Launching October 21, the weekly podcast features conversations with Penn and notable figures in pop culture, science and civics including Bill Nye, Stacey Abrams, Pete Buttigieg, Ed Helms, Jon Favreau and more, exploring the uncanny ways history repeats itself

NEW YORK – October 14, 2025 – iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and SNAFU Media, today announced "Here We Go Again,” a new original podcast hosted by actor, writer and producer Kal Penn. Premiering October 21, the series will connect today’s biggest headlines to mirror images from throughout history, with a fresh dose of satire, insight, and optimism. The show will be produced by SNAFU Media, a partnership between Ed Helms’ Pacific Electric Picture Company and FilmNation Entertainment, in association with Kelly and Kelly. Fans can listen to the trailer now, HERE.

In his debut podcast, Penn will bring his own personal curiosity, empathy and humor from decades as an actor (Harold and Kumar, House, How I Met Your Mother) and an impactful stint as a White House staffer to tackle the question: why does history keep repeating itself? Each week, Penn will take a current trend or headline and travel back to the past with an expert guest to interrogate it. From topics like The New Space Race, Secession Movements, Infrastructure Collapses, Policing Fashion, Movie Remakes and much more, “Here We Go Again with Kal Penn” will infuse today's chaotic news cycle with optimism and hope that America can get through whatever comes its way.

With insights from a wide range of thinkers, cultural figures and notable colleagues including Bill Nye, Ed Helms, Michael Lewis, Stacey Abrams, Pete Buttigieg, Lilly Singh, Jana Schmieding, Jon Favreau, Karina Longworth, Alok Vaid Menon and more, Penn and his guests will unpack instances of history repeating itself, the root cause and what lessons listeners can draw today. 

Penn, who is both host and EP for his debut podcast, explained, “From serious things (like financial collapse) to ludicrous pet peeves (like why there's never a gate agent ready when your plane lands), I wanted to combine institutional knowledge with uplifting, calm conversation that can help us all sort through the chaos of this planet we share. In each episode, we'll have hopeful conversations with people who understand things best, before looking ahead at what the future might hold and what our place in it could be.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with SNAFU Media again as listeners’ appetite for fresh perspectives on history continues to grow,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “Kal brings both genuine curiosity and a unique viewpoint to every story he tells. His engaging storytelling makes history feel personal and relevant, and we’re excited to have him join iHeartPodcasts where he can reach and inspire an even wider audience.”

iHeartPodcasts and SNAFU Media have collaborated on the past three seasons of “SNAFU with Ed Helms,” which won the 2024 Signal Awards for Best Writing and Best Host in the category Limited Series and Specials. The fourth season of SNAFU launched earlier this month with a line-up of guests like Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Jordan Klepper, Jake Tapper, Desi Lydic, Sophia Bush and more.  

"SNAFU Media is all about smart, fun storytelling that tackles today’s chaos head-on, and Kal Penn is a perfect new partner in that mission,” said Helms. “He’s authentic, hilarious, absurdly talented, and, thanks to his White House gig, frighteningly well-informed. With Kal on our team, SNAFU Media's cartoon supervillain plot for worldwide podcast domination is officially unstoppable."

“Here We Go Again with Kal Penn” is executive produced by Penn, Helms and Mike Falbo for Pacific Electric Picture Company; Alyssa Martino and Andy Kim for FilmNation; Pat Kelly and Chris Kelly for Kelly and Kelly; and Dylan Fagan for iHeartPodcasts. It is produced by Dave Shumka and Megan Tan.

“Here We Go Again” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard beginning Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Podcast art is available for download HERE

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About Kal Penn

Kal Penn is an actor, writer, and producer known for his starring roles in Designated Survivor, House, Mira Nair’s The Namesake, the Harold & Kumar franchise, and Disney+’s The Santa Clauses, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Next up, Penn will be appearing in the highly anticipated fourth season of HBO/Max’s acclaimed drama Industry.

Following Trevor Noah’s departure from The Daily Show, Penn was invited to guest host the iconic Comedy Central series, delivering two standout weeks at the helm, and earning the highest ratings among all guest hosts. 

Beyond entertainment, Penn took a brief sabbatical to serve in the Obama administration. As an Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and the President’s Liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the Arts community, he worked on issues like the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Affordable Care Act, and the DREAM Act. He also served on the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, helping lead the first-ever U.S. Government arts delegation to Cuba. 

Penn holds a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Theater, Film, and Television from UCLA and a Graduate Certificate in International Security from Stanford University. He has been an adjunct lecturer at both the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA.

His bestselling book and audiobook You Can’t Be Serious, about systemic change in Hollywood and politics, is available now.

About FilmNation Entertainment

FilmNation Entertainment is a leading independent entertainment company that produces, finances, and distributes award-winning films, television series, podcasts,  and theater productions that combine strong creative voices and global appeal. Recent FilmNation productions include Sean Baker’s Academy Award-Winning Anora, starring Mikey Madison, which won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actress; Edward Berger’s Academy Award-Winning Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini; and sales for Pablo Larraín’s Academy Award-Nominated Maria starring Angelina Jolie. The company also produced award-winning box office hits that include Promising Young Woman, Arrival, and The Big Sick. FilmNation is the home of Infrared, a new film production label focused on mainstream genre films with franchise potential. Infrared’s first production, Novocaine starring Jack Quaid was released in March. 

FilmNation’s podcasting division is the home of non-fiction storytelling for the company, featuring character-driven storytelling and original voices uniquely suited to the medium. Popular podcasts include the Signal-Award winning “SNAFU with Ed Helms” for iHeartMedia, which  inspired the book SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups is a New York Times Best Seller; the true crime podcast “Murder on the Towpath” with host Soledad O’Brien, a Luminary original which recently relaunched with iHeartPodcasts; and “Greatest Escapes with Arturo Castro”, also for iHeartPodcasts.

FilmNation launched its television division with I Know This Much is True for HBO, for which Mark Ruffalo earned the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Recent releases include Small Town, Big Story for Sky. With teams in both Los Angeles and London, FilmNation’s television division is currently developing multiple new projects with global appeal.

FilmNation’s theater investments include 2024 Best Play Tony-Winner Stereophonic. Additional theater credits include the Tony Award-Winning productions Prima Facie, The Sound Inside, and The Band’s Visit. 

About Pacific Electric Picture Company

Founded by Ed Helms and Mike Falbo in 2012, Pacific Electric Picture Co. is a production company with a first look deal at Universal Television. Television credits include RUTHERFORD FALLS, created by Helms, Sierra Teller Ornelas, and Mike Schur for Peacock & UTV, as well as TRUE STORY WITH ED & RANDALL, co-hosted by Helms and Randall Park, for Peacock. Pacific Electric also produced the critically acclaimed sketch show AUNTY DONNA’S BIG OL’ HOUSE OF FUN for Netflix, and the WGA Award-winning Comedy Central special THE FAKE NEWS WITH TED NELMS, a subversive, a-political news show satire, hosted by a guy who kind of looks like Ed Helms. 

On the feature side, they are currently in post-production on SMUDGE THE BLADES, written and directed by Cody Lightning. They produced COFFEE AND KAREEM for Netflix, directed by Michael Dowse and starring Helms, Taraji P Henson, Betty Gilpin, and David Alan Grier, and CORPORATE ANIMALS, written by Sam Bain and directed by Patrick Brice, starring Demi Moore, Jessica Williams, and Karan Soni, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. 

In addition to their TV and film slates, PEPCo has a thriving podcast business, including the upcoming season 4 of SNAFU WITH ED HELMS, in partnership with FilmNation for iHeart. Ed also wrote a companion book, New York Times bestseller SNAFU: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO HISTORY'S GREATEST SCREWUPS, based on the podcast. A number of additional podcasts are being launched under the SNAFU umbrella in the coming months.