Heritage Radio Network

What Heritage Radio Network does

Heritage Radio Network (HRN) is a listener-supported nonprofit podcast network founded in 2009 by Heritage Foods founder Patrick Martins, in collaboration with Roberta's Pizza in Brooklyn, where the original studio was built from two recycled shipping containers. The organization operates the world's largest and most diverse collection of food and drink podcasts, hosting more than 40 active shows organized into three content categories: Food Culture + Systems (culinary history, sustainability, global food systems), Food Industry + Business (craft beer, cocktails, wine, cheese, pizza, restaurant operations), and Food News + Trends (cookbook journalism, culinary trends). Flagship series include Beer Sessions Radio (750+ episodes since 2010), The Speakeasy, A Taste of the Past, Cutting the Curd, and Pizza Quest, with programming distributed globally through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and HRN's own website.

The underlying technology stack is a conventional podcast production and distribution platform, with content hosted and monetized via Art19, audience analytics provided by Amplitude, and payment infrastructure referenced through a Square partnership. HRN monetizes through two primary streams: recurring listener donations and membership support, and brand sponsorships with food and beverage companies (Wisconsin Cheese, Westholme Wagyu, Plugra, Hearst Ranch, Central Milling, TD Bank, Square, Bord Bia, Visit Ithaca), foundations (Julia Child Foundation, Farm Aid), and trade organizations (The Food Institute). The customer base is split between a long tail of food-enthusiast listeners and mission-aligned brand/institutional partners.

The business model is community-led rather than venture-backed, with no disclosed funding rounds or parent company. Recent strategic activity has emphasized partnership-driven content expansion (e.g., Grocery Nerds with The Food Institute, Against the Grain with Farm Aid, Knead To Know with Bold Baking Network) alongside organic show launches. The January 2026 departure of The Wine List podcast, after nine years on the network, illustrates that host relationships are arms-length rather than employee- or subsidiary-based. The organization operates with 1-10 employees from Brooklyn, NY, and serves audiences primarily in North America with some UK/European reach.

Name

Heritage Radio Network

Legal name

Heritage Radio Network

Website

https://heritageradionetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heritage Radio Network is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit podcast network founded in 2009 that operates 40+ food and beverage podcasts serving food enthusiasts, culinary professionals, and food-industry brand partners through listener donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Network

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Podcast Hosting Platforms (RSS, Analytics, Distribution) (MPACADAA)

Keywords

• Food podcast network
• Culinary audio programming
• Nonprofit media broadcasting
• Beverage content production
• Food culture storytelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Listener Support and Membership: HRN is described as a 'listener supported nonprofit podcast network' that relies on listener donations and membership support to sustain operations and produce content.
2. Brand Partnerships and Sponsorship: Partnerships with food and beverage brands (Wisconsin Cheese, Westholme Wagyu, TD Bank, Farm Aid, etc.) likely involve sponsorship and promotional arrangements that support content production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heritage Radio Network is a Brooklyn-based listener-supported nonprofit podcast network that produces and distributes over 40 podcasts dedicated exclusively to food, beverages, and the culinary world. Programming is organized into Food Culture + Systems, Food Industry + Business, and Food News + Trends categories, with flagship shows such as Beer Sessions Radio, The Speakeasy, A Taste of the Past, Cutting the Curd, and Pizza Quest. Content is delivered free of charge through major podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify), the HRN website, and YouTube, sustained by listener donations and brand partnerships.

Product overview

Heritage Radio Network (HRN) is a nonprofit podcast network dedicated to food, beverages, and the culinary world. Founded in 2009 and operating as a listener-supported nonprofit, HRN offers a platform-and-content architecture consisting of over 40 podcasts distributed across multiple channels. The network is organized into three primary content categories: Food Culture + Systems (covering food history, culture, sustainability, and global food systems), Food Industry + Business (covering beer, cocktails, wine, cheese, pizza, and restaurant operations), and Food News + Trends (covering food news, cookbook trends, and culinary journalism). Flagship podcasts include Beer Sessions Radio, The Speakeasy, A Taste of the Past, Cutting the Curd, The Wine List, and Pizza Quest. Content is distributed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and direct website streaming, with shows available for subscription and on-demand listening.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Radio Network Podcast Platform Nonprofit podcast network dedicated to food, beverages, and the culinary world, hosting 40+ podcasts that are freely streamed to listeners on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and the HRN website.
• Beer Sessions Radio Flagship craft beer podcast hosted by Jimmy Carbone since 2010, exploring every aspect of the brewer's craft from grain to pint glass, surpassing 750 episodes by 2025.
• The Speakeasy Beverage-focused podcast hosted by Damon Boelte, Sother Teague, and Greg Benson covering cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, tea, and coffee through expert discussions on mixology, bar history, and distillation.
• A Taste of the Past Culinary history podcast hosted by Linda Pelaccio, exploring food cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to the modern era.
• Cutting the Curd Cheese-focused podcast covering cheesemakers, mongers, and the dairy world, co-hosted by multiple cheese experts.
• Pizza Quest Pizza and artisan bread podcast hosted by Peter Reinhart, celebrating artisanship in pizza making, cheese, olive oil, and food production.
• Japan Eats! Japanese cuisine and food culture podcast hosted by Akiko Katayama, demystifying real Japanese food from sake producers to American chefs.
• Progressive Hedonist with Dana Cowin Food and environmental podcast from former Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin, exploring how food can bring change and fuel community.
• Knead To Know First-ever baking news and entertainment podcast hosted by Chef Gemma Stafford (Bigger Bolder Baking), covering baking news, entertainment, gossip, and online trends, co-produced with Bold Baking Network.
• Jazz Cabbage Cannabis and cuisine podcast hosted by Chala June, exploring the cultural interplay between cannabis and food, wellness, and community.
• Grocery Nerds Grocery industry analysis podcast co-produced with The Food Institute, hosted by former Whole Foods VP Errol Schweizer, providing insider commentary on the U.S. grocery industry.
• Against The Grain – The Farm Aid Podcast Farm Aid podcast hosted by Jessica Ilyse Kurn and Michael Stewart Foley, featuring conversations with farmers, artists, activists, and policymakers building more equitable farm and food systems, produced and distributed through HRN.
• The Build: Ramen by Ra Restaurant entrepreneurship podcast following chef Rasheeda Purdie's journey opening Ramen by Ra in NYC, produced in partnership with Square and covering construction, payroll, POS technology, and hospitality.
• The Wine List Wine-focused podcast spin-off from The Grape Nation, featuring best-in-class wine guests answering five standard questions about wine preferences each episode.
• Inside Julia's Kitchen Podcast created by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, hosted by Todd Schulkin, featuring guests and organizations shaping the way we eat, cook, and think about food.
• Snacky Tunes Music and food culture podcast hosted by DJ Darin Bresnitz, exploring the cultural convergence of music and food with chefs, gastronomic talents, and musicians.
• Roots, Heart, and Soul Afro-cuisine podcast co-hosted by Chef Todd Richards and Stephan Berrouet-Durand, celebrating the heritage of Soul and Southern foods.
• Culture & Flavor Food and culture podcast centered in Black and Indigenous foodways, hosted by Zella Palmer and featuring cultural bearers, chefs, farmers, and scholars.
• Feast + Harmony Culinary crossroads podcast exploring the relationship between food and the arts, entertainment, and tourism industries, hosted by Christine Sykes Lowe.
• Sprung on Food Food history and pop culture podcast hosted by Kae Sprung, exploring iconic dishes, their history, and cultural significance.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Food InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026The Food Institute partnered with Heritage Radio Network to launch 'Grocery Nerds' podcast on both platforms. This collaboration provides no-nonsense grocery industry analysis from former Whole Foods VP Errol Schweizer to audiences of both organizations.
• Farm AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm Aid's 'Against the Grain' podcast is produced and distributed through Heritage Radio Network. The partnership brings Farm Aid's annual festival content to listeners year-round, featuring conversations with farmers, artists, advocates, and policymakers working to build a more just and equitable farm and food system.
• Wisconsin CheeseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership supporting HRN's food and beverage content programming.
• TD BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate brand partnership with HRN.
• The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Julia Child Foundation created 'Inside Julia's Kitchen' podcast in partnership with HRN. The show highlights organizations the Foundation supports and individuals shaping the way we eat, cook, and think about food.
• SquareminorGTM or Marketing Partner'The Build: Ramen by Ra' is produced in partnership with Square, whose tools help small business owners manage payments, payroll, and growth. Square receives promotional integration in the show.
• Westholme WagyuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership supporting HRN's food content programming.
• Visit IthacaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism brand partnership promoting Ithaca, NY as a food and drink destination.
• PlugraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium butter brand partnership with HRN.
• Hearst RanchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustainable beef brand partnership supporting HRN programming.
• Central MillingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtisan flour and grain company partnership with HRN.
• Bord Bia (Irish Food Board)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment food promotion agency partnership promoting Irish food and beverage products.
• Bold Baking NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner'Knead To Know' is co-produced by Bold Baking Network and HRN, combining HRN's podcast platform with Bold Baking Network's baking content expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NPR: National nonprofit radio and podcast network producing news, culture, and food programming (including The Salt). Comparable as a mission-driven, listener-supported audio network with both radio and podcast distribution.
• Wondery: Podcast network and studio owned by Amazon, producing narrative nonfiction and entertainment podcasts at scale. Comparable to HRN as a multi-show podcast network but operates at significantly larger scale and with broader non-vertical focus.
• iHeartPodcasts: Podcast publishing division of iHeartMedia, one of the largest podcast networks in the US. Overlaps with HRN as a multi-show podcast publisher but operates at enterprise scale across many verticals.

Direct peers

• Gimlet Media: Podcast studio and network producing high-quality narrative podcasts, now part of Spotify. Operates as a multi-show podcast network similar to HRN, though focused on narrative/tech content rather than food vertical.
• Maximum Fun: Independent, listener-supported podcast network producing niche-interest shows with a membership model. Highly comparable to HRN's nonprofit, community-supported model and emphasis on host-driven, passion-vertical programming.
• Radiotopia (PRX): Public radio podcast network from PRX featuring independent, creator-driven shows with nonprofit/foundation support. Closest analog to HRN in mission-driven, listener-supported podcast network structure.
• Pushkin Industries: Premium podcast studio and network co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, producing narrative nonfiction audio. Comparable as a venture-backed, premium-quality podcast network with multiple high-profile hosts and shows.
• The Splendid Table: Long-running public radio food program distributed as a podcast, covering food culture, cooking, and culinary conversation. Comparable to HRN as a flagship food-themed audio program with similar listener-supported funding model.
• Crooked Media: Independent podcast network producing culture and politics shows with a host-driven, member-supported model. Comparable to HRN in operating a multi-show network built around distinctive host voices and loyal niche audiences.

Emerging players

• Eater: Digital food media brand covering restaurants, food culture, and culinary news across text, video, and podcasts. Adjacent to HRN as food-vertical media with overlapping audience (food enthusiasts and professionals) and growing podcast offerings.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Heritage_Radio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@heritage_radio
• Facebookfacebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/heritage_radio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heritage Radio Network