Freelance News Audio Podcast Showrunner

Overview

Lead Season One production for a fast-turnaround, weekly news audio podcast at Human Content. You will manage the weekly editorial and production workflow from researcher brief handoff through taping and publication, ensuring each episode is shaped with strong judgment, clear structure, and journalistic integrity.

This is a 7-month freelance term (1 month leadup and 6 months of airing) for Season One, which includes 26 weekly episodes. The start date is TBD, likely March or April 2026. This role reports to the Executive Producers and is remote, with a preference for US-based candidates.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full weekly production workflow across research, scheduling, editorial shaping, approvals routing, and release execution.
• Review the weekly news brief (delivered by researcher on Wednesday AM ET) and make final editorial decisions on what topics will make it to air.
• Collaborate with the Producer/Editor to shape the run of show and episode script direction with quick turnaround.
• Send selected items and structured guidance to hosts for copy adjustments, maintaining final editorial sign-off before taping.
• Manage recording schedules for Wednesday evening sessions (ET) with two hosts and the Producer/Editor.
• Oversee post-production handoff with the Producer/Editor and ensure transcripts are routed to select third-party stakeholders for review and approvals by 6:00 a.m. ET Thursdays.
• By 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday, lock the edit and confirm to hosts and EPs that the episode is exported, uploaded, and scheduled to release.
• Verify the episode publishes as scheduled Friday mornings (tentatively 6:00 a.m. ET, subject to change).
• Directly manage the Producer/Editor and Researcher to keep workflow tight and deadlines met.
• Notify the team of status, risks, and any needed decisions via email throughout the weekly cycle.

Requirements

• Experience producing or leading production teams on industry-niche podcasts (especially short form) with fast turnaround and strong editorial judgment.
• Working knowledge of the medical and healthcare landscape, including familiarity with clinical terminology and standards for responsible health communication.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate whether content is factually safe to air, and to hold the line on accuracy under deadline.
• Strong run-of-show instincts and the ability to shape a clear, listener-friendly narrative arc from a news brief.
• Comfort collaborating directly with talent and senior production stakeholders.
• Highly reliable responsiveness during Wednesday through Friday production windows.
• Independent self-management and proactive communication.
• Senior producer background is acceptable; candidates must provide relevant work examples.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on niche news-driven or journalistic audio formats.
• Experience managing approvals workflows involving third-party review stakeholders.
• Comfort operating in a recurring weekly cadence with shifting news priorities.

Key skills/competency

• Podcast Production
• Editorial Judgment
• Workflow Management
• Journalistic Integrity
• News Curation
• Script Shaping
• Team Leadership
• Deadline Management
• Healthcare Content
• Stakeholder Communication