Mark Francis Co-Founder

Mark Francis and John McDermott launched Caloroga Shark Media in 2023 with a bold vision to revolutionize podcasting through AI innovation. That vision has blossomed into a dynamic entertainment hub, producing an impressive array of content from compelling gossip and sports shows to engaging comedy, spirituality programs, romance series, paranormal investigations, and gripping true crime stories amongst dozens of others. Through a smart blend of unscripted authenticity, scripted storytelling, branded content, and advanced AI technology, Caloroga Shark Media has mastered the art of creating short-form, high-ROI podcasts that keep audiences coming back for more.

Mark’s podcast journey began as co-founder of Diversion Podcasts in 2019, where he developed several standout productions. His portfolio includes the acclaimed “The Dream Team Tapes,” the riveting “Good Assassins,” and the captivating “The Royals of Malibu.” A particular highlight was “I Am Kobe,” created in partnership with iHeartPodcasts, which earned both the Webby Award for Best Sports Podcast 2022 and the People’s Voice Winner award.

Currently, Mark hosts “Palace Intrigue,” a popular daily show that has surpassed 3 million downloads. His extensive media background includes serving as Senior Director of Talk Production at SiriusXM from 2003-2019. As for the company name, Caloroga holds personal significance – it’s the street where Mark grew up in Australia.

John McDermott Co-Founder

After getting a great education in how to make sales-focused content during a decade at WOR New York, John joined Sirius XM. As VP of Comedy & Entertainment, he developed a comedy platform including partnerships with Comedy Central Radio and Just For Laughs Radio. He also created special event channels like Comic-Con, E3, and Star Wars Celebration Radio.  After satellite, John worked as EVP Programming for Cadence13, managing partnerships with Crooked Media (Pod Save America) and Pushkin, while also working on the development of new programs.

Thanks to John’s relentless dedication and ability to create captivating content, these collaborations led to tens of millions of downloads, entertaining and inspiring audiences worldwide.  John is also the foundr of Shark Deck Media. “Shark” was his beloved Golden Retriever.