Bridget Richardson is a Producer at the University of St. Thomas-Houston’s MAX Studios, a video and podcast studio on campus. She earned her B.S. in Journalism and Electronic Media with a minor in Theatre at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She completed her Master of Arts in Faith and Culture at University of St. Thomas-Houston. Bridget has experience in communications, marketing, dialogue, event planning, social media, and Christian unity initiatives. She is married and has two children.

Why did you become interested in media production? What does a day at work look like for you? 

I’ve always been interested in media (or content creation) in some format, either writing or video creation. I majored in journalism and electronic media, and minored in theatre, so storytelling and entertainment have always interested me.

I’m grateful that I have two types of “days” when it comes to my job. I have a hybrid schedule, working both at home and in the studio. Days in the studio are busy and fun, filled mostly with filming interviews with guests or filming commentary for a piece. This is also a collaborative time to work on production pieces (script writing, picking episode themes, etc.) and discuss what’s going on in the world to decide which areas we want to highlight from culture, news, and social justice.

How do you find purpose in your career? 

A career in any type of media production can be a grind, but I’ve started looking at what I do as storytelling with a message that shows truth, beauty, and love of others. I enjoy listening to people and asking questions, whether it’s a student telling an interesting story or an expert trying to help people understand something. When I hear a compelling story from a guest who shares an experience from the heart, I want to share that story with the world.

How do you integrate your faith in your career or how do you see them relating to one another? 

Since I work at Catholic university, integrating my faith into my career is a big part of my job. When I’m creating a piece of content, I think about how someone can see who Jesus is and how God may be moving in our world. I also try to make connections that people can relate to or help people better understand what we can do as people of faith to serve those in need. 

My theatre background and Master’s degree in faith and culture have been integral to this. In theatre, there is a wide diversity of people who are in different stages of their lives and who see the world differently. That’s what makes that artform thrive. Theatre taught me to appreciate someone’s journey and to help them value who they are, because we all have something to contribute. My graduate degree took that to the next level and showed me how to dialogue with others. It’s a good way to get to know people, their values, and the beauty of who they are and who they hope to become.

Can you tell us about one of your favorite production projects?

Inspired after a conference, I created several videos sharing the Gospel through storytelling. They were short, 3-4 minute videos of someone sharing a moment when they encountered Jesus in their life, in small and big ways. My favorite video featured Deacon Greg Hall, a deacon who was famous worldwide for helping rescue the 33 miners trapped during the Chilean Mine Rescue in 2010.

Shortly after he shared his story with me, he passed away. At his funeral, the pastor of Deacon Greg’s parish mentioned that video, said that he had never heard Deacon Greg share that story before, and that it was incredible to hear it. That’s the power of storytelling: When people share experiences that truly changed them, it touches so many people – even beyond their time on earth.

What is one piece of advice for a young woman who’s considering a career in production? 

My advice is to go for it! It’s incredibly rewarding to create something that you believe in. By that I mean, if you like to travel, create travel videos. If you enjoy food, create food videos. If you’re passionate about movies, create movies you enjoy! Learn what you need to, make mistakes, make connections, and go for it!

What is your go-to motivational quote?

“Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.” – St. Augustine

It’s kind of a weird motivational quote, but let me explain:

This quote reminds me that I don’t have to have it all figured out – in my career, in motherhood, and in life in general. God is operating on a level that I can’t see or understand, and there is great freedom in that. I can make mistakes! Especially in my career, I can get in my own head about not knowing every editing technique or camera angle. As a woman, I feel the need to excel in these areas to level the playing field. But this quote reminds me that what’s asked of me is that I do my best with what I’m given and live my life well. I can only see and understand so much, and if I get a glimpse of a miracle (which, in storytelling, you witness this all the time), that it makes it easier to see God in the ordinary.