Premium audio subscription service Howl today launched the podcast "Fruit," an audio drama from Issa Rae – her first foray into audio after building a successful career across digital and social media platforms.
Conceived and written by Rae and executive produced by Benoni Tagoe and Deniese Davis, "Fruit" presents listeners with the first-person, fictional story of a man known only as X – a professional football player who recounts his journey of self-discovery and sexual exploration both on and off the field, including his relationships with his friends, teammates and family as they impose their own perceptions of his role in an alpha male-dominated industry. Amidst questioning for a larger league-related scandal, X must ultimately decide how he wants his story to be told – for himself and for others like him.
"I am extremely proud to be releasing ‘Fruit’ with Howl. This is a very honest, very intimate and very human story," said Rae. "I want listeners to get pulled in and to relate to the journey of the main character."
"Issa Rae is an enormously talented writer and storyteller," said Chris Bannon, chief content officer for Midroll Media and Howl. "Her decision to enter podcasting with ‘Fruit’ demonstrates that this industry is maturing rapidly and attracting outstanding entertainers and creators who might not have given it a try a year ago.’
"Fruit" will be released on Wednesdays in 10 weekly chapters. It is available exclusively on the Howl premium service, available through a mobile app for iOS and Android and online at howl.fm. New subscribers are invited to try a free month of Howl by using the promo code FRUIT online.
The first episode of "Fruit" is also available for free download or streaming in the iTunes feed of "Earwolf Presents." The feed can be found in the native Podcasts app on iOS devices or in iTunes on desktop computers.
Preview below:
