Hey Mary, we have a special sneak preview of a new podcast that is right on our alley.

So in 2004, there was this reality TV show called There's Something About Miriam, which

was basically about six very attractive guys competing for a cash prize and for the love

of a beautiful and mysterious Miriam Rivera, a Mexican trans woman.

It's meant to be her big break. The moment she becomes the superstar, she always wanted to be.

But this is the era of cruel reality TV. So of course, the show's producers have a different goal.

They want to pull off the biggest shock in reality TV history.

During the show's finale, the on-screen drama sparked an international uproar about gender,

sexuality, and whether reality television had finally gone too far.

Trace Lisette hosts this new podcast mini-series Harsh Reality, a story about love,

lies, reality TV, and a woman ahead of her time.

We're about to play you a preview of Harsh Reality, but while you're listening, be sure to follow

Harsh Reality, the story of Miriam Rivera on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or you can listen

early and add free by joining Wondery Plus, an Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app. Enjoy, Mary's!

Nowadays, if you go to Times Square right in the heart of Manhattan,

you go to see the bright lights and to get your picture taken with Spider-Man.

You go for the Lion King or celebrity wax figures or Ripley's Believe It or Not.

But this is 1999 and New York is practically a different city. Times Square is still flashing

with light, but it's full of strip clubs and adult movie theaters. You can hire someone to go

back to your hotel room with you as long as you pay cash in advance. You can score some

heroin or you can get mugged. It's edgy, it's dangerous, but girl, it's definitely exciting.

New York City Nightlife was amazing. 42nd Street was alive with strip clubs and go-go dancing.

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