Content & Sensitivity Note: While this episode touches on trauma, abuse, and survivor experiences, all topics are discussed in context and are non-explicit. Thank you for listening.

Content & Sensitivity Note: While this episode touches on public tragedy, childhood loss, and murder, all topics are discussed in context and are non-explicit. Thank you for listening.

In this essential episode of True Crime & Hollywood: A Personal Tale, host Celene Beth sits down with Natalie Bullock Brown—proud director and co-founder of the Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG)—for an expansive, heart-centered conversation on values, ethics, and accountability in nonfiction media.

Celene Beth and Natalie explore her multi-faceted background—reflecting on her career beginning as an associate producer on Ken Burns’ landmark 10-part PBS series, Jazz, her growth as a documentary producer and emerging director, and her extensive fellow and mentorship roles across Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center, DOC NYC, Sundance, and Rockwood Institute. They dive into how DAWG came to be in 2020 during a time of national racial reckoning, emerging out of a vital need to challenge traditional documentary practices and center care, consent, and collaboration in filmmaking.

Natalie shares how DAWG continues to collaborate with change makers, collectives, and allied organizations across the field—including the likes of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Film in Mind, and the Documentary Producers Alliance—challenging all of us to learn, evolve, and reflect on how stories are told and who holds power behind and in front of the lens. Together, they explore what true systemic change looks like when values and ethics guide documentary storytelling from reflection all the way to release.

In this empowering and uplifting episode, host Celene Beth sits down with Ashley-Lauren Elrod for an expansive, heart-centered conversation on creativity, systemic advocacy, and the power of lived experience.

Celene Beth and Ashley-Lauren celebrate her multi-faceted background—reflecting on her years navigating Hollywood as a working actor, performer, and young entrepreneur, and how those early artistic roots naturally expanded into executive producing, whistleblower advocacy, and intuitive healing. They explore her landmark work at the intersection of media and policy, including her contributions to national campaigns like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and Dove’s The Cost of Beauty.

Ashley-Lauren also shares the inspiration behind her book, Maya’s Magic Word, detailing how this vital resource equips parents, caregivers, and educators with practical tools to teach young children body autonomy, emotional safety, and disclosure. Together, they explore what true survivor-led systemic change looks like when lived experience holds genuine power in shaping prevention, culture, and care.

Connect with Ashley-Lauren Elrod & Resources:

• Pre-order Maya’s Magic Word : www.ashleylaurenelrod.com/category/all-products

• Learn more about Ashley-Lauren’s executive production, advocacy work, and campaigns at www.ashleylaurenelrod.com

Content & Sensitivity Note: This episode contains discussions surrounding violent crime, cold cases, sexual violence, crimes involving children, and mentions of suicide.

In this episode, Celene Beth sits down with independent producer and participant advocate Margie Ratliff for a thoughtful, deeply human conversation on turning lived media experience into a force for industry-wide care and transformation.

Margie shares her journey from navigating public exposure following The Staircase to stepping behind the lens as a producer and key participant in the landmark documentary Subject (Lady & Bird Films), directed by Camilla Hall and Jennifer Tiexiera. Together, they explore how Subject brought the emotional, psychological, and ethical complexities of non-fiction filmmaking to the forefront of the documentary community.

The discussion highlights Margie’s leadership as Managing Director of Screen Trust—formerly known as the Documentary Participants Empowerment Alliance, or DPEA, as referenced during the conversation—and how the organization works to provide essential legal, mental health, and ongoing advocacy resources to story participants.

Celene Beth and Margie reflect on the vital implementation of mental health coordination throughout production, honoring Margie’s close personal friendship and collaborative work with previous guest Michelle Backe (Calm on Set).

They also unpack the trauma-informed, values-centered frameworks established by the Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG) to foster sustainable standards of safety, informed consent, and mutual respect across non-fiction storytelling.

Margie’s path through the media landscape offers a profound masterclass in finding agency, purpose, and meaningful healing in the essential space where documentary filmmaking and human dignity intersect.

Episode Links & Resources

• Screen Trust (Formerly DPEA): Access participant-first resources, advocacy, and guidance led by Margie Ratliff at dpealliance.org

• Subject Documentary: Learn more about the film and its educational impact at subject.film

• Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG): Explore values-centered frameworks for ethical storytelling at docaccountability.org

• Calm on Set: Follow Michelle Backe’s work on Instagram @calmonset

Show Credits: True Crime & Hollywood: A Personal Tale is a La Activista Production, hosted and executive produced by Celene Beth Olsen, with music by Mickey O’Brien.

In our Season III premiere, we are deeply honored to welcome independent filmmaker, producer, and advocate Sarah Rachael Wainio.

Before becoming a powerhouse documentary and television producer, Sarah first entered non-fiction media as a story participant following the loss of her sister, Honor Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wainio, aboard hijacked United Flight 93 over Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That profound firsthand experience transformed her approach to story, driving a lifelong commitment to ethics, trauma-informed practices, and participant care in non-fiction storytelling.

As the founder of Fearless Productions, Sarah has produced over 15 seasons of television for networks like Discovery Channel, Netflix, MTV, WEtv, TLC, The Food Network, and Magnolia Network. Her credits include field producing civic engagement short films for ATTN: featuring President Barack Obama, and field producing Season 2 of THE LOST KITCHEN (HBO Max), which earned Realscreen’s 2023 Best Lifestyle Docureality Food Show.

Her extensive documentary filmography includes contributions to landmark films such as THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON (Netflix), 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE (HBO Max), One October (PBS), and BUSY INSIDE (PBS). Recognized in 2023 as one of DOC NYC's Documentary New Leaders, Sarah continues to reshape the field as co-chair of the Documentary Producers Alliance Ethics Committee and as a core member of the "Ethics Squad."

Currently producing the feature documentary METAMORPHOSIS (about the Paul Taylor Dance Company), Sarah is also making her directorial debut with I CARRY YOU WITH ME, a deeply personal short film honoring her sister Lizzie's memory.

Episode Links & Resources

• Support Sarah's Directorial Debut: Learn more and support the fundraising campaign for I CARRY YOU WITH ME.

• Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) Ethics Resource Library: Explore the DPA Ethics Resource Library

• Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG): Learn more about the Documentary Accountability Working Group

• Peace is Loud: Visit Peace is Loud to explore their work centering care, accountability, and film impact

  
  

Show Credits

True Crime & Hollywood: A Personal Tale is a La Activista Production, hosted and executive produced by Celene Beth Olsen, with music by Mickey O’Brien.

In this episode—the very first recorded conversation of Season III—Celene Beth sits down with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Coordinator Michelle Backe for a discussion that serves as a genuine love letter to the indie documentary community.