In 1990, Cutler produced the National Public Radio show "Heat" with John Hockenberry. Other producers included future "This American Life" creator Ira Glass and future Radio Diaries creator Joe Richman. The show aired live five nights a week on NPR stations across the country and received a Peabody Award. In 1991, Cutler became a faculty member of the University of Southern California School of Theatre and a student at the USC School of Cinema-Television. Cutler has been producing and directing documentary films since 1992.