Hosted by Pete Buttigieg, the original 20-episode podcast tackles today’s most important political issues and how the next 10 years will confront our country’s greatest challenges

NEW YORK – September 2, 2020 – iHeartRadio, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, and Pete Buttigieg announced today the launch of “The Deciding Decade with Pete Buttigieg,” an original 20-episode podcast series on the issues and choices that will define America’s next chapter. Hosted by the former presidential candidate and Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, episodes for the new podcast will be released weekly each Wednesday beginning September 9. Listeners can hear the official audio trailer now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

This year has opened with chaos: a global pandemic, accelerating climate change, and national and global anguish over racial and economic inequality. However, Pete Buttigieg—the first openly gay presidential candidate to win the Iowa Caucuses, former mayor, Harvard graduate and Afghanistan War veteran—believes this moment holds the potential of leading to a new and much better chapter. On “The Deciding Decade,” Pete is joined by leading activists, politicians, authors, scholars, entertainers and more to discuss and confront America’s greatest challenges and the key to unlocking the potential of the next decade. 

“The choices we make in the months and years ahead will define America for decades to come. I’m eager to have honest, intimate conversations about the challenges facing us and the ways we can respond with so many individuals I admire,” said former Mayor Pete Buttigieg. “I’m thrilled to join the impressive and diverse voices that make up the iHeartPodcast Network.”

On the premiere episode of the “The Deciding Decade,” Buttigieg speaks with former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara about his life and work as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the dangerous long-term impact of the Trump Administration's politicization of the Justice Department, and what justice can and should look like in a post-Trump era.

Additional episodes will feature conversations and interviews that pave the way for enduring and positive change, including dialogue from influential leaders such as Congresswoman Barbara Lee; New York Times bestselling author Glennon Doyle; economist and racial disparity expert Professor Darrick Hamilton; Award-winning actor and activist Billy Porter; Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and many more. This singular podcast engages voices of all ages, races and creeds about the work they are doing to shape this era.

“Pete created a groundswell of excitement during his presidential campaign run, and he is one of the most admirable and energetic young leaders of our time,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodast Network. “We’re excited to bring Pete’s sharp intellect and remarkable eloquence to The iHeartPodcast Network.” 

“The Deciding Decade with Pete Buttigieg” will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 225 million downloads each month. iHeartRadio Original Podcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between – making iHeartRadio the largest publisher of podcast content in the world.

About Pete Buttigieg 

Pete Buttigieg served as two-term mayor of South Bend, Indiana and was a Democratic candidate for president of the United States in 2020. A graduate of Harvard University and an Oxford Rhodes Scholar, Buttigieg enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and became a lieutenant when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014. In April 2019 he announced his candidacy for president and in February 2020 won the Iowa Caucuses, becoming the first openly gay person to ever win a presidential primary or caucus.