Indie Podcast Studio Sonar Network Launches Star-Driven Scripted Series StanLand

While much of the podcast industry has grown cautious and consolidated, one small independent studio is proving you don’t need a big budget to make something big.

Toronto-based Sonar Network, an indie podcast company founded in 2017 by a group of local comedians, is releasing its most ambitious series to date: StanLand, a five-part scripted audio comedy featuring an A-list cast including Rhea Seehorn, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Little, Jon Hamm, and John Waters. The series premieres July 29 on all major podcast platforms, with early access to the full series and exclusive bonus content available via Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.

Created and written by humorist Mike Sacks (Poking a Dead Frog, And Here’s the Kicker), StanLand follows a missing podcaster and a mediocre Maryland man who stumble into a once-magical kingdom now overrun by vape shops, dollar stores, and gated retirement communities. The result is a surreal, sound-rich satire of late-stage capitalism, part fantasy adventure, part cultural mirror.

“What makes StanLand special isn’t just the celebrity cast (though that is pretty awesome)… It’s that it was made by a handful of people who really care about making good, interesting things,” says Marianna Miniotis. “It’s indie from top to bottom. Mike Sacks once said that he brought this story to the Sonar Network because the Sonar Network is “punk rock” and that’s been our driving force throughout the whole year of production!”

Despite its A-list cast, the show stays true to Sonar’s roots in the Toronto comedy scene. Supporting roles feature homegrown talent including James Hartnett, Kris Siddiqi, Mark Little, Alexa Steele, Devon Hyland, Shannon Lahaie, and Cody Crain, many of whom have collaborated with Sonar since its earliest days.

StanLand Highlights:

• Five-part scripted comedy series launching July 29, 2025
• Independent production from Toronto-based Sonar Network
• Star-studded cast including Rhea Seehorn, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Little, Jon Hamm, and John Waters
• Platform strategy includes early access and bonus materials via Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
• Satirical, sound-designed storytelling
• Produced in partnership with Odenkirk-Provissiero Entertainment
• Written by Mike Sacks and S.G. Wilson; Produced by Marianna Miniotis, Michael Mongiardi, and Bryan DeGuire

StanLand will be released weekly starting July 29, with all episodes available upfront to Apple Podcasts subscribers.