ReLiving Single emerged from aspirations to revisit a foundational sitcom and showcase how relatable its themes are today. Living Single was a cultural touchstone that shaped how an entire generation – especially Black viewers – saw themselves represented on screen. The idea was simple yet ambitious: reunite two of the show's beloved stars, Erika Alexander and Kim Coles, to create the definitive rewatch podcast that would bridge generational divides and celebrate Black sitcom excellence while highlighting the show's richness.
Hartbeat's driving vision centered on three core objectives. First, create an authentic, behind-the-scenes conversation that only the original cast could deliver, giving fans unprecedented access to the stories behind their favorite moments. Second, build a cross-generational community connecting Gen X viewers who watched during the original run with Millennials who discovered the show through reruns. Third, position ReLiving Single within the prestigious rewatch podcast canon alongside Office Ladies and Pod Meets World, while honoring its unique cultural significance.
We set ambitious goals: secure 400,000+ YouTube views and 25,000+ podcast downloads within the first 30 days, achieve 2M+ impressions through paid and organic social media in the first 60 days, and secure 15+ press placements across mainstream and culturally relevant outlets. Beyond metrics, we aimed to sustain momentum across 32 episodes, maintaining 60%+ listener retention while growing our community to 15,000+ YouTube subscribers and 40,000+ social followers—proving that nostalgia, when paired with authentic storytelling and strategic amplification, could create lasting cultural impact.
From the beginning, we worked to understand the experience of our talent on set along with deep research about things in relation to the show that mattered to people. We looked for opportunities to bring moments in the show to life in a way that wasn't done before. We brought ReLiving Single to the public through a meticulously orchestrated 360-degree campaign typically reserved for major television premieres grounded by deep cross department collaboration.
Our execution strategy unfolded in three deliberate phases. Pre-launch began with a strategic press announcement followed by an exclusive trailer premiere on the national talk show “Sherri”. Coordinated press tours in New York and Los Angeles secured placements on national talk shows, radio, and digital outlets including The Breakfast Club, Essence, The Root, Variety, and Deadline.
The May 21st premiere launched with coordinated paid media across social, Google, YouTube, and podcast platforms. We deployed Instagram and TikTok Reels ads, YouTube pre-roll campaigns, and Spotify/Apple Podcasts audio ads, achieving 2M+ impressions in the first 60 days.
We sustained momentum post-launch through strategic event activations at BET Experience (June 7-8), ABFF (June 11-15), Blavity Fest (May 31-June 1), and ESSENCE Festival (July), featuring live episode recordings and fan meet-ups that transformed our digital community into real-world connections. We executed podcast swap opportunities, securing guest appearances on 10+ complementary shows including Office Ladies, Pod Meets World, The Read, and Club Shay Shay - exposing ReLiving Single to aligned audiences.
Challenges emerged around coordinating two high-profile hosts' schedules for press obligations and event appearances. We overcame this through flexible planning, strategic prioritization of high-impact opportunities, and leveraging individual appearances when necessary. Another challenge was breaking through in the crowded rewatch podcast landscape. We differentiated by emphasizing Living Single's unique cultural significance, positioning it not just as entertainment nostalgia but as an important conversation about Black representation in media.
ReLiving Single exceeded our objectives across every critical metric while achieving something more significant: we created cultural impact that transcended traditional success indicators. Through views, comments and engagement from fans, the demand for more is palpable. It’s clear to us that we’re doing something right.
Quantitatively, we surpassed our ambitious launch goals, achieving 400,000+ YouTube views and 25,000+ podcast downloads within 30 days, while generating 2M+ impressions through paid and organic social media in the first 60 days. Throughout the season, our hosts were invited to appear on several culturally relevant platforms like IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, We Playin’ Spades with Nick Cannon, and The Drew Barrymore Show. We created a real world community for talent to interact with fans through live events such as Essence Festival and Behind the mic: A Fireside Chat with Kim Coles in collaboration with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Lastly, we expanded that community even further digitally through Instagram Live sessions and live YouTube premieres. In addition, we've also been approached by brands and content creators to collaborate on the show, indicating that our presence is being felt in the marketplace.
Above all, we achieved our main objective: celebrating Living Single's legacy while bridging generational divides. Social conversations show Gen X and Millennials fans coming together to share their love and appreciation for the show's groundbreaking representation. We created a podcast that sparked a cultural conversation that reminded the industry why diverse storytelling matters.
