Throughout the season of HBO’s award-winning show Succession, host Kara Swisher breaks down the show’s complex plot, dissects character arcs and speaks with directors about the decisions behind creating this TV show. We wanted listeners to use this podcast as a way to learn more about the plot, the complex characters, and how the show relates to the real world.
Kara is an expert interviewer and had several of the main actors on the podcast to unpack the character they played. She also had the Succession directors on the podcast to speak to important topics like why this season had to be the last season of the show.
Succession gripped pop culture while it was in season, and this podcast proved to be another outlet for fans to enjoy the content and get to know the actors in a deeper way. This podcast also helped relate the show’s fictional problems to real world issues, giving listeners even more context. We wanted to keep all types of listeners engaged as the show aired in hopes of creating a stronger connection to the audience by giving them another medium to consume Succession content.
Over 11 episodes, Kara had access to subject matter experts, the writers of the show, and cast members like Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, and Brian Cox who brought their characters to life. As Succession conquered the cultural zeitgeist, listeners quickly turned to the official podcast for more in-depth coverage. Kara’s access to the cast and crew provided fans an even deeper understanding of the show. Each podcast episode was released right after the episode aired on Max, so fans could immediately come to the podcast to learn more about the episode they just watched on TV.
The podcast saw immense success across a variety of platforms. The show consistently charted on Apple and Spotify’s Top US Charts, peaking at #1, and remaining in the top 50 podcasts for a majority of the season.
This podcast won Ad Week’s Podcast of the Year in 2023, and was also featured across different podcast platforms. The show garnered press hits across several major media outlets including Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Time, Hollywood Reporter and Today. Most importantly, the podcast enhanced the relationship viewers had with the show -- keeping them engaged long after the credits had rolled.
