Two months after taking his third NBA championship, LeBron James' business empire is set to expand as his network's first podcast is set to debut today.
James' company UNINTERRUPTED now owns the "Open Run" podcast hosted by actor and activist Jesse Williams and musician Stefan Marolachakis. After taking a brief hiatus, Open Run returns now on the UNINTERRUPTED network with James as the show's first guest.
UNINTERRUPTED doesn't claim to be journalism, instead aiming to give athletes a platform to discuss issues that transcend the game.
During the latest Open Run podcast, James discusses what it was like to rally from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit to deliver Cleveland its first major sports championship in five decades. He will also talk about his life as a father and his foundation's work in Northeast Ohio.
In 2015, James announced that through the LeBron James Family Foundation, 1,100 college students will receive a free college education.
The UNINTERRUPTED platform gives athletes like James an opportunity to discuss issues important to them.
“Open Run is the natural next step in the growth of the UNINTERRUPTED network because it gives athletes another platform to go even deeper with their stories and address important topics they may have shied away from before,” said UNINTERRUPTED co-founder and CEO Maverick Carter. “This podcast allows athletes and other influential figures to share their voice and have those meaningful conversations while giving fans even greater insight into their lives beyond sports.”
Williams is a former teacher turned actor who is best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on the hit show "Grey's Anatomy." When Williams accepted his BET Humanitarian Award, he made headlines for his impactful speech about race.
"As an actor, activist, sports fan, amateur comedian and wannabe pro athlete, I love talking shop with, and about, some of the most compelling sports figures there are. By creating a fun and safe space for athletes to be themselves, Open Run is a unique opportunity for our world class guests and most importantly, our listeners, to kick back and see things a little differently, and just a little funnier,” said Williams.
Williams is sharing hosting duties of Open Run with his long time friend Marolachakis.
The podcast will be distributed bi-weekly on Wednesdays.
The UNINTERRUPTED Network is partnering with Scripps-owned podcast distributor Midroll on the Open Run podcast.
