A podcast made to nourish the independent documentary community hosted by Elijah Yetter-Bowman, an award-winning documentary filmmaker based in the South.
This show dives into the craft of storytelling, shares real insights on the work, how we make a living and builds dialogues to make a more sustainable and equitable ecosystem for professional storytelling and the documentary industry as a whole.
etherealfilms.substack.com (https://etherealfilms.substack.com/s/real-perspective?utm_medium=podcast)
Publisher
Interviews with professional storytellers about their craft and how they make it work.
producing for John Oliver because of an email listserv
Eli talks to Megan Shub, a Emmy-winning producer who transitioned from the corporate world to the entertainment industry. After nearly a decade in the business, Meagan shares her experience working on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and the personal lessons she’s learned while navigating the unpredictable world of television production—especially as a remote producer in Korea.
Links: https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/megan-peck-shub
https://www.parents.com/megan-peck-shub-6891274
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21 Apr 2025
adapting your production company to keep relevant over 10 years
Eli talks to Tony Morin, CEO and owner of Hendy Street Produxions a video production company in Wilmington, NC. Tony gives advice on how to maintain a career, company, and client base, in the ever-changing media landscape.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-morin-70961416/
https://www.hendystreet.com/
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14 Apr 2025
the people behind paperhand puppet intervention and their legacy of performance activism
Eli catches up with Jan and Donvon, the creative minds behind Paperhand Puppet Intervention in Chapel Hill. They talk about how their puppetry brings activism, love for nature, and hope to the community and share insights into their role in the upcoming Gen X documentary.
Links: https://www.paperhandpuppet.org/
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7 Apr 2025
bringing life to the stories within medical publications
Eli speaks with Simar, a premedical student turned journalist, about his years of experience covering health and policy stories. They discuss the importance of effective communication in medicine—not just in the office but in broader society—and what needs to change in the conversation around healthcare.Links: https://www.simarbajaj.com/
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3 Apr 2025
the lawyer who took on DuPont and sparked a movement
Eli sits down with Rob Bilott, the lawyer immortalized in the NYT article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” and the film Dark Waters, where Mark Ruffalo portrays him. Together, they dive into the power of storytelling in the courtroom and discuss their work on the upcoming documentary GenX: the Saga of Forever Chemicals.
Links: https://www.taftlaw.com/people/robert-a-bilott/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html
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27 Mar 2025
traveling the globe full-time as a journalist
Eli talks with Sofia, a globe-trotting freelance journalist, about what it’s really like to live and work on the road. From navigating the changing landscape of journalism to practical advice on staying afloat, Sofia reveals the secrets of balancing adventure with career.
Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-quaglia-42a216142/?originalSubdomain=it
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20 Mar 2025
local community & how relationships sustain artists
Join Eli and Heather as they explore the intersection of visual art and community in Asheville. Heather talks about how she’s built a life as an artist, reflects on the lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, and shares why community is the heart of her creative process.
Links: https://www.heatherdivoky.com/
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13 Mar 2025
why a Stanford neuroscientist left to make TikToks full-time
Eli chats with Ben about how his viral TikTok video during the pandemic changed the trajectory of his career, blending neuroscience with the power of public science communication. He shares the highs and lows of transitioning from academia to becoming a mass media sensation, revealing the behind-the-scenes struggles and triumphs.
Links: https://www.benrein.com/
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26 Feb 2025
a failed film led to sold-out screenings for his first documentary
Eli talks with Chris about his experience as an independent documentary filmmaker and supporting the community within the south as Artistic Director of the Southern Documentary Fund. They dive into getting started with your first film, fundraising and ways to earn real money from screenings.
—Links about Chris:SDF Announcement for Chris (https://southerndocumentaryfund.org/filmmaker-christopher-everett-joins-southern-documentary-fund-team/)
www.instagram.com/spellerstreetchris/
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
437
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
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