Joy-Ann Reid Returns with a Bold New Chapter: ‘The Joy Reid Show’ Set to Launch June 9

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joy-Ann Reid is back—and this time, she’s calling the shots.

When Reid signed off from her primetime seat at MSNBC earlier this year, she didn’t say farewell. Instead, she made a promise: “We are not going to stop.” Now, just months after her unexpected departure during a network reshuffling, the veteran journalist is launching her own media venture and bringing her voice directly to the people.

Introducing ‘The Joy Reid Show’

Debuting June 9, The Joy Reid Show is a new podcast and YouTube series created and produced through Reid’s own company, Image Lab Media Group—co-founded with her husband, former Discovery Networks editor Jason Reid. The show will air three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—from Washington, D.C.

This is not just a return—it’s a reinvention.

Unfiltered, independent, and intentionally bold, the show promises to deliver the kind of political analysis, cultural commentary, and spirited conversation that made Reid one of the most distinct voices in cable news.

A Space Without Limits

“This podcast gives me the space to be all of me — smart, skeptical, curious, joyful, and sometimes just plain fired up,” Reid said in a statement. “It’s a platform where I can unpack the headlines, sit with brilliant thinkers, challenge power, and also just vibe with the culture.”

Reid’s new format allows for deeper, more candid discussions—freed from the rigid structure of traditional television. The debut episode sets the tone with comedian Amber Ruffin and former South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool as guests, showcasing the show’s signature mix of humor, substance, and international relevance.

Reaching Her Audience, On Her Terms

The first two episodes each week will spotlight hard-hitting analysis and one-on-one interviews, while Fridays will be reserved for “freestyle” sessions—off-the-cuff, interactive segments designed to connect more personally with her audience, including over 160,000 subscribers on Substack.

It’s a model that reflects the changing media landscape, where big names are leaving behind corporate studios in favor of personal platforms. Like Don Lemon and Mehdi Hasan before her, Reid is seizing the moment to forge a direct connection with her audience—on her own terms.

A Cultural Shift in Real Time

Reid’s transition into independent media comes as cable news grapples with declining viewership and shifting influence. While networks scramble to evolve, Reid is already ahead—building something new, agile, and expansive. Plans are already underway to scale the show to five days a week and to produce original documentaries under Image Lab Media Group.

With her trademark intellect and fire intact, Reid is more than reclaiming her microphone—she’s redefining what it means to be a journalist in 2025.

A Platform That Can’t Be Cancelled

Long known for elevating marginalized voices and holding institutions to account, Reid now has full creative control to do so without compromise. And in today’s fractured media landscape, that independence is power.

She’s not just launching a show. She’s building a movement.