“Hidden Voices” podcast helps Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities humanize and elevate challenges and opportunities within the system
TL;DR:
- GCDD’s Storytelling Project expands with “Hidden Voices” podcast.
- FRQNCY Media and GCDD formed a purpose-driven collaboration to produce the first-of-its-kind podcast.
- “Hidden Voices” marks the beginning of the Storytelling Project’s multimedia expansion, with a documentary coming next.
- Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
- Media Contact: Email or call Sigele Winbush for details or to schedule an interview.
ATLANTA – November 14, 2019 – On October 30, FRQNCY Media and the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) launched the debut season of “Hidden Voices,” a seven-episode series that spotlights the stories of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The podcast explores the daily life experiences of Georgians across the state, including their challenges and triumphs with everything from Medicaid waivers, employment, housing, transportation, advocacy, adaptive technology, and service animals.
“These are funny, heartwarming, challenging stories about people with developmental disabilities who are living, working and advocating for their rights – and disability rights in Georgia,” as introduced by GCDD on its campaign microsite.
The podcast is the next evolution of the nonprofit’s advocacy campaign, The GCDD Storytelling Project, which first launched in 2018. After the initial round of story gathering, which included more than 75 stories from across the state, the GCDD team knew their stories needed to find a larger platform and instinctively felt a podcast would be the right direction.
Enter FRQNCY Media.
When FRQNCY’s CEO and founder Michelle Khouri opened the proverbial doors of her podcast production company in 2018, it was her theory that the power of sound and storytelling could be used to make a difference in the world. This fundamental commitment made GCDD the perfect partner for Khouri to test her theory.
“Our work with GCDD is the kind of partnership I aspired to form when I launched FRQNCY,” said Khouri. “Alignment is one of our core values, and that’s what we feel with GCDD. Their project is aligned with what we’re trying to do in the world, which is heal, enlighten and uplift through sound. It was immediately clear that this would be a powerful and united collaboration. Theirs are exactly the kinds of stories we’re trying to bring into the world.”
Khouri was introduced to GCDD in early 2019 and over the next nine months, Khouri and her team, lead by producer Enna Garkusha, would work hand-in-hand with GCDD’s team to turn its vision into a reality.
“We were moving in the direction of producing the podcast in house, but I luckily met Michelle and FRQNCY,” said Irene Turner, Storytelling Project Director. “We loved that FRQNCY was a full-service, one-stop shop. They not only helped us produce a technically sound product, but also shaped our vision into a body of work that would advance our mission. We are excited about what this can mean for the awareness of our work.”
For GCDD, “Hidden Voices” offers an opportunity to further normalize the stories of the people it works on behalf of daily. It also provides an opportunity for GCDD to amplify its message and reach a broader audience of supporters and advocates.
For GCDD, the podcast is just the beginning and will soon be part of a larger multimedia catalogue of content that will also include a documentary, all developed to ensure accessibility and inclusivity.
The first episode of “Hidden Voices” premiered on October 30 and new episodes will air weekly for six consecutive Wednesdays following. “Hidden Voices” is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
With the release of “Hidden Voices,” GCDD now join the ranks of other FRQNCY collaborators, such as The Coca-Cola Company, SalesLoft, Unladylike Media and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., FRQNCY also produces Khouri’s The Cultured Podcast.
For more information on FRQNCY Media, visit frqncy.media.
About FRQNCY Media
FRQNCY is a first-of-its-kind podcast production company, built by and for podcasters. FRQNCY helps content creators reach new audiences through high-quality production, strategic audience development and proactive community building. frqncy.media
About the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is the State’s leader in advancing public policy on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. Its mission is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play and worship in Georgia communities. www.gcdd.org
FRQNCY Media is the audio production company for Jane Goodall, Diane von Furstenburg, Coca-Cola, and small businesses alike. FRQNCY is a one-in-a-million blend of innovation, passion, and joy. We offer tailored audio production support including integrated services that take (super-skilled) care of content strategy, market research, production, editing, and marketing.