We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shannon McGarvey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shannon below.

Shannon, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

This might sound like a cop-out but it’s true: every project I take on means so much to me.

I get to tell stories for a living — how cool is that? Some of these stories have affected real change. Some of these stories have given people answers or peace or maybe even some closure. That’s super meaningful to me.

But I guess if I had to pick the project that’s meant the most to me it would be the work I’ve done with the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case. I began work on LISK in late 2016 as a researcher for what was originally slated to be a documentary film project. But after several starts and stops, the project eventually transformed into a true crime podcast. And if it wasn’t for that true crime podcast LISK: Long Island Serial Killer —I might have missed my calling.

Shannon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a writer and multimedia producer specializing in podcast and video formats. I started my career in music and entertainment journalism (for a short while, I wanted to be Lester Bangs) at the Austin American-Statesman in Austin, Texas. Then I quit newspapers and ran off to grad school in Scotland where I studied creative writing at the University of Glasgow. In my mind’s eye, I remember those years as a sort of a modern day Robert Louis Stevenson story soundtracked by Belle and Sebastian. Gothic and damp but oddly happy about it all. It was awesome.

After that epoch was over, I moved to New York City and began working as a writer for cable TV networks (fun fact: I once wrote obits for the Biography Channel). Eventually, I landed back in Austin, TX, where over many years in film and TV, I found my way into narrative storytelling, podcasting, and true crime.

I have a genuine curiosity and interest in people. I enjoy the vulnerability of authenticity and approach every project with empathy.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m fascinated by the human experience; by this life. That somehow we exist on a spinning rock in the middle of a boundless universe. It’s just nuts to me. I want to take it all in; hear every story—even the sad ones. Life is so short. But there’s something about the creative journey, the connections formed, that feels eternal to me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was a teenager, a family member asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I said I wanted to be a writer. They said that’s a great hobby but what do you want to DO with your life? I said I wanted to be a writer. There was probably some kind of awkward silence after that.

But I guess my take away from that moment is: don’t let anyone dim your light. Keep the dream alive. It’s hard work, but you’ll be better off for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shannonmcgarvey.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shannonmcgarvey
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonmcgarvey
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shannonmcgarvey
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/shannonmcgarvey