Blaze Media Partners with Whitlock, Expands to Nashville

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Blaze Media

Blaze Media has announced partnership with former Kansas City Star columnist and ESPN & FOX Sports personality Jason Whitlock, with plans to expand the company's footprint to Nashville. Whitlock and the company will launch an hour-long daily podcast on July 6 called "Fearless with Jason Whitlock," from a newly acquired and renovated Nashville studio. In addition, Whitlock will partner with Blaze on a writing vertical, "Fearless," that will explore the intersection of sports, culture, faith and race. Whitlock will serve as founder and editor-in-chief of the vertical that will live on TheBlaze.com.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to be partnering with Jason Whitlock on this exciting new project," said Blaze Media CEO Tyler Cardon. "Jason is authentic, entertaining, and fearless, all of which make him a perfect fit for the Blaze Media brand. He also has great vision and an extraordinary ability to cut through the noise. We're also excited to be broadening our programming to include a daily show about sports and culture, and to be able to chart that territory with a singular talent like Jason is an honor."

"Blaze Media shares my values -- love of God and country, laughter and a belief that nothing is more liberating than a fearless pursuit of truth," added Whitlock. "Blaze is the perfect launching pad for what I want to accomplish in the media space. Fearless will aspire to be a beacon of truth and fun, two things sorely missing in the America that Nike, China, and LeBron James are plotting."

James Dodds, Whitlock's longtime radio and TV sidekick, will reprise his role as "Uncle Jimmy" on "Fearless with Jason Whitlock" and on a second 30-minute podcast built around their friendship. Dodds worked with Whitlock throughout his radio career in Kansas City and during Whitlock's stint hosting the television show "Speak for Yourself" on FOX Sports 1.

Cardon also announced that Shannon Ferbrache, a former executive at Adidas and Under Armour, has been hired as general manager of the Nashville studio facility. Ferbrache will oversee management of the 4,000-square-foot facility and production of the shows created in the building. Ferbrache will work with Whitlock on the Fearless project.

In 2020, when Ferbrache served as vice president of football at Adidas, he and Whitlock collaborated on a 30-minute Super Bowl TV special, "Speak for Yourself Loves Football," that examined rapper Luther Campbell's influential youth football program in Liberty City, Florida.

"We're thrilled to have Shannon lead the Nashville team," said Cardon. "He's a natural leader with infectious energy and enthusiasm. It became clear early in the process that he's a great culture fit for the company and an excellent complement to Jason. We're excited to get started."