Former Big Law partner launches human-centered podcast series

Sophia Media has launched MY FIRST YEAR, a new interview podcast collection created by founder Joyce Sophia Xu and focused on major life transitions. The series is now streaming on major podcast platforms and aims to offer a human-centered alternative to polarized public discourse and AI-heavy content.

Why it matters: - MY FIRST YEAR is positioned as a response to two forces shaping media now: hyper-polarized public discourse and AI-generated content. - The series centers on personal storytelling, which Sophia Media says is meant to deepen human connection. - The launch adds a new creative chapter for Joyce Sophia Xu, who spent more than two decades building global derivatives law practices before moving into media.

What happened: - Sophia Media unveiled MY FIRST YEAR, a new collection of interview podcasts focused on transformative personal journeys. - The series was created and executive produced by Sophia Media founder Joyce Sophia Xu. - Xu is a former Big Law partner who co-hosts most episodes. - The series launched this summer and is now streaming across all major podcast platforms. - Listeners can find episodes and show details at More information.

The details: - The series features more than 60 interviewees from a broad range of backgrounds. - The themes include love, grief, identity, connection, healing and self-discovery. - Current shows include MY FIRST YEAR (The Anthology), which features pilot episodes about different first-year experiences. - The themed podcasts include MY FIRST YEAR IN AMERICA, MY FIRST YEAR AS A MOTHER, MY FIRST YEAR AS A FATHER, MY FIRST YEAR WITH MY DOG and MY FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE. - The production team includes senior producers Gabbie Watts, Samira Tazari and Rosabelle Heine. - Watts, Tazari and Heine previously worked at NPR, iHeartRadio and Wondery. - The creative team also includes creative director Shareen Anderson, who is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and founder of the Mystic Film Festival. - Composer Nana Simopoulos contributes music to the series and is known for world fusion and modern global jazz.

Between the lines: - Xu’s legal background gives the project a different kind of authority than a typical creator-led podcast launch. - The series leans into long-form human stories at a time when many media products are optimized for speed, automation and polarizing attention. - The emphasis on first-year experiences suggests a format designed to make personal transitions feel universal and accessible. - Xu said the project has shifted her focus from legal work grounded in logic and reason to a platform for what she called “matters of the heart.”

What's next: - Sophia Media is expected to continue expanding the MY FIRST YEAR anthology and themed show lineup. - The company is likely to keep building around the show’s interview format and cross-platform distribution. - Xu said the project is intended to keep creating a space for “genuine, heart-centered human connection.”