"Spotify's Podcast Purge: Heavyweight and Stolen Among Cancellations"
Spotify has cancelled the popular podcast Heavyweight, along with another acclaimed show called Stolen, as part of its shift in podcasting strategy. After the current season, the team behind Heavyweight will be laid off. Spotify, which acquired Gimlet in 2019, has been moving away from narrative podcasts and focusing on personality-driven chat shows. The cancellation comes amidst Spotify's recent layoffs and the departure of Reply All, Gimlet's biggest hit, due to allegations of fostering a discriminatory environment. Both Heavyweight and Stolen may have the opportunity to find new homes after their current runs.