School of Humans

What School of Humans does

School of Humans is a privately held, multi-platform production studio founded in 2009 by L.C. Crowley (CEO) and Brandon Barr (CCO), headquartered in Atlanta with a Los Angeles presence. The company operates two divisions: a television production arm that has produced live-action and animated series for Discovery (Dirty Jobs, Six Degrees with Mike Rowe, Stuff You Should Know), Adult Swim, Netflix, Cooking Channel, and FYI; and an audio/podcast division launched in 2018 under a multi-year distribution deal with iHeartMedia, producing narrative non-fiction, true crime, scripted drama, and pop-culture podcasts including Hell and Gone (19M+ downloads), Unreformed (Peabody nominee), and Sisters of the Underground (Eva Longoria, executive producer). The studio's underlying technology is craft-based — character-driven storytelling, cinematic sound design, original music composition, and sophisticated narrative production — rather than platform or SaaS-based, with content delivered through iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and network broadcast partners. School of Humans monetizes through two principal streams: licensing royalties and distribution partnerships on podcasts (driven by advertising and sponsorship inventory on iHeartRadio and other platforms), and professional services / production fees for television and streaming projects commissioned by major networks and talent partners. The company reports no external funding rounds and is founder-controlled, with a small named leadership team including an EVP/COO (Cynthia Hodack), President of Audio (Virginia Prescott, formerly of NPR), and Executive Producer for TV (Ben Franzen). Recent awards across the Peabody, Webby, Signal, and Ambies programs, along with a slate of new podcast launches scheduled into 2026, indicate active commercial momentum within the premium audio and unscripted/scripted television segments.

Name

School of Humans

Legal name

School of Humans

Website

https://schoolofhumans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

School of Humans is an Atlanta-based multi-platform production studio producing award-winning narrative podcasts (distributed via iHeartMedia) and television series (for Discovery, Adult Swim, Netflix, and Cooking Channel) for global audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast and Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM)

Keywords

• Podcast production
• Audio storytelling
• Television production
• Narrative nonfiction
• Documentary series

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Podcast Production Partnership with iHeartMedia: Multi-year distribution deal with iHeartMedia for podcast production. The company produces original podcasts that are distributed through iHeartRadio network and other podcast platforms.
2. Television and Streaming Production: Production of live-action and animated series for television, SVOD, and streaming platforms including Discovery, Adult Swim, Netflix, FYI, and Cooking Channel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

School of Humans is a multi-platform production studio that produces cinematic, character-driven podcasts and television series. The Audio/Podcast division (launched 2018) creates narrative non-fiction, true crime, scripted drama, and historical podcasts distributed through iHeartMedia under a multi-year deal. The Television division produces live-action and animated series for networks including Discovery, Adult Swim, Netflix, FYI, and Cooking Channel. School of Humans sells production services and licenses content to distribution partners rather than selling directly to end consumers.

Product overview

School of Humans is a multi-platform production studio specializing in character-driven, cinematic storytelling. The company operates two main divisions: Audio/Podcast Production and Television Production. Their podcast division (launched in 2018 with Hell and Gone) produces award-winning narrative non-fiction, scripted drama, true crime, and pop culture podcasts distributed through iHeartMedia. Their television division produces live-action and animated series for networks including Discovery, Adult Swim, Netflix, and Cooking Channel. The portfolio includes flagship podcast series like Hell and Gone, Sisters of the Underground, Unreformed, and Tom Slick: Mystery Hunter, as well as TV series like Dirty Jobs, Six Degrees with Mike Rowe, and Stuff You Should Know. Podcasts produced by School of Humans have been downloaded more than 26 million times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hell and Gone Flagship true crime podcast from iHeartRadio and School of Humans following journalist and private investigator Catherine Townsend as she investigates unsolved deaths.
• Sisters of the Underground 8-episode scripted series executive produced by Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez, telling the true story of the Mirabal sisters who helped topple dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.
• Unreformed Investigative podcast by host Josie Duffy Rice examining the history of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children, a reform school that derailed the lives of thousands of Black children.
• Afterlives Podcast series celebrating the lives of trans people lost and the ways their stories have reshaped the world, beginning with Layleen Polanco and later featuring Marsha P. Johnson.
• Queer Chronicles Podcast empowering LGBTQ+ folks to document their personal lives and experiences in their own words, with premiere season featuring teenagers sharing perspectives on growing up queer and trans.
• Tom Slick: Mystery Hunter Scripted podcast starring Owen Wilson, Sissy Spacek, and Schuyler Fisk, telling the story of legendary man Tom Slick's 1958 hunt for the Yeti through hidden tapes found by his granddaughter.
• Heist Club Podcast uncovering details behind some of the most audacious robberies of all time, including bank heists, art heists, and diamond heists.
• Cold Case Files: Miami True crime podcast following Enrique Santos and Miami's Cold Case Homicide Unit investigating unsolved homicides.
• What Happened in Nashville Investigative podcast examining the collapse of a Tennessee fertility clinic and the patients affected, exposing cracks in the fertility industry.
• Big Brother Investigative narrative podcast examining the assassination of Kim Jong-nam and North Korean political intrigue.
• Founding Son: John Quincy's America Narrative non-fiction podcast hosted by Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers, telling the story of John Quincy Adams's post-presidency with voice acting by Patrick Warburton and Nick Offerman.
• Rumble Podcast examining the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle fight and Zaire'74 music festival, exploring Muhammad Ali's legacy and Black Excellence.
• Out of the Shadows Podcast examining the ripple effects of the 1986 immigration bill on first-generation kids of immigrants, hosted by Erick Galindo and Patty Rodriguez.
• American Filth Weekly podcast diving into the filthier side of American history, uncovering people excluded from history books for being unconventional or provocative.
• Sanctum Unmasked Narrative non-fiction podcast exploring the hidden world of elite sex clubs through the story of SNCTM founder Damon Lawner, hosted by Karley Sciortino.
• Dirty Jobs Television series on Discovery Channel featuring Mike Rowe showcasing people who perform difficult and unconventional work.
• Six Degrees with Mike Rowe Discovery Channel series where Mike Rowe and Chuck search for answers proving how everything in the world is connected.
• Stuff You Should Know Scripted TV series on Discovery adapting the popular podcast into mockumentary-style plots featuring scientific facts and fictional adventures.
• Daytime Fighting League Television series on Adult Swim giving everyday people a chance to compete in wrestling matches with bizarre challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26+ million podcast downloads
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• iHeartMediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Multi-year distribution deal with iHeartMedia for podcast production and distribution. School of Humans launched its audio division in 2018 with iHeartRadio and has since produced multiple hit podcasts under this partnership including Hell and Gone.
• Eva Longoria's UnbeliEVAble EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eva Longoria's production company for podcast development. Eva Longoria serves as Executive Producer on Sisters of the Underground.
• My Cultura NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with My Cultura network for podcast development and distribution.
• Outspoken NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Outspoken network for podcast development.
• Curiosity StreamsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform partnership for content distribution.
• Discovery ChannelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTV production partner for shows including Dirty Jobs, Six Degrees with Mike Rowe, and Stuff You Should Know.
• Adult SwimcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnimated series production partner including Squidbillies and Fishcenter content.
• NetflixsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming content production partner.
• Cooking ChannelsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood-related series production partner including Offbeat Eats.
• FYI NetworksecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTV production partner for various series.
• CAA (Creative Artists Agency)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresentation by CAA agents Adam Nettler, Josh Lindgren, and Ines Maza for business development and talent representation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• iHeartPodcasts: In-house podcast production and distribution arm of iHeartMedia and School of Humans' primary distribution partner. Also a producer of premium originals, making it both a partner and a partial competitor for talent and ad budgets.
• Crooked Media: Independent podcast studio (Pod Save America) producing narrative, political, and cultural podcasts with high-profile talent. Comparable as a creator-led indie podcast studio with strong distribution relationships.
• Cadence13: Podcast production and distribution company (Audacy) that produces and monetizes premium shows including narrative and interview formats. Operates in the same production-for-distribution model as School of Humans' iHeart deal.
• Wondery: Podcasting studio owned by Amazon that produces high-quality narrative, true crime, and investigative podcasts. Closest direct competitor to School of Humans in the premium narrative podcast category and a likely peer reference for any acquirer of the company.
• Audioboom: Podcast production and hosting platform that produces and distributes true crime, investigative, and narrative podcasts. Comparable in operational scope and target genre.
• Gimlet Media: Narrative podcast studio (acquired by Spotify) known for scripted drama, investigative, and tech/culture shows. Closely comparable production model and target audience to School of Humans' audio division.
• Pineapple Street Studios: Award-winning podcast production studio (acquired by Audacy) producing celebrity-driven narrative non-fiction and investigative podcasts. Direct genre and platform overlap with School of Humans' slate.
• Pushkin Industries: Premium podcast production company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, focused on narrative non-fiction, history, and investigative audio. Comparable in scale, genre focus, and tier-1 talent partnerships to School of Humans.
• NPR / WNYC Studios: Public-broadcasting podcast production operations producing narrative journalism, investigative, and cultural shows. Comparable in audio storytelling craft and award pedigree (School of Humans' President of Audio came from NPR's On Point and Here and Now).

Emerging players

• Luminary: Premium subscription podcast platform producing select original narrative shows. Related as a peer in the high-end narrative podcast space, though it competes on a different monetization model (subscription vs ad-supported).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/heistclubpod
• TikToktiktok.com/@heistclubpod
• Xx.com/schoolofhumans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school-of-humans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 School of Humans