2025-2026 Board Nominees
Elections for AIR's Board are now open! Voting is open only to current AIR members.
- Election Period Opened: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 9am ET
- Election Period Closed: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET
- Election Results Announced: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 in the AIR Newsletter
Learn more about the Individual member and Organization member candidates below:
Individual Member Candidates
AIR members may vote for two candidates for individual director seats.
Raymond Christian (he/him)
Dr. Raymond Christian (Ray) is a nationally recognized storyteller, award-winning podcaster, Fulbright Specialist, and narrative strategist whose work bridges scholarship, lived experience, and the transformative power of personal story. Raised in the urban South and now living in rural Appalachian North Carolina, he brings a rare perspective shaped by military service, academic rigor, and decades of work amplifying marginalized voices.
His podcast, What’s Ray Saying? has been celebrated for its deep historical grounding, emotional resonance, and innovative use of narrative as a tool for social understanding. His stories have been featured on numerous radio programs and podcasts, including Articles of Interest, Death, Sex & Money, Snap Judgment, Spooked, and The Moth, as well as major festivals, earning national awards and recognition for their craft and cultural impact.
Dr. Christian holds an M.A. in Public History and both an Ed.S. and an Ed.D. in Education, and has taught history, storytelling, and narrative strategy at the university level. His work centers on the Black American experience, rural life, and the intersections of identity, memory, and place. As a practitioner scholar, he integrates archival research, personal testimony, and immersive sound design to create stories that challenge dominant narratives and expand public understanding.
Living on a small homestead in the mountains, he raises animals, writes, teaches, and consults with organizations seeking deeper and more equitable approaches to storytelling. He is committed to supporting independent audio makers, especially those whose voices, backgrounds, and paths fall outside traditional media pipelines.
Candidate Statement
To the membership of AIR,
I’m Ray and I am running for the AIR Board because independent audio is strongest when its leadership reflects the full range of experiences that shape our field from rural practitioners and narrative artists to scholars, educators, and creators working outside traditional media pipelines. My career has been defined by moving between worlds: from the urban South to rural Appalachia, from combat service to academic scholarship, from homestead living to national stages. That range is not an accident; it is the foundation of my work and the perspective I hope to bring to AIR.
As a Fulbright Specialist, educator, and narrative scholar, I study how stories shape identity, community, and civic understanding. As an award-winning podcaster and independent creator working far from major media hubs, I understand the challenges freelancers face in sustaining their work, finding fair opportunities, and building community. My storytelling centers the Black American experience, rural life, and the power of personal narrative to illuminate history and connect people across divides.
If elected, I will advocate fair practice, strengthen mentorship pathways, and support creators whose voices and backgrounds are often overlooked. I want to help AIR remain a place where independent audio makers wherever they live and however they come to this work can thrive, innovate, and tell the stories that move our society forward.
Keisha TK Dutes (she/her) - (Incumbent)
Keisha “TK” Dutes is a multidisciplinary creative, audio veteran, and community builder. She is the founder of Philo’s Future Media, where she helps producers bring stories to life with intention and authenticity, and serves as co-President of the board of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR). A passionate educator and advocate for creative expression, TK’s work centers on healing, truth-telling, and expanding the possibilities of what audio can be. Beyond the mic, she’s an extreme hobbyist and visual artist—immersed in playful, ever-evolving creative pursuits that keep her rooted in joy.
Candidate Statement
My name is Keisha “TK” Dutes, and I am running for the AIR Board of Directors because independent audio has been the throughline of my life- and because I believe deeply in protecting the people who make it. With nearly two decades of experience across terrestrial radio, digital media, and podcasting, I have built a career rooted in storytelling, experimentation, and care for the creative process.
As an independent producer, host, educator, and founder of Philo’s Future Media, I actively support audio makers in bringing their stories to life with intention and authenticity. I have touched every part of the production process in front or and behind the mic from hosting to production, giving me a clear view of the realities creatives face across platforms: precarity, burnout, and the constant pressure to produce without adequate support.
Over the years as an AIR member in general, I am proud to always participate in AIR’s programming as a facilitator, mentor, and leader. Most recently serving as a New Voices AMPLIFY Captain and program developer, facilitated and participated in SoundPath, sharing practical guidance on navigating the shifting audio landscape as an independent producer. Additionally, I have supported training and professional development initiatives such as Full Spectrum–adjacent storytelling and interviewing sessions, helping mid-career and emerging audio makers strengthen both craft and confidence.
Currently, I serve as co-President of AIR alongside Emily Kwong and have been deeply involved in board leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. In times of transition, the board and I have helped guide the organization with steadiness, transparency, and community-centered decision-making. My work, particularly through The Secret Life of TK, an experimental audio biography- centers healing, truth-telling, and expanding what audio can be.
What I bring to the Board is lived experience, institutional knowledge, and a commitment to equity, sustainability, and creative freedom. I am running to continue strengthening AIR as a responsive, imaginative, and supportive home for independent audio makers.
Thank you.
Jesse Hardman (he/him)
Jesse Hardman has been a multi-platform journalist for more than two decades, contributing to NPR (locally and nationally), TIME, Al Jazeera America, the Atlantic, and more. His audio work has appeared on Marketplace, the World, This American Life, Transom, etc. and he's taught audio skills in places as diverse as Peru, Sri Lanka, and NYC. Jesse created and runs the Listening Post Collective which establishes better access to journalism for communities around the US that are traditionally under-covered.
Candidate Statement
I'm a big admirer of AIR as an organization that supports individual creators to do their best work and be treated equitably by the audio industry. As someone who has spent decades both as an audio producer and reporter, and a mentor to producers around the world, I feel drawn to be part of AIR's growth and evolution. I've been running a national community media project for the past decade and have learned a lot about how to make media more accessible, equitable and sustainable to communities. I'd love to bring that experience to the already amazing board that AIR has.
David Herman (he/him)
David is a sound designer, mix engineer, and composer. After training in sound design for theater, and a stint working in recording studios, he began his radio career at WNYC: first at The Takeaway and then as part of the founding team of Freakonomics Radio, where he helped craft the sound of the show for its first five years. Later he would return to WNYC as the sound designer and composer for The Experiment and More Perfect Season 4. David has worked independently since 2015, contributing work to shows for NPR, The New York Times, Gimlet Media, Vox, Slate, and The Atlantic, where his sound design was featured in the Peabody award-winning series Floodlines.
In addition to his post-production work, David is the owner of Good Studio, a recording studio serving the radio, podcasting, audiobook and voiceover communities, located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
Candidate Statement
Early in my career I worked as an assistant engineer at a jingle house, a recording studio that made music for things like cottage cheese commercials. The work itself wasn’t always thrilling, but it came with a unique benefit: at the end of the day, after the grownups went home, I was left with the keys. I had free access to a fancy studio where, without the pressures of clients or deadlines, I could just play around, fumble my way through, make mistakes, try out weird ideas, and slowly figure out how to make things sound the way I wanted. This space for free play was worth any amount of cottage cheese.
I see a seat on AIR’s board as a chance to help create these kinds of spaces for audio makers. My goal is to make skill-building, mentorship, peer review, technical resources, and community available and accessible to AIR’s members. I’m especially eager to serve my colleagues in post-production — engineers, mixers, sound designers, and composers — by fostering spaces to discuss craft, and to deepen our collaborations with producers, reporters, editors, and hosts.
When I launched my own recording studio in 2022 I knew that, just like in my jingle house days, the most important work wouldn’t happen during business hours. At Good Studio we’ve hosted workshops, listening clubs, community meet-ups, and we’ve offered sliding-scale studio time to self-funded audio makers. I’m excited to bring these ideas to the Board, and to help expand these resources for the AIR community.
Emily Kwong (she/her) - (Incumbent)
Emily Kwong (she/her) is an audio journalist at NPR and longtime member of the AIR community. She is honored to have served her second term on the AIR Board of Directors as co-president.
Emily is the co-host of Short Wave, NPR's science podcast sharing new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines. Short Wave met a crucial need for science-based information during the pandemic and won the 2021 Ambie Award for Best Knowledge, Science or Tech Podcast.
She is also the host and co-creator of Inheriting, a narrative podcast about Asian American and Pacific Islander families. The first season of Inheriting explored 80 years of history through the eyes of seven families and inspired students across the country to dig into their own histories. The show won the 2025 Ambie Award for Best Society and Culture Podcast, the Silver Signal Award for Best History Podcast, and the 2025 RFK Journalism Award in Radio.
Emily got her start as a youth media instructor at WNYC’s Radio Rookies and a daily reporter at the community radio station KCAW in Sitka, Alaska. She served as the first co-lead of NPR AZNs, the ERG supporting over 100 NPR employees who identify as AAPI. She is a proud alumna of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and AIR New Voices. She led the program as the AIR New Voices captain in 2016 and 2017, an experience which inspired her to run for the board in the first place.
Candidate Statement
As the audio industry changes, AIR is one of the few constants in my life. This is the community I will always return to and fight for. The first time I ran for the AIR Board, I wanted to give back to the organization. Now, I am running for a third and final term to nurture and solidify AIR’s future. I would be honored to serve you and to continue the essential work of orienting AIR around the most pressing needs of independent audio makers. For me, that means a continued focus on advocacy and programming that tackles the core issues costing our members time, money, and employment.
Alongside Keisha Salmon, AIR’s talented staff, and the incredible board, we have made significant strides as an organization. As co-president these last three years, I’m incredibly proud to have supported Keisha and staff through key initiatives, including a much-needed update to AIR’s Rate Guide, the expansion of StoryFund, the growth of New Voices AMPLIFY and New Voices Public Radio, and measurable gains in AIR’s visibility and financial sustainability. This has allowed us to hire new staff, including our Advocacy Associate, and imagine even stronger programming. With the recent $1.5 million investment from the Ford Foundation, AIR is in a remarkable position to be a source of strength in a time of enormous uncertainty.
Always independent, never alone. AIR’s motto has become my mission statement, and I would be honored to have your vote. Thank you for your consideration.
Alex Sujong Laughlin (she/her)
Alex Sujong Laughlin is a producer and writer based in Lancaster, PA. She is a co-owner at Defector Media, where she co-created Normal Gossip. Her current projects are Try Hard and Only If You Get Caught. Her first nonfiction book, The Talent Cult (One World, 2027) is inspired by her years working as a producer. You can find her on Instagram @alexlaughs.
Candidate Statement
Since the pandemic, so many more of us are working remotely or without institutional support. That makes connecting with our communities even more critical, not just for labor protection, but also to remind each other why we love this medium. Every time I get the chance to gather with radio people, I’m buoyed by the optimism, creativity, and integrity of all of you, my colleagues.
Since the beginning of my time in the audio world, I’ve been passionate about making it a more equitable environment for newcomers and people from nontraditional backgrounds who don’t have the experience, training, and connections that public media can provide. I organized an AIR-style salary share project back in 2017, raised money for the 2020 Georgia special election by organizing audio craft talks, and have been a vocal advocate for the visibility and rights of producers as the industry has expanded.
Now, I’m particularly interested in exploring ways to financially support my colleagues through mutual aid or grant programs. I’m hoping to redistribute the wealth generated in this industry over the last decade to support the next era of audio journalism and art. Giving back to this community by serving on the AIR board would be an honor. Thank you for your consideration!
Christabel Nsiah-Buadi (she/her)
Christabel Nsiah-Buadi is an Executive Strategist, award-winning audio journalist, and founder of Your Podcast Pipeline, a coaching platform that guides creators in mastering strategic storytelling to engage audiences in a saturated and curated creator economy.
Her focus is on bridging narrative gaps between people, communities, and ideas—a commitment that became a personal mission during her on-the-ground reporting on major global events, like Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. Christabel also has a keen ability to connect the dots across the media landscape, from translating creative trends, on-the-ground conversations, and executive strategy into actionable solutions. These insights led to the launch of her production company, My Lens Media, in 2009, and, most recently, to the launch of Your Podcast Pipeline.
Her approach is the result of her command of both the creative and executive sides of the industry. As a former Spotify Executive, she drove creator audience growth and built the company’s groundbreaking Behind the Mic podcast production fellowship. She also includes Executive Producer and contributor roles with major media organizations, including NPR, the BBC, and American Public Media.
She continues to share her insights to empower creators with the resources and standards of creative development they need to succeed. She has taught journalism and audio storytelling at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, and her writing has appeared in The Independent and British Vogue.
Candidate Statement
I'm running for the AIR Board to deepen my commitment to this community. On top of that, having made the pivot from employee journalist to creative entrepreneur myself, I have a deep understanding of the challenges - and fears - independent creators are navigating in this always-changing media climate. My hope is to support creators who are ready to take their own leaps and craft new futures. I believe AIR is uniquely positioned for this work, and I’d like to be part of it.
I offer a unique blend of entrepreneurial drive, strategic executive leadership, deep connections, and a rigorous editorial vision—all of which are key for sustainable growth today.
One of my biggest strengths is my ability to connect the dots that few others see across communities, continents, and the media industry. This allowed me to develop big ideas and see trends before others, leading to my role as a strategic thought partner at Spotify, and as an award-winning producer for NPR and the BBC. This reputation, my depth of experience, and connections are why organizations continue to seek my advice on their editing, storytelling development, and editorial growth strategies.
I am passionate about being involved in AIR's programs. I've built and scaled new initiatives in both nonprofit and corporate settings, making me well-positioned to help AIR grow its initiatives. I’ve already supported a few of them in 2025, including the AIR Audio Clinic at the NFCB, and I hope to continue this work as a Board member.
Julie Shapiro (she/her)
Julie is a career listener and longtime audio champion, community-builder and cultivator of sound and story. She co-founded Audio Flux in 2023, is currently developing a narrative podcast about pancreatic cancer, and in the past decade has worked in an Executive Producer capacity with Canadaland, PRX, and Radiotopia, including for the Ear Hustle and Radiotopia Presents podcasts. From 2014–2015, Julie helped found and manage the ABC’s Creative Audio Unit. In 2000, she co-founded the Third Coast International Audio Festival, where as Artistic Director she nurtured a robust international listening culture. Shapiro has taught radio to university students, presented at conferences and festivals the world over, and produced stories for the airwaves and podcasts in the US and beyond.
Candidate Statement
What an honor to run for the AIR Board, considering how much I’ve intersected with this organization throughout my career! And considering the state of the audio industry these days, which is teeming with opportunities and challenges. I greatly admire how AIR continues to evolve and show up for the community in the wake of seismic structural and technological changes in our field. As this new year begins, I feel it’s an especially important time to more formally support AIR and the larger audio community.
AIR has been a steady ally for me in supporting producers, welcoming new voices and recognizing the impact of our collective work, from early collaborations with the Third Coast Festival, to supporting my “Closer Listening” course last summer, to hosting our most recent Audio Flux listening party, just last month.
I believe fervently in the power of sound + story, the joy of listening, and the importance of independent media, created and experienced on one’s own terms. In my time with Third Coast, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radiotopia, and Audio Flux, I’ve worked hard to champion these values. I have years of rich experience and an expansive perspective to offer the AIR community, which I value so deeply. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and think, dream, and strategize alongside others committed to these same values. And I would relish this opportunity to bring my energy and efforts to AIR and its membership in a productive and purposeful way, by serving on the Board.
Paulina Velasco (she/her)
Paulina Velasco is a multilingual journalist based in San Francisco, California, with over a decade of experience in audio production, editing, feature writing, and investigative reporting. As collaborations project manager at the Institute for Nonprofit News, she works with rural newsrooms on series published nationally. She examined the origins and impacts of disinformation on Spanish-language radio for a bilingual, digital and audio investigation in 2024 that won an NAHJ Ñ Award and appeared on Palabra, Feet in 2 Worlds, WNYC, and Puente News Collaborative. Her enterprise journalism, including pieces for The Guardian and Prism, often explores the immigrant experience in the U.S. Her reporting on conditions faced by asylum seekers in open-air detention centers was cited in a 2023 complaint to the Department of Homeland Security filed by humanitarian groups. An experienced audio producer and editor, Paulina has launched and ran numerous shows for podcasting companies and public radio stations in the U.S. and abroad. Throughout her many roles she seeks to elevate the work of community-centered and Latino-led media. In 2025, she was named one of Current's Rising Stars in Public Media for her contributions to nonprofit radio, which is how she got started in journalism.
Candidate Statement
AIR has been a lifeline throughout my career: I’ve found new colleagues and rewarding jobs through the directory, taken eye-opening courses and taught my first class through SoundPath, and relied on the rate guides to demand fair pay. I’m really excited about this opportunity to give back to the organization. In whatever role I’m in, I am always advocating for the people who make this industry thrive. As independents, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to make our priorities heard even though we power the major audio companies and produce the most successful shows, all while we invest in our own passion projects and pursue our professional development. The ambition and creativity of AIR members constantly amazes me and fuels my commitments, and I would focus on the members while serving on the Board. I’ve worked in many branches of journalism and audio, in many different roles. I believe I would be able to bring useful insights from the last ten plus years in audio journalism, which saw so many technological and cultural changes in how we do our work. My goal would be for AIR to be at the frontier of what’s to come, representing the interests of independent audio professionals.
Amy Walters (she/her)
Award-winning podcast creator, editor, and journalist. Most recently, I helped build Al Jazeera’s flagship show The Take from a weekly audio program into a daily video podcast reaching millions worldwide. Previously, I was a founding producer of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, the first weekly investigative podcast and radio show. I began my career with thirteen years at National Public Radio covering investigative, international, and breaking news, and I have worked with producers and reporters around the globe. I currently teach audio and video podcasting at Colgate University. My work has received multiple Peabody Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, a duPont-Columbia Award, and a Robert F. Kennedy award.
Candidate Statement
Hello! As you know well, independent audio makers are working in a... changing landscape, and not always a friendly one. AIR is already working hard to help producers navigate that reality. I want to help strengthen the organization’s foundation and help expand the practical value members can count on.
I’ve spent my career helping teams make ambitious journalism under real-world constraints. I’ve worked with producers and reporters across time zones, cultures, and experience levels, and I’ve learned what reliably improves the work: clear standards, practical training, accessible peer support, and funding that aligns with what we ask creators to do.
On the board, I want to focus on three outcomes: financial resilience through stronger budgeting, forecasting and fundraising tied to member benefits, training members can use immediately, stronger peer support, clearer pathways to paid opportunities; and steady governance.
My aim is simple: help AIR be the place independent audio makers turn to for stability, opportunity, and a community that makes the work better and easier.
Sarah Wambold (she/her)
Sarah Wambold is a producer and digital strategist with 20 years of experience working at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and nonprofit institutions. Trained in journalism and arts management, she has led audio, video, and editorial initiatives for museums and cultural organizations, most recently as Executive Producer and Content Strategist at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Prior to working at The Met, Sarah held positions at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. She has taught design and visual communication at several colleges and universities; and has worked as a consultant for a range of cultural organizations, including Art21, the Biennial of the Americas, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the J. Paul Getty Trust. She has served as the executive producer on numerous award-winning projects, including Immaterial (podcast), Harlem Is Everywhere (podcast), Met Stories (video series), MetKids Microscope (animated series), and A Daughter’s Voice (podcast). Her portfolio also includes user experience research, digital products, and publications, both digital and physical.
Now based in Denver, Sarah is the co-founder and principal of Headroom Media, a creative studio focused on cultural storytelling and sustainable media practices. Across her work, she helps mission-driven organizations and independent creators make values-led decisions about partnerships, platforms, and long-term audience impact.
She also moonlights as a fiber artist, using embroidery and weaving techniques to create data visualizations about gender bias and invisible labor.
Candidate Statement
I am running for the AIR board because I believe independent creators are being asked to navigate more complexity than ever, under increasing pressure to make the work sustainable without compromising core values. While much of my career has unfolded outside the traditional audio industry, I have spent two decades working inside mission-driven nonprofit institutions that face similar tensions, including public accountability, philanthropic funding, editorial independence, and care for the people doing the work.
I would bring to the AIR board a perspective grounded in the broader nonprofit and cultural sector, particularly experience translating creative labor into sustainable organizational models, building partnerships with funders and institutions, and helping creators understand how their skills travel across sectors. I am especially interested in supporting AIR’s role as a place where members can think beyond platforms and formats and instead focus on long-term resilience, ethical practice, and shared learning.
AIR has long been a vital home for independent audio makers. I hope to contribute as a listener, learner, and collaborator. As someone who respects the deep expertise within the community, I hope to bring an adjacent lens that can help AIR continue to evolve in service of its members.
Organizational Member Candidates
AIR members may vote for one candidate for the organizational director seat.
Twila Dang (she/her), Matriarch Digital Media
Twila Dang is passionate about creating media content and opportunities that respects, encourages, understands and uplifts women. She is the Founder/CEO of Matriarch Digital Media - the home of The Matriarch Network, Matriarch Studios and Matriarch Artist and Repertoire.
Twila is also passionate about helping women advance in media. She has created several initiatives including: Women in Podcasting (education) and Our Greatness (micro grants).
Her passion for strong, women-focused content was developed over a decade long career where she has spent time as an on-air talent, talk radio producer, executive producer and start up founder.
In 2024 Twila was named a Podcast Legend by the Black Podcasting Awards and in 2025 Twila was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame.
Candidate Statement
I am running for the AIR Board because AIR has played an important role in supporting independent audio and I would like to contribute to that work at a governance level. Throughout my career, I have worked across public media, independent production and entrepreneurial media projects, often helping teams think through growth, sustainability and creative development.
My background includes developing national audio programming, mentoring and evaluating emerging talent and creating production frameworks that support quality work within existing structures. I have also spent significant time working alongside independent producers and small teams, which has given me a strong appreciation for the realities of freelance and small-studio work. I understand how policy, resources and strategic priorities shape the everyday experiences of AIR members.
As a board member, I would bring a practical and thoughtful perspective, informed by both creative and operational experience. I am especially interested in supporting AIR’s efforts to serve a broad range of independents, including those working outside traditional public media pathways. I value collaboration, clear communication and steady stewardship. And I believe these qualities are essential to effective board service.
I am motivated by a desire to listen, contribute and help AIR continue to be a trusted relevant organization for independent audio makers now and in the future.
Joni Deutsch (she/her), The Podglomerate
Joni Deutsch is an award-winning audio professional and NPR veteran with 15+ years of outstanding experience as a producer/host, content manager, and marketer/audience growth specialist.
Deutsch is currently SVP of Marketing and Audience Development at The Podglomerate, the award-winning podcast services firm recently named the “Best Podcast Marketing & Production Agency” by PR Daily and specialized in production, marketing, and monetization of outstanding audio. In this role, she leads audience growth strategy for high-profile podcast clients including Netflix, PBS, NPR, The Boston Globe, Harvard, Stanford, NPR stations (NHPR, WHYY, KUOW, WUNC, LAist, etc.) and many more.
Deutsch spent the first decade of her career in public radio. At WVPB, she became the youngest (and first female) to host NPR Music’s Mountain Stage, and her local music podcast/programming work was heralded by Poynter as exemplary public media alongside Terry Gross and Mr. Rogers. As podcast manager at WFAE, she led the Queen City PodQuest and the first Charlotte Podcast Festival (named a “best podcast conference” by Buzzsprout), in addition to hosting the award-winning music podcast Amplifier.
She's spoken at national conferences (SXSW, RESONATE, Podcast Movement, WNYC’s Werk It, PRPD, PMDMC) and been featured by NPR, Bloomberg, The Verge’s Hot Pod, and Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab. Her work has been recognized by the Murrow Awards, Gracie Awards, and Webby Awards, in addition to ONA's Women's Leadership Accelerator, Axios' "30 under 30,” and Duke University TiP’s Early Achievement Award. And she has been a juror for various competitions including The Ambies, NYF Radio Awards, and Signal Awards.
Candidate Statement
I absolutely love the power of audio, whether it’s in the form of a podcast, a radio feature, or music discovery programming. And for the past 15 years, my goal has been to follow that passion by highlighting the potential for audio (in connecting communities and amplifying voices and perspectives) and by focusing on the holistic elements of the medium: what we do (using design thinking for content development and storyboarding), how we do it (utilizing innovative platforms for audio production, podcast hosting/distribution, and analytics tracking and conversion data), and what is possible with a little bit of creativity, strategy, and collaborative energy.
My work background crosses a few fields, from content creation to audience growth/marketing, from public radio to for-profit podcasting for media outlets, institutions, and major companies/brands, not to mention judging national competitions like The Webby Awards and The Signal Awards, all which has given me a greater appreciation and knowledge base for how we can grow audio storytelling across various channels with different goals, budgets, and audiences in mind.
Needless to say, AIR has been a constant in the audio space (and my own work) to facilitate stronger bonds and foundational efforts for the state of audio. It would be an honor to help contribute to its strategic direction and provide support to its members – whether they're producers who are in the dark about the “nuts and bolts” of podcast audience growth/marketing, or emerging voices who are navigating the zigs and zags of our evolving field.