Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Kochakian.
Isabella, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a writer and podcast producer who believes in the power of sound. When we’re forced to listen, emotions rise to the surface and we have no choice but to lean in. I was always a curious child with a big imagination.
Growing up in an Armenian household, I was surrounded by loud storytellers who enjoyed the company of one another. Weekends were spent laughing around dinner tables. The youngest leaning in to hear the oldest share ridiculous stories about family and friends. These stories held all the love and soul that had been passed down the family tree. Names of great-great grandparents kept alive through words of their descendants. In concept, it’s a beautiful thing. In practice, it’s an honor.
Pinpointing a starting line would be doing a disservice to those who came before me. I was already in the race the day I was born. Now, wherever I go, I carry the familial baton with me. I am where I am, I am who I am, because I have a duty to my ancestors to do right by their name.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In my career, things haven’t always gone to plan but I’ve learned that the goal isn’t ease or perfection. It’s direction. It’s about finding a path that feels right, even if it’s steep or uncertain. There will always be moments of doubt. Sometimes failure will feel louder than progress. But that doesn’t mean you stop. It means you keep going because the act of trying matters. There will always be people I don’t agree with, tasks that look harder than they are, and opportunities I don’t feel ready for. That’s the nature of the business.
The entertainment industry can be overwhelming. It demands a lot, and it rarely slows down. I’ve been lucky, though. I’m surrounded by people who lead with heart and integrity. They show up for others. That kind of support changes everything. So, no matter how rocky or smooth the path is, I know it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I come from television. Currently, I’m in the writers’ room of CBS’s Fire Country. But somewhere along the way, the industry stalled. Too many writers, not enough jobs. I found myself staring down a tunnel with no light at the end. I was itching for more experience and creative freedom, so I made it for myself. I turned to podcasting.
It started as a script I wrote for fun called Breakaway: “When a reckless mistake leaves Pryor Academy’s star Women’s Varsity Hockey team without a leading player, all eyes turn to Roxanne Hope, who abandoned her love of the sport after losing her brother in a hockey-related accident.”
I casually floated the idea of a podcast adaptation to a producer, who immediately sparked to it. With no real budget and a skeleton crew, it was a massive leap into the unknown. But we had nothing to lose. So we mapped out the year: eight hour-long scripts, months of recording, and months of editing. When I realized I’d have to write over 400 pages of dialogue while working full-time in a network writers’ room, my brain short-circuited. But I reminded myself: if it had to get done, I’d find a way.
And I did. Every spare moment became writing time. Being surrounded by sharp minds in the Fire Country room made me a better storyteller. I adopted habits I didn’t know I was capable of. And somehow, with a little grit and maybe a little magic, I finished eight episodes in four months.
Podcasting is no joke. Our team worked 24/7. But that experience taught me how to be a leader. How to run a show. How to trust my instincts. I don’t try to be anyone else, and I think that’s the key. People respond to honesty. To authenticity. They respect it. Leaders need to know their voice.
Breakaway opened the door for everything else. In my spare time, I began teaching screenwriting to high schoolers which was a full-circle moment that reminded me why I started telling stories in the first place. Around the same time, I turned my attention to something I’ve long cared about: cannabis justice.
That led me to develop The Green Sentence, an interview series spotlighting people still incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses. Many serve decades, even life, for something now sold legally across the street. These individuals have hopes and dreams like anyone else. They’re learning languages, getting degrees, studying cases… all behind bars. I know a lot of people with complete freedom who aren’t doing half the stuff with their lives as these prisoners are doing.
The show is raw and grounded in the belief that facts alone don’t change minds, emotions do. If we’re ever going to shift the narrative around the war on drugs, we need to hear from the people living its consequences. That’s what podcasting taught me: when you give someone the mic, you give them back their voice.
While working on The Green Sentence, I’ve also been developing other narrative podcast series; stories that will soon join my growing lineup. This newfound love for auditory storytelling inspired me to launch my own podcast brand: Zabelle Airwaves. It’s still in the early stages, but the lineup of shows will only grow. Knowing that is one of the best parts.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I don’t try to be anyone else, and I think that’s the key. People respond to authenticity. To confidence. You can be the greatest writer in the world, but if you don’t know how to use your voice, who’s going to listen? A leader who is feared never picks up the check. A leader who is respected pays for your meal before you even ask.
I let go of chasing “success” a long time ago. It never served me. It only kept me hungry for more. Drive is important, but within that, you need to be content with yourself. Now, I tell myself: keep learning, and do good work. That’s the real win. Education is a gift. And learning doesn’t stop on graduation day. The more you grow, the sharper your voice becomes. That’s when the real work starts to matter. That’s when you build respect.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zabelleairwaves/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/breakawaypod
