Episodes
October 28, 2021
Take 48 - Showrunner David Shore, House, The Good Doctor
We talk to the legendary showrunner David Shore. He talks us through his journey giving up working as a lawyer in Canada and moving to Hollywood with very limited contacts - and very limited writing skills. He explains how he...
October 21, 2021
Take 47 - Derek Simonds, The Sinner
We talk to Derek Simonds about his experience taking up the reins of The Sinner. He talks openly about the overwhelming experience of taking on the multi-disciplinary showrunner role, the pressure it created and the toll it t...
October 14, 2021
Take 46 - Writer Ariel Dumas, Late Show with Stephen Colbert
We talk to the amazing Ariel Dumas, head writer at the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. She talks about her journey through failed actress, nearly going to clown school and eventually ending up in late show writing because peo...
October 07, 2021
Take 45 - Writer and Showrunner Sam Ernst, Haven, Carnival Row, Daredevil
We talk to the remarkable Sam Ernst. He tells his story of instant success in the restaurant business followed by early failure in the entertainment industry and what he learned along the way. Sam explains his relationship wi...
September 30, 2021
Take 44 - Showrunner LaToya Morgan, Duster, The Walking Dead, Shameless
We talk to showrunner LaToya Morgan. She tells us about her vision board, her ambition and her rise to the top of the entertainment business. She explains the pressure of working on her big new show Duster with J.J. Abrams, t...
September 23, 2021
Take 43 - Novelist Chuck Wendig, Wanderers, The Book of Accidents, Star Wars Aftermath
We talk to the fascinating writer Chuck Wendig. He tells us about Star Wars fans liking him in real life, but not online, and getting dropped by Marvel over political tweets. We discuss the politics of cancel culture around D...
September 16, 2021
Take 42 - Writers and showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, Women's Murder Club, Lie to Me, Fantasy Island
We talk to writing duo Liz Craft and Sarah Fain. They talk about the dynamics of a writing duo, when and how they have disagreements and how they deal with both rejection and success. The practicalities of splitting pay check...
September 09, 2021
Take 41 - Showrunner Hart Hanson, Bones, The Finder
We speak to the fantastic Hart Hanson. He talks about being courteous but cranky, his unwanted reputation for being nice and why he would never bully his team. He explains the bizarre genesis of Bones, the balance between art...
September 02, 2021
Take 40 - Journalist Mo Ryan, Vanity Fair
We talk to veteran journalist Mo Ryan. We explore the complex world of Hollywood, reporting on abuse and toxicity in the industry and the personal toll it has taken on her. She tells how she approaches these type of stories, ...
August 26, 2021
Take 39 - Producer Andy Horwitz, Suicide Squad, Triple Frontier
We talk to film producer Andy Horwitz. He talks about about how to let writers go from projects, trying to treat people fairly but also the principle of 'protect the movie at all costs'. Adam explains the process of movie mak...
August 19, 2021
Take 38 - Writer and showrunner Joseph Mallozzi, Stargate SG-1, Dark Matter
Having written or produced more than 120 hours of television, Joseph Mallozzi has had a stellar career. We talk to him about the relative comfort of working on one show for more than ten years, his impatience when he isn't on...
August 12, 2021
Take 37 - Manager and producer Zadoc Angell, Echo Lake Entertainment
We talk to insightful and wisdom-filled manager Zadoc Angell. This long-time literary agent, manager and TV producer, as well as current Co-President of Echo Lake Entertainment, talks about moving from agent to manager, manag...
August 05, 2021
Take 36 - Showrunner Marc Guggenheim, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Green Lantern
We talk to the remarkably funny and articulate Marc Guggenheim. The industry veteran talks about moving from procedurals to genre, working for an abusive showrunner and his regrets over taking a gig ‘just for the money’. He t...
July 29, 2021
Take 35 - Showrunner and Doctor Neal Baer, ER, Designated Survivor
We talk to doctor-turned-writer and showrunner Neal Baer. He talks us though his journey on ER, the public service he performs and the lives he has saved through television. We cover the anti-science movement, the joy of wor...
July 22, 2021
Take 34 - Special Episode - Screenwriter Noah Evslin - with guest co-host Paul Bae
On a special episode, we push Noah Evslin into the guest hot seat and the creator of the world's most successful scripted podcast Paul Bae joins as co-host. Noah talks about his experience of rejection, failure and adversity....
July 15, 2021
Take 33 - Actor, writer, showrunner Jonathan Lloyd Walker, Van Helsing, Snowpiercer
We talk to Canadian-British actor and producer Jonathan Lloyd Walker. He talks about his career, moving between disciplines and the different types of rejection he has met in each one. He explains how he had a fast start in w...
July 08, 2021
Take 32 - Writer Thunder Levin, Sharknado
It is a cultural phenomenon that beautifully treads the line between disaster film and farce. We talk to the writer of the first four Sharknado movies Thunder Levin. He talks about the success of the franchise, his 'rock star...
July 01, 2021
Take 31 - Writer and showrunner David Steinberg, Slackers, American Pie 2, No Good Nick
Fired, banned from set, thrown off projects, fired again, briefly blackballed. An extraordinary interview with writer and show creator David Steinberg about his journey from an arrogant youngster, to rebuilding his career and...
June 24, 2021
Take 30 - Screenwriter and Producer Steven DeKnight, Buffy, Smallville, Spartacus, Daredevil
We talk to producer and screenwriter Steven S. DeKnight. He talks about his career highlight working on Spartacus, the opportunities he missed that led to him taking that meeting and the challenges (and excitement) working on...
June 17, 2021
Take 29 - Actor and director Keegan Connor Tracy - Battlestar Galactica, The Magicians
We talk to actor-turned-director Keegan Connor Tracy, She tells us why she chose to try her hand at directing, the struggles of starting from the bottom again but why now is the right time for her. She talks about the lack of...
June 10, 2021
Take 28 - Writer and showrunner Michael Fuller, Quarry, The Mosquito Coast
We talk to Michael Fuller who talks us through the pain and heartbreak of his show Quarry being cut, how he used cigarettes and bourbon to get through it and the balance between being a showrunner and being part of other peop...
June 03, 2021
Take 27 - Show creator Melissa London Hilfers, Monarch
We talk to lawyer-turned-writer Melissa London Hilfers. She talks about her transition from attorney to entertainment, what her old colleagues think of her new role (and how they are easily impressed by celebrity namedropping...
May 27, 2021
Take 26 - Show creator, writer and Emmy winner Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Lost, Dark Crystal
This week's guest is the extraordinary writer, creator and double Emmy winner Javier Grillo-Marxuach. He works out how many of his 23 shows have been cancelled (a few), how many he has quit (some) and which were the ones he c...
May 20, 2021
Take 25 - Writer Akela Cooper, Luke Cage, The 100
We talk to the extraordinary writer and producer Akela Cooper. She talks about combatting the loneliness of writing, particularly during a pandemic, the sage advice of her mother and the discipline of constantly working on he...