Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is stepping away from the gaming keyboard — and getting into your earbuds with his first-ever podcast.
The top gaming influencer will host twice-weekly podcast “AFK w/ Ninja,” set to premiere Sept. 12 across all major platforms. New episodes of the show will be available every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the SiriusXM app and all major podcasts platforms.
“I’m hyped to finally talk about what has been in the works for a long time,” Blevins said in a prepared statement. “I’ve always wanted to blaze new trails, and making my mark in the podcast world gives me the chance to sit on the other side of the table to dish out the questions myself!”
The first of the weekly “AFK w/ Ninja” episodes will feature “fun and wide-ranging conversations” with notable athletes, actors, musicians and (of course) gamers. Initial guests will include Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, multihyphenate Steve Aoki and Fortnite streamer Chica Live (Maria Lopez). The second weekly episode will focus on top news, viral happenings — and “everything online and beyond.”
“AFK w/ Ninja” (referencing the chat abbreviation for “away from keyboard”) is produced in collaboration with audio-media company SALT and SiriusXM’s Stitcher Studios. SXM Media has exclusive global ad-sales rights. The podcast is executive produced by SALT’s Nick Panama, Jamie Schefman and Noah Gersh.
“Today more than ever gaming is at the forefront of popular culture,” Panama, SALT co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “There is no one better than Ninja to bring his iconic world to podcast audiences around the world.”
Blevins counts more than 74 million followers across multiple platforms. He was the first gaming streamer to get an exclusive skin in both “Fortnite” and “Raid: Shadow Legends” as a playable champion, and was the first pro gamer to be featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. Among his Hollywood credits, Ninja had a cameo in feature film “Free Guy” starring Ryan Reynolds and has had roles in “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” and Fox’s “Duncanville.” He also is the author of two graphic novels: “Ninja: The Most Dangerous Game” and “Ninja: War for the Dominions.”
Blevins is repped by CAA and Loeb & Loeb. A native of Detroit, he currently lives in Chicago.
Listen to the trailer for “AFK w/ Ninja”:
