Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

Wondery

It was supposed to be a reality show with a twist. In a sun-drenched villa in Ibiza, six hot guys compete for a cash prize and for the love of the beautiful and mysterious Miriam. It’s meant to be her big break: the moment she becomes the superstar she was born to be. But this is the era of “cruel reality TV” and the show producers have a different goal: they want to surprise the men with the fact that Miriam is trans. A new six-episode investigative series from Wondery, the makers of The Shrink Next Door and The Apology Line, and from Novel, HARSH REALITY is the story about love, lies, reality TV and a woman before her time: Miriam Rivera. Written by Agnes Borinsky and hosted by Trace Lysette.

You can binge all episodes of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.

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Our Editor's Take

Harsh Reality, The Story of Miriam Rivera is a groundbreaking and important podcast. Writer Agnes Borinsky and host Trace Lysette (who appeared in Transparent) retell Miriam's story with respect. It is a tale of beauty, tragedy, and media madness. It speaks of transgender representation in media and pop culture through trans voices. Miriam was the star of the sensationalistic British reality show There's Something About Miriam in 2003. The program made a gimmick out of Miriam's gender and has become notorious for its poor handling of trans issues. The podcast talks about the show's dangerous approach and its broader implications.

Borinsky and Lysette are open and honest in this challenging podcast. Lysette narrates with passion, power, and emotion, drawing on her own experiences. The podcast tries to bring back some dignity to its subject by showing an authentic depiction of Miriam.

Thought-provoking and powerful, Harsh Reality is a must-listen experience. This podcast is a moving and informative look at gender. The hosts tackle all the tough questions and issues with emotion and strength. Whether you identify with the transgender community or not, this podcast is a must. It will open your eyes to a new understanding of visibility and representation in media.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Play Trailer

Introducing: Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

Introducing: Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

It was supposed to be a reality show with a twist. In a sun-drenched villa in Ibiza, six hot guys compete for a cash prize and for the love of the beautiful and mysterious Miriam. It’s meant to be her big break: the moment she becomes the superstar she was born to be. But this is the era of “cruel reality TV” and the show producers have a different goal: they want to surprise the men with the fact that Miriam is trans. A new six-episode investigative series from Wondery, the makers of The Shrink Next Door and The Apology Line, and from Novel, HARSH REALITY is the story about love, lies, reality TV and a woman before her time: Miriam Rivera. Written by Agnes Borinsky and hosted by Trace Lysette.You can binge all episodes of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episodes

Introducing: Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

Introducing: Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

It was supposed to be a reality show with a twist. In a sun-drenched villa in Ibiza, six hot guys compete for a cash prize and for the love of the beautiful and mysterious Miriam. It’s meant to be her big break: the moment she becomes the superstar she was born to be. But this is the era of “cruel reality TV” and the show producers have a different goal: they want to surprise the men with the fact that Miriam is trans. A new six-episode investigative series from Wondery, the makers of The Shrink Next Door and The Apology Line, and from Novel, HARSH REALITY is the story about love, lies, reality TV and a woman before her time: Miriam Rivera. Written by Agnes Borinsky and hosted by Trace Lysette.You can binge all episodes of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Something About Miriam | 1

Something About Miriam | 1

When a TV exec hears a pitch for a dating game show with a twist she’s sold. But from the very beginning Miriam must risk everything for the show to succeed. For this story Wondery has partnered with Translash Media, the trans journalism and personal narrative project that is committed to telling Trans Stories to save Trans lives. Visit www.translash.org to learn more about Translash.Support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where to find Episodes 2-6 of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

Where to find Episodes 2-6 of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

In the first episode of Harsh Reality, a TV executive heard a pitch for the juiciest reality dating game show ever. Filmed in sun-drenched Ibiza, the show would feature six gorgeous men competing for the beautiful Miriam Rivera. Sounds like a dream, right? But as was often the case in the era of “cruel reality TV,” the producers insisted on a shocking twist.If you want to hear the rest of Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera, you can binge the rest of this six-part series exclusively on Wondery Plus.On Wondery Plus, you can listen to all your favorite podcasts early and ad-free. With a library featuring over 50 #1 Apple Podcast hits and 45,000 binge worthy episodes, there’s something for everyone.Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or an Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen Now: The Price of Paradise

Listen Now: The Price of Paradise

When ex-Bunny girl Jayne Gaskin spots the desert island of her dreams for sale online, she decides to risk it all. Trading in their English village home, Jayne and her family relocate to their own private paradise, just off the coast of Nicaragua. And a reality TV crew follows them to film a new show, No Going Back. But soon they all discover that paradise has its secrets. The locals claim the island belongs to them, and it’s been sold illegally. Jayne’s not leaving without a fight. A fight that will soon turn deadly.Hosted by Alice Levine.Listen to The Price of Paradise on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/links/the-price-of-paradise/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.