When the Storyteller Edits Herself: Inside a Unique Episode of Diamond Defense Podcast
- Kellie Raines
- Nov 7
- 4 min read
Every episode of Diamond Defense Podcast is a collaboration between me and my co-host and co-producer, Lisa Thew (owner of Diamond Defense). Together, we explore stories that help women understand, prevent, and possibly recover from unsafe encounters — through real experiences, shared lessons, and a bit of laughter along the way — and several F-bombs!
But Episode 6, Dating Parables and Red Flags, was different. This time, I wasn’t just the co-host and co-producer — I was also the storyteller. And, for the first time during this podcast, I took on the challenge of editing my own story.
That shift changed everything about the creative process.
Producing a Story When You're the Storyteller
When we planned this episode, Lisa and I knew it needed to be handled with care. It wasn’t just another guest sharing their experience — it was me, revisiting moments of possible danger, violation, humor, and vulnerability from my unmagical dating life.
As co-producer, I outlined the structure as I would for any storyteller: identifying narrative beats, defining red flags, and planning emotional pacing. I also had to choose the three most compelling stories from my storied, unromantic sojourns. But producing your own narrative means juggling two brains — the analytical producer who needs structure and the human storyteller who needs space.
That dual role pushed me to think about how to protect both the story and me within it. And without metaphorical wolves devouring me. (Listen to the episode for that inside-baseball reference.)
Hosting and Storytelling at the Same Time
Hosting while being the story’s subject is its own kind of high-wire act.
As Lisa guided the conversation, I had to toggle between staying emotionally present and keeping an eye on how the story would play later in edit.
It’s a balance between instinct and intention — being honest enough to stay authentic, but aware enough to still shape the arc. Lisa created the space for me to do that safely. Her questions, empathy, and timing let the story unfold naturally, which made the final recording feel conversational rather than confessional.
The Challenge of Editing Your Own Story
Once the mics were off, the hardest part began — editing myself.
In our usual workflow, I handle the editing and sound design for the podcast. But this was the first time I had to sculpt my own voice — deciding what to keep, what to trim, and what to let breathe. Let me tell you, it’s not easy to edit yourself. And it’s very tempting to edit yourself into almost nothing when you’re feeling vulnerable.
There’s a strange intimacy in hearing your own trauma and humor loop back at you through headphones. Each cut becomes an act of curation, and each silence a choice.
I used Adobe Audition for assembly and mixing, and Melodie for subtle music beds. But the real work wasn’t technical — it was emotional. Editing forced me to re-listen not just as a producer, but as a witness to my own experiences.
It’s a level of self-awareness that’s equal parts cathartic and exhausting.
Collaboration Behind the Mic
Even though I was editing solo, I never worked in isolation. Lisa and I held a listening edit session — the same process we use for every episode — to ensure that tone, pacing, and messaging stayed balanced. She provided distance where I couldn’t.
That’s the gift of collaboration: when your creative partner can hold a mirror steady while you work through the reflection.
Marketing and Releasing the Episode
After the mix came the marketing — descriptions, visuals, and social posts. But this time, the step that’s usually energizing for me felt complicated.
I found myself staring at the “publish” button thinking, Do I really want to tell the world, “Hey, listen to these horrible things that happened to me?” The storyteller in me said yes — stories like this matter. But the human in me hesitated.
I went back and forth for days about posting on my own social media accounts. I wanted the episode to reach people who might see themselves in it, yet I also wanted to protect myself from the vulnerability hangover that comes from putting pain into public view.
In the end, I chose to share it — but with boundaries. I posted the link and my reflection, then quietly adjusted my settings so certain professional connections wouldn’t see it (at least via my social media channels). It was my way of standing by the story while keeping a little armor intact.
That decision became part of the process too: learning how to market with honesty, but also with self-care.
When the Storyteller Edits Herself (Hey, that's me!) and What I Learned
Producing, hosting, storytelling, editing, and marketing — five hats, one episode.
And somewhere between those hats and over multiple episodes, I discovered that I apparently say “like” a million times. Possibly more. Every time I thought I’d cut the last one, another popped up — a linguistic game of whack-a-mole. I’m now on a personal mission to retrain my conversational muscle memory, one “like” at a time. Wish me, like, luck!
But here’s what I really learned: when you edit your own story, you’re not just polishing audio — you’re clarifying truth. It’s less about removing filler words and more about finding the moments that fill the story with meaning.
It deepened my respect for every storyteller who’s trusted me with their narrative. And it reminded me that storytelling, at its best, is about transformation — both for the audience and the creator.
It’s not easy work. When the storyteller edits herself (me), that's good practice! And it’s the kind that matters — even if I’m still, like, working on it.
Produced by: Diamond Defense Podcast
Hosted by: Lisa Thew & Kellie Raines
Production Notes
Recording: Shure MV7 & Zoom H6
Recorded via: Riverside.fm
Editing: Adobe Audition
Sound Design: Melodie music licensing
Collaboration: Co-produced and co-hosted with Lisa Thew
Distribution: Buzzsprout
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