iHeartMedia’s Outspoken Podcast Network Debuts New Series “Fighting Words,” Hosted by George M. Johnson

In the new podcast, the celebrated author and advocate will engage in thoughtful discussions with courageous creatives ready to fight back against intolerance, fear and censorship

Special guests include Keith Boykin, Gabrielle Union, Erika Alexander, Angelica Ross and more

Listen Now

LOS ANGELES – February 19, 2025 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced “” a new podcast hosted by critically acclaimed author George M. Johnson on its Outspoken Podcast Network. Fans can hear the first two episodes of “Fighting Words” today, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.

“Fighting Words” is Johnson’s chance to bring listeners into the ring with some of today’s most talented, outspoken, courageous creative people, who are ready, willing and able to use their words to fight back against intolerance, fear, censorship and marginalization. Each week, Johnson will take on the topics others seem afraid to talk about. They will share timeless wisdom and shine a light on new music and some of today’s rising stars. In the first episode, Johnson sits down with journalist and producer Keith Boykin to talk about quitting the White House to write a memoir about being Black and gay, and the ways in which history is repeating itself right before our eyes.

Additional guests will include Gabrielle Union, Erika Alexander, comedian Franchesca Ramsey, actress and transgender rights advocate Angelica Ross, actress Dominique Jackson and others.

“” with George M. Johnson was created by George M. Johnson in conjunction with Best Case Studios, Tea No Shade Productions and iHeartMedia’s Outspoken Podcast Network.

All shows on the Outspoken Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts. The network aims to amplify, elevate and reflect the diversity, richness and humanity of the voices throughout the LGBTQ+ community. See the current Outspoken Podcast Network lineup of shows,

“” is now available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms.

Editor’s Note: Podcast cover art is available for download . Link to George M. Johnson’s headshot HERE. Use the below embed code to include the podcast audio player in your article.

EMBED CODE: <iframe src="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Introducing: Fighting Words with George M Johnson"></iframe>

About George M. Johnson        

George M. Johnson is an award-winning Black Non-Binary writer, author, and executive producer headquartered in the Los Angeles area. They are the author of the New York Times Bestselling Young Adult memoir, All Boys Aren’t Blue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, April 2020), which employs a series of powerful essays to chronicle their growing up as a Black Queer boy in New Jersey.  The book has been optioned by Gabrielle Union’s production company. As a former journalist, Johnson has written for major outlets including Teen Vogue, Entertainment Tonight, NBC, and Buzzfeed. In 2019 he was awarded the Salute to Excellence Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for their article “When Racism Anchors your Health” in Vice Magazine. He was listed on The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2020; the Out 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People in 2021, and in 2022 was honored as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Next Most Influential People in the World. Their second memoir We Are Not Broken (Little Brown, September 2021) received the Carter G. Woodson Award recognizing books that accurately and sensitively depict the experience of one or more historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The book also received the Nonfiction Honor Book in the YA category from the International Literacy Association. In 2021, Johnson wrote and executive produced the Dramatic Reading of All Boys Aren’t Blue starring Jenifer Lewis and Dyllon Burnside which received a 2022 Special Recognition Award from GLAAD. In 2023, they received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Special. George is also a proud HBCU alum twice over, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Johnson is represented by The Gotham Group and the law firms Granderson Des Rochers, LLP and Incite Law Group.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with 90% of Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.