HowStuffWorks is the largest for-profit podcasting company in the world. It has several podcasts on iTunes that total more than 35 million downloads a month.  You may have heard of Stuff You Should Know and Stuff You Missed in History Class. HowStuffWorks announced that it raised a $15 million Series A growth equity round led by global merchant bank The Raine Group.

Last year, Blucora (who bought HowStuffWorks from Discovery in 2014) sold it to System 1. The $15 Million Series A investment means that HowStuffWorks can spin out from System 1 and become a private entity.

The investment secures an independent future for HowStuffWorks and gives it the capital resources to build upon its proven ability to create premium, evergreen content across podcasting and other mediums.

During the next year, HowStuffWorks will invest heavily into the podcasting medium, with a sharp focus on bringing in fresh global talent, adding new genres with deep IP potential, and pioneering new technology to further develop the podcast industry. As HowStuffWorks expands its podcasting slate across History, Science, Lifestyle, Comedy, and new verticals, the platform will retain loyal to its core as an authentic storyteller for the curious.

Conal Byrne, who was a general manager at HowStuffWorks for seven years before taking an executive role at Discovery, is returning to HowStuffWorks as president. He says HowStuffWorks is now focused on podcasting. The company intends to add another 15 to 20 podcasts in the next year.