Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlin Dryden.
Hi Kaitlin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2019, graduated from a university in a town with less than 5,000 people on the east coast of Canada with a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and Anthropology. Lost with what to do after graduation, I moved back home to Burlington, Ontario (the suburbs of Toronto) I began working at a restaurant. When COVID hit in March, I was laid off and I went north 2 hours from Toronto, to stay at my parents farm— mainly by myself— with little internet connection. I began listening to a ton of podcasts because the poor internet, I couldn’t download Netflix, HBO, or YouTube. I started listening to this podcast called Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso and I had this thought— I would be a great podcast producer and I think this guy Sam and I would get along.
Quickly after this realization, I applied for Radio and Media Productions at a college in Toronto and started in fall 2020. In January 2021, I emailed Sam and we started working together while I was still living in Canada. I moved out to Los Angeles in 2023 to go to The Los Angeles Recording School— expanding my audio skills to music, tv, and film.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, the road hasn’t always been smooth. One of my favourite quotes is from Ira Glass.
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
This quote is something that I return to all the time— when I’m frustrated that a project hasn’t worked out, the tape isn’t as good as I wanted it to be, or when the vision in my head didn’t meet the outcome. It’s easy to give up in those moments, but returning to the work is what gets you to where you want to be. Talent and luck play a part in success— but without hard work and sacrifice, you wouldn’t get anywhere.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an audio producer and engineer who specializes in podcasts. I produce over 12 shows today and I work at Dear Media and Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso.
I’ve become an expert at launching shows— I know what they need to get setup and what needs to happen to maintain them. Since I’m also an audio engineer, I have a keen ear in knowing what works from a creative and auditory perspective. I’m really proud of the work I’ve done at Talk Easy and with Treated with Dr. Sara at Dear Media.
What matters most to you?
Audio quality.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlindryden?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlindryden?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
All photos are taken by myself.
Kaitlin Dryden
