Episodes
Take 99 - Former soldier, TV host Chef Andre Rush, Kitchen Commando
March 23, 2023
We talk to the extraordinary Chef Andre Rush in a slightly different episode of the podcast. The former solider and White House Chef talks about his transition into television, the 'sharks' he found there and why he chose to…
Take 98 - Writer, Producer and Showrunner Brannon Braga, Star Trek: The Next Generation, 24, The Orville
March 16, 2023
We talk to the excellent Brannon Braga. He talks about the pressure of working on the Star Trek franchise, understanding when he was, and wasn't, 'in peril', and we walk through his failures. Brannon tells us about which sho…
Take 97 - Writer and entrepreneur Steve Vitolo, Black-Ish, co-founder Scriptation
March 9, 2023
We talk to Steve Vitolo, aspiring writer and now a tech leader. He tells us his story of writing in rooms, getting his show cancelled and developing his app on the side. He talks not taking advantage of his new found access,…
Take 96 - Writer and Showrunner Diane Ruggiero-Wright, Veronica Mars, iZombie
March 2, 2023
We talk to the amazing Diane Ruggiero-Wright. She talks passionately about early success, a big cancellation and nearly returning to waitressing. She tells us why she regrets not completing her education, the huge fall-out s…
Take 95 - Writer, Showrunner Diane Ademu-John, Crossing Jordan, Medium, Dune: The Sisterhood
Feb. 23, 2023
We talk to the amazing Diane Ademu-John. She talks about her first writing room, being afraid to speak and then getting fired from Crossing Jordan. She talks about leadership, co-showrunning and learning and growing even fro…
Take 94 - Showrunner Luke Tunnecliffe, Making their Mark, Fearless
Feb. 16, 2023
We talk to Australian showrunner Luke Tunnecliffe. He tells us about trying to run a sports documentary during a global pandemic, bringing an LA production to Australia only to get locked down and moving from sports document…
Take 93 - Comedian, actor, showrunner Gina Yashere, Bob Hearts Abishola
Feb. 9, 2023
We speak to the extraordinary Gina Yashere about her journey from British comedian to American sitcom actress and showrunner. She talks about her dream to play a best friend in a sitcom, the lack of pressure because she neve…
Take 92 - Actor, producer, showrunner Jim Piddock, Tooth Fairy, Mascots
Feb. 2, 2023
Two Englishmen talk Hollywood rejection as we managed to lose Noah for the episode. Veteran Jim Piddock tells us about his fight for fair pay for Tooth Fairy, what a nice man the Rock is and his huge problems with a high pro…
Take 91 - Dan Rutstein, former journalist and diplomat and podcast co-host
Jan. 26, 2023
We turn the microphone round and have host Dan Rutstein as guest. Friend of the podcast Paul Bae asks the questions with Noah as Dan talks through unsuccessfully applying for 100 jobs, getting laid off during the pandemic an…
Take 90 - Showrunner Eric Guggenheim, Miracle and Magnum P.I.
Jan. 19, 2023
We talk to the fascinating Eric Guggenheim. We talk early career success, serious imposter syndrome and working with his brothers (one of whom has already been on the podcast). He tells us about his good years, his fallow ye…
Take 89 - Writer and showrunner Simran Baidwan, Manifest, Clean Slate
Jan. 12, 2023
We talk to the extraordinary Simran Baidwan. She tells us about her best and worst rooms, the transition from criminal prosecutor to Hollywood and the importance of grace in leadership. We cover inclusion, telling a good sto…
Take 88 - Showrunner Jeffrey Lieber, Lost, Charmed
Jan. 5, 2023
We talk to the amazing Jeffrey Lieber - for the second time. We take a deep dive into the world of failure, rejection and adversity in Hollywood. We talk ill-fitting jobs, managing and leading teams and shit sandwiches. Jeff…
Take 87 - Podcaster, writer Paul Bae, Black Tapes, Big Loop
Dec. 15, 2022
We talk to the fascinating Paul Bae. The teacher/comedian/podcaster/screenwriter/actor talks us through his journey. We talk failing in screenwriting and acting leading to millions of downloads for his scripted podcasts, get…
Take 86 - Showrunner Ildy Modrovich, CSI Miami, Californication, Lucifer
Dec. 8, 2022
We talk to the extraordinary Ildy Modrovich. She talks about arranged marriages, the importance of two showrunners and the pilot that was guaranteed - until it wasn't. She talks about losing her confidence, making sure other…
Take 85 - Writer, Showrunner Chris Sheridan, Family Guy, Resident Alien
Dec. 1, 2022
We speak to the amazing and hilarious Chris Sheridan. He reads out some of his rejection letters, tells us about making calls from payphones on street corners and why he really didn't want to work on Family Guy. But then he …
Take 84 - Writer and Actor Brittani Nichols, Abbott Elementary
Nov. 17, 2022
We have comedian, actress and writer Brittani Nichols on the show. A fascinating discussion about diversity, inclusive comedy and working on a rocketship of a show like Abbot Elementary. We talk happy and unhappy rooms, frie…
Take 83 - Writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, A Quiet Place
Nov. 10, 2022
We talk to the dynamic duo of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods about gimmicks in scripts, a yes after multiple nos and what happened to their directing dreams. They talk with incredible candor about their Quiet Place journey, what…
Take 82 - Daria Polatin, novelist and showrunner Devil in Ohio
Nov. 3, 2022
We talk to novelist and showrunner Dari Polatin. She talks about getting her book written at 4am and during lunchbreaks, the rarity of being allowed to adapt a novel and the struggles of a junior female writer in a room ful…
Take 81 - Writer, Showrunner Andy Siara, Palm Springs, The Resort
Oct. 27, 2022
We talk to the amazing Andy Siara. He tells us the story behind the time loop in Palm Springs, his fear of never working again and gives the most extraordinary piece of advice about hope. He talks the difficult of showrunnin…
Take 80 - Producer, Development Executive Alex Hedlund, Great Wall
Oct. 20, 2022
We talk to development executive Alex Hedlund. We talk at length about Matt Damon movie The Great Wall, why it failed, how he was involved and when he realised it was going wrong. He tells us what he learned from working on …
Take 79 - Actor, Director, Producer John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Joe Exotic
Oct. 13, 2022
We talk to the extraordinary John Cameron Mitchell. We talk failure in writing, directing and actor, the risks of coming out and how they decide which projects to work on. John talks Hedwig, passion projects and discriminati…
Take 78 - Writer and Director Peter Kosminsky, White Oleander, The Undeclared War
Oct. 6, 2022
We (by which we actually mean just Dan) talk to writer and director Peter Kosminsky. He tells us about his early firings (of which there were many including lasting only a day as a researcher because they didn't like his ide…
Take 77 - Writer and Showrunner Amy Berg, Warrior Nun, Counterpart
Sept. 29, 2022
We talk to the magnificent Amy Berg. She tells us her journey through Hollywood - taking a step down to be an assistant, her first big break on North Shore and her start with a writing partner (and then his moment of grace a…
Take 76 - TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson, showrunners Bel-Air
Sept. 22, 2022
In our first episode in the second half of the season, we talk to dynamic duo Rasheed and TJ about their journey to the top. How to decide the credits, how to share victories/commiserate losses and instances of when outside …