iHeartPodcasts Debuts “The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs,” A New Daily Puzzle Podcast Featuring A Lineup Of Celebrity Guests

Listen to the first episode now, HERE

NEW YORK – October 3, 2023 – iHeartPodcasts and Neuhaus Ideas today debut the first episode of “The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs.” “The Puzzler” is a unique and fun entrant onto the podcast scene: A short-form daily show that will feature the New York Times bestselling author A.J. Jacobs attempting to stump celebrity guests with all-new, audio-friendly puzzles involving wordplay, riddles and trivia. Puzzle fans can listen now every weekday on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

An early guest list for the show includes: “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings, humorist and CBS correspondent Mo Rocca, comedians Roy Wood, Jr. and Michael Ian Black, ESPN’s Mina Kimes, musician Lisa Loeb, and “Stuff You Should Know” podcast host Chuck Bryant. 

The episodes, which are less than 10 minutes each, will showcase playful new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask ChatGPT” and audio rebuses.

Host A.J. Jacobs is the author of “The Year of Living Biblically” and “Know-It-All,” as well as his recent book “The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life,” which the New York Times called “a romp… both fun and funny.”

“We are living in the golden age for puzzles and now you can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears,” said Jacobs. “This podcast is for anyone who is curious and who wants to give their brain a treat.” 

“As a long-time fan of A.J. Jacobs and his unique brand of hilariously brainy entertainment, I’m thrilled to partner with him and his team to bring ‘The Puzzler’ into the world,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts.

Joining Jacobs frequently on the show will be Chief Puzzle Officer Greg Pliska, a world-renowned puzzle creator whose work has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR, and who collaborated with Jacobs on the book “The Puzzler.”

The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Executive producers include Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas; Jody Avirgan of Roulette Productions; and Lindsay Hoffman for iHeartPodcasts.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Include the podcast audio player directly into your article or website using the embed player code below:

<iframe allow="autoplay" width="100%" height="300" src="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-puzzler-114688861/?embed=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Download the host’s headshot HERE.

About Neuhaus Ideas

Neuhaus Ideas was founded by longtime creative producer and development executive Adam Neuhaus. Neuhaus recently served seven years as Senior Director of Development for ESPN Films, where he led creative development for 30for30, 30for30 Podcasts, and original series for ESPN+. Over his career, Neuhaus has created and developed original content and formats for a wide range of mediums and platforms and is known for his ability to create wholly original ideas with best-in-class creatives. Working alongside Neuhaus on The Puzzler is executive producer Neely Lohmann. Lohmann spent nine years as an editorial executive at ESPN, where she helped oversee longform journalism for brands including E:60, ESPN Digital, ESPN The Magazine, and The Body Issue. Prior to ESPN, Lohmann served as Editor-in-Chief of Mental Floss magazine, where she first collaborated with A.J. Jacobs on his Know-It-All column. 

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company’s live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry’s largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the company’s fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 500 platforms and 2,000 devices; the company’s digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The company’s Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nation’s largest media representation company, and RCS, the world's leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.