ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — CNBC said Friday it will launch a new original podcast, CNBC Changemakers & Power Players, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, a weekly series hosted by Senior Media & Technology Correspondent Julia Boorstin that spotlights women who are "transforming business and breaking barriers," the network said in a statement.

The show, which will publish new episodes every Tuesday, positions Boorstin — the author of the best-selling book When Women Lead — to interview chief executives, founders, investors and policy makers about the practical and strategic forces reshaping corporate leadership. "These conversations are about power, influence and the choices that help women move from roles to real decision-making authority," Boorstin said in the announcement.

CNBC framed the launch as part of a broader push into original audio programming that targets the platform's core business audience. Podcast listening in the United States has matured into a mass medium, with more than 100 million monthly listeners by some industry measures, and advertising revenues in the sector now amounting to several billion dollars annually. For business newsrooms, podcasts that assemble executive-level guests offer both engaged audiences and premium advertising opportunities.

Analysts said the timing taps into two intersecting trends: rising appetite for audio storytelling and sustained attention on gender diversity at the top of companies. While progress has been made at the board level — women now occupy roughly 30 percent of corporate board seats at S&P 500 companies — women remain underrepresented among chief executives and senior operating roles, a gap that investors and regulators have increasingly cited as a governance concern. Shareholder proponents and institutional investors have pushed for disclosure and nominations practices that expand candidate pools, and media exposure can shape public expectations and corporate recruiting.

"Coverage that centers the stories and strategies of women leaders can accelerate visibility and create a pipeline effect," said a diversity consultant who works with corporate boards. "It also creates an addressable audience for marketers seeking affluent, professional listeners."

CNBC's move comes amid intensifying competition in business audio. Legacy outlets such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times have all expanded podcast offerings, and independent shows have become fixtures for both retail and institutional audiences. For CNBC, which brands itself "First in Business Worldwide," the series is designed to bolster cross-platform reach: episodes will be promoted across television, digital and social channels, the network said.

From a strategic standpoint, the series offers advertisers an opportunity to reach an audience valuable to financial-services and executive-recruiting firms. Podcast sponsorships typically command higher CPMs when shows deliver niche, engaged listeners; business-focused journalism often appeals to advertisers selling wealth management, executive education and B2B services.

Longer term, the launch underscores how business media are reshaping coverage to reflect shifting corporate priorities. Whether through investor pressure, regulatory nudges or marketplace competition for talent, the focus on inclusive leadership looks set to remain a substantive story for markets — and for outlets that can translate boardroom issues into compelling narratives for listeners.