01
Portfolio & Slate Strategy
Strategic evaluation of an existing podcast, audio, or video slate to clarify priorities, tradeoffs, and investment decisions.
Networks & Platforms
Experience at
Wondery / Amazon
Amazon Music
Audible
ESPN / ABC Sports
SportsNet NY
What I do
Senior judgment when it matters most.
With 15+ years in podcasting and original audio — and 20+ years across media, content, and entertainment — I work with companies and independent creators at moments where clarity and structure matter more than hustle, bringing the kind of senior judgment that only comes from building and running this work at the highest level.
I've managed concurrent slates of 40+ shows across audio, video, and hybrid formats, overseen multi-million-dollar content portfolios, and executive produced work that's earned Podcast of the Year, a Pulitzer Prize finalist nomination, and Apple's first-ever “Series Essential” designation.
Read my background →Why clients work with me
- 01EP-level experience, not just advice. I've run slates, made greenlight calls, and lived with the results. The strategic judgment I bring is grounded in what those decisions actually cost.
- 02Clear scope, defined outcomes. Every engagement starts with a tight brief and ends with actionable recommendations.
- 03Focused where it counts. Every engagement is scoped around your highest-leverage decisions, the kind that compound over time and shape everything downstream.
- 04Pattern recognition at scale. Managing a concurrent slate of 40+ shows means I've seen nearly every failure mode, and most of the wins.
- 05Earns trust fast. Colleagues describe my approach as precision, follow-through, and an ability to unstick blockers quickly.
Recognition
Selected awards & credits.
Hysterical
Podcast of the Year
Apple · Time · Vulture, 2025
Hysterical
Podcast of the Year + Best Reporting
The Ambies, 2025
Hysterical
Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Audio Reporting
The Pulitzer Board, 2025
9/12
Podcast of the Year · Best Reporting · Best Original Score
The Ambies, 2022 — 3 wins
Ghost Story
Best Documentary
The Ambies, 2024
Ghost Story
Apple’s first “Series Essential”
Apple Podcasts, 2023
Additional nominations, 2021 – 2025
Think Twice: Michael Jackson
Podcast of the Year — The New Yorker, 2023
Ghost Story
Podcast of the Year Nominee — The Ambies, 2024
The Big Flop
Best Comedy Nominee — The Ambies, 2024
The Cat in the Hat Cast
Best Kids + Best Original Score — The Ambies, 2024
Fire Escape
Podcast of the Year Nominee — The Ambies, 2025
Killer Psyche
Best Scriptwriting, Non-Fiction — The Ambies, 2025
Suspect
Best True Crime — The Ambies, 2022
Have a Nice Day
Audie Award Finalist — APA, 2020
The First One
Best Entertainment Nominee — The Ambies, 2021
Distribution strategy that converts.
Built the paywalling and windowing framework that became Wondery's company standard — driving 40% year-over-year subscription revenue growth and an 830% increase in purchases across the portfolio.
Greenlight to launch in under 7 months.
Ghost Story — Ambies Best Documentary, Apple's first-ever "Series Essential," and one of Wondery's most successful limited series launches.
Strategy that shaped the business.
Co-authored senior leadership documents for Amazon's S-Team on portfolio performance, gross profit, and content investment strategy.
“He earns trust fast, unsticks blockers, and gets teams rowing in the same direction.”
Colleague, WonderyCore Services
Six ways
I can help.
02
Show Pitching & Creative Development
High-level creative evaluation and pitch refinement at the decision-making level.
Creators & Producers03
Talent & Market Scouting
Independent evaluation of the podcast and creator landscape — including video and hybrid formats — to identify acquisition, partnership, or expansion opportunities.
Networks & Platforms04
Go-To-Market & Distribution
Strategic design of how a show enters the market and how success is defined from day one.
All clients05
Creator & Show Checkup
A structured, senior-level audit diagnosing what's working, what's holding a show back, and what to do next.
Independent Creators06
Interim / “Hired Gun” Leadership
Embedded strategic leadership during moments of transition, reset, or rapid build.
OrganizationsWho I work with
The right fit matters.
Podcast Networks & Platforms
Teams needing senior judgment on slate strategy, greenlight decisions, or portfolio reset — without a full-time hire.
Media Companies Building Audio
Organizations expanding into podcasting, audio, or video content who need an experienced operator to set strategy and avoid common early mistakes.
Creators & Talent
High-profile creators or journalists with strong ideas who need clarity, market positioning, and a senior eye on the pitch.
Studios & Producers
Production companies looking for strategic partnership, a network-side perspective, or help evaluating where to take a show.
Most content problems have already compounded by the time someone calls.
Services
What I do.
How it works.
I advise podcast networks, platforms, and creators on high-stakes content decisions across audio, video, and hybrid formats — bringing clarity, structure, and senior judgment when it matters most. Every engagement is scoped, finite, and focused on real decisions.
This isn't consulting-by-committee or death by deliverable. It's a senior partner who's been in the room — greenlit shows, killed the wrong ones, built teams, brokered deals, and done it at scale. You get that judgment, pointed directly at your problem.
A clear read on what you're building.
Most content problems are positioning problems in disguise. I help you see what your show or slate actually is — and what it's trying to be — before those two things diverge.
Senior pressure-testing, not cheerleading.
If something isn't working, I'll say so. If it's close but needs a sharper idea, I'll bring one. The goal is the right answer, not the comfortable one.
Structure that travels.
Good advisory work leaves something behind — frameworks, decision criteria, launch logic — tools your team can use after I'm gone.
01
Portfolio & Slate Strategy
Networks & PlatformsStrategic evaluation of an existing podcast or content slate to clarify priorities, tradeoffs, and investment decisions. The goal is a sharper, more intentional portfolio, one where every show has a clear role.
- Full slate diagnosis, what's working, stalled, or misaligned
- Clear role definition for each show (subscriptions, ads, brand, IP, talent)
- Renewal, pause, sunset, or reframe recommendations
- 6–12 month portfolio roadmap
Best for
Networks, platforms, or studios needing sharper focus and better outcomes from existing content.
02
Show Pitching & Creative Development
Creators & ProducersHigh-level creative evaluation and pitch refinement at the decision-making level. I help strong ideas become greenlight-ready, with the discipline and market awareness that gets them bought.
- Pitch teardown and rebuild
- Format and franchise architecture
- Host and talent fit assessment
- Greenlight readiness and risk analysis
- Platform- or buyer-specific positioning
Best for
Creators, producers, or companies with strong ideas that need clarity, discipline, and market alignment.
03
Talent & Market Scouting
Networks & PlatformsIndependent evaluation of the podcast and creator landscape to identify acquisition, partnership, or expansion opportunities, without the guesswork. Covers audio, video, and hybrid formats.
- Scouting existing shows and emerging talent
- Buy vs. build vs. partner recommendations
- Risk and scalability assessment
- Franchise and integration potential analysis
Best for
Networks or platforms looking to expand their slate intelligently.
04
Go-To-Market & Distribution Strategy
All clientsStrategic design of how a show enters the market and how success is defined. Launching without a distribution strategy is the most common, and most expensive, mistake in podcasting.
- Launch and windowing strategy
- Feed, paywall, and platform approach
- Subscription vs. ad tradeoff analysis
- KPI definition tied to real decisions
- Post-launch optimization framework
Best for
Teams launching premium content or recalibrating underperforming releases.
05
Creator & Show Checkup
Independent CreatorsA structured, senior-level audit designed to diagnose what's working, what's holding a show back, and what to do next. This is not ongoing coaching, it's a clear-eyed product and strategy assessment.
- Review of recent episodes and format
- Positioning and audience clarity assessment
- Host performance and structural notes
- Distribution and growth levers
- Monetization readiness (ads, subs, brand, IP)
- Written recommendations and prioritized next steps
Best for
Independent creators, journalists, or teams who want expert judgment without a long-term commitment.
06
Interim / “Hired Gun” Leadership
OrganizationsEmbedded strategic leadership during moments of transition, reset, or rapid build. I step in as acting head of content or strategy, deliver real work, then hand off cleanly.
- Acting head of content or strategy support
- Slate or team realignment
- Executive-level decision support
- Systems, frameworks, and process installation
- Clean handoff after engagement ends
Best for
Organizations needing senior judgment without a permanent hire.
How I work
What to expect.
- Senior-level, hands-on strategic partner — not a junior team behind a senior face
- Scoped engagements with real deliverables, not open-ended retainers that pad hours
- Strategy, creative development, and decision-making, with the ability to step into EP or show-running roles when needed
- Typical engagements: 2–12 weeks or monthly advisory
- Interim leadership: 3–6 month engagements
Not sure which service fits? Let's figure it out together.
About
Morgan
Jones.
15+ years in podcasting · 20+ years in media
Wondery, Amazon Music, Audible
2× Podcast of the Year · Pulitzer Finalist
San Francisco, CA
I spent 20+ years inside some of the most consequential media and audio organizations ever built — Audible, Amazon Music, and Wondery — with 15+ years focused specifically on podcasting, original audio, and hybrid audio-video formats, learning what it actually takes to build a slate, develop a show, and make decisions that hold up under pressure.
At Wondery, I built and led the Commissioned Originals team, running a slate of 25–30 shows at a time across every genre while managing a team of 10+ producers and maintaining relationships with 30+ external studios and creators. The work ranged from Ghost Story (Ambies Best Documentary, Apple’s first Series Essential, 5M series downloads) to Hysterical (Apple and Time Podcast of the Year 2025, Pulitzer Prize finalist) to complex international co-productions and global launches in four markets.
In 2024, I became Head of US Originals Strategy & Programming, overseeing the full lifecycle of Wondery’s US slate, leading greenlight processes, owning MBR/QBR reporting for senior leadership, and co-authoring strategic documents for Amazon’s S-Team. Simultaneously, I led international content across the UK, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil.
“He earns trust fast, unsticks blockers, and gets teams rowing in the same direction.”
Now I bring that experience to organizations and creators who need senior-level judgment without a full-time hire. Whether that means a slate review, a pitch teardown, a launch strategy, or acting as an embedded thought partner during a critical window, I work at the decision layer, with clear scope and defined outcomes.
I’m based in San Francisco and work with clients remotely and in person.
2×
Ambies Podcast of the Year
Hysterical (2025) · 9/12 (2022)
Hysterical (2025) · 9/12 (2022)
Pulitzer
Prize Finalist
Audio Reporting, 2025
Audio Reporting, 2025
8
Ambies wins
15+ nominations, 2021–2025
15+ nominations, 2021–2025
40+
Podcasts managed at once
Wondery · Amazon Music · Audible
Wondery · Amazon Music · Audible
Experience
Where I've been.
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2024 – 2025Wondery / AmazonHead of US Originals Strategy & Programming + Acting Head of International ContentOwned slate-level strategy and greenlight decisions across 40+ Originals, balancing editorial ambition, audience growth, and commercial performance. Set release, distribution, and windowing strategy across the portfolio. Led executive-level QBRs and MBRs, co-authored “Beyond the Download” for Amazon’s S-Team, and simultaneously directed content strategy across the UK, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil. EP credits include Hysterical (Podcast of the Year) and Empire City.
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2022 – 2024Wondery / AmazonHead of Commissioned OriginalsBuilt and led Wondery’s Commissioned Originals team (10+ FTEs), owning creative and commercial performance across a portfolio of 40+ series spanning premium limiteds, franchise titles, and experimental formats. EP credits include Ghost Story, Hysterical, 9/12, Think Twice: Michael Jackson, Class of ’88, The Big Flop, and more. Codified greenlight frameworks and launch playbooks that became company standards.
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2020 – 2022Amazon MusicHead of Amazon Original & Exclusive PodcastsFirst content hire responsible for launching Amazon Music’s podcast initiative. Built the editorial and operational framework for podcast programming, curation, and partner management from scratch. Onboarded hundreds of thousands of shows and laid the groundwork for Amazon’s broader podcast strategy across Wondery and Amazon Music.
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2014 – 2020Audible / AmazonExecutive Producer, Audible Original ProgrammingManaged a multi-million-dollar slate of scripted and unscripted audio. EP credits include Have a Nice Day (Billy Crystal & Annette Bening), Strong Ending (Mary-Louise Parker), I’m From the Sun (Kids Audiobook of the Year 2018), and Foreverywhere (Kids Listen of the Year 2019). Negotiated talent deals with Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, Gillian Jacobs, Rachel Bloom, Meg Ryan, and more.
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2011 – 2014Rooftop Comedy (acq. by Audible)Director, Programming & DevelopmentContent executive for digital media startup, later acquired by Audible. Developed original video and audio programs for Microsoft, TBS, IFC, and Scripps. Collaborated with advertising partners and media clients across branded entertainment partnerships.
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2009 – 2011AMC NetworksWriter / ProducerConceived and developed large-scale on-air event programming for AMC during the peak Mad Men and Breaking Bad era. Wrote scripts for celebrity interviews and coordinated talent strategies with guests including Martin Scorsese, Jon Hamm, and Kevin Costner.
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2005 – 2010ESPN / ABC News / SportsNet NYProducer & Senior ProducerManaged full production staff for a daily ESPN sports and entertainment talk show alongside host Stephen A. Smith. Earlier, produced streaming news programs at ABC News Now including live 2004 Election coverage. Lead producer and editorial voice for SportsNet NY’s nightly highlight show covering the NY Mets and NY Jets.
Selected work
Shows, awards & credits.
In their own words
Watch the work.
9/12 Wondery · Ambies Podcast of the Year 2022
Ghost Story Wondery · Ambies Best Documentary · Apple Series Essential
Hysterical Wondery · Podcast of the Year — Apple · Time · Vulture · Pulitzer Finalist
Suspect Audible Original · True crime investigation series
What colleagues say
Heard from the people who've worked with me.
Morgan’s superpower is his precision and unwavering focus. He dives deep into strategy and details to ensure the best experience for consumers, while building mechanisms to increase efficiencies.
Senior Colleague, Wondery
One of the most inspiring leaders I’ve had the chance to work with. He quickly earned trust internationally, promoting collaboration, refocusing on priorities, and implementing effective content strategies.
Senior Colleague, Wondery International
Morgan is our team’s go-to problem solver, with an apt ability to unstick blockers. He consistently demonstrates bias for action, ownership, and insists on the highest standards for all shows, regardless of budget and priority.
Direct Report & Senior Producer, Wondery
Ready to bring this to your work? Let's talk.
Get in Touch
Let's
talk.
Most first conversations are 30 minutes. No deck required, no commitment — just a clear-eyed look at what you're working on and whether I can help. Use the form below or book an intro call directly.
Let’s talk.
The easiest way to reach me is a direct email. Or fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours.
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I’ll be in touch within 48 hours. Talk soon.
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