Joy Marie Smith is a creative leader, producer, and content strategist specializing in narrative audio, digital media, and children’s entertainment. With more than fifteen years of experience, she has developed and produced award-winning podcasts, audiobooks, immersive audio dramas, and multimedia storytelling experiences. Formerly Head of Digital Content at Rebel Girls and a producer at Audible, Joy is known for blending creative vision with technical expertise to build engaging, inclusive stories for audiences of all ages. Her work has contributed to multiple Webby, Signal, Telly, and Listener’s Choice Awards.
How many years have you worked in podcasting or audio?
10+ years
What is your current role, in your own words?
I’m an independent producer, director, and creative leader whose work spans immersive audio, digital content, and children’s media. I develop and produce podcasts, audiobooks, and narrative experiences, bringing together creative vision, technical craft, and a commitment to building stories that resonate with audiences of all ages.
What types of projects do you typically work on?
I specialize in producing and directing multicast audio dramas, with a particular focus on children’s entertainment and middle grade fiction.
How many years have you been a Signal Awards judge?
1–3 years
What excited you about joining the Signal Awards Judging Academy?
Audio storytelling has been such a meaningful part of my creative life and career, so I’m excited for the opportunity to support the growth of the medium, learn from fellow industry professionals, and help celebrate the creativity, craft, and innovation that make audio storytelling so powerful.
What is one recent podcast you’ve loved and would recommend?
The Sinners: In Proximity Podcast. It’s been a long time since a podcast has so thoroughly reignited my inner production nerd. I love talking shop and listening to other creators talk shop. My favorite episode is the deep dive into script supervision, the kind of discipline that rarely gets the spotlight despite being essential to great storytelling. I came away from each episode buzzing with renewed appreciation for how much creativity lives in the details, and that great stories are built by teams of people who care deeply about their craft.
What project are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of developing and producing the Growing Up Powerful podcast series for Rebel Girls. Designed as both a companion to the Growing Up Powerful book series and a standalone listening experience, it blended character-driven storytelling with practical tools to help young listeners navigate topics such as mental health, puberty, community, and self-discovery.
What makes me most proud is that it was a true collaboration between an exceptional creative team, talented voice actors, and dedicated post-production partners. Together, we tackled complex topics in a way that was accessible, engaging, and hopeful – helping girls feel seen, supported, and more confident as they navigated important moments in their lives.
The series received five Signal Awards in 2023, and we went on to produce a second season in partnership with Nike focused on girls in sports and body confidence.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to emerging creators?
My advice to emerging creators is something I’m trying to practice myself: make it exist. Bring the first draft, the prototype, the rough cut into existence and build from there. The act of making is often the best form of research, and many of the answers or next steps reveal themselves through the work itself.
I’d also encourage creators to attend to your artist self. We bring so much energy and excellence to our professional work, it’s important to invest that same care, discipline, and curiosity in our own creative pursuits. Your perspective matters, and the work that only you can make matters too.