Sean Fennessey
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Sean Fennessey (born July 26, 1982) is an American journalist, media executive, film producer, and prominent podcast host. He is widely known as the Head of Content at The Ringer.
Background & Early CareerJournalism Roots: Raised on Long Island, New York, Fennessey graduated from Ithaca College in 2003 with a degree in journalism. He started his career writing for independent music and culture publications like Pitchfork, SPIN, and Complex.
Editorial Roles: He served as the Chief Music Editor for Vibe magazine until its closure in 2009, later moving to GQ as a senior editor focusing on fashion, music, and film.
Grantland: In 2012, Fennessey moved to Los Angeles to join Bill Simmons’s ESPN-backed pop culture and sports website, Grantland, serving as its chief editor until the site was shuttered in 2015.
The Ringer & PodcastingHead of Content: Following their departure from ESPN, Fennessey joined Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Ryan in launching The Ringer in March 2016. He initially served as Editor-in-Chief before being promoted to Head of Content and Chief Content Officer. The Ringer was acquired by Spotify in 2020.
The Big Picture: Fennessey co-hosts The Big Picture, a popular twice-weekly movie review and film culture podcast, alongside Amanda Dobbins.
The Rewatchables: He is also a core, frequent panelist on The Rewatchables, The Ringer's hit podcast celebrating movies that are endlessly watchable.
Film & Television ProductionBeyond digital media and podcasting, Fennessey has served as an executive producer on several high-profile documentary films and series, primarily through partnerships with HBO and streaming platforms.