Listeners can hear the first episode beginning August 7

Official trailer available HERE

New York – August 5, 2026 – Bloomberg and iHeartPodcasts today announced the launch of “Our Town,” a new investigative podcast series about a small Tennessee town at the center of a fight over American identity. Hosted by award-winning journalist Meribah Knight and Bloomberg Senior Investigative Reporter Susan Berfield, the series debuts August 7. Listen to the trailer here.

When new neighbors move into Gainesboro, Tennessee, a small town at the foothills of Appalachia, locals are confused. They soon discover the new arrivals are connected to a network of far-right Christians who have ties to Washington and are backed by venture capital. As the outsiders' ambitions become clear, longtime Gainesboro residents push back — organizing, speaking out, and refusing to cede the town they've always known. “Our Town” captures that fight as it unfolds –  where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs.

"This is a story about identity, heritage, and what happens when outside money and ideology land on small town soil,” said Susan Berfield, Bloomberg Senior Investigative Reporter. “Those forces are playing out across the country, and this is one place where they collided." 

Through firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, the series will document not just the arrival of an ideological movement, but the community response that ensued. 

“This is a story about a battle over identity—in one small town, and by proxy the country. Who gets to define a community? What does it mean to be an American? Those are some of the biggest questions of this moment,” said co-host Meribah Knight. “Our Town lets you hear that debate play out in the voices of the people living it.” 

New episodes of “Our Town” will be available on Fridays beginning August 7 in the “Big Take” feed and in its own feed on Mondays starting August 10th. The series is available on Bloomberg.com, the iHeartRadio app, and wherever podcasts are available.

Bloomberg produces over 30 podcasts, offering smart analysis, timely insights, and compelling storytelling across business, finance, economics, politics, technology, healthcare, sports, and more. All Bloomberg podcasts are distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

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