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Award-winning journalist Anna Sinfield to host “Spotlight” and new narrative season three to follow

Listen to the trailer now

NEW YORK - March 31, 2025 – Today, iHeartPodcasts and Novel Audio announced the next chapter in their highly successful "The Girlfriends" franchise with the launch of “The Girlfriends: Spotlight.” The new installment will feature eight gripping episodes exploring untold accounts of women caught in the web of crime, survival and justice. “Spotlight” will debut April 7 with new episodes available on Mondays. Listen to the trailer now, . 

Hosted by award-winning journalist Anna Sinfield, the new anthology series will highlight complex true stories that bring attention to issues surrounding domestic violence, survivor empowerment and the pursuit of justice. Episodes will recount heartbreaking yet empowering stories from notable figures including Tracy Otto, a domestic violence victim who went on to compete in the 2024 Paralympics and Lu Ann Cooper, who survived a notorious polygamist cult in Utah. 

“We’re excited to expand ‘The Girlfriends’ franchise to include new seasons and provide a platform for important stories to be told,” said Will Pearson, President, iHeartPodcasts. “With ‘Spotlight,’ we’re taking this story even further by giving voice to new perspectives that are both inspirational and thought-provoking.”

The next narrative season of “The Girlfriends,” also hosted by Sinfield, will follow the story of Kelly Harnett, a domestic abuse survivor who was convicted for murder – a murder she says she didn’t commit. The new season is set to debut later this year and will be followed by further Spotlight episodes and future narrative seasons. 

“The stories of our extraordinary girlfriends, through their incredible bravery and resolute determination in the pursuit of justice, have empowered listeners across the world,” said Craig Strachan, CEO, Novel Audio. “The brand-new spotlight series, followed by a new narrative season, will build on the reach and impact of ‘The Girlfriends,’ enabling audiences to discover a whole new world of gripping, emotive and inspiring stories. We’re delighted to introduce our new host Anna Sinfield, who has been at the heart of the production team since launch, meeting remarkable women, winning in the face of adversity. ‘The Girlfriends’ has become so much more than a podcast, it has become a movement.”

“The Girlfriends: Spotlight” and all podcasts in “The Girlfriends” franchise are distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the app and everywhere podcasts are heard. iHeartPodcasts spans every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, lifestyle, family, comedy and true crime—and everything in between—making iHeartPodcasts the largest publisher of podcast content in the world. 

Editor’s Note:

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About Novel

Novel is a leading independent premium podcast company making shows that go long on story, rich in detail and heavy on sonics. Its stack of chart-topping, award-winning podcasts includes The Girlfriends, which reached the global number one spot, won the Ambie for Best True Crime Podcast in 2024 and has been optioned for TV adaptation by A24. The worldwide chart-topping hit true crime series Kill List was the winner of the Best Podcast Award at the 2025 Broadcast Press Guild (BPG) Awards.  Further chart-topping, critically-acclaimed and award-winning podcasts include Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera, Stolen Hearts, Come by Chance, Superhero Complex and Filthy Ritual.