American Metamorphosis

American Metamorphosis, an original podcast series from The Atlantic produced in partnership with Boston Consulting Group, journeyed through the climate, the economy, and the American political system to report impartial stories of perseverance. Across five seasons, the series showcased how synergy between the public and private sectors can lead to meaningful progress, providing a dynamic canvas for engaging, true-to-life storytelling.

My Role:

As Executive Creative Director & Head of Production I was responsible for both the big picture vision and the day-to-day machinery that made the series possible:

  • Set the creative vision and narrative architecture across five seasons

  • Led the editorial voice — tone, pacing, and narrative tension

  • Brought in external producing talent to complement our in-house team and build a hybrid, high-performing crew

  • Designed the full production workflow, from pitch to publish, so multiple episodes and seasons could run in parallel without chaos

  • Set and managed the production budget, ensuring we scaled the creative ambition without overspend

  • Oversaw talent strategy, casting ~80 guests across science, business, politics, arts, and culture

  • Partnered closely with BCG stakeholders to keep episodes compelling, accurate, and legally/operationally viable

  • Directed the evolving aesthetic — season-specific artwork, sonic identity, and overall look and feel

Execution:

Across more than 30 episodes and 5 seasons, the series blended documentary sensibility with narrative journalism:

  • Human-first story openings that transition into thematic explorations of risk, resilience, modernization, and collaboration.

  • A dynamic visual identity that evolved with each season’s thematic shift while keeping the brand recognizable.

  • Interviews with leaders spanning Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists, CEOs, astronauts, artists, and military innovators — carefully woven into a unified narrative arc.

  • A cohesive audio experience shaped through meticulous editing, atmospheric sound design, and editorial rigor.

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The Ask:

Boston Consulting Group partners with organizations to tackle their biggest challenges and unlock their greatest opportunities in moments of transformation — yet much of that work must remain confidential. The client needed a public-facing storytelling platform that could increase brand awareness while showcasing BCG’s expansive expertise across national security, revenue, aerospace, crisis management, and more.


The challenge: How do you reveal the breadth and depth of BCG’s impact without revealing the confidential work itself?

The Concept:

We built American Metamorphosis as a storytelling Trojan horse: a narrative podcast that feels like documentary journalism but quietly signals BCG’s fingerprints on the country’s most complex systems.

Every episode starts with an “Unexpected Anecdote” — something intimate, surprising, or slightly off-angle — that gradually widens into a story about climate resilience, political volatility, technological risk, or societal transformation.

This structure allowed the series to reveal BCG’s authority and breadth without exposing confidential engagements — demonstrating expertise through narrative, not case files.

How we brought it to life:

American Metamorphosis did not only cover ongoing transformations—it changed alongside them. Initially, American Metamorphosis was created as a limited series about the transfer of power. But as our first season unfolded—and resonated with audiences—it became clear that its storytelling method could reach much further still. The podcast evolved to feature a specific theme each season, mirroring shifts in American culture from risk-taking to resilience.

Through interviews between our host, the Emmy-nominated journalist Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani, and some 80 guests, we introduced timely, pressing themes—from the nuances of presidential transitions to the implications of global competitiveness. Each season and indeed each episode was crafted with a keen eye for these evolving narratives, providing a reflective and adaptive storytelling approach.

This thematic focus kept the series timely and pertinent, broadening its appeal and enhancing its impact on listeners.

Impact:

  • 5.6M+ downloads across all seasons.

  • 90% of new Season 5 listeners went back to start at Season 1, Episode 1 — indicating long-term story retention and brand affinity.

  • 57% listener growth in cumulative downloads season over season.

  • Industry recognition including Webby Honoree, Native Advertising Awards Silver, and Publisher Podcast Awards shortlist.

  • Strengthened BCG’s brand visibility and positioned them as thoughtful, future-oriented leaders across the public and private sectors.