CNN Audio launches new narrative podcast series ‘The Account from CNN’

CNN Audio announced today the launch of its latest podcast offering, “The Account from CNN.”  The Account is CNN’s new home for powerful, narrative-driven audio storytelling.  The series will be made up of multi-episode seasons featuring in-depth reporting from the network’s unparalleled roster of global journalists as they immerse listeners in dynamic news stories.  

“We are launching The Account as a home for audio-first storytelling built specifically for listeners, not just adapted for them,” said CNN Audio Executive Producer Steve Lickteig. “This narrative style gives our journalists the space to comprehensively capture their reporting from multiple angles and points of view, and each series within the feed will showcase a story uniquely suited to our reporters’ expertise — stories best experienced through the depth and intimacy of podcasting.” 

The series’ first season, “Persuadable,” follows CNN Senior Correspondent Donie O’Sullivan as he investigates how and why some individuals are susceptible to modern conspiracy theories.  O’Sullivan has been covering this beat for more than a decade, but now he’s digging into the factors that can lead people directly into webs of misinformation.  In this deeply personal project, O’Sullivan empathetically reflects on his own mental health journey as he considers what people may be seeking out in fringe beliefs.  Through conversations with cult survivors, psychologists, and the families of those embedded in these communities, O’Sullivan leaves listeners with practical takeaways for navigating this slippery world and breaking free from the grip of conspiracy.   

“We are living in what has been described as the ‘golden age’ of conspiracy theories, but we often focus too much on the things people believe rather than why they believe them,” said O’Sullivan. “In ‘Persuadable,’ we wanted to show how anyone is capable of holding irrational beliefs so that when our loved ones find themselves deep in conspiracy theory rabbit holes, we have the tools to help. That started with an open conversation about my own mental health struggles.” 

The first episode of ‘Persuadable’ is available now wherever you listen to podcasts.  The second episode will debut on Wednesday, May 7, with the final episode to follow on Wednesday, May 14.  Details on future seasons of The Account will be released in the coming weeks.  

CNN Audio is the exclusive producer of audio content and podcasts for CNN Worldwide including “All There Is with Anderson Cooper,”  “Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta,”  “The Assignment with Audie Cornish,”  “Terms of Service with Clare Duffy,”  “CNN 5 Things,”  “CNN 5 Good Things,”  “CNN One Thing,”  “Chance Encounters”  and more.  Listen to all CNN Audio content at www.cnn.com/audio. 

About CNN Worldwide:

CNN Worldwide is the most honored brand in cable news, reaching more individuals through television, streaming and online than any other cable news organization in the United States. Globally, people across the world can watch CNN International, which is widely distributed in over 200 countries and territories. CNN Digital is the #1 online news destination, with more unique visitors than any other news source. Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform, features CNN Max, a 24/7 streaming news offering available to subscribers alongside expanded access to News content and CNN Originals. CNN’s award-winning portfolio includes non-scripted programming from CNN Original Series and CNN Films for broadcast, streaming and distribution across multiple platforms. CNN programming can be found on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español channels, via CNN Max and the CNN Originals hub on discovery+ and via pay TV subscription on CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms. Additionally, CNN Newsource is the world’s most extensively utilized news service partnering with over 1,000 local and international news organizations around the world. CNN is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.

About Warner Bros. Discovery:

Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.