content partnerships (e.g., Lexus's sponsorship of Malcolm Gladwell's 'Go and See'), and co-production deals with major media companies such as The History Channel, Higher Ground (Barack Obama's production company), and Audible, where Audible frequently serves as the exclusive initial launch window before wider distribution. The company additionally operates an independent podcast network (Partner Content) that distributes third-party shows such as 'Drilled,' extending its reach beyond owned IP. Most recently, Pushkin has moved into video podcasting with 'Who's With Me?' hosted by W. Kamau Bell and is positioning itself around the America 250 commemorative moment with multi-partner productions including 'Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise' (hosted by Obama and Gladwell) and 'First America' (hosted by Rebecca Nagle).
The company's go-to-market is fundamentally content- and talent-led: the personal brands of its A-list hosts drive top-of-funnel discovery, cross-promotion across the podcast network drives mid-funnel engagement, and the Pushkin+ subscription and direct audiobook e-commerce capture monetization. The company has no disclosed institutional ownership beyond a ~$12.8M cumulative investment from TechNexus Venture Collaborative and acquired Transmitter Media in 2022 to bolster production capacity. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary model technology are disclosed in the input data, and the company's competitive advantage is grounded in its talent roster, content library, and distribution network rather than technology differentiation.
Pushkin Industries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pushkin Industries
- Legal name
- Pushkin Industries, Inc.
- Website
- https://pushkin.fm
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pushkin Industries is a private New York-based audio production company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, producing premium narrative podcasts and audiobooks distributed through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and its own Pushkin+ subscription, serving general consumers of high-quality audio content.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pushkin Industries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcast & Audiobook Production
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Industries (5122), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms (MPAIADAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB), Podcast Production, Editing & Post-Production Services (MPACADAE), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where Pushkin Industries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pushkin Industries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pushkin+ Subscription: Premium subscription service offering ad-free versions of 20+ podcasts plus exclusive bonus episodes and member benefits.
- Direct Audiobook Sales: Direct-to-consumer audiobook purchases through pushkin.fm website, processed via Stripe payment processor.
- Branded/Sponsored Content: Sponsored podcast series produced in partnership with brands (e.g., Lexus sponsorship of 'Go and See' with Malcolm Gladwell).
- Production Partnerships: Co-production deals with major media companies (The History Channel, Higher Ground, Audible, Critical Frequency) for original podcast content.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Pushkin+ subscription offering ad-free premium content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pushkin Industries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pushkin Industries is a podcast and audiobook production company that creates premium narrative audio content featuring high-profile hosts and authors such as Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, and Dr. Laurie Santos. The company produces 50+ podcasts and 40+ audiobooks distributed through its own platform (pushkin.fm), major podcast directories, and the Pushkin+ premium subscription service, with branded content and co-production partnerships as additional revenue streams.
Product overview
Pushkin Industries is a podcast and audiobook production company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include an extensive library of original podcasts (including flagship shows like Revisionist History, Heavyweight, The Happiness Lab, Against the Rules, and Deep Cover) distributed through major podcast platforms, as well as a growing catalog of audiobook titles from notable authors like Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, and Joshua Cohen. Pushkin+ serves as the premium subscription add-on offering ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content, while the Partner Content program enables distribution of third-party podcasts through Pushkin's network. The company distributes content through SupportingCast technology and supports listening via major podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Overcast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Revisionist History Malcolm Gladwell's long-running podcast exploring overlooked or misinterpreted events and ideas throughout history.
- Heavyweight Jonathan Goldstein-hosted podcast that helps people undo unresolvable past moments, bringing closure to life's unfinished business.
- The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Podcast from Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos exploring the science of happiness and mental well-being.
- Broken Record Podcast exploring the intersection of music, culture, and identity through conversations with artists and musicians.
- Against the Rules Michael Lewis-hosted podcast examining what's happened to fairness, featuring episodes on coaching, lending practices, and professional sports.
- Who's With Me? with W. Kamau Bell Weekly video podcast featuring discussions on cultural and political issues with notable guests, promoting empathy and curiosity.
- First America Narrative podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Rebecca Nagle exploring Native American history and contemporary issues.
- Drilled Non-fiction investigative podcast centered on climate change accountability, exposing corporate greed and climate denial.
- Deep Cover Narrative podcast exploring complex stories of undercover operations and hidden identities.
- Fiasco Leon Neyfakh-hosted podcast examining historical events and controversies in granular detail.
- The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook exploring the science behind viral trends in business, marketing, and human behavior.
- Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook exploring how we think without thinking and the art of rapid cognition.
- Outliers Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook examining what sets high achievers apart, from Bill Gates to the Beatles.
- The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine Michael Lewis's audiobook about the men who saw the 2008 financial crisis coming and profited from it.
- Liar's Poker Michael Lewis's classic account of his time at Salomon Brothers during the 1980s bond trading era.
- The Bomber Mafia Malcolm Gladwell's audiobook examining a group of dreamers and idealists who believed precision bombing could end WWII.
- Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State Michael Lewis's audiobook exploring America's epidemic of gun violence and the people working to understand it.
- Pushkin+ Premium subscription service providing ad-free versions of 20+ podcasts from the Pushkin library along with exclusive bonus episodes and other member benefits.
- Partner Content
- Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise Eight-episode podcast series exploring the Reconstruction Era in American history from 1865 to 1877, hosted by Barack Obama and Malcolm Gladwell.
Companies that use Pushkin Industries
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pushkin Industries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature1 record
Pushkin Industries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Critical FrequencycorePushkin Industries partnered with Critical Frequency for the new narrative podcast 'First America' hosted by Rebecca Nagle, launching June 22 as part of the America 250 celebration.
- The History ChannelflagshipThe History Channel partnered with Higher Ground, Pushkin Industries, and Audible to produce 'Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise,' an eight-episode podcast series hosted by Barack Obama and Malcolm Gladwell. Part of HISTORY Honors 250 campaign.
- Higher GroundflagshipBarack Obama's production company (Higher Ground) partnered with Pushkin Industries, The History Channel, and Audible to produce 'Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise' podcast series.
- AudibleflagshipAmazon's audiobook platform serves as exclusive initial launch partner for 'Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise' (June 4 exclusive) before wide release on June 18.
- W. W. Norton & CompanycoreW. W. Norton and Pushkin Industries announced joint publication of Michael Lewis's 'BLOCKERS: Rebels in the Deep State,' with Pushkin producing the audiobook version.
- Rabbit Grin ProductionscoreW. Kamau Bell's production company partnered with Pushkin Industries to launch the video podcast 'Who's With Me?' Bell is actively promoting the show through a tour and newsletter.
- Critical FrequencycorePushkin Industries began distributing Amy Westervelt's 'Drilled' podcast (climate change accountability series) on all podcast channels. Drilled joined the Pushkin independent podcast network.
- LexusminorLexus sponsored the 'Go and See' podcast series hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, exploring Lexus's customer-focused culture and engineering philosophy. A branded content partnership.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pushkin Industries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- iHeartPodcasts: iHeartMedia's podcast division — a top-tier podcast publisher and ad-sales platform with thousands of shows. Comparable to Pushkin's branded-content and sponsorship business; iHeart also handles Pushkin's ad inventory ([email protected]), making it both peer and partner.
- Audible: Amazon's audiobook platform — the dominant audiobook publisher and distributor globally. Audible is both a Pushkin distribution partner (exclusive initial launch for Reconstruction) and a broader incumbent whose subscription model competes with Pushkin+'s premium positioning.
- Stitcher (SiriusXM): SiriusXM-owned podcast platform and network. Operates as a podcast publisher and distribution app similar to Pushkin's structure, with broader scale and integration with satellite radio.
Direct peers
- The Ringer: Spotify-owned podcast network with a portfolio of pop-culture, sports, and narrative shows. Comparable to Pushkin as a multi-show publisher relying on recognizable host talent and cross-promotion across a network of branded podcasts.
- Wondery: Amazon-owned podcast network and production company producing high-profile narrative podcasts and audiobooks (e.g., Dr. Death). Most directly comparable to Pushkin in business model: premium narrative podcast production with celebrity hosts, branded content, and audiobook distribution via Amazon/Audible.
- Gimlet Media: Spotify-owned narrative podcast studio producing premium shows (Reply All, Science Vs, The Pitch). Same core business as Pushkin: high-production-value narrative podcasts distributed via major platforms, with Gimlet operating at a similar scale profile before its Spotify acquisition.
- Earwolf / Scott Aukerman: Comedy and culture podcast network (SiriusXM-owned). Multi-show podcast publisher with comparable indie-network operating model, though with comedy rather than narrative/journalism focus.
- Lemonada Media: Independent podcast network and production company focused on premium narrative and lifestyle shows. Comparable independent-network scale and premium positioning to Pushkin, with similar monetization mix of subscriptions, ads, and licensing.
- Radiotopia (PRX): PRX's podcast network featuring high-production independent narrative and documentary shows. Comparable independent-network model with premium, story-driven content and member-supported funding.
Emerging players
- Higher Ground Productions: Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, which co-produces podcasts (and recently the Reconstruction series with Pushkin). Comparable production-shop business model and a co-developer on Pushkin's most flagship recent project.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pushkin Industries social profiles
Digital presencePushkin Industries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pushkin Industries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pushkin Industries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pushkin Industries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pushkin Industries
What does Pushkin Industries do?
Pushkin Industries is a podcast and audiobook production company that creates premium narrative audio content featuring high-profile hosts and authors such as Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, and Dr. Laurie Santos. The company produces 50+ podcasts and 40+ audiobooks distributed through its own platform (pushkin.fm), major podcast directories, and the Pushkin+ premium subscription service, with branded content and co-production partnerships as additional revenue streams.
Is Pushkin Industries a public or private company?
Pushkin Industries is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pushkin Industries founded?
Pushkin Industries was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pushkin Industries based?
Pushkin Industries is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pushkin Industries make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Pushkin+ Subscription is the primary driver. The others are direct Audiobook Sales, branded/Sponsored Content and production Partnerships.
Who are Pushkin Industries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are iHeartPodcasts, Audible and Stitcher (SiriusXM). Direct peers are The Ringer, Wondery, Gimlet Media, Earwolf / Scott Aukerman, Lemonada Media and Radiotopia (PRX). Higher Ground Productions is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pushkin Industries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pushkin Industries.
What industry is Pushkin Industries in?
Pushkin Industries's product category is Podcast & Audiobook Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIADAI, Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms, with a secondary code of MPACADAB, Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers. Its NAICS code is 5122 and its SIC code is 7812.