NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Look Media today announced the launch of Maeve In America, a weekly podcast hosted by Irish comedian and New York transplant Maeve Higgins. Focusing on charming and comedic first-person stories, Maeve In America will debut on Tuesday, November 22 and will be distributed by The Panoply Podcast Network.
With all this talk about building a wall, Higgins is ready to change the conversation around what it means to be American – and what it’s like to view the US through new-colored glasses. Each week, Maeve will talk to someone who has relocated to the United States – discovering where they came from, how they got here, why they stayed, and their unique immigration insights. Topical and timely, personal and profound, this series showcases the breadth of brilliantly weird and wonderful transplant stories.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Maeve on this podcast,” said Lisa Leingang, Senior Vice President of Programming for First Look Media. “Not only is she a delightful performer and a wonderful storyteller, but Maeve has experienced first-hand what it’s like to relocate to America. We’re psyched for her to shine as the (multi)-national treasure that she is.”
The podcast will take a thoughtful and personal look at what it’s like to examine America from the outside in – tackling everything from Thanksgiving tradition, skyscraper wonder, portion size shock, and white people overload. Guests include a spitfire octogenarian activist from China, a department store manager from Iraq, a Bay Area-based wok queen and a variety of comedians and artists who have experienced the reality of relocation. The stories can be funny and frustrating - but they’re always fascinating.
Higgins commented, “I am so hyped for everyone to hear my new podcast about the American immigrant experience that I've even started to use the word hyped. I've been obsessed with immigration since I moved from Ireland to Zimbabwe as a nine-year-old (don't worry, my parents came too). Now I live in the US and am grateful to the brilliantly creative folks at First Look Media for partnering with me to share these stories. Plus, I get to fulfill my work visa requirements!”
First Look Media’s other recent projects include RISK by director Laura Poitras, which debuted in Cannes and Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu, a comedic political podcast. Upcoming projects include We Do Not Forget, a feature film from writer/director Zach Helm, produced by Antoine Fuqua and set to star Daniel Radcliffe and Zachary Quinto; and a short form scripted series created by writer/performer Cirocco Dunlap (Man Seeking Woman, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon), executive produced by Dan Powell (Inside Amy Schumer). First Look Media also co-financed Spotlight, the Academy Award-winning Best Picture of 2016.
About FIRST LOOK MEDIA:
First Look Media is a new-model media company devoted to creating smart, relevant and provocative entertainment as well as supporting independent voices across all platforms, from investigative journalism and documentary filmmaking. Launched in 2013 by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar with the belief that independent perspectives are vital to a vibrant culture and thriving democracy, First Look operates as both a studio and digital media company with the determination to generate cultural conversation with its content.
First Look Media’s recent projects include RISK by director Laura Poitras, which debuted in Cannes and Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu, a comedic political podcast. Upcoming projects include We Do Not Forget, a feature film from writer/director Zach Helm, produced by Antoine Fuqua and set to star Daniel Radcliffe and Zachary Quinto; and a short form scripted series created by writer/performer Cirocco Dunlap (Man Seeking Woman, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon), executive produced by Dan Powell (Inside Amy Schumer). First Look Media also co-financed Spotlight, the Academy Award-winning Best Picture of 2016.
About Maeve Higgins:
A TV star in her native Ireland, Maeve Higgins has performed all over the world, including Edinburgh, Melbourne and Erbil. Now in New York, she’s made a name for herself there too, but in a good way! She co-hosts Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk on National Geographic and has appeared in Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer. Maeve hosts a live show every month with author Jon Ronson and is a frequent guest at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival. Maeve makes great radio and is currently hosting a podcast about immigration called 'Maeve In America' for First Look Media.
