Molly Barton is CEO and Co-Founder of Realm, a leading audio entertainment company whose award-winning studio partners with top-tier talent and companies from across the entertainment industry. Realm also operates the largest fiction podcast network with more fiction shows in the top charts than any competitor. Under Barton’s leadership, eight of Realm’s shows have hit #1 on Apple Podcasts including fan favorites like IF I GO MISSING THE WITCHES DID IT starring Oscar-nominee Gabourey Sidibe; OUTLIERS voiced by Rory Culkin; ECHO PARK starring Harry Shum Jr; and ORPHAN BLACK: THE NEXT CHAPTER starring Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany. In the past two years, Realm audio series have been nominated for and won numerous industry awards, including The Audies, Ambies, Webbys, Signal Awards, and iHeart Podcast Awards. In less than 18 months, Realm’s distribution network has grown to nearly 300 shows and over 6000 hours of audio entertainment content. In 2023, Barton oversaw multiple distribution alliances and the acquisitions of kid-centric creator Pinna and leading podcast company Lipstick & Vinyl moving Realm into the kids and family sector and unscripted audio aimed at young female listeners, respectively. Barton also created a new business line of production and creative services, working with companies like Paramount, Spotify, and Warner Bros. During her tenure as CEO, Barton has raised over $20M in investments. Previously, Barton was the Global Digital Director of Penguin Random House, where she led its audiobook and ebook business, digital product innovation, and content strategy. In addition, Barton founded a corporate backed start-up called Book Country, the writer collaboration and self-publishing platform for genre fiction writers. She also served on the boards of digital media start-ups in New York, London, and Melbourne. Barton earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University, where she has also served as a faculty member in the Writing Programs. She has spoken on the future of media and publishing in over a dozen countries and at numerous universities including Harvard, Yale, New York University, and Columbia University. She is on the board of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, and lives in Staten Island with her film/tv producer husband Jack Turner and their two children.