wull hay.

I am a writer and community radio enthusiast in Jackson, Wyoming, where I live with my nurse husband and unemployed baby girl.

This is my Modern Love story in the New York Times and here’s my short documentary on PBS POV.

And my weekly news(love)letter: The Messayist.

 

Printed Writing

“Person of Interest: Arson Nicki”

The Stranger, 2024

“Swimming Upstream in Heels and Skinny Pants”

New York Times, 2021



“Welcome to the world, baby girl, coronavirus and all”

The Seattle Times, 2020



Good news, bad news: I’m going to be a mom — and I got laid off

The Seattle Times, 2020



“The Triumph of Joy”

Bicycle Times, 2013

 

You Can Be Here, an art installation, 2015

This installment included three parking meters that played music when you entered money and a wall covered in recreated parking tickets. Ten different parking ticket iterations had writing pieces on them inviting you to stay a while.

Awards & Premieres


“Other Side of the Closet”: Social Butterfly Award

2018 KCRW Radio Race 

“Wyoming”: Selected Illustration (Art Direction)

2017 Communication Arts, Illustration Annual


“20/Nothing”: PBS P.O.V. Award

2014 International Documentary Challenge

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

2013, 2014, 2015 Selected Films


Kriley Filmmaker Scholarship

University of Montana, 2015

 
 

What They’re Saying About Me

Dad’s friend Rachel that’s on NPR news.
— Stella, Age 4
Are you gonna wear that?
— Marco Collins, radio legend
Rachel loves this work a little too much. I mean—she’s taking PTO to go work at a film festival.
— JEFF Welch, Former Boss/CEO
Rachel’s able to capture a story in a way that’s both nuanced and raw—the kind of clarity that fosters immediate recognition in the heart of a reader.
— Alex Strickland, via linkedin
 

About

I believe in bike commuting.
I believe in kitchen dance parties.
I believe art is a lot harder to make weirder than it is to reel it in.
I believe in ordering a bottle instead of a glass.
I believe in taking a break from booze.
I believe telling our stories is our best shot at changing the world.
I believe in reusable coffee mugs. (and the lattes they carry.)
I believe in the power of community.


Beyond beliefs, I have a journalism background and a master’s in digital storytelling. I am a writer with extensive agency experience who specialized in radio producing and personal essay.

 

Agency Client List

Microsoft

SoFi

Montana Office of Tourism

First Interstate Bank

City National Bank

University of Montana

1% for the Tetons

American Prairie Reserve

Care N’ Care

If you are hungry for more writing, you can always visit my blahg.