THE PEABODY AWARDS AND CENTER FOR MEDIA & SOCIAL IMPACT DEBUT SEASON THREE OF “WE DISRUPT THIS BROADCAST,” FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH JOHN WELLS, QUESTLOVE, KARISSA VALENCIA AND JOEY CLIFT AMONG OTHERS.
Signal Award-winning podcast focusing on storytelling that reflects the social issues and emerging voices of our day, returns January 22.
Listen to the first episode of season 3 and previous season episodes HERE
ATHENS, GA (January 22, 2026) – Award-winning, prolific producer John Wells; musician, filmmaker, and activist Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson; and writers/producers Karissa Valencia and Joey Clift, of the hit Netflix series “Spirit Rangers,” are among the guests on the third season of the award-winning “We Disrupt This Broadcast” podcast co-directed by The Peabody Awards and the Center for Media & Social Impact, distributed by public media organization PRX. The podcast is available free on-demand across all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart, and Overcast.
“We Disrupt This Broadcast” focuses on industry disruption through some of today’s most powerful and compelling television narratives from critically-acclaimed creatives, shows that are re-imagining the world and tackling the big issues that move us forward. The podcast is hosted by Gabe González (comedian, writer, and actor) with contributions from Caty Borum (executive director of the Center for Media & Social Impact), and Jeffrey Jones (executive director of The Peabody Awards).
In the season three premiere of “We Disrupt This Broadcast,” Jones sits down for a conversation with Questlove, the 2025 recipient of the Peabody Trailblazer Award. As the co-founder and drummer of The Roots, he revolutionized hip-hop by introducing live instrumentation and blending genres, helping shape the Neo-Soul movement. He’s also become a cultural curator and historian through his Academy Award- and Peabody-winning documentary “Summer of Soul,” as well as “Sly Lives!,” a documentary on the musician Sly Stone. Questlove also produced a documentary of musical performances on “Saturday Night Live,” titled “Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music.”
“In season three, we continue to create space for thoughtful, in-depth conversations with artists and creators whose work is redefining entertainment and reflecting the cultural moments we’re living through,” said Jones, executive director of Peabody and co-EP of the podcast.
“Entertainment culture shapes who we are on a daily basis. We welcome our listeners into intimate conversations with these amazing artists and experts who help us understand why it matters,” said Borum, executive director of the Center for Media & Social Impact and co-EP of the podcast.
González is a Puerto Rican comedian, writer, and actor who can be seen in Season 4 of “The Last OG,” the HBO Latino documentary “Habla y Vota,” and Audible’s “The Comedians.” He was featured in Brooklyn Magazine’s “30 Under 30” in 2017, Time Out New York’s ‘Comedians of Color You Should Know’ in 2018, and his pilot “Los Blancos” was a winner at the Yes, And…Laughter Lab in 2019. His satirical sketch “Bootlickers” was an official selection at the LA Comedy Film Festival and Atlanta Comedy Festival in 2022. That same year he penned the Spanish-language short “Alma” for Imagine Entertainment.
Borum is an award-winning media producer, book author, professor, and engaged scholar working at the intersection of entertainment storytelling and social good. She serves as Executive Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), a creative innovation lab and research center housed at American University’s School of Communication that produces, showcases, and studies media and social change, including comedy. She is also Professor in the School of Communication.
Jones is the Executive Director of the George Foster Peabody Awards at the University of Georgia, and Lambdin Kay Chair for the Peabodys in the Department of Entertainment & Media Studies.
ABOUT THE PEABODY AWARDS
For more than 85 years, The Peabody Awards has celebrated and honored stories that defend public interest, encourage empathy and expand our understanding of the world. Respected for its integrity and revered for its standards of excellence, the Peabody is an honor like no other for television, podcast/radio, and immersive and interactive media. Chosen each year by a diverse Board of Jurors through unanimous vote, Peabody Awards are given in the categories of entertainment, documentary, news, podcast/radio, arts, children’s and youth, and public service programming. The annual Peabody winners are a collection of stories that powerfully reflect the pressing social issues and the vibrant emerging voices of our day. From major productions to local journalism, the Peabody Awards shine a light on the Stories That Matter and are a testament to the power of art and reportage in the push for truth, social justice, and equity. The Peabody Awards were founded in 1940 at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia and remain there today. For more information, visit peabodyawards.com to sign up for our newsletter.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR MEDIA & SOCIAL IMPACT (CMSI)
The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), based at American University’s School of Communication, is a creative innovation lab and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media and storytelling for human rights, social good, and civic participation. Focusing on three core themes—Documentary & Independent Media, Participatory & Civic Media, and Entertainment & Popular Culture—the Center bridges boundaries between scholars, producers and communication practitioners across media industries, social justice, public policy, and public engagement. CMSI produces resources for the field and academic research; creates original media; convenes conferences and events; and works collaboratively to understand and design media that matter. For more information and to sign up for the CMSI newsletter, visit cmsimpact.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael Donkis
Aloft Strategic Communications
E-mail: mdonkis@aloftpr.com
Cell: 310-387-0220
Rebecca Taylor
Aloft Strategic Communications
E-mail: rtaylor@aloftpr.com
Cell: 310-447-4831