Donald Albright, Producer and Storyteller
Changing The Way America Sees Storytelling
Donald Albright is a trailblazer in the world of podcasting, known for his innovative approach to storytelling and his commitment to amplifying diverse voices. As the co-founder and CEO of Tenderfoot TV, Albright has been instrumental in creating some of the most compelling and widely listened-to true crime podcasts, including “Up and Vanished” and “Atlanta Monster.” His background in the music industry has equipped him with a unique skill set, allowing him to blend narrative storytelling with high-quality production, capturing the attention of millions of listeners worldwide.
How do you choose the stories you want to tell through Tenderfoot TV?
This really goes back to my music days. I think there are a lot of people who look at what’s hot right now and try to get on the wave of what that next thing is going to be. I’ve always believed in my own taste. So if I like an artist, then I want to manage that artist, and it’s my responsibility to make other people—consumers, record labels, producers—feel the same way that I feel about that artist. Our approach to picking stories or the way we tell stories is: do we want to hear that story? We’re making it almost for ourselves and hoping that we can convince other people to feel the same way about it as we do.
What wellness routines do you follow to maintain your best self?
I recently installed a steam shower and dry sauna in my basement. That is an everyday thing for me where I’ll spend 30 minutes just sweating it out. On the weekends, I garden in the backyard, planting everything from grapes, raspberries, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and even corn this year. These activities help me escape the hustle of being an entrepreneur and refresh my mind.
What do you see as the future of Tenderfoot TV?
We started in true crime, but we never wanted to be boxed into that genre. We’ve tried to make strides with shows like “Radio Rental” and “To Live and Die in LA,” exploring narrative nonfiction and fiction. We see Tenderfoot staying in narrative nonfiction, some of that being true crime, expanding more into fiction and hybrid shows. It’s about telling the most compelling stories, exposing characters that audiences will relate to and continuing to push the envelope.
What does it mean to you to be the best man you can be?
I think for me, first and foremost, being the best man I can be is being the best husband I can be, being the best father I can be. I have three daughters, and they are why I do what I do. For me, it goes back to providing, taking care of my family. I have a daughter with autism spectrum disorder, so being a patient, caring, loving father is the mark of a man in my opinion.
