
From Emmy and Peabody Award–winning journalist Mariana van Zeller comes THE HIDDEN THIRD, a weekly dive into the underground markets that quietly power a third of the global economy. Every episode Mariana sits down with people who know these worlds firsthand - the hustlers, smugglers, scammers, kingpins, and those trying to shut them down. The series reveals how they function, why they endure, and... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 34 | Founded | 7 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | DocumentarySociety & CultureTrue Crime | |||

Special episode drop! We're excited to share an interview with Mariana on The Jordan Harbinger Show. Mariana talks about her long-running show, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, her experiences in the field, and what she's taking on now. We hope yo... more
Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird
Scott Budnick produced some of the biggest films in Hollywood — Old School, The Hangover, War Dogs. Then he visited a juvenile detention center in Los Angeles, and it changed the trajec... more
Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird
Watch on Spotify. If you’re subscribed to Spotify Premium, you don’t get any Spotify ads on my video.
With a limited-time offer, get Huel today with an exclusive offer of 15% off onlin... more
Join The Hidden Third Patreon today! patreon.com/thehiddenthird
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Amanda Knox was 20 years old when she went to Italy for a study abroad year. Weeks later, her ro... more
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I had high hopes when I started following and listening to this podcast but the more episodes in I get the way more one sided and tilted hard left it becomes. Mariana skewed so far from an objective conversation with the reporter she interviewed,Jacob Soboroff, calling him a really great and factual reporter with integrity was just straw that broke the camels back. I hadn’t listened to 5 minutes of that episode and knew that he may have done factual and objective journalism in the past but what ... more
LOVE the content and the stories being shared, so interesting! But curious why it’s so quiet. You need the volume all the way up and still aren’t able to understand their voices when in your car compared to other pods. Again love the pod but wish it was a bit louder.
I love The Hidden Third — Mariana is such a thoughtful, natural interviewer, and the guests are always interesting, engaging, and well chosen. The conversations feel smart, curious, and easy to get drawn into, which makes it one of my favorite podcasts to unwind with.
My only small piece of feedback is on the audio levels. Sometimes the guest’s volume is noticeably louder than Mariana’s, so when I listen while falling asleep with a sleep timer, it can be hard to find the right volume. I’ll turn... more
But latestest episode mixed WAY too low. Run a loudness pass on the final mix set to -16 LUFS so we can hear it the way it was meant to be!
I love the content! Powerful conversations. But, the volume needs to be balanced out. The dialogue is way too quiet and the commercial inserts end up frighteningly loud.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #18 | |
Apple Podcasts | #120 | |
Apple Podcasts | #17 | |
Apple Podcasts | #35 | |
Apple Podcasts | #78 | |
Apple Podcasts | #169 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show explores underground economies, unraveling how illicit markets function and shape global systems. Through intimate conversations with survivors, reform advocates, investigators, and former criminals, episodes illuminate motives, systemic failures, and pathways toward accountability and reform. Interviews often blend personal journeys with broader policy and societal implications, offering hard-hitting insights into crime, enforcement, and resilience while showcasing a journalist's patient, probing interviewing style. Fans tend to value rigorous storytelling, nuanced ethics, and guests who bring lived experience to complex, high-stakes topics—making it compelling for listeners interested in true crime, justice, and the hidden forces... more
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The Hidden Third launched 7 months ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Hidden Third include:
1. Scott Budnick
2. Meagan Elizabeth
3. Amanda Knox
4. Shaka Senghor
5. Jan Broberg
6. Coss Marte
7. Marta Barreto
8. Britt Elmore
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