Audio storytelling specialist and podcast consultant
I help journalists and podcast makers tell stories that are relevant, engaging, thoughtful, challenging, and inspiring.
As a consultant, I can help you find new ways to make your podcast stand out from the crowd.
As an editor, I’ll work overtime to bring out the best in you and your stories.
As your showrunner, I’ll do my all to make your vision a reality.
As a teacher, I’ll make you love audio as much as I do.
I’m a multiple award-winning journalist, producer, editor and audio trainer based in Toronto, Canada and working around the world.
I’ve worked across media on three continents, but I fell in love with audio while literally cutting audiotape with a razor blade (yes, we used to do that!) during my first producer gig for CBC Radio. The resulting marriage of sound and voice made my spine tingle.
Since then, I have reported, produced and edited a wide variety of audio stories for CBC, NPR, The World from PRX, Voice of America and BBC. Everything from simple one on one interviews to complex, sound-rich narrative podcasts.
I approach every project with an innate sense of curiosity and an unshakeable commitment to telling the best story possible. My goal is to surprise, delight and innovate.
Great sound still gives me the shivers.
Some award-winning productions
Grand Award, New York Festivals Radio Awards
Gold Medal, Climate, British Podcast Awards
The Guardian 20 Best podcasts of 2023, 2024
This series turns subjects that could be technical and niche into something that’s hard to stop listening to. As story editor I worked with the hosts to create strong characters and a compelling narrative as they explore the murky worlds of forever chemicals and illegal dumping of trash.
Gold Medal, New York Festivals Radio Awards
Rolling Stone, Harper’s, Apple podcasts: Best of 2019
NXIVM called itself a humanitarian community. Experts called it a cult. We told the story of one woman trying to escape. Producing this series required sensitivity, persistence, skepticism and attention to detail. The result was a compelling story that helped set the standard for narrative podcasting.
Barbara Sears Award best editorial research
Excellence in Health Reporting, CMA
Canada’s health care system is part of country’s national identity, but no one had ever looked at how well that system serves patients. I lead a multi-disciplinary team of journalists and health experts to produce Canada’s first ever hospital report card. It included a TV documentary, multiple articles and a 600-page website
What people say about working with me
“Anita works with passion, kindness and sensitivity, and yet with an astonishing ability to see how character development, story arc, clarity and impact can all be improved using writing, creativity and sound.”
Dan Ashby, co-founder Smoke Trail Productions and co-host, Buried
“A great collaborator, hardworking, super smart and always dependable.”
Sina Zapfe, co-producer, Rate My Hospital
“One of the most dedicated, and professional individuals I’ve met. Smart, original, and has amazing story-telling skills.”
Sinisa Jolic, producer, CBC Radio Digital
Show design and evaluation
The best way to find and keep an audience is to make a podcast they want to listen to.
Whether you’re still nursing an idea or partway through your project, I can help you do that.
I’ll review your material, figure out what’s working and what isn’t, and then come up with a strategy to make your podcast stand out from the crowd.
This is a great option if you want to handle production yourself but would like an independent ear to help sort things out.
A 90-minute consultation costs just $300.
Showrunner
In industry terms, a showrunner is the person who oversees and manages a project. It’s another term for producer or, in some cases, executive producer.
Whatever it’s called, I’ve taken on the role many, many times. A few of my teams have won some pretty cool awards.
As your show runner, I’ll work overtime to help turn your program vision into program reality. I’ll hire and manage freelancers, set up and enforce a production schedule, provide story direction, mediate disputes, and make sure your project comes in on budget and on time.
If you have a project looking for a leader, let’s talk and find out if we’re a match.
Story Editor
Behind every great podcast, there’s a great story. As your story editor, I’ll help you find and tell those stories, even if you’re working with a simple one-on-one interview format.
Of course, I’ll check your grammar and spelling.
But I’ll also work to bring out the best in you and your material.
I can help you identify your angle and focus. Work on story structure. Prepare for interviews and field recordings. And lift you out of the rabbit holes that all good storytellers can fall into.
Audio Storytelling Workshops
My workshops are geared toward journalists and podcast makers who already have basic audio storytelling skills and want to move to the next level.
I offer custom-designed short courses on specific skills such as working with sound and interviewing skills.
I also offer 5- and 10-day intensive courses that cover all the fundamentals of long-form narrative audio storytelling.
That includes finding a focus, story structure, working in the field, character development and writing for the ear.
During the 5-day course, each student will produce a broadcast-ready 5-minute mini-documentary.
You’ll graduate from my 10-day course with a broadcast-ready 10 minute documentary.
My workshops can easily be adapted to your needs. Get in touch to find out more.
Ready to connect?
I’d love to collaborate with you. Book a free 30-minute consultation and let’s get started.