Wade Smith serves as Gray Media's first Director of Podcast & Livestream Strategy, helping stations transform great local journalism into modern, video-first storytelling that reaches audiences wherever they watch and listen. <a href="https://graynewstraining.tv/explore/mc/making-the-most-of-your-podcast/" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary" role="button">Gray Employees: Podcast Training Toolkit</a> Working with newsrooms across the company, Wade consults on podcast development, livestream strategy, workflow optimization, audience development, YouTube/Social Media integration and emerging distribution platforms. His goal is simple: help stations create content that is easier to produce, easier to discover, and easier to monetize. Before assuming his current role, Wade led digital content strategy for Gray's national investigative brands, InvestigateTV and Aging Untold, where he helped expand audiences across websites, YouTube, streaming platforms, and FAST channels. Earlier in his Gray career, he served as Digital Content Manager at WAFF 48 in Huntsville, Alabama. With more than a decade of experience spanning radio, podcasting, digital publishing, video production, livestreaming, and audience growth, Wade has been recognized with nine Alabama Broadcasters Association Awards of Excellence and has contributed to multiple nationally recognized journalism projects. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Wade began his digital media career in 2008 and remains passionate about helping Gray's local broadcasters not only compete but also win in today's creator economy. Wade lives in Cullman, Alabama, with his wife, Megan, and their two children, Moses and Sunni Jo.