Episodes
Take 23 - Blind Writer Ryan Knighton, Cockeyed, In the Dark
May 6, 2021
We talk to the extraordinary Ryan Knighton, a blind writer of books and TV. He explains how blindness helps him with the art of describing scenes, using the time he doesn't spend on driving and video games to perfect his craft and the risks of being typecast and only being asked to work on visual i…
Take 22 - Writer and Showrunner Kira Snyder - Handmaid's Tale, The 100
April 29, 2021
We talk to Kira Snyder, computer game designer-turned-writer and now showrunner. She talks about the 'new' Hollywood and its concern for mental health and wellbeing, how working in corporate America has helped her prepare to be a showrunner and why working on Eureka was so fulfilling. Kira talks ab…
Take 21 - Graphic Novelist and screenwriter Bryan Hill, Titans and Batman and the Outsiders
April 22, 2021
We talk to writer and graphic novelist Bryan Hill. He tells us about an extraordinarily cruel early rejection, how he channeled that, and other setbacks, into success and why he feels without failure he wouldn’t have done what he’s done. Bryan talks passionately about dealing with setbacks, staying…
Take 20 - Showrunner Joe Henderson, White Collar, Lucifer
April 15, 2021
We talk to showrunner Joe Henderson about his Hollywood journey. He talks about his formative years as an assistant and how he is grateful for the extended period he spent at this position - but then also about his triple promotion. Joe talks about the complications of Lucifer: the odd premise, the…
Take 19 - Writer Jeffrey Lieber, Lost, Charmed
April 8, 2021
We hear the fascinating take of Jeffrey Lieber, the creator of the first version of the Lost pilot. We talk about how he dealt with his relationship with the show as it went in a different direction, the years it took him to process it and his views on the show and how the ending was received. He t…
Take 18 - Writer Jose Molina, Law and Order SVU, Without a Trace, Agent Carter
April 1, 2021
We talk to veteran writer Jose Molina. He talks through the balance between finding a long-running show, finding a show you like and making bold and reckless decision early in your career. He explains why young writers should actually take advice from their mentors, even if they think none of the r…
Take 17 - Journalist, podcaster and writer Marc Bernardin, Castle Rock, Treadstone
March 25, 2021
We talk to Marc Bernardin about his different careers and the different types of failure he suffered. He talks about journalism, being fired while on vacation and knowing when to break the rules and reach out to interview subjects for opportunities in writing. He explains the pros and cons of diver…
Take 16 - Writer and WGA West President David Goodman, Family Guy, The Orville
March 18, 2021
We talk to David Goodman, veteran writer and WGA West President. He talks about the pain of a comedy writer pitching jokes that don’t land, the thin line to tread between comedy and causing offense and knowing you’ll get fired if you can’t make people laugh. He describes some iconic comedy rooms, t…
Take 15 - Show creator Mickey Fisher, Extant, Reverie
March 11, 2021
We talk to show creator Mickey Fisher. He tells us about how his 'overnight success' wasn't actually overnight, being fired in hotel rooms and having his gate pass for the studio revoked as the first sign his show was getting cancelled. He explains his version of imposter syndrome, getting fired fr…
Take 14 - Showrunner John Rogers, Catwoman, Leverage, Transformers
March 4, 2021
We talk to the amazing John Rogers. The veteran writer and showrunner gives his views from 30 years in the industry. He tells the amazing story of the awful Catwoman, how he owned his role in the movie, what went wrong and buying rounds with 'Catwoman money'. John tells us about the transition from…
Take 13 - Writer Shawn Simmons, Wayne
Feb. 25, 2021
We talk to the extraordinary Shawn Simmons about his cult hit Wayne. He tells us about the rare occurrence of having his network cancelled under his show, the joy of a show being reborn on Amazon and the 'heat' of having a hit show. But he also explains about the expectation of failure amid the suc…
Take 12 - Writer Jeff Howard, Haunting of Hill House, Oculus, I Know What You did Last Summer
Feb. 18, 2021
We talk to horror writer Jeff Howard. He tells us about being rejected - with various levels of misfortune - by Nicolas Cage, John Stamos and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He talks about the kiss of death 'well told', the desire for a quick 'no' and self-sabotaging a meeting by failing to read the roo…
Take 11 - Writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Star Trek, Alphas, Elementary
Feb. 11, 2021
Prodigious writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe joins the podcast. He talks honestly about missing out on his dream Lord of the Rings project, the amount of time spent continuously looking for his next role and his ratio of 8 failures for every success - meaning hundreds of rejections in his long career. He …
Take 10 - Actor and writer Geoffrey Thorne, In the Heat of the Night, Magnum PI
Feb. 1, 2021
We talk to actor and writer Geoffrey Thorne. The actor turned writer tells his extraordinary story of riches to rags and back to riches again. He talks about why he walked away from a successful acting career in In the Heat of Night, the people that doubted him, the desperate times of pretending to…
Take 9 - John Zaozirny, President of Bellevue Productions
Jan. 28, 2021
We talk to writer-turned-manager John Zaozirny, President of Bellevue Productions. He talks about his move from writing to management, stories of firing and being fired and why he loves the industry. John talks about being fired even when he has created success for his clients, the slow death of pr…
Take 8 - Actress Ann Cusack, The Boys, Sully, A League of Their Own
Jan. 21, 2021
We talk to the amazing Ann Cusack. She speaks honestly about the process of dealing with rejection, what she learned from the roles she didn’t get and the obsession with social media and the illusion of success. She talks about the under-rated importance of just being a nice person, working on harm…
Take 7 - Writer and showrunner Matthew Federman, Jericho, Blood and Treasure
Jan. 14, 2021
We talk to writer and showrunner Matthew Federman. He talks about how he runs a writing room and pro-actively solves problems, the mistakes he made pitching and what he's learned from brilliant bosses. He explains the slightly broken Hollywood hiring process, why he cares about his writers who work…
Take 6 - Screenwriter Grant Pierce Myers, The Maze Runner
Jan. 7, 2021
We talk to Maze Runner writer Grant Pierce Myers. He tells us about getting a movie green lit and being fired in a single phone call, the challenge of backing up a hit with a second success and the importance of courtesy among writers when you're brought on for a rewrite. He tells us about reading …