iHeartMedia Inc.

08/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/10/2026 09:23

iHeartPodcasts and Marwar Junction Productions Launch “The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart” – A New True Crime Anthology Series

iHeartPodcasts and Marwar Junction Productions Launch "The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart" - A New True Crime Anthology Series

Premiering August 17, host Elizabeth Smart brings her unique perspective as a survivor and advocate to powerful conversations with survivors of impossible circumstances

NEW YORK - August 10, 2026 - iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced the launch of "The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart," a new weekly true crime anthology podcast hosted by kidnapping survivor and longtime advocate Elizabeth Smart. Co-produced by Marwar Junction Productions, the 48-episode series will premiere August 17, with new episodes released every Monday. Fans can listen to "The Survivor Files" trailer now HERE.

Building on more than two decades of Smart's advocacy, "The Survivor Files" will bring listeners inside the experiences most people only hear about from the outside. Through a hybrid format that pairs documentary-style storytelling with intimate conversations, the weekly series will follow survivors of abductions, home invasions, assaults and other traumatic events as they share the experiences that changed their lives with host Elizabeth Smart before joining her to explore the lifelong process of healing, justice and reclaiming what violence nearly took away. The series will also include special episodes that invite those at home into the conversation through listener-submitted questions.

"I'm so excited and proud to team up with iHeart and Marwar Junction to launch 'The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart,'" said Smart. "My hope is to honor the extraordinary strength, resilience, hope and courage of survivors. Each of our stories are unique, but so many share a common thread: the strength to keep moving forward in the face of hell. I want this podcast to remind people that we are more than what we experience - and that we are so much stronger than we believed."

"Elizabeth's voice has become synonymous with resilience, hope and survivor advocacy," said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. "Through 'The Survivor Files,' she brings a deeply personal perspective to stories that deserve to be told with compassion. We're excited to partner with Elizabeth and Marwar Junction Productions on a series that expands the true crime genre in such a personal and meaningful way."

"We are honored Elizabeth asked us to help her launch this important podcast," said Joseph Freed of Marwar Junction Productions. "These stories have never been more important, and Elizabeth brings them to life with authenticity and care."

"The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard on August 17.

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Hi-res cover art is available to download HERE.

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About Elizabeth Smart

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. Now, Elizabeth Smart is an advocate, author, and founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. After being kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 and safely returned to her family nine months later, Smart became one of the country's most visible voices on child safety, survivor advocacy, trauma recovery, and hope after tragedy. Her recent Netflix documentary was #1 in ten countries, reinforcing the enduring power of her story.

Smart has worked to support child-abduction prevention and recovery efforts, including advocacy around the National AMBER Alert system, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, and other safety initiatives. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir My Story and Where There's Hope, a deeply personal book about healing, resilience, and reclaiming life after trauma. Through her public speaking, writing, advocacy, and media work, Smart continues to use her experience to help survivors feel seen, support families, and encourage communities to remain vigilant in protecting children. Her voice brings compassion, credibility, and lived experience to conversations about survival, justice, and the possibility of life beyond trauma.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to both Podtrac and Triton, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, has the highest-reach and most engaged influencers, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

iHeartMedia Inc. published this content on August 10, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 10, 2026 at 15:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]