Amazon Shuts Down Wondery Podcast Studio, Lays Off Staff

Amazon is closing Wondery’s production studio laying off about 110 employees, while moving narrative shows to Audible under a new team, Bloomberg is reporting.

According to internal communications, Amazon plans to fold Wondery’s narrative podcast group into its Audible unit, focusing on story‑driven content like Business Wars and Dr. Death.

Meanwhile, personality‑led series such as New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Armchair Expert by Dax Shepard, and LeBron James’s Mind the Game will shift under a newly created “creator services” team. While the Wondery name will remain on some of these celebrity‑hosted shows, traditional studio operations are being disbanded.

The reorganization also includes the exit of Wondery CEO Jen Sargent, who will depart following the transition. Some of the affected employees may move into other Amazon roles, according to sources. Amazon leadership cited the need to better monetize creator‑focused shows through sponsorship packages and to adapt to audience preferences for visual and celebrity content.

Wondery, founded in 2016 and acquired by Amazon in late 2020 or early 2021 for approximately $300 million, grew rapidly as a go‑to destination for scripted audio storytelling and podcast innovation. Its series have garnered acclaim and even inspired television adaptations like Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door.

Earlier this year Amazon had already trimmed Wondery’s global footprint by closing operations in Mexico and Brazil, affecting dozens of roles in those markets.

Despite the disbanding of the Wondery studio, Amazon maintains that the Wondery brand will continue in some capacity, especially in relation to creator‑driven shows and its current Wondery+ subscription offering. Many legacy shows and the subscription service itself will migrate into Audible as the company moves forward with its streamlined model.