About

About the Watercooler

1.3 years of our lives will be spent searching for something to watch, according to an estimate by Quartz. With the numbers of new shows, films and streaming platforms swelling, our decision paralysis is likely to get worse.

So we asked people: what makes a show or film worth your time? The top response that came back: “if I want to talk about it afterward.”

The Watercooler was born as a way to help you find shows and films across all platforms that you’ll want to talk about. With guidance from a diverse community of writers, subject matter experts, and streaming guides, who are factoring in frame of mind and co-viewing, we hope you’ll discover films and TV series that are worth your time — and maybe even find a Watercooler Club with people you can swap notes with afterward.

Ultimately, The Watercooler offers an antidote to the isolation of binge watching and the time suck of endless scrolling – introducing us to content the algorithms might not show us, bringing the human layer back to search and the shared experience back to viewing.

Meet the Team

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Melissa ROTH

A former contributor to outlets including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and The Washington Post, Melissa also worked in a variety of content, marketing, and revenue-driving roles for IMDb, Cox Digital Media, Amazon, and HBO. She founded the Watercooler to create new ways for people to discover films and original series, and to help foster more connection and community around entertainment.

TECH Advisor

GUTHRIE COLLIN

A tech-triple-threat with an MBA, Guthrie’s proven expertise in data science, ad technology, and digital product strategy has delivered four patented inventions and new revenue streams for Amazon, Nielsen, The Associated Press, and Dow Jones. Guthrie has led product, engineering and data science teams to create innovative digital media and ads experiences for CTV, e-commerce, and news audiences, along with machine learning capabilities and analytics tools to increase B2C and B2B product sales.

STRATEGIC ADVISOR

KERI PUTNAM

An award-winning media executive and producer and the CEO of Sundance Institute from 2010-2021, Keri Putnam has supported, developed, and produced bold original content from new and established talent throughout her career. At Sundance, Putnam and her team significantly increased the reach and scale of the Sundance Film Festival and its community, grew revenue by 300%, expanded into new storytelling disciplines and global programming, built pioneering digital products, launched the Catalyst program, and significantly invested in equity and inclusion.

PRODUCT STRATEGIST

STEVE SUSI

An Amazon Inventor Award winner for patented innovation, Steve Susi served as the first NYC creative director for Amazon Advertising, and went on to lead creative operations across Europe, Asia, and Canada, where his teams would deliver original brand experiences on behalf of hundreds of advertisers and millions of customers worldwide. Prior to Amazon, Steve led agency teams handling Mercedes-Benz, American Express, AT&T, and many more. His book Brand Currency: A Former Amazon Exec on Money, Information, Loyalty, and Time, is a category bestseller.

PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS ADVISOR

RYANN JOHNSON

A strategic marketing, operations, and events leader, Ryann has worked for companies including Endeavor, Disney, Showtime Networks, and Dignitas (esports). She has developed partnerships and events for brands including Visa, Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Verizon, Macy’s, General Mills and more. A Cleveland native, Ryann founded Ryann’s Own, a consulting firm that provides services to US and EU companies and start-ups scaling operations and partnerships.

Managing EDITOR

CINDY WHITE

The founding Managing Editor of the Watercooler, Cindy has been a TV and film editor and entertainment reporter for outlets including The A. V. Club, IGN, SyFy.com, Geek Mom, and many other outlets. She earned a Master’s in Film at USC and authored a romance novel about Hollywood.

GEN AI and COMMUNITY ADVISOR

KANENE AYO HOLDER

A generative AI and DEI expert, writer, events moderator, and two-time National Endowment for the Humanities award-winning educator and diversity trainer, Kanene Ayo Holder’s clients have included The New York Times School, the Apollo Theater, and Columbia University, among many others. She is also a comedian who has performed at Joe’s Pub, and a host of the Watercooler’s After Watch events.

GROWTH MARKETING LEAD

ANTONIA SANTORO

Antonia Santoro is a digital marketing and audience development leader with 10+ years of experience working in the media and publishing industries. Most notably, Antonia has worked at The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, setting their digital audience growth and retention strategies across distribution platforms.

Executive Producer

Melissa Nogales-Chapman

Melissa Nogales-Chapman is a Mexican-American TV producer who has worked for Funny Or Die, Maker Studios and Playboy Enterprises. She has produced commercials, music videos, Netflix stand up specials, network talk shows and scripted series. More recently, she served as the Director of Production at Avalon Television and Funny Or Die – working with some of comedy’s most notable names.

WRITER-EDITOR-PRODUCER

J.R. ATIKINSON

The co-founder and editor of Midriff Magazine and Reverberations, J.R. is also a former contributor to New City Chicago and Untitled Magazine. She is currently a writer, editor, and performer based in Brooklyn and the organizer and host of the Watercooler’s Brooklyn Watch Parties.

MUSIC EDITOR

STEVE BALTIN

From B.B. King, Mick Jagger and Aretha Franklin to Adele, Tom Petty, and Stevie Wonder, author and music journalist Steve Baltin has interviewed or met most of the biggest names in music history. He has written for Rolling Stone, FORBES, the L.A. Times and every major music publication, and hosted podcasts including Riffing With, People Have The Power and the current My Turning Point. He recently authored Anthems We Love: 29 Iconic Artists On The Songs That Shaped Our Lives.