The launch date is September 10 2026. iHeartPodcasts announced Whatever It Takes with Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft that same day. The announcement landed right as demand for authentic female-led sports storytelling keeps climbing.
This is not just another sports podcast. It is Jenny Taft stepping into a new lane with a real friend, two-time World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, to talk weekly sports, family and what defines greatness. The show is already positioned inside the iHeart Soccer Network. Listeners are responding to the friendship first, the analysis second.
What Is Whatever It Takes with Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft
Official launch details from iHeartPodcasts and iHeart Soccer Network
iHeartPodcasts, the No.1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, debuted Whatever It Takes on September 10 2026. The press release frames the series as a weekly show covering each week in sports, family and what defines greatness. It joins the iHeart Soccer Network from day one.
Distribution is wide. New episodes are available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. That is standard iHeart muscle.
Host profiles: two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd and sports broadcaster Jenny Taft
Carli Lloyd brings the hardware. Two World Cups, an Olympic gold medal and a career built on elite performance. She also brings post-retirement candor about motherhood and work.
Jenny Taft brings the mic. A veteran sports broadcaster known for studio work and sideline interviews. Her on-air calm pairs with real off-air rapport. The pairing matters because both are women who have lived inside men-dominated sports rooms.
Show premise: weekly coverage of sports, family and what defines greatness
Each episode breaks down the week in sports. Then it pivots. Parenting, working mom realities, and personal definitions of greatness get equal time. The pitch is simple: elite insight without stripping away humanity.
From World Cup to Working Moms: The Real Friendship Behind the Mic
How Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft built their off-air friendship
They know each other from the soccer world. That familiarity shows. Podcastnewsdaily notes the show leans on a pre-existing friendship rather than a manufactured co-host dynamic. It feels relaxed. It feels unscripted.
Friendship is the format.
Podcastnewsdaily angle on friendship, motherhood and relatable storytelling
The coverage from Podcastnewsdaily frames the series as From World Cup To Working Moms. That headline captures the tension the show wants to own. Carli Lloyd talks about winning on the biggest stage. Jenny Taft talks about holding a broadcast schedule while raising a family.
Listeners hear both. That duality is rare in sports media.
Why personal connection drives listener loyalty in 2026 podcast market
2026 podcast audiences are tired of polished talking points. They stay for people they recognize. Female friendship as a content engine creates stickiness male-led debate shows rarely achieve. The show banks on that.
Core Audience Pain Points the Show Addresses
Fatigue with male-dominated sports commentary
Sports talk has been loud, argument-driven and male for decades. A lot of listeners want analysis without the posturing. Jenny Taft and Carli Lloyd deliver insight with a different tone.
Lack of representation for women athletes as hosts and storytellers
Women athletes are often guests. They are rarely the hosts shaping the narrative. This show flips that. Carli Lloyd is not an interviewee. She is a narrator.
Need for content that balances elite performance with family and work life
Working moms in sports are an underserved demo. The show explicitly names family and working mom perspectives as pillars. That is a direct answer to audience demand.
Desire for authentic, unscripted female friendship in sports media
People want real chemistry. The marketing leans into the friendship. It works because the hosts actually like each other. No forced banter.
Show Format and Content Pillars
Weekly sports breakdown and cultural commentary
Sports happen fast. The hosts recap key moments, call out narratives, and add cultural context. It is not play-by-play. It is perspective.
Family, parenting and working mom perspectives
This is the differentiator. Expect conversations about schedules, guilt, identity beyond sport, and how greatness is defined at home. That segment builds loyalty beyond game weeks.
Guests, interviews and defining greatness stories
Guests will rotate. The throughline is stories about what defines greatness. Athletes, coaches, parents, and media figures who fit the theme.
Why Sports Podcasts Are Suddenly Embracing Female Friendship Narratives
Audience growth data for women-led podcasts
Women-led podcasts continue to outpace category averages in completion rate and subscription. Sports is catching up. Friendship-led formats reduce churn.
iHeartPodcasts strategy for inclusive sports programming
iHeart is building a sports ecosystem that is not monolithic. Whatever It Takes sits alongside other iHeart sports titles but carves a distinct lane. Inclusive programming is also a business decision.
Comparison to other female friendship sports podcasts
The market is small but growing. Shows built on real female friendships in sports tend to feel more intimate than panel shows. That intimacy is the moat.
How Whatever It Takes Fits Into iHeartPodcasts Sports Ecosystem
Positioning within iHeart Soccer Network
The show lives inside iHeart Soccer Network. That gives it soccer credibility while letting it roam broader. Carli Lloyd’s soccer legacy anchors it. Jenny Taft’s broadcast reach expands it.
Cross-promotion and distribution advantages
iHeartRadio placement, push notifications, and station cross-promos mean discoverability is baked in. New listeners find it via soccer content and stay for the family talk.
Where to Listen, Subscribe and Follow Updates
iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
All major platforms are covered. Video clips will likely appear on YouTube for short-form discovery.
Episode release schedule and newsletter signup
The series is weekly. Consistent drops matter for habit formation. Follow the iHeartPodcasts newsletter for guest announcements.
FAQ About Whatever It Takes with Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft
Is Whatever It Takes a weekly show
Yes. iHeart’s announcement describes it as a new weekly sports and culture podcast.
Are Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft friends in real life
Yes. The show is marketed explicitly around their real friendship and off-air rapport. That is the core hook.
What topics will be covered beyond sports
Family, parenting, working mom life, and personal definitions of greatness. The show is built to sit at the intersection of elite sport and everyday life.
What the launch signals for the future of sports podcasting and female voices
The launch signals a shift. Sports media is making room for women who talk like women. Not just about sport. About life inside sport.
If you are building content around Jenny Taft or female-led sports media, track this show closely. Monitor episode retention, guest types, and social clips. Repurpose short moments of friendship and parenting talk for TikTok and Reels. That is where discovery happens.
For brands, the play is clear. Sponsor integrations that respect the tone, avoid hard sells, and align with family and performance values will perform best. Authenticity is the currency here.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What is Whatever It Takes with Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft?
- A: It is a weekly iHeartPodcasts show hosted by two-time World Cup champion Carli Lloyd and broadcaster Jenny Taft, covering sports, family and what defines greatness, launched inside the iHeart Soccer Network.
- Q: When does Whatever It Takes launch?
- A: The official launch date is September 10 2026, announced by iHeartPodcasts the same day.
- Q: Where can I listen to the podcast?
- A: New episodes are available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
- Q: Why is the show focused on female friendship?
- A: Listeners are responding to the authentic friendship-first dynamic between Taft and Lloyd, reflecting growing demand for authentic female-led sports storytelling over pure analysis.
Extended Reading
Hots Insight delivers in-depth news analysis, expert commentary, and global perspectives. We go beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping politics, economics, technology, and culture. Founded in 2026, we are an independent digital publication committed to clarity, context, and thoughtful journalism.
Core references: iHeartMedia press release on Whatever It Takes with Carli Lloyd and Jenny Taft; Podcastnewsdaily From World Cup To Working Moms coverage; Radio Online launch report on Carli Lloyd, Jenny Taft Launch iHeart Podcast.