Staff Spotlight | Sam Oliver

Each month, WFYI introduces you to a member of the station's team. This month, it's Sam Oliver, who brings his video production, animation and creative skills to our local video programs.

What does your work at WFYI usually entail?

At WFYI, I help bring concepts to life through animation, graphics and video. From explainers for Indiana Lawmakers to informative Simple Civics segments, I'm always searching for ways to marry design with our video content. But I'm not just stuck behind the screen! I've learned to operate cameras, set up equipment, and even operate the teleprompter. On top of that, I've given our YouTube channel a makeover, boosting engagement with smarter thumbnails, scheduling, and detailed metadata which drives traffic to our social media channels and website. I have also been curating legacy episodes of Across Indiana which aired over 30 years ago for digital re-releases, and editing together reels for social media from them.The content produced at WFYI is nothing short of incredible, and it’s an honor to work alongside the team to create thoughtful, educational programming which serves the community.

What do you most enjoy about working at WFYI?
By far my favorite part of working at WFYI has been the wonderful people I get to work with. Everyone here is not only kind and compassionate, but also committed to doing their best work. I have also enjoyed the variety of shoots I have been on, our recent interview with the governor was particularly cool to me. I had never been inside the statehouse before, so seeing the architecture up close was really awesome. I look forward to more interesting shoots like this in the future!

When you're not at work, what can you often be found doing?

When I'm not at work I can be found at home with my cat and lovely wife watching re-runs of Iron-Chef or Ninja Warrior. On the weekends we meet with friends to play D&D, a tradition we've somehow kept for over 3 years now! I love music, movies, video games and — temperature permitting — an occasional hike in the woods!

What program on WFYI are you interested in watching/listening to next?

I'm really looking forward to the next season of Across Indiana! I think it's one of our best programs because of the sheer variety of topics on offer. Each segment is less than 10 minutes, and can be about almost anything including local musicians, legends/mysteries, historic buildings, small businesses, nature, and more. I love how each episode has a unique flare to it since the producers shift around. After each episode I always learn something new and unique about the hoosier state. These make for great topics and fun facts to discuss around the dinner table amongst family and friends.