Portfolio
Laura – Dog Training Segment (You & Me)
When I met Laura Monaco Torelli, I knew she would be the perfect expert to feature on You & Me. She has an amazing background as an animal trainer, working at the Shedd Aquarium and Brookfield Zoo. She now has her own company, Animal Behavior Training Concepts, which works to improve relationships between dogs and their owners. Her TV segment focused on why you shouldn’t use punishment when you train your pet and it went viral! What made the segment so good is that it’s simple, relatable, and offers actionable tips.
Ask Ilyce – Questions from Equifax Customers
As the Managing Editor of Broadcast for Think Glink Media, I supervised the production of several videos for Equifax which featured nationally-known money and real estate expert Ilyce Glink. The credit reporting agency wanted to use short online videos to help educate its customers about a variety of money topics. We used a question and answer format with Ilyce posing a question from a viewer and then giving a short but detailed answer.
Real Estate Minutes with Ilyce Glink
One of my most successful projects with Ilyce Glink was the production of real estate educational videos for her YouTube channel. I wrote short scripts that focused on one topic; she then recorded them in a TV studio and I worked with an editor to add music and graphics. There are now hundreds of videos on her channel with millions of views. She uses them on various platforms, including social media, newsletters, and promotional materials.
Real Chicagoan – Foster Dad (The Jam)
When I produced stories and segment for “The Jam” morning show on WCIU-TV, I focused on highlighting people making a difference in their community. One favorite piece featured a dedicated foster dad who opened his life to an older child. After their heartwarming story aired, the foster child agency saw a big increase in inquiries and they liked the piece so much that it’s now being used to recruit new foster parents. Those are the results of my work that I love—having a meaningful impact on lives!
When Weather Changed History – Bombing of Nagasaki (Weather Channel)
A dream of mine to produce a long-form documentary came true when I was hired by Towers Productions in Chicago to produce an episode of the popular Weather Channel program, “When Weather Changed History.” My topic was sobering—the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki to end World War II. The production process took eight months and consisted of research, expert interviews, historical moment recreations, and script writing and editing. I traveled from coast to coast to talk with experts on atomic energy, World War II battles, and the weather. But, one interview has stayed with me in the nearly 20 years since we met in San Francisco—a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing. I was humbled in her presence and honored that she would share her terrifying, yet inspiring story with me.
Laura – Mat Training (You & Me)
After working with nationally-known dog trainer Laura Monaco Torelli on several popular morning TV segments, she was interested in doing her own video series on simple training tips that viewers could try at home. I sketched out a production plan, hired a photographer/editor and set up a shoot location. We shot four videos in about 4 hours, including this one on capturing, which one of the top-viewed on her YouTube channel.
Standing Desk Part 1 (You & Me)
Morning show producers get pitches about new products dozens of times a day. Most of the emails get deleted. However, occasionally, a product will spark an idea that goes outside the box. That’s what happened when I got pitched a segment on a new standing desk made by a Chicago company. I could have easily just had the owner and one of the desks in-studio and called it good. But that would have been boring. So instead, I had the company deliver a desk for one of my colleagues to use for a month.
We put a camera in the newsroom so we could see her working at the desk live during the show and interviewed her about why she wanted to give it a try. We then followed her progress and had her give a live review at the end of 30 days. The company was completely open to the whole process and our creativity and ended up giving her the desk.
Glennon Doyle Interview (You & Me)
Glennon Doyle is one of the hottest names in the publishing world, selling millions of books and having Oprah as her biggest fan. So, having her in-studio on You & Me was a huge get. We wanted to make sure the interview was meaningful and that she had time to share her story. Jeanne Sparrow and I worked together on questions, making sure they were thought-provoking and insightful. Glennon was thrilled with how it turned out!