The Hidden Third is a weekly podcast hosted by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller, covering underground markets such as smuggling, scams and trafficking. The show has 51 episodes released every Wednesday, with a median length of about 132 minutes. Estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, with a rate of $90 to $625 per host-read mid-roll.
Long-form investigative listeners engaged in underground economies and true crime
- Weekly episodes of about two hours with a 4.6 average Apple rating from 542 ratings
- Hosted by an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist known for the series Trafficked
- Co-produced by Muck Media and The Roost Podcast Network with a consistent Wednesday release
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- interview, narrative, documentary
- Tone
- serious, investigative
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 80 to 150 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- The Roost Podcast NetworkMuck Media
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the show is described as a co-production of Muck Media and The Roost Podcast Network.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Episodes cover trafficking, murder cases and drug crimes, such as 'I Was Set Up by a Cartel' and 'America's Last Weed Prisoner'; the feed is not flagged explicit.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | marianavanzeller.me/ |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1845989117 |
| RSS feed | feeds.megaphone.fm/ROOSTER9417367138 |
Benchmark score: 89 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| I Was Set Up by a Cartel. Now I’m Going to Federal Prison | 2026-10-14 | 1 h 30 min |
| From College World Series Hero to $32M Ponzi Scheme | 2026-10-07 | 2 h 16 min |
| Evan Rachel Wood: The Cost of Speaking Out Against Marilyn Manson | 2026-09-30 | 2 h 24 min |
| He Helped Save Thousands of Abused and Exploited Kids | 2026-09-23 | 2 h 26 min |
| The Vigilante Hunting Bullies, Scammers and Predators | 2026-09-16 | 2 h 29 min |
| Trapped in Bolivia's Deadliest Prison. Then She Took It Over. | 2026-09-09 | 1 h 39 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 5 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
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,…
About The Hidden Third
The Hidden Third is a weekly investigative podcast hosted by Mariana van Zeller, a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist whose website describes her as the host of National Geographic's Trafficked. The show examines underground markets that form part of the global economy, through interviews with smugglers, scammers and those working to stop them. The feed lists 51 episodes, released every Wednesday, with a median length of about 132 minutes.
Apple Podcasts shows a 4.6 average rating from 542 ratings. Listeners are estimated, not measured, to be between 5,000 and 25,000 per episode, skewing toward adults aged 25 to 44 in the United States. The show is a co-production of Muck Media and The Roost Podcast Network, and the feed shows no sponsors in recent episodes.
At an estimated 5,000 to 25,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll would be priced at roughly $90 to $625 per episode, based on the platform's $18 to $25 per 1,000 downloads rate. The show suits brands seeking a serious, engaged audience interested in crime, finance and global affairs.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. The Hidden Third can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about The Hidden Third
How much does The Hidden Third charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at roughly $90 to $625. Actual rates depend on the show and must be confirmed with the publisher.
What is The Hidden Third about?
The Hidden Third is a weekly podcast hosted by Mariana van Zeller that explores underground markets such as smuggling, scams and trafficking through interviews with the people involved and those fighting them.
How do I contact The Hidden Third about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80, and boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
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