Melody Rowell

About Melody Rowell

I\'d loved listening to podcasts for years, but learning the ins and outs of audio production felt like meeting my soulmate. I love it all- listening to people\'s stories, writing scripts, and editing chunks of sound into a single captivating podcast episode.That last part- making a podcast enjoyable to *listen* to- is what stops so many people from pursuing the medium. So let me handle it. I\'ll teach you best recording practices, and I\'ll edit your voice, clips, music, and interviews together to create a meaningful podcast for your audience. When your show sounds good, it\'s easy to listen to. And when it\'s easy to listen to, your download numbers climb.On top of hiring an audio whiz, you\'re also getting a writer obsessed with story structure. I majored in Literature & Critical Theory at William Jewell College, which included a year-long stint at Oxford University. A few years after graduating, I continued to hone my love for stories by getting a Master\'s degree in Nonfiction Writing from Johns Hopkins University. I started my media career at National Geographic, and had additional stops at public radio stations WAMU and KCUR.In the fall of 2020, I quit my full-time job and formalized my freelancing by founding Yellow Armadillo Studios.Some haters say there are too many podcasts, but I disagree. If you want to share your voice, or increase the number of people who hear it, let’s do it together. You don’t have to want to get rich or get acquired— just wanting to speak is enough of a reason to start. My focus will always be on you and your story— and on helping you connect with the audience you want to hear it.

Experience

1. Podcast Producer & Consultant

   Yellow Armadillo Studios

   Dec 2016 — Present · Kansas City, MO, US

   After a few years of freelancing both full and part time, I founded Yellow Armadillo Studios in the fall of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic ended my public radio job as a daily talk show producer, and I wanted to pursue more of the work I loved doing. If you want to share your voice, let’s do it together. Here\'s a sample of work I\'ve done for a variety of clients:• Produce Strict Scrutiny, a weekly, hour-long podcast about the Supreme Court and the legal culture that surrounds it. Production duties include editing and mixing multiple tracks for hour-long episodes using Hindenburg, planning episodes, brainstorming creative segments for challenging content, booking guests, recording local interviews, and coaching hosts on best recording practices. Strict Scrutiny was acquired by Crooked Media in 2022, and reached #1 on the Apple Podcast Charts in 2024.• Consult with existing podcasts on content, quality, and listener engagement strategy, providing concrete steps to take for improvement• Coach aspiring podcasters on resources and strategies for getting started• Record tape syncs for outlets such as Gimlet, Panoply, 99% Invisible, WGBH, and NHPR• Transcribe journalists’ interviews for outlets such as Audible, WNYC, WCAI, and Latino USA

Education

• Oxford University

  Study Abroad Certificate

  2009 — 2010

• Transom Story Workshop

  Radio Production

  2016 — 2016

• William Jewell College

  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

  2007 — 2011

• Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

  Master’s Degree

  2013 — 2015

Skills

• Facebook
• Copy Editing
• Writing
• Customer Service
• Microsoft Word
• Press Releases
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Public Speaking
• Public Relations
• Editing
• Proofreading
• Media Relations
• Microsoft Office
• Social Media
• Blogging
• Research
• Spreadsheets
• Data Entry
• Creative Writing
• Community Outreach