Building MAX Studios
From one podcast to a place where we could create together.
Producer / 2020–2022 Creative Director / 2022–2024
How It Began
MAX Studios began with a student success podcast and an opportunity to share more of the people, experiences, and ideas at the University of St. Thomas.
We started small, recording conversations over Zoom and working with limited equipment. Over time, that beginning grew into a dedicated studio, several ongoing shows, and collaborations beyond the university. I helped build it along the way, first as Producer and later as Creative Director.
My Part in Building It
I was the first person on the MAX Studios team and part of the initiative from its inception. As Producer and later Creative Director, I helped shape what it could become while doing the everyday work of bringing it to life.
My work stretched from developing a show’s first idea to getting an episode ready to share. I helped shape concepts, coordinate recordings, establish production routines, and support the people stepping in front of—and behind—the cameras.
I worked with faculty, university leaders, students, and outside partners to understand what they wanted to share and find a format that suited them. Some needed help developing questions or getting comfortable on camera. Others needed someone to work through the practical details and keep production moving.
Mentoring student team members was an important part of that work, too: helping them learn the equipment, make creative decisions, and grow confident enough to take ownership of a production.
What We Built Together
Over the course of MAX Studios, we:
Grew from a single podcast to multiple shows in production at the same time.
Established a dedicated studio and production routines that helped us keep creating.
Gave student team members opportunities to learn and contribute across multiple productions.
Created a four-episode series with Word on Fire, which I co-wrote and co-hosted, supported by five promotional trailers.
A Look at the Work
Episode 1 — Leah Darrow Explores Facebook
This episode comes from our four-part collaboration with Word on Fire. I co-wrote and co-hosted the series, working with the team to develop its conversations and shape the stories we wanted to share.
What Stays With Me
Building MAX Studios taught me how much care goes into making creative work possible. Listening to someone’s idea, helping them feel comfortable, preparing the space, and working through a technical problem all help a project take shape.
I came to appreciate the practical routines that gave us room to experiment—and the relationships that made people want to keep creating together. Those are lessons I carry into every production.