Podcast managing editor and leader of ABC’s Audio Studios, Kellie Riordan, is leaving the national broadcaster after 18 years.
Riordan is the creative lead behind ABC’s most successful podcast titles including Conversations, one of Australia’s most downloaded titles, and Unravel True Crime which won a Walkley in 2019.
Riordan also worked across The Eleventh, Ladies We Need To Talk, Fierce Girls and The Pineapple Project. She also spearheaded the Australian podcast conference Ozpod for the past four years.
Riordan said she was looking forward to expanding her podcast horizons.
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“I feel so lucky to go out on an absolute high with record audience figures, awards, and international accolades for our distinctive podcasts. It feels like a lovely closed circle to depart after this month recording the highest ever result for Conversations – Australia’s most-downloaded podcast. I had the privilege/madness to start this podcast in 2005 before the iPhone was invented. My then radio boss couldn’t understand why I wanted him to buy me an iRiver so I could check the HTML code I was using was, in fact, publishing a thing called a podcast. It seems fitting to go out 15 years later still over-seeing that show and its record numbers.
“But I’m looking forward to exploring some new opportunities in the global podcast space, which is fast expanding right now,” she said.
Riordan has been the lead at ABC Audio Studios for over three years. Prior to that, she worked at the broadcaster in a variety of roles, including reporting, producing and leading across ABC Local Radio, Radio National, Triple J, ABC News and ABC Training.
Riordan is currently exploring new roles and opportunities.