Callin was a “social podcasting” app that was launched by Axel Ericsson and David Sacks in 2021. The app was designed to be a competitor to Clubhouse. Callin actively courted a number of anti-transgender “contrarian” Twitter users to host podcasts on the platform, including Glenn Greenwald, Richard Hanania, Jesse Singal, Ethan Strauss, Matt Taibbi, and Wesley Yang.
They also had hosts who have at times provided fair and accurate coverage of trans subjects, including Katie Hapler, Amee Vanderpool, and Michael Tracey.
Background
In 2021, Callin raised $12 million in Series A funding to promote a “social podcasting” app. In November of that year, Callin announced the first shows available, eventually having over 50 shows they promoted in 2022.
Callin was sold to Rumble in May 2023, and Sacks joined the Rumble board of directors. On April 5, 2024, they announced the platform’s closure.
Partnerships
Callin had partnerships with “many of todayâs most prominent voices,” many of whom were highly active Twitter trolls. Substack had recently had success recruiting the same cohort. Promoted partnerships included:
Briahna Joy Gray
- The DEBRIEF with Briahna Joy Gray hosted by Briahna Joy Gray https://www.callin.com/show/the-debrief-with-briahna-joy-gray-siiFDzGegm
- The Glenn Greenwald Podcast hosted by Glenn Greenwald https://www.callin.com/show/the-glenn-greenwald-podcast-eLzjZcJdah
- Unredacted hosted by Andray Domise and Glenn Greenwald https://www.callin.com/show/unredacted-with-glenn-greenwald-and-andray-GfiGnFjHjd
Shadi Hamid
- For Argumentâs Sake by Shadi Hamid https://www.callin.com/show/for-arguments-sake-with-shadi-hamid-FRamfFWGmZ
- Hanania hosted by https://www.callin.com/show/hanania-hwnCbbfqmN
- Singal-Minded Conversations hosted by Jesse Singal https://www.callin.com/show/singal-minded-conversations-IIrXnblInM
- House of Strauss hosted by Ethan Strauss https://www.callin.com/show/house-of-strauss-JJchnuTMBG
- TK Live hosted by Matt Taibbi https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH
- AM Live hosted by Aaron Maté https://www.callin.com/show/am-live-vVWNIqPzWq
- The Katie Halper Show hosted by Katie Halper https://www.callin.com/show/the-katie-halper-show-QHrMfUHlyB
- Conversations in Year Zero hosted by Wesley Yang https://www.callin.com/show/conversations-in-year-zero-oJNllRFSfx
Additional shows and partnerships
- The Justin Amash Podcast hosted by Justin Amash https://www.callin.com/show/the-justin-amash-podcast-sVFuiipWoZ
- The Pull Request hosted by Antonio GarcĂa MartĂnez https://www.callin.com/show/the-pull-request-ucnDJmEKAa
- Ask Jay Live hosted by Jay Jones https://www.callin.com/show/ask-jay-live-aNutVQeOTh
- Living Cheap hosted by Katie Boyle https://www.callin.com/show/living-cheap-ELzYrgtNqL
- Mike Fit Talks hosted by Michael Eckert https://www.callin.com/show/mike-fit-talks-aGCQJNcRfa
- Iâm Such an Idiot hosted by Caroline Baniewicz https://www.callin.com/show/im-such-an-idiot-PcPSsJhXmQ
- From the Crown Down hosted by Troy Brooks https://www.callin.com/show/from-the-crown-down-WBpmasCVpc
- Red Cup CFB Show, hosted by Alex Anstead https://www.callin.com/show/red-cup-cfb-show-nwcScrQnix
- The Tailgate Podcast, hosted by Michael Quattronmani https://www.callin.com/show/the-tailgate-podcast-PquxJIynRL
- The Diff by Byrne Hobart https://www.callin.com/show/the-diff-CYSKHMxlyU
- First Fates by Jarry Lee https://www.callin.com/show/first-fates-KuEnGIrPjA
- Hatched by Melisa Tokmak & Noor Siddiqui https://www.callin.com/show/hatched-everything-about-fertility-DsdqjcZDmI
- The Legal Brief by Misty Marris and “a co-host” https://www.callin.com/show/the-legal-brief-AzcdfgPQwZ
- Money Concepts by 10-K Diver https://www.callin.com/show/money-concepts-DftUtOETKQ
- The Cantering Clark Trading Lounge by Cantering Clark https://www.callin.com/show/the-cantering-clark-trading-lounge-uvZHaoiWNo
- Pointless by The Pointer Brothers https://www.callin.com/show/pointless-tQVmgcVTWU
- The Held Report by “Dan” https://www.callin.com/show/the-held-report-MKjpYOLKPP
- Swole World by Aerial Johnson https://www.callin.com/show/swole-world-lxyqXjwaoV
- Letâs Talk Football by Tommy Forster aka YoBoyPizza https://www.callin.com/show/lets-talk-football-osTLxLNgBd
- Callin Shots by Seth Partnow https://www.callin.com/show/callin-shots-with-seth-partnow-nMKXZpmKWJ
- Untold Stories by Osama Gaweesh https://www.callin.com/show/untold-stories-with-osama-gaweesh-ZbjbuBbHjd
- Gathering of âExpertsâ by Michael Tracey https://www.callin.com/show/gathering-of-experts-jnLLMhMCfI
- Direct Daou by Peter Daou https://www.callin.com/show/direct-left-ywvFkzUbYT
- Speaking Up by Miles Taylor https://www.callin.com/show/speaking-up-with-miles-taylor-LVzUQTwQlg
- SHERO by Amee Vanderpool https://www.callin.com/show/shero-DSpXliMQoj
- The Flashpoint by Eoin Higgins https://www.callin.com/show/the-flashpoint-ulzOHmlvFC
- Versus Media Live by Stephen L. Miller https://www.callin.com/show/versus-media-live-with-stephen-l-miller-YiFrpyKlDS
- DOSED by Abby Martin https://www.callin.com/show/dosed-with-abby-martin-wHrqlcQkiX
- The Lee Smith Show by Lee Smith https://www.callin.com/show/the-lee-smith-show-FDlyfoVzPC
- All Crossed Out by Jen Monroe and Noam Blum https://www.callin.com/show/all-crossed-out-jVWglWcHxW
- Unruly by Ryan Knight https://www.callin.com/show/unruly-with-ryan-rob-lHnlBrdcPJ
- The Pangburn Hangout by Travis Pangburn https://www.callin.com/show/the-pangburn-hangout-ytIdqseMzM
- Sabby Sabs by Sabrina Salvati https://www.callin.com/show/sabby-sabs-ZLLGCJeAPu
- The Constitutionalist Podcast by Doni the Don https://www.callin.com/show/the-constitutionalist-OIrnRoQRdm
- đ by Sawyer Merritt, Alex Tourville, and Omar Qazi https://www.callin.com/show/aRGmMAOqzw
- The Curiosity Chronicle by Sahil Bloom https://www.callin.com/show/the-curiosity-chronicle-VbbNRvMLgE
- The Nick Huber Show by Nick Huber https://www.callin.com/show/the-nick-huber-show-QMeaaLiyin
- While You Were Away by Blake Burge https://www.callin.com/show/while-you-were-away-hbNwdzlgak
- Through the Noise by Alex Banks https://www.callin.com/show/through-the-noise-HycabTdUsq
- Please Donât Aggregate This by Jake Fischer https://www.callin.com/show/please-dont-aggregate-this-ngBtJANfcN
- Crypto Musings by Vinny Lingham and Sunny Madra https://www.callin.com/show/crypto-musings-exFhNaTHHk
- When In Kanto by Jon Santos https://www.callin.com/show/when-in-kanto-an-all-things-pokmon-podcast-kbIKjTkYcD
- The Report Card by Scott Dworkin and Grant Stern https://www.callin.com/show/the-report-card-mByGxroBKP
References
Higgins, Eoin (2025). Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left. Bold Type Books, ISBN 978-1645030461
Kokalitcheva, Kia (May 20, 2023). A Rumble in new media. Axios https://www.axios.com/2023/05/20/rumble-social-media-video-podcasts
Singal, Jesse (February 17, 2022). Quick Note: You Can Now Download Callin For Android And Then Join Me For Live Conversations, Starting In Two Hours. Singal-Minded https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/quick-note-you-can-now-download-callin
Primack, Dan (September 2, 2021). Podcasting app Callin raises $12 million in Series A funding. Axios https://www.axios.com/2021/09/02/callin-podcast-app-raises-12-million-sequoia
Moorhead, Patrick (September 2, 2021). David Sacks’ Craft Ventures Goes All In On âCallinâ Social Podcasting Platform. Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2021/09/02/david-sacks-craft-ventures-goes-all-in-on-callin-social-podcasting-platform/
Selected writing by Callin/Rumble
Press release (May 15, 2023). Rumble Acquires Podcasting and Live Streaming Platform Callin. Rumble https://corp.rumble.com/blog/rumble-acquires-podcasting-and-live-streaming-platform-callin/
Ericsson, Axel (April 21, 2022). More Hosts Choose Callin, the All-In-One Platform for Talk Shows. Callin Blog https://medium.com/callin-blog/more-hosts-choose-callin-the-all-in-one-platform-for-talk-shows-57141b6027a8
Ericsson, Axel (April 21, 2022). More Hosts Choose Callin, the All-In-One Platform for Talk Shows. Callin Blog https://medium.com/callin-blog/more-hosts-choose-callin-the-all-in-one-platform-for-talk-shows-57141b6027a8
Ericsson, Axel (March 23, 2022). Callin Announces Another Slate of High-Profile Partnerships, Callin Blog https://medium.com/callin-blog/callin-announces-another-slate-of-high-profile-partnerships-37c20ffeb326
Sacks, David (November 10, 2021). Creators Assemble! Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, Briahna Joy Gray, Antonio GarcĂa MartĂnez, and Andray Domise Sign Exclusive Partnerships with Callin. Callin Blog https://medium.com/callin-blog/creators-assemble-e71b77b3749a
Sacks, David (November 29, 2021). Introducing Callin 2.0. Callin Blog https://medium.com/callin-blog/introducing-callin-2-0-1c51d8bec615
Media
test callin (February 22, 2023). Callin App Preview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW_w02O2uqQ
mrhackio (December 19, 2021). Callin – app from David Sacks – full overview & how to use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4e1dM5islg
feelscraft (September 5, 2021). Callin App Breakdown – Is this the Clubhouse Killer? – New Social Podcasting App. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wySHQsuaga0
Bloomberg Technology with Emily Chang and David Sacks (September 2, 2021). David Sacks Launches Clubhouse Competitor, Callin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYqwhvN5Nz0
Resources
Callin (callin.com) [archive]
X/Twitter (x.com)
Medium (medium.com)
reddit (reddit.com)