Saugatuck resident Meena Ariagno will launch the second season of her podcast this spring on the iHeartMedia platform, a move she calls a key step in growing the podcast’s national footprint and promoting her mission to “unite the world through artful conversations.”
As an Indian American immigrant with roots in Uganda, London, and Chicago, Ariagno aims to share her global lens in “Eavesdrop with Meena” by using her
international background to spark meaningful conversations.
With a diverse lineup of local, national, and international guests, the season will offer a broad mix of voices and perspectives.
Local highlights will include Lakeshore journalists Sarah Leach, executive editor of Ottawa News Network, and WGHN’s Mary Ellen Murphy, discussing the evolving role of local journalism.
Also joining the podcast will be John Austin, a senior fellow with the
Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College,who leads the institute’s work promoting ideas to spread economic opportunity and strengthen democracies across the globe. He also is a
non-resident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution, where for over 20 years he has led efforts to support economic transformation in the American Midwest and in the industrial heartlands of Western democracies.
Another guest will be Ben Speggen, vice president of the Jefferson Educational Society, a nonpartisan think tank in Erie, Pennsylvania, that focuses on civic engagement and education.
Recently, The Lakeshore
spoke with Ariagno to talk about the growth of her podcast and what’s in store for the fourth season.
The Lakeshore: Your podcast continues to gain momentum. What kind of listener feedback has been the most surprising or inspiring for you?
Meena Ariagno: The No. 1 comment we receive from listeners is that we sound like NPR/BBC — and that is so rewarding to hear. Our platform fills a niche for connection seekers and explorers. Deep conversations, without judgment, across diverse subjects to invite listeners on a journey of discovery and delight. Our platform opens space for thoughtful and intellectually curious conversations. Good conversation is food for our souls as well as our minds. Life truths are worth exploring, examining, discussing. At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to find ourselves so we can be our true selves.
TL: Joining the iHeartMedia platform is a big step. How did that partnership come about, and
what does it mean for the future of your podcast?
MA: The partnership was a serendipitous meeting of the minds. iHeartMedia understood the power and mission of the project. I loved the idea of partnering with America's #1 audio platform. This major milestone positions us well to expand our reach, and challenges us as a creative team to deliver “inspired learning-inspired action” content for national and global audiences.
As a female founder of a tech-enabled media start-up, this is a heartfelt and hallelujah moment for me both personally and professionally, as a creative artist and entrepreneur leading a world-class project. Working with trusted partners who value the creative process and community building is paramount to me as an artist and a human being who believes in intellectual and artistic freedom.
The iHeartMedia partnership offers synergistic collaboration to serve both the public good and a deeper national reach. I am grateful to join hands with a brilliant, caring media partner who values conversational artistry. West Michigan remains our home and the launching pad to grow our national footprint. We encourage listeners to download the iHeartMedia app and follow us to receive the latest updates. You can also follow me on
LinkedIn. Our mission to “unite the world through artful conversations” takes a significant leap forward with iHeartMedia’s commitment.
TL: You have an exciting mix of local and global guests this season. What themes or conversations are you most excited to share, and do you have any dream guests you would love to feature in future seasons?
MA: Our “Conversations Without Borders” and “Global Civility” framework brings enlightening voices, cross-cultural conversations, diverse life stories, and informative worldviews across faith, geographic, and racial lines.
I wholeheartedly embrace intellectual diversity and discourse centered on hope-rooted global civility, mutual respect, and care for people of diverse faith traditions. We honor voices of scholarship and compassion who strengthen our belief in humanity. In short, we exist to inspire listeners to be good stewards of their communities and good global citizens of our world.
This season’s distinguished guests include Payam Zamani, an Iranian-American immigrant who launched a billion-dollar IPO at the age of 28; renowned author and educator Parker Palmer; Scott MacGregor, founder of The Outlier Project and Outlier Magazine; and Joseph Malone, brand director for HOLO Footwear, an immigrant start-up based in Grand Rapids.
Several other dream guests are swirling in my brain, waiting for proper airtime — I don’t want to jinx it, so listeners will have to “Eavesdrop With Meena” to see who pops up.
TL: Where do you record your podcast? Do you have a dedicated studio space, or do you take a more mobile approach depending on the guest?
MA: We use several studios across West Michigan, including Kent District Library’s podcast room, Grand Rapids Chamber, Hope College’s Martha Miller Center, as well as private studios and co-working spaces across the region. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore iHeartMedia’s state-of-the-art studios.
TL: What’s the behind-the-scenes experience like when producing your podcast? Any memorable or unexpected moments from this season?
MA: Copious planning and preparation go into every podcast. We have a rigorous process for vetting guests, research, writing, producing, story editing, graphics, marketing, publishing. A talented team of creative and technical professionals collaborate on production excellence. Our goal is a weekly show format by year-end. I love intimate conversations and riveting storytelling. This season also will feature live in-person events, civic learning, and global community engagement.
We’ll continue to expand community partnerships, such as with Kent District Library, where we host a podcast discussion series based on “Eavesdrop With Meena” podcasts. Joint partnerships with interested parties are in process. In respect to memorable moments, that’s a tough one — every podcast, every guest conversation is a unique experience and story to sculpt and reveal.
We’ll be doing more in-depth global cultural affairs content to offer listeners multidisciplinary world perspectives, in conversation with renowned national, and global experts. I’m exploring a community voices series to spotlight local voices of impact across the county and country.
We recently taped “Two J’s in a Pod,” a conversation on the role of local journalism with West Michigan journalists on the frontlines of community life. I’d love to feature more local stories, but balancing time and resources is always a challenge.