My name is Khari Douglas. I’m an audio producer, video editor, and writer with a background in science communication and policy.
I’ve made podcasts for National Geographic and the NFL, interviewed one of the creators of the internet, and composed music for the National Head Start Association.
In my free time, I make music and hang out at the beach.
I’m currently based in Los Angeles, California, and I’m available for freelance audio, video, and writing projects.
Highlights
Podcast: Overheard at National Geographic
Episode: Harnessing the Power of Yellowstone’s Supervolcano
Summary: Yellowstone’s “supervolcano” is capable of causing mass destruction, but its incredible power could also help us fight climate change.
What I did: I was the producer for this episode. I conducted research on volcanoes and geothermal energy. I pre-interviewed Mike Poland (Scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory) and Jeff Tester (Professor of sustainable energy systems at Cornell University). Cut the tape and wrote the script with the host. Found and licensed archival tape and natural sounds from Yellowstone. Determined location of music cues and choose many of the tracks, including seismic sonifications created by geophysicists and musician Paolo Dell'Aversana.
Podcast: Overheard at National Geographic
Episode: The Soul of Music: Rhiannon Giddens excavates the past
Summary: Nat Geo Explorer and spoken-word poet Alyea Pierce talks with Grammy–winning musician Rhiannon Giddens about the origins of the banjo, her new opera Omar, and how she finds inspiration through history.
What I did: I was the producer and presenter for this episode. This episode featured an interview between Grammy-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens and Nat Geo Explorer Alyea Pierce. I conducted research on Rhiannon, Alyea, and the history of the banjo. Identified songs and related topics for the episode. I pre-interviewed Rhiannon with Aleya and I prepped Alyea for the interview. Cut the tape, structured the episode, and wrote the intro and outro narration.
Voices of Head Start Trailer
What I did: I was an editor for Head Start’s 60th anniversary audio storytelling project, Voices of Head Start. I oversaw two reporters as they interviewed fifteen Head Start participants about their experience; reviewed drafts as reporters turned thirty-minute interviews into two-minute audio stories; and assisted with audio clean-up and mixed the final versions. I wrote, produced, and scored this trailer for the project.
Podcast: Catalyzing Computing
Episode 38: Medical Applications for AI and Robotics with Gregory D. Hager (Part 1)
Summary: Khari Douglas interviews Gregory D. Hager, a professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University and the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare. In this episode, Hager discusses tactile perception, the founding of the Malone Center, and data privacy.
What I did: I was the host, producer, and sound-designer for this episode. I conducted background research on Greg Hager, the Malone Center, and medical applications of AI and robotics. I created the intro and outro theme songs, and I edited the audio and video of the interview.
What can I do for you?
I can take you from a basic story idea, through the research and pre-production process, to recording, editing, and releasing a completed podcast. I also compose music and can create custom music for your audio project.
Tools
All the programs and equipment I use to get the job done.
Digital Audio Workstations
Pro Tools, Reaper, Fruity Loops
Project Management
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Airtable, G-suite, Slack, Jira, Trello, Asana
Plugins
RX 10 Standard, iZotope Ozone 9
Web
HTML, CSS, WordPress
Hardware
Rode NT1-A, Shure SM58,
Soft Skills
Storytelling, research, fact-checking, interviewing, and hosting
My background
I grew up in Austin, Texas, and I’ve been creating art my entire life. Growing up, I took piano lessons (by force), played cello in orchestra, and noodled with the guitar.
I went to Johns Hopkins University where I co-hosted the WJHU student radio show The Soup Makes You Evil, which covered music, sports, and current events. At Hopkins I studied mechanical engineering for three semesters, before switching majors to international studies and economics with a focus on economic development.
After college I moved to Washington, DC to pursue a policy career. I worked at the Computing Research Association, where I started the Catalyzing Computing podcast, interviewing computing researchers and policy makers about their research and experience.
In 2022, I joined National Geographic as a producer working on the Overheard at National Geographic podcast.
In 2023, I moved to Los Angeles, California. I'm particularly interested in stories related to science, history, sports, and their intersection with pop culture.
Education and Professional Development:
Bachelor of Arts, International Studies & Economics - Johns Hopkins University, 2015
UCLA Extension Post-Production Certificate Program – Los Angeles, CA (April 2023 – present)
Greater Washington Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Program – Washington DC, 2018
IJNR Traditional Ecological Knowledge Workshop – Duluth, Minnesota (2022)