Mariah Dennis

In the early days of the pandemic, the easternmost town in America was divided. The CDC had issued a No Sail Order for all US cruise ships, which left the 785’ Oceania Riviera looking for a port to call home. With the deepest natural port in the continental states, the tiny fishing town of Eastport, Maine seemed like the perfect solution. But not everyone was ready to welcome the Riviera to town. I produced this story while at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

Most people don’t know that you’re considered a cancer survivor at the moment of diagnosis. It wasn’t always this way. Sixty years ago, a cancer diagnosis was a death sentence. And if you did survive, you were left to figure out the rest of your life on your own. This eight part narrative series is about the people who fought for better treatment, forced doctors to listen, and pushed America to see the human side of cancer. As an associate producer on the show, I worked on episodes from research to post-production. I researched and scripted episodes, booked and led remote interviews, sourced archival, and factchecked scripts.

In the second season of In Vogue: The 2000s, the show explored how fashion fused with every aspect of pop culture to become a global entertainment engine ubiquitous in culture--impinging on the global consciousness like never before. As an associate producer for the show, I supported script writing in the pre and post-production phases, researched guests and story structure, and sourced archival tape.

What would your social life be like without alcohol? This episode of adult gives advice to a listener of the show grappling with the reality of that question. Adult ISH host Nyge Turner is joined by alcohol-free bar owner Chris Marshall and sober podcaster Cynthia Wright, with bonus insight from YA author Mary H.K. Choi. All in an effort to better understand what it’s like to be young, sober and struggling. I contributed to this episode, including pitching initial episode ideas, researching stories and guests, and providing editorial feedback.