Official Trailer: Montecito: A Premium Audio Serial
Welcome to Montecito. A dark paradise where shattered romances, hidden family secrets, scandalous affairs hide behind manicured hedges and the shadows of towering palm trees. Inspired by the golden age of American radio dramas, Montecito blends classic soap with the modern audio drama genre —where love is currency, legacy is everything, and trust is the most dangerous game of all. Starting April 22, 2025, prepare for a reimagining of the audio soap opera. Episodes will release weekly on Tuesdays.
Teaser: Soap Stars Shine in NEW Audio Soap: Montecito 4/22
Starting April 22, 2025, prepare for a reimagining of the audio soap opera. Episodes will release weekly on Tuesdays.
Character Guide:
Crystal Chappell as Helena Granville-Belasco, a strong willed mother who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to protect her family.
Vincent Irizarry as Bradley Belasco, the alpha business man and ageless playboy.
Daytime Emmy Winner Mike Manning as JJ Roman, the reckless, alcoholic nepo-baby.
Peter Porte as brooding Deacon Granville, the trapped husband burdened by a moral obligation.
Chelsea Rendon as treacherous Mina Rast-Granville, the malignant narcissist with an iron grip on her Montecito lifestyle and marriage of convenience.
Emme Rylan as business maven Bethany Gina Roman-Quinn the overbearing sister and overachieving COO.
Marc Anthony Samuel as even-keeled Gio Carreri, the returning resident confronted with his past from all angles.
Kelly Thiebaud as straight-talking Dr. Layla Carreri.
Jake Getman as Diego Granville, a young man caught in the eye of the storm.
To Montecito! | Affairs, Secrets & Scandal Begin | Montecito Ep 1
The Pleasant View Resort and Beach Club throws open its doors with fanfare and secrets just beneath the surface. As Helena (Crystal Chappell) proudly ushers in a new chapter of her family’s legacy, her son Deacon (Peter Porte) plays the part of devoted husband alongside the ambitious Mina (Chelsea Rendon). But behind the smiles, an affair burns hot with JJ (Mike Manning), grudges simmer, and a surprise guest (Marc Anthony Samuel) threatens to unravel it all. When tensions explode, one desperate move triggers chaos—setting the stage for scandal, betrayal, and the kind of reunion no one saw coming. Perfect for fans of soap operas, romantic thrillers, and serialized fiction podcasts.
Insecurities Are Loud | Old Wounds & A Stunning Surprise | Montecito Episode 2
The fallout from the fire alarm rings louder than the sirens. Helena (Crystal Chappell) and Mina (Chelsea Rendon) face off in a brutal confrontation. Meanwhile, Deacon (Peter Porte) and Gio (Marc Anthony Samuel) seek quiet refuge by the fire, where old wounds resurface and buried truths come to light. As they explore the path not taken, secrets smolder—about fatherhood, identity, and the cost of staying silent.
Elsewhere, Mina spirals, JJ (Mike Manning) snaps, and a long-missing sister (Emme Rylan) returns with a shocking entrance—just as the sound of whirring blades cuts through the night. Perfect for fans of soap operas, romantic thrillers, and serialized fiction podcasts.
The morning after brings no peace. At the hospital, Deacon (Peter Porte) and JJ (Mike Manning) trade barbs while Mina (Chelsea Rendon) and Deacon’s crumbling marriage is laid bare behind closed doors. As tensions rise, Deacon walks away—leaving Mina to fight for control alone. Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) returns to Montecito, warning JJ of a looming board revolt, while Mina draws strength from her comatose father and sets her sights on power. An uneasy apology sparks a new rivalry, and the game turns personal.
Mina (Chelsea Rendon) and JJ (Mike Manning) navigate a fragile truce as she offers support ahead of an emergency board meeting—though her loyalty is anything but clear. Bradley (Vincent Irizarry) and Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) strategize over Regalton’s future, while Helena (Crystal Chappell) pushes Deacon (Peter Porte) to choose Gio (Marc Anthony Samuel) over Mina. As Deacon grapples with family obligations and his past, Gio’s return sparks more tension. When the board meeting derails, the true battle for control begins.
The Regalton Boardroom becomes a battlefield as Mina (Chelsea Rendon) confronts Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) with bold demands and buried resentments—threatening to reveal the shocking truth behind her rise to power involving JJ (Mike Manning). Meanwhile, Deacon (Peter Porte) seeks comfort in Gio’s (Marc Anthony Samuel) arms at the luxurious Pleasant View Resort, but their bliss is tested by old wounds and new ultimatums. As corporate scandal and forbidden romance collide, old friends reconnect (Kelly Thiebaud), power dynamics are rewritten, and Montecito’s elite face the consequences of ambition and desire.
As JJ (Mike Manning) demands full control over the Santa Barbara Wharf revitalization project, Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) questions his motives. Meanwhile, Gio (Marc Anthony Samuel) spirals after confronting the truth about his rekindled romance with Deacon (Peter Porte)… and the very real obstacles between them. Their passionate reunion unravels in heartbreaking fashion, just as Mina (Chelsea Rendon) tightens her grip on power with a dangerous ultimatum of her own. Back at the Roman mansion, tensions erupt as Mina and Bethany Gina go head-to-head in a vicious late-night confrontation. And when Gio makes a shocking decision about his future in Montecito, it may be too late to stop the fallout.
Tensions boil over as Diego (Jake Getman) confronts his father, Deacon (Peter Porte) battles inner turmoil, and Mina’s grip on JJ (Chelsea Redon and Mike Manning) raises alarms. Breakfast turns bitter when old wounds reopen between Deacon, his son Diego, and his estranged father Bradley (Vincent Irizarry). Meanwhile, Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) confronts Mina about JJ’s spiraling addiction, and Gio warns Mina not to cross powerful enemies—Marcos Medici. Deacon struggles with heartbreak, fatherhood, and his sexuality as Helena urges him to come clean to Diego. By noon, secrets, shame, and manipulation ripple through Montecito like a spring storm.
Deacon (Peter Porte) turns to Gio (Marc Anthony Samuel) for support ahead of his major pitch to the Santa Barbara Waterfront Commission, leading to a long-awaited emotional breakthrough between them. A deeply personal moment changes everything. Meanwhile, Helena (Crystal Chappell) and Bradley (Vincent Irizarry) trade barbs and affection on the golf course, revisiting their rocky past and uncertain future in the shadow of growing family divisions.
Back at Regalton, JJ (Mike Manning) braces for a high-stakes presentation. Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) tries to steady the ship but finds herself clashing with JJ as old resentments erupt. When JJ finally calls out Mina’s (Chelsea Rendon) manipulation and asserts control, the damage may already be done. With personal vendettas bleeding into business decisions, the balance of power is shifting—and no one is safe.