iHeartPodcasts Announces “Basketball, Etc.,” a New Weekly Podcast Exploring the Stories, People and Culture Behind the Game

iHeartPodcasts Announces "Basketball, Etc.," a New Weekly Podcast Exploring the Stories, People and Culture Behind the Game

Hosted by basketball journalist Claire de Lune, the new series offers a fresh take on basketball storytelling, with a 30-episode debut season launching October 6

NEW YORK - September 29, 2026 - iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, today announced "Basketball, Etc.," a new weekly podcast hosted by established basketball journalist Claire de Lune. The series will blend long-form narrative storytelling with intimate conversations exploring the characters and cultural moments that make basketball more than a game. Produced by iHeartPodcasts in conjunction with Life Here Is Grand and School of Humans, "Basketball, Etc." will launch October 6 with new episodes on Tuesdays.

Claire de Lune is a Los Angeles-based NBA writer, creator and lifelong musician known for blending informed basketball analysis with sharp wit, pop culture and human-centered storytelling. She currently serves as a national NBA writer for The Guardian, covering the league with a focus on the people and stories behind the game.

"I live and breathe basketball, and consume a ton of content about it," said host and show creator Claire de Lune. "But I was really craving a show that dug into the kind of niche, interesting stories on the fringes of the sport, and did so with a level of nuance and empathy. When I realized that show didn't really exist, I decided to make it myself."

"'Basketball, Etc.' is for people like me, who love basketball, but don't really find that the shouting-match debate shows or extensive breakdowns of player salaries and analytics are resonating with them," continued de Lune. "I fell in love with sports because of the human stories at the center of them. Partnering with iHeartPodcasts gives me an opportunity to bring these stories and this different style of sports coverage to the masses, which I couldn't be more excited for."

The debut season will feature conversations and stories with guests including Flea, Nick Wright, Desus Nice, Kazeem Famuyide and Eve Peyser. Episodes will feature topics exploring the relationship between art, philosophy and the Los Angeles Lakers; LeBron James' defining 23 moments in 23 years; the secret life of NBA mascots; the story of Lenny Cooke (featuring Carmelo Anthony); women's professional basketball in the 1970s; the ups and downs of Knicks fandom; Connie Hawkins and basketball justice; and more.

The first episode, "Meditation & Mindfulness in Basketball," uses a familiar sight on the court as a jumping off point: players pausing and centering themselves before taking a free throw. De Lune will examine how often professional basketball players practice meditation and mindfulness, both intentionally and unintentionally, and uncover surprising connections between these mental practices and performance on the court.

"Basketball, Etc." offers a different take on the game, moving beyond the debate-driven coverage that often dominates sports media to explore the unexpected corners of basketball culture with depth, joy and curiosity," said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. "It's a show for longtime fans and anyone who loves great storytelling, and we're excited to welcome Claire and 'Basketball, Etc.' to the iHeartPodcasts lineup."

"Basketball, Etc." is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard beginning October 6.

About Claire de Lune

Claire de Lune is a Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary NBA creator with a singular voice and unique origin story. A lifelong musician and recording artist by trade who has long had a deep love for basketball, de Lune amassed a large and dedicated social media cult following and achieves regular virality with her signature brand of basketball commentary, which marries passionate and informed analysis, with cutting, sardonic wit, and throws in a healthy dose of memes & pop culture. De Lune currently works as a credentialed national NBA writer for The Guardian, covering the league at large, utilizing her lifetime of songwriting bonafides to tell stories with an emphasis on the human interest side of the sport.

Life Here Is Grand

Life Here is Grand is a production company and publishing imprint founded by NYT bestselling author Raj Haldar and Peter Bauer of NYC art rock band the Walkmen, in partnership with Sourcebooks/Penguin Random House.

About School of Humans

School of Humans is the multi-platform production company behind the television series Dirty Jobs, Six Degrees with Mike Rowe; the The Vampire Lestat After Dark streaming series, and the Trioscope hybrid animation technology (as seen in Netflix's The Liberator). Our podcast partnership with iHeart Media includes the true crime hit Hell and Gone (more than 26 million downloads), the Peabody Award-nominated Unreformed (winner of Ambie, Webby, and SIGNAL Awards); Sisters of The Underground produced in conjunction with Eva Longoria's UnbeliEVAble productions and Tom Slick: Mystery Hunter starring Owen Wilson and Sissy Spacek.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to both Podtrac and Triton, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, has the highest-reach and most engaged influencers, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.