Here are a few thumbnail concepts exploring a more distinct visual identity for The Shawn Ryan Show.
 

Many podcasts follow similar packaging formulas. Taking inspiration from the clean, high-contrast layouts seen on shows like Modern Wisdom and earlier The Diary of a CEO packaging, I wanted to experiment with a structured border matching the show’s brand palette to create immediate recognition in the browse feed.

 

A few things to test:

  • Guest-Only: Evaluating whether isolating the guest during deeply personal moments drives higher intrigue or if Shawn's memorable face drives the click. Would using the logo drive as many clicks?

  • Body Language & Tension: Testing shots featuring expressive hands or guarded posture alongside facial close-ups to see if deeper emotional cues lift CTR.

  • Minimalist vs. Heavy Imagery: Testing clean visual storytelling against text-heavy designs to determine what reliably cuts through mobile feed noise without relying on generic labels. 

 

Thumbnails to Test

Screenshots of my IG analytics page.

Youtube Analytics page for my channel @writingamongtrees

Editing Test Video

Full Podcast

Long-form Clip

Interview with M.C. Hutton, Author
Role: Filmed, Edited, Sound Design, Thumbnail Design
This was an interview I did with my friend and author, M.C. Hutton where we discussed her book and writing in general. I set up the individual cameras, hosted the podcast, and did all of the editing. 

John Ross American, Fighter Pilot 
Role: Filmed, Edited, Sound Design, Thumbnail Design
I helped the team film the documentary in Florida and captured this veteran's story before he passed. Back in the studio,, I sourced the archival fighter pilot footage, the sound effects (some of which I created), and utlizied the team's created assets to bring this long-form clip to life. 

Here are a few videos I hand picked from my portfolio that show similar editing styles that fit the job description.

Beyond client productions, I actively manage and optimize my own channels, treating them as testing grounds for YouTube packaging, algorithm shifts, and short-form retention mechanics.
 

YouTube Channel Operations (@writingamongtrees):

  • Grew an organic educational channel to 170K+ views, 7,000 watch hours, and 1.8M+ total impressions.

  • Maintained an average 5.8% CTR (peaking at 6.5% on 1.2M+ impressions) using custom Photoshop thumbnail design and title A/B testing via TubeBuddy and VidIQ.

  • Continuously monitor YouTube Studio retention graphs and traffic sources to optimize intro hooks and average view duration (AVD).

 

Short-Form Viral Distribution (Instagram & TikTok @noellenichols / @noellenicholsbooks):

  • Generated 110K+ views and 8.8K+ interactions in 30 days across short-form content.

  • Converted 1,000+ net new followers from a single high-performing Reel (75K views) by leveraging clear text-on-screen hooks and retention-focused pacing.

 

Continuous Education:

  • Graduate of Sean Cannell’s Video Ranking Academy (VRA) Masterclass.

  • Certified in Social Media Algorithms for Creators and Online Video Content Strategy.

 

Premiere Timeline for Editing Test:

I crafted a custom intro designed to hook the audience within the first 30–45 seconds, layering tension through dialogue selection, subtle sound effects, and atmospheric music.

 

Once the main interview begins at 0:48, I did not introduce any more edits. In conversations this heavy, I find it takes away from the conversation and emotion. Keeping the natural pauses, raw cadence, and thoughtful silences gives the story its real weight, with clean camera switching to preserve conversational flow.

 

What else could be added:

  • Archival & B-Roll: If available, deployment photos, historical documents, or mission imagery could be added to illustrate the interview (which I've seen is sometimes done with other videos on the channel).

  • Audio: Sound effects could be added to emphasize turning points in the story, like how I tested in the opening of the video, or a music track could be overlayed. If that's done, consistency will be key in keeping balanced so it's not jarring.

  • Workflow Prioritization: Balanced high-impact packaging with an efficient turnaround, focusing editorial time where viewer retention matters most.

 

Relevant Editing Samples

Data-Driven Growth & Platform Strategy

 

The Shawn Ryan Show - Application

 

Noelle Nichols