Steadvar — News without the noise

Privacy · Terms · About

© 2026 Steadvar. All rights reserved.

Journalist Mariana van Zeller Launches Independent Production Company The Hidden Third

EntertainmentBusiness5/15/2026
Share

Similar Articles

Anatomy of Murder Podcast Ends as Hosts Sue Producer and Launch New Show

EntertainmentBusiness1d ago

Beehiiv Expands Into Podcasting With New Hire and Partnerships

BusinessTechnology5/12/2026

Venture Firm Andreessen Horowitz Launches 24/7 Livestream on X

BusinessTechnology4/21/2026

NBC News Launches 'Business in America' Series Across Its Platforms

Business5/12/2026

Financial Journalist Nicole Lapin Signs with WME to Expand Money News Network

Business3d ago

Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller has launched a new independent production company, The Hidden Third, following the conclusion of her National Geographic series 'Trafficked.' The company, announced in partnership with Muck Media, will focus on stories about the global black and gray markets. Its launch coincides with the second season of van Zeller's podcast of the same name and a new Patreon subscription.

Facts First

  • Mariana van Zeller has launched The Hidden Third, a new independent production company announced with Muck Media.
  • The company focuses on the shadow economy, which economists describe as roughly 35 percent of global economic activity.
  • The launch follows the end of her series 'Trafficked' on Nat Geo, which won nine Emmys and received 88 nominations.
  • A companion podcast of the same name is in its second season, and a new Patreon subscription is launching next week.
  • The venture is designed to feed stories into Muck Media's production slate for documentaries and scripted content.

What Happened

Emmy, Peabody, and DuPont Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller has launched a new independent production company named The Hidden Third. The company was announced by van Zeller and Muck Media, a production company she co-founded. This move follows the conclusion of her long-running National Geographic series 'Trafficked With Mariana van Zeller,' which ended its run in September. The final season of 'Trafficked' received 25 nominations at the News & Documentary Emmys, adding to the show's total of nine wins and 88 nominations.

Why this Matters to You

The stories produced by The Hidden Third could shape your understanding of the global economy and the systems operating outside of official channels. The company's focus on black and gray markets, which comprise up to a third of the global economy, may provide insights into how these hidden networks affect everything from consumer goods to financial systems. As a viewer or listener, you may gain access to investigative content through new platforms, including a podcast already in its second season and a forthcoming Patreon subscription launching next week.

What's Next

The relationship between The Hidden Third and Muck Media is designed so that stories from the new company's journalism and podcast feed into Muck's production slate for premium documentaries and scripted content. Muck Media will continue to focus on projects regarding science, music, sports, comedy, art, and pop culture using traditional development and distribution outlets. The second season of The Hidden Third podcast is currently available, and the new Patreon subscription launches next week.

Perspectives

“
Content Creators believe that the new partnership provides the necessary freedom to explore 'incredibly complex, difficult stories' and build upon previous successes across multiple media platforms.
“
Production Executives emphasize that the venture leverages an 'incredible infrastructure and a deep network of talent' to pursue 'exciting new stories' by 'betting on ourselves'.
“
Business Strategists view the relationship between the two companies as a 'generative' one rooted in shared organizational DNA.