My guest today has gone from shy wallflower to recipient of international film awards and a column in Forbes.
Jia Wertz is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, activist and writer, who, like many of our guests, has had a working life with some unexpected twists and turns.
Jia had a super successful career in the fashion industry when she first heard the podcast Serial back in 2014. She was moved to do what she could to help Adnan Syed, the protagonist of the series, who was sentenced at the age of 17 for the murder of Hae Min Lee, a crime he always denied.
Jia became actively involved in Adnan’s case, and at the same time, made the decision to quit her career in fashion and go to film school at the age of 40 having recently given birth to her son. Jia was subsequently inspired to make her first documentary film, Conviction, about the wrongful conviction of Jeffrey Deskovic, which won multiple awards and opened Jia’s career up in ways she never expected.
Since we recorded this podcast, Adnan Syed has been released from prison and the charges against him dropped. You can read more about the case here.
Useful links
Jia's website
Follow Jia on Instagram
Follow Jia on Twitter
Watch the trailer for Conviction on YouTube
Watch Conviction on Amazon Prime
Music
Provided by ZakharValaha, AleXZavesa, Coma-Media SergeQuadrado JuliusH, Lesfm and lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay
21. Ninorah Fernandes-Brookshire - a varied and eventful life
20. Laura Bartlett - defying the odds and daring to succeed
19. Lisa Cox - on writing, surviving, modelling and campaigning
18. Bonus - The voice behind the microphone
17. Hayley Leibson - leading the ladies in Silicon Valley
16. Jessa Zimmerman - sex, shame and sexual games
15. Sarah Williams - from the deserts of Morocco to inspiring women back home
14. Cal Major - from Land's End to John O'Groats on a paddleboard
13. Elaine Miller - fannies, fart jokes and the serious business of women's health
12. Abby Ehler - sailing, surviving and thriving in round-the-world yacht racing
11. Anna Smith - films, feminism and being President (of the Critics' Circle)
10. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz - from ward rounds to walruses via a New York Times bestseller
9. Amelia Viney and Saba Shafi - unleashing the power of young people
8. Athene Donald - a physicist of many passions
7. Alexandra Heminsley - wobbly bits, wetsuits and writing
6. Manon Bradley - powerlifting, politics and major projects
5. Nicola Miller - running a mile in others' shoes
4. Uta Frith - exploring the mind
3. Sally Snow - uncovering the secrets of the underwater world
2. Iona Bain - de-mystifying finance for the younger generation
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Reaching your Goals
Insights@work
Drive With NAR
The Ken Coleman Show
Business Dad