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Netflix expands its podcast repertoire with 'Strong Black Legends'

It's hosted by the lead from BuzzFeed's well-received 'Another Round.'

You probably don't think of Netflix as a go-to source for podcasts (many don't even know it has podcasts), but the service is determined to change your mind. It's premiering Strong Black Legends, a podcast (iTunes, Spotify, RSS) about African-Americans who've had an effect on Hollywood and entertainment at large, on February 12th. The first season will hosted by Tracy Clayton, the former host of BuzzFeed's well-received Another Round podcast, and looks to have a strong guest list.

The inaugural season will include guests like Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther), John Witherspoon (Friday) and Garrett Morris (the first black Saturday Night Live actor). There are "more surprises to come," Netflix teased.

This isn't a snap decision for Netflix -- the podcast earns its name from an internal team, Strong Black Lead, meant to foster black audiences and creatives. However, it does suggest that Netflix wants to promote podcasts more aggressively than it has in the past. It certainly has more incentive to do so. Spotify is both hosting more podcasts and making major acquisitions, while Netflix's arch-rival Amazon has been creating shows based on podcasts. As much as Netflix depends on movies and TV shows, it might not want to leave money on the table by ignoring podcast fans.