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Artwork for The Hidden Third

The Hidden Third

Mariana van Zeller
Prison Reform
Jeffrey Epstein
Pornography
Sexual Abuse
Trauma Recovery
Grooming
California
Capitol Hill
Modeling Industry
Women Empowerment
Gambling
Prison
Cocaine Trafficking
Substance Abuse
USC
Securities Fraud
Lessons From Prison
Drug Trafficking
Cartels
Methamphetamine

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes43Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureTrue Crime

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Artwork for The Hidden Third

Latest Episodes

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Adnan Alisic is the mastermind behind one of the craziest casino heists in American history — a Hollywood‑style armored car robbery... more

Go to meetfabric.com/HIDDENTHIRD and apply today, risk-free

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Sarma Melngailis was once the queen of New York’s vegan scene — a Wharton‑educated former Wall Street analyst who t... more

YouTube

Nearly 30 years after 15‑year‑old Danielle “Danni” Houchins was murdered in Montana, former LAPD captain Tom Elfmont helped finally bring her family answers. Drawing on more than 25 years running gang and narcotics operations in South Los Angeles, To... more

YouTube

In this episode of The Hidden Third, we sit down with Wallo267 to unpack a story that starts in the harshest possible place: prison.

Wallo caught his first conviction at just 10 years old. By 17, he was sentenced to adult prison, where he would spen... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Adnan Alisic
Guest who grew up in Bosnia and devised a dramatic casino heist plan while building a business career in the U.S.
Businessman (car dealership, restaurant, body shop)
Episode: He Robbed a Casino With a Blow‑Up Doll and a Fake AK‑47
Sarma Melngailis
Former owner of Pure Food and Wine; author
Pure Food and Wine / The Girl with the Duck Tattoo
Episode: Bad Vegan: Scam, Abuse & Netflix Scandal | Sarma Melngailis Speaks Out
Tom Elfmont
Former LAPD captain; led gang/narcotics units; key witness in the Danielle Houchins case
Los Angeles Police Department (retired)
Episode: How an LAPD Captain Solved a 30-Year-Old Cold Case Murder
Wallo Peoples
Cultural advisor at YouTube, podcaster and author
YouTube / Nanny's House Publishing
Episode: Wallo267 spent 20 years in Prison for Armed Robbery. Now He's YouTube’s Cultural Advisor.
Michelle Gomez
Skip tracer and private investigator featured in the episode
Private investigator and skip tracer
Episode: The World’s Best Bounty Hunter: How Michelle Gomez Finds People Who Vanish
Jonathan Wall
Former cannabis entrepreneur and witness who shares his life story and legal troubles
Former cannabis operator
Episode: America’s Last Weed Prisoner
Nikki Mammano
Author of Breaking Good, former drug dealer and addict, trauma survivor
Author, speaker, activist
Episode: She Was the Crystal Meth Queen of Waikiki. Then She Became a PTA Mom in New Jersey.
Lee Harris
Channeler who cites 88 intergalactic beings called the Zs
Independent spiritual teacher and channeler
Episode: Lee Harris Claims to Channel Aliens. Why Do Millions Believe Him?
Frank Mink
Former neo-Nazi recruit, later activist and speaker
Former neo-Nazi movement member; recovery and deradicalization advocate
Episode: He Was a Violent Neo-Nazi Leader. Then He Found Out He Is Jewish.

Host

Mariana van Zeller
Host of The Hidden Third

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 587 ratings
  • Love it

    I love it! You’re a gifted interviewer. Sometimes I can’t hear your mic, production please fix bc I really enjoy the pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steph Clarky
    United States2 months ago
  • GREAT show, sound needs work

    Obsessed with the show but the volume needs some real work. Sometimes you can understand what Mariana is saying/asking.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Monyr15
    United States2 months ago
  • Sound issues

    I have loved this pod, but the sound is way off. I have to have it turned all the way up to hear Mariana and her guest, but then the ads are all deafening. After reading other reviews, it seems like others are experiencing this too. I wanted to contact your show about it, but your website doesn’t have a contact form.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MaddeeHill
    United States2 months ago
  • Lee Haris

    Lee Haris out here talking with demons. I pray God enlightens him to this if he doesn’t already know.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Truthfulchic
    United States2 months ago
  • “Mhm” constant

    I really want to listen to this show but the constant nods of “mhm” every sentence is too much for me to be able to listen to the podcast:(

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vica183736
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host is an exceptional interviewer who pulls powerful storytelling from guests.
Production quality has improved with better audio balance and mixing.
Episodes are eye-opening and educational about underworld economies and reform.
Some listeners feel the show leans left or biased; others praise its depth and empathy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Wallo267 spent 20 years in Prison for Armed Robbery. Now He's YouTube’s Cultural Advisor.
Q: How did you handle the moment you learned you'd be released and had to change your life?
I recognized that change is an action, and I committed to redefining my identity by building a plan, embracing education, and pursuing a life that aligned with my new beliefs.
Wallo267 spent 20 years in Prison for Armed Robbery. Now He's YouTube’s Cultural Advisor.
Q: What was the turning point that pushed you toward change after so long in the system?
Reading books, studying marketing, and seeing a broader world beyond street life sparked an awakening, along with visiting new opportunities and realizing there's more to life than crime.
Wallo267 spent 20 years in Prison for Armed Robbery. Now He's YouTube’s Cultural Advisor.
Q: What events led you to start posting from prison and build a following?
I started posting after getting access to a contraband phone and an iPod touch with a hotspot; I began documenting my experiences, learning, and observations, which laid the foundation for my later career online.
How an LAPD Captain Solved a 30-Year-Old Cold Case Murder
Q: How did you overcome the challenges of obtaining and validating forensic evidence in a different state?
We consulted with outside experts, leveraged DNA forensics, and navigated local laws with the help of trusted partners, which allowed us to collect DNA from the hair shafts and pursue genealogy to identify a suspect.
Lee Harris Claims to Channel Aliens. Why Do Millions Believe Him?
Q: How do you balance skepticism and belief in your work?
Lee emphasizes neutrality, the importance of evidence in human terms, and the goal of empowering others rather than proving the existence of the beings; skepticism is acknowledged, but the focus remains on the usefulness of the messages.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hidden Third

What is The Hidden Third about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on the hidden, often illicit underworlds that underpin a large portion of the global economy, featuring interviews with investigators, survivors, activists, and former insiders who illuminate how these systems operate, why they persist, and their far-reaching effects on society. Episodes regularly explore topics like skip tracing, the cannabis black market, cult dynamics, wrongful convictions, extremism recovery, and reform-minded storytelling, blending hard-hitting storytelling with personal resilience and accountability. A standout element is the host's ability to pull firsthand experiences from guests who have lived through these worlds, offering both investigative rigor and empathetic nuance that helps listeners underst... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Hidden Third has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Hidden Third?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hidden Third:

1. Deep Cover
2. The Binge Cases: What She Buried
3. Project Mind Control
4. Royal Swindle
5. Mind of a Monster: The Hollywood Ripper

How many episodes of The Hidden Third are there?

The Hidden Third launched 10 months ago and published 43 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Hidden Third?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Hidden Third?

Recent guests on The Hidden Third include:

1. Adnan Alisic
2. Sarma Melngailis
3. Tom Elfmont
4. Wallo Peoples
5. Michelle Gomez
6. Jonathan Wall
7. Nikki Mammano
8. Lee Harris

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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