Report: Amazon Restructures Wondery, Cuts 110 Jobs

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 4, 2025 | 5:06pm CT

Wondery

Amazon is dismantling parts of its Wondery podcast operation in a major shake-up of its audio business, resulting in the loss of approximately 110 jobs and the departure of Wondery CEO Jen Sargent. The changes, outlined in an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News, will see Wondery's operations absorbed into other Amazon audio units.

Existing Wondery programs will either move under Audible, Amazon's audiobook and podcast division, or become part of a newly formed "creator services" team. This team will focus on personality-driven shows like the Kelce brothers' podcast and will maintain the Wondery brand on select productions.

The restructuring reflects Amazon's admission that its aggressive foray into podcasting has fallen short of expectations. The company had previously made high-profile talent deals in an attempt to compete with Spotify and YouTube, but the industry's pivot toward video has prompted a new approach.

"The podcast landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years," wrote Steve Boom, Amazon's VP of audio, Twitch, and games, in the staff memo. "The rise of video has also blurred the lines on what it means to be a podcast creator."

As part of the overhaul, Wondery's studio -- known for narrative-driven series like Dr. Death -- will be integrated into Audible. Chief Content Officer Marshall Lewy will join Audible in a new role. Meanwhile, major shows featuring prominent hosts, such as Dax Shepard, will be aligned with the creator services team, which will handle sponsorship sales and cross-platform integrations. This mirrors Amazon's recent work with LeBron James, who co-hosts Mind the Game and has served as a Prime Day spokesperson.

The Wondery advertising and sponsorship team will now support both Amazon Music and the creator-led programming slate. The Wondery subscription app will remain available for now, according to a source familiar with the matter.

"These changes will not only better align our teams as they work to take advantage of the strategic opportunities ahead but, even more crucially, will ensure we have the right structure in place to deliver the very best experience to creators, customers, and advertisers," Boom wrote.