Heard on & Trusted by
Since 2017, I’ve applied my narrative expertise and enthusiasm to story editing for narrative audio. I’ve story edited scripts, helped pitch and develop new shows and season arcs, written podcast episodes, recorded and directed narration, and trained new writers and producers in narrative strategies for engaging audio.
I've discovered that a deep background in progressive education, and then a different deep background in narrative, make me a pretty kick-ass story editor.
Why? I can find the cleanest, most compelling story arc through your material (that’s the storyteller in me), and I can communicate advice and guidance clearly and kindly to your writers and producers (that’s the teacher/professor in me).
Hi, I'm Micaela, and I'm an award-winning story nerd.
I can't recommend Micaela highly enough as a story editor for longform, narrative audio. She's the person you want in the room when you're struggling with a story problem that feels unsolvable. She doesn't just eliminate confusion from your scripts, ask the right reporting questions, and push you to craft a satisfying arc. She's also a phenomenal listener, who leads with compassion and care for the voices at the center of the story.
“She’s the person you want in the room when you’re struggling with a story problem that feels unsolvable.”
— Sarah Wyman, Senior Producer, Business Insider, Atlas Obscura, NPR
I think it's important to acknowledge that we work within a system built to benefit a few, and that stories can be engaging without being reductive. I try to decenter my own experience as much as possible when working within someone else's story.
Ethical & Cultural Consideration
I'm known for generating innovative ideas and solutions, tackling structural narrative issues head-on, and maximizing dramatic impact.
Creativity & Problem-Solving
I pride myself on being a great teammate and a creative partner in work where we really have to depend on one another. I prioritize clear communication, timely responses and open creative collaboration.
Communication & Collaboration
My Values as a Story Editor
My Approach
So what do people do with me?
Department of Case Studies
As story editor for This is Uncomfortable from Marketplace APM, I was part of the process from pitch to line edit. TIU tells stories about "life and how money messes with it." For this episode, which focused on the WNBA and its ongoing organizing— from its own labor negotiations, to its support of (now Senator) Reverend Warnock— I suggested the organizing principle of the story and guided the amazing reporting team at TIU to a structure that allowed both the league's history, and its ongoing story, to be clearly told. This story was nominated for a Webby!
As story editor for This is Uncomfortable from Marketplace APM, I was part of the process from pitch to line edit. TIU tells stories about "life and how money messes with it." For this episode, which focused on the WNBA and its ongoing organizing— from its own labor negotiations, to its support of (now Senator) Reverend Warnock— I suggested the organizing principle of the story and guided the amazing reporting team at TIU to a structure that allowed both the league's history, and its ongoing story, to be clearly told. This story was nominated for a Webby!
“How the WNBA drove Loeffler into overtime”
This is Uncomfortable
I'm proud of this episode because, in addition to giving guidance on structure and storytelling, I also recognized a larger challenge for the episode and suggested an audacious reframe— along with the strategy to accomplish it. In its initial version, host Sam was trying to nudge his contributor Nick toward a heartfelt realization that felt a little forced. Instead, I asked, “What would happen if we leaned into the mystery/comedy?” I gave several examples of where this might really serve the story and the pace. We worked together with structure and line edits to allow the sort of dizzy farcical mystery aspect of the story to come through, and it ended up feeling like a much more authentic telling of what was, in fact, a pretty funny reporting experience.
“Sue's Clues”
Family Ghosts
Brought To You By... from Business Insider was a narrative business podcast that created character-driven, riveting stories out of the histories of popular brands. This was one of the Brought To You By... episodes where I guided the team from a draft that felt heavy on technical detail and not-quite-focused on a single theme for the story, to a more fun and fast-paced version (that ended up being featured on Indiewire as one of the top 50 podcast episodes of 2020).
Brought To You By... from Business Insider was a narrative business podcast that created character-driven, riveting stories out of the histories of popular brands. This was one of the Brought To You By... episodes where I guided the team from a draft that felt heavy on technical detail and not-quite-focused on a single theme for the story, to a more fun and fast-paced version (that ended up being featured on Indiewire as one of the top 50 podcast episodes of 2020).
“Heard It Through the Grapevine”
Brought to you by...
Teams, not individuals, make great audio! Here are just three of my favorite past episodes & projects, and how I contributed to them.
Micaela's instincts for narrative are truly special - she not only knows what the story needs, she knows what the storyteller needs to tell the story. Whether she's working with an individual or a team, she's an invaluable asset that gives any project an infusion of heart, humanity, and craftsmanship.
“Micaela’s instincts for narrative are truly special.”
— Sam Dingman, SPOKE MEDIA, PUSHKIN, KJZZ
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers
How often do you take on new podcast projects?
Pretty often! I’m currently booking new projects and have capacity for one or two more this year.
What are your rates?
My rate for story editing is variable based on project and scope, but I pay attention to AIR Media’s rate guides and other fair market research.
Do you do one-off consultations about a single episode or pitch?
I’d love to help you with a specific story problem. Feel free to reach out, or you might want a Tune Up. You can find out more about my 1:1 narrative consultations here.
