Audible and Hello Sunshine Announce First Slate of Originals

Audible Inc. today announced its first slate of Audible Originals x Hello Sunshine: three resonant memoirs that celebrate inspiring women and their powerful voices. These audio-only originals are co-produced with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, a brand focused on changing the narrative for women by highlighting female authorship and storytelling, and these debut audio experiences join a wide array of feature films, television shows, and digital content that Hello Sunshine is producing. The first slate of Audible Originals x Hello Sunshine features performances from music business matriarch Sophia Chang, renowned judge Rosemarie Aquilina, and comedian/activist Maysoon Zayid, and will be available exclusively on Audible in late 2019 and early 2020.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with Sophia Chang, Rosemarie Aquilina, and Maysoon Zayid on their audio memoirs,” said Charlotte Koh, Head of Digital Media & Unscripted at Hello Sunshine. “Each of these singular women have pursued their dreams with conviction, achieved success in the face of improbable odds, and are redefining societal norms around female identity and power. We’re also deeply appreciative of our friends at Audible for working with us to create these incredible listening experiences and providing these women with a premium service that commands a wide and highly engaged audience.”

David Blum, Editor-in-Chief of Audible Originals, commented, “We couldn’t possibly be more excited about our collaboration with Hello Sunshine on this extraordinary slate of empowering originals. These are three remarkable women with incredible stories to tell, and we’re honored to be working with our friends at Hello Sunshine to bring their words, in their own powerful and intimate voices, to life for listeners everywhere.”

Additional information about the first slate of Audible Originals x Hello Sunshine:

• Baddest Bitch in the Room, written and performed by Sophia Chang–the daughter of Korean immigrants, Chang recounts growing up in a suburb of Vancouver and forming her identity by defying expectations and shattering societal biases. As a young woman who fell in love with hip-hop as the genre was being formed, she moved to New York, slipped into the mostly uncharted waters of the underground music scene, and influenced the careers of some of the biggest musical artists, including the Wu Tang Clan. Set amidst the backdrop of underground hip hop clubs, record label board rooms and Shaolin Temple pilgrimages, Chang tells her own transformative story of shattering stereotypes and becoming–on her own terms–the baddest bitch in the room.
• Magnificent Things, written and performed by judge Rosemarie Aquilina–an intimate and moving narrative about her unusual journey to becoming the judge that presided over one of the most high-profile cases in sports history: the trial of Larry Nassar. By inviting all his victims to speak in her courtroom, she shifted the focus from the accused to the human costs of his crimes and changed the national conversation around sexual assault and its consequences.
• Limping on the Edge, written and performed by Maysoon Zayid–the humorous and thought-provoking story of a Muslim comedian with cerebral palsy who pursues with optimism, confidence, and grace her dreams of becoming an activist, actor, and writer. The daughter of Palestinian immigrants, Zayid recounts the experiences that shaped her, from her childhood summers spent in Gaza to her competing for disabled roles against able-bodied actors, and how she now uses her platform as a prominent stand-up comedian to elevate other diverse voices in her field.

These productions join a robust slate of Audible Originals, exclusive audio entertainment created by celebrated storytellers from the worlds of theater, journalism, comedy, literature and more. Audible Originals offer powerful performances created for listeners by award-winning actors, writers and comedians, spanning every genre and length.

ABOUT HELLO SUNSHINE

Hello Sunshine is a media brand and content company dedicated to female authorship and storytelling across all platforms. It produces scripted and unscripted television, feature films, podcasts, audio storytelling and digital content, all driven by a singular mission: to change the narrative for women. Hello Sunshine is also the home of Reese’s Book Club, which celebrates distinctive women protagonists, both real and fictional, who anchor stories of agency and transformation. Scripted TV projects that have already been announced include season two of HBO’s Emmy-Award winning Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Daisy Jones and the Six, Are You Sleeping, The Morning Show, and Kin. Hello Sunshine’s first two unscripted shows, Shine On with Reese and Master the Mess, launched last summer. Feature film projects that have been announced include A WHITE LIE, THE LEAGUE OF WIVES, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, LEGALLY BLONDE 3, and a documentary about Martina Navratilova. Hello Sunshine’s podcast slate includes How It Is, And Especially You, and My Best Break-Up and it has partnered with Audible to develop and co-produce original, multi-hour audio narratives.