Reporters: Rebecca Hersher and Meredith Rizzo | Animator: Alessandro Novelli | Producer: Meredith Rizzo | Editors: Nick Michael and Geoff Brumfiel

NPR reporter Rebecca Hersher and I were working on an explainer about how bullets are designed to wound. But when we couldn’t get access to FBI testing video of each bullet (despite filing a FOIA request), we decided to create our own videos by hiring a local ballistics testing facility to film original slow motion footage.

I produced and co-wrote this along with Rebecca. I also art directed and scored the final piece. Animator Alexander Novelli beautifully drew all of 3D animation in a monochromatic tone.

“Bullets: A Physics Primer” was recognized in the animation category by the White House Press Photographers Association awards in 2019.

Reporters: Madeline Sofia and Meredith Rizzo | Animator: Daniela Sherer | Producers: Meredith Rizzo, Madeline Sofa, Ryan Kellman, Adam Cole | Editor: Andrea Kissack

My colleague Madeline Sofia and I both wrote and storyboarded this explainer video on why you may still be contagious with the flu days after symptoms start to subside. We partnered with our friends on NPR’s Skunk Bear to help explain and worked with animator Daniela Shearer to bring viral particles to life.

Reporter: Meghan Keene | Animator: Lilly Padula | Producer: Meredith Rizzo | Editor: Liana Simstrom

This animated video was a spin-off an episode of the NPR podcast Invisibilia. I contributed art direction, editing and production on the video, which was artfully animated by Lily Padula. The piece was published on NPR.org and shown during live podcasting events.

The video was later recognized by the Society of Illustrators with a gold award in animation in 2018.

Reported and produced by: Meredith Rizzo and Madeline Sofia | Animator: Daniela Sherer | Editor: Joe Palca

This video was part of a six-part animation series on the science of invention for NPR’s Joe’s Big Idea. Together with my colleague Madeline Sofia, we conceived of the series and worked with six inventors on their personal narratives of discovery. I collaborated with a talented crew of animators for various episodes, including Qieer Wang, Frederic Siegel, Daniela Sherer, Avi Ofer and Alan Jennings.

View all of the episodes here.

This video was part of NPR’s Maddie About Science video series featuring Madeline Sofia as host. I worked with the team behind the series on the concept for this episode, which took us deep into the Smithsonian to investigate nature’s coolest mimics. From stick insects that look like tree branches, butterflies that resemble a snake’s head, to spiders that look like unthreatening ants — Maddie asks scientists how and why this happens. I filmed this episode along with Maia Stern and Beck Harlan.