TELEVISIONATION – Swedlow Show – Authenticity and AI: Megan Chao’s Journey in Documentary TV

May 11, 2025

In the video above, I interview veteran documentary producer Megan Chao (https://theemmys.tv/megan-chao/), whose career spans over 20 years, a governorship at the TV Academy (Emmys) and currently as Showrunner and VP, Development and Production at Daniel H. Birman Productions where she actively makes documentaries on science or crime-oriented topics.

Megan shares insights into her work on impactful projects like “Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story” (currently on Netflix) and as Executive Producer and Showrunner on PBS SoCal’s “Earth Focus” series.

We also explore her thoughts on the evolving business of documentary TV in the age of GenAI, FAST/SVOD etc. and discuss the role of social media in shaping today’s content.

She also reveals her favorite guilty pleasure when she wants to just relax and watch TV.

This is a great conversation!