Brand & Narrative Storytelling

What you need:
Someone to help you tell meaningful stories.

What I do: I craft trustworthy narrative stories that capture reader (and listener) attention, engage the senses, and show the practical impact of your organization — without getting bogged down in the details.

I also provide developmental editing and story doctor services to help podcasters and writers tell more compelling stories.

Work Samples

Narrative Podcast Scripts

I wrote the scripts for episodes 4 through 8 of Clearing the Air, a narrative podcast from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Institute for Science & Policy. The podcast (which relates to my other journalistic work on environment and climate) provides a textured look at the problem of air quality in Colorado, particularly along the Front Range.

Check out the podcast.

Testimonial: Kristan Uhlenbrock, Director of the Institute for Science & Policy
“Meredith is the utmost professional, an amazing collaborator, and an adept writer. She stepped in at the 11th hour on a major podcast project and helped us create a stronger, richer, more compelling story. Her adaptability and ability to think critically about issues will make her successful with any project. Meredith knows how to weave together multiple perspectives and think about what an audience will find most interesting. The work we often do is emotional, complicated, and nuanced, and Meredith seamlessly rose to the challenge of working with diverse stories with an open mind and integrity.“

Stories for Association Magazines

I’ve contributed feature stories profiling physicians, scientists, and digging into complex topics for professional associations, including the American Physiological Society, the American Counseling Association, and the National Academy for Neuropsychology.

The Physiologist Magazine, a publication of the American Physiological Society

A Physician-Scientist’s Mission to Improve Pediatric Care (profile of Fong Lam, a pediatric ICU doctor whose research could transform care for infants with leukemia)
Banking on Genetics (profile of Michael Hultström, founder of Sweden’s first COVID-19 biobank)
Some Like It Hot (profile of Penn State researcher Larry Kenney and his work on human thermoregulation)
Colleagues to Spouses (story for “Family Ties“, a feature package in the magazine)
Moving Along with Tim Musch (profile of the new president of the American Physiological Society)
Climbing Another Ladder (profile of Xenia Tigno, associate director for careers at the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health)

Counseling Today, a publication of the American Counseling Association

Rural Rhythms (how counseling and stigma are changing in rural America)
Supporting Justice (a look at how counselors interact with the justice system in the United States)

Other Association Publications

How Does Exercise Improve Brain Function? (a science-driven explainer for BrainWise, a publication of the National Academy for Neuropsychology)
Story of a Life (profile of Zander Masser, whose photo book project reintroduced him to his late father, for Dateline Federation from the Hemophilia Federation of America)

Philanthropic Storytelling

I’ve written stories for nonprofit organizations’ annual reports, blogs, and donor newsletters.

Environmental stories for New Directions (a twice-yearly print newsletter from the development office of National Jewish Health)
Mystery Solved (a patient story for National Jewish Health’s annual report)
Big Ideas for a Better Future (a look at work supported by The Denver Foundation’s Recovery and Resilience Fund in the wake of COVID-19)
Pass the Mic: How Community Voices Influenced The Denver Foundation’s New Strategic Framework (The Denver Foundation)
Better Together (The Denver Foundation welcomed two new giving circles in the first half of 2021)

University Publications & Alumni Magazine Stories

I’ve contributed stories to a variety of university publications, including magazines for prospective students and traditional alumni magazines. In my past full-time role at Taylor University, I led the brand storytelling efforts for the website and The Loop, an admissions magazine targeted at prospective students. Many of those stories are included below.

Regis’ Tree Whisperer Helps Diverse Species Take Root (story for the Regis University Magazine)
Combatting Maternal Mortality with Data (student profile for the Regis University Magazine)
After the Tassel Turns: On the Job with Taylor Graduates (mini profiles of Taylor University alumni for The Loop, a promotional magazine)
In Recent News (a round-up of Taylor University accomplishments for The Loop; I wrote many of the associated stories, some of which can be found below)
Seeking Refuge (the refugee crisis as witnessed in Lesvos, Greece; a Taylor University brand story highlighting a service learning January-term trip)
Conscience, Fallacies and Ethics Bowl (profile of a nationally-ranked ethics bowl team with no shortage of personality; a Taylor University brand story highlighting student achievements)
The Genetics of Research (genetics research at Mayo Clinic; a Taylor University brand story focused on recent alumni)
Five Thursdays in Prison (exercise science students take their training behind bars; a Taylor University brand story highlighting unique research and service opportunities)
Sky’s No Limit (engineering students send their work beyond the atmosphere; a story for Taylor University’s The Loop magazine, highlighting unique projects in physics and engineering)
Throwdown with Hayes and Renfrow (an inertial ergometer for exercise science research, and other projects; a story for Taylor University’s The Loop magazine, showcasing unique offerings of the kinesiology department)

Press Release Announcing Company Launch

I wrote this press release for Bright Feeds, a food waste recycling startup based in New England, to announce the opening of its first food processing plant in Berlin, Connecticut.