Episodes

Studio president Beatrice Springborn joins the podcast to give the view from 'upstairs'. She talks about her journey through journalism, start-ups and Pixar with some Film School thrown in. We discuss her leadership style , her empathy when rejecting projects and whether she wants commercial success or awards. Beatrice talks about completing a writing course and what she learned about rejection and failure, how she nearly quit the industry and what keeps her up at night. She tells us the process...

We talk to director Tessa Blake about her rise through the world of episodic TV. She talks about the balance between craft and leadership skills, what she learned as a cocktail waitress and the importance of learning people's names. Tessa tells us about early rejections, insinuations that women couldn't succeed in this part of the industry and her attempts at writing. She explains how she overcame the obstacles in front of her, her legendary levels of preparation and how she uses that preparatio...

We talk to TV writer, WGA Board Member and co-founder of Pay Up Hollywood Liz Alper. We chat with Liz about the challenges she’s faced this year looking for work as well as what the industry is facing as a whole in the middle of what feels like an industry-wide slowdown. She discusses what the guild is doing to help writers sustain their careers as well as the impetus for Pay Up Hollywood, a program designed to pressure the major studios into paying assistants more. Liz also opens up about how h...

We talk to comedian, writer and showrunner Mike Royce. He talks us through his life as a comedian, compares bombing on stage to bad pitching in a room and the joy of regular Emmy nominations. And then trying to find success post-Raymond, failing at one show yet getting into the showrunners' club and being given another chance with the next one. We discuss why showrunning is hard, what he learned from others and used in his rooms and the importance of food and going home early. Mike tells us abou...

We talk to Shudder General Manager Craig Engler. The writer-turned-exec tells us what he’s learned about rejection as a writer and how he now behaves as an exec. Craig talks about the emotional heartbreak of a writing project ending in turmoil and legal dispute, how that drove him back to the exec side of the business and what it meant to him. He explains why he likes to give a quick no, how sometimes they greenlight too quickly for some writers and gives a great explanation of what horror actua...

We talk to showrunner Vaun Wilmott who tells stories of giving up acting, selling shampoo and breaking into the world of writing. He tells us about his 'overnight success', taking more than ten years of writing until he created Dominion and the joys of being the number two in a room. We talk about leadership over Zoom, missing out on the snacks and lunches of the old days and working on a 'dream job' like Star Trek. Vaun talks about his shows, the importance - in a world of rejection - of rememb...

In one of our most in-depth and emotional interviews we talk to showrunner Patrick Macmanus. He tells us his Hollywood journey - part-time bartending, failed at acting and transition to writing. Patrick talks about giving up on the entertainment business, moving to Mongolia and breaking a promise to his mother-in-law. We go deep discussing distance from family, sacrifice and the commitment needed to make it through the tough times. A powerful, honest and painful discussion about succeeding in Ho...

We talk to Simon Barry about his adventures in Hollywood and are joined by guest co-host and Maze Runner writer Grant Pierce Myers. He talks about his first short film screening that no one turned up to, losing a girlfriend and gaining an agent the same day and how he came to Hollywood to be a screenwriter without a script. Simon describes how he both felt he didn't belong, but also how much he loved the Hollywood process - and the creative change he needed to make to be successful. We talk dark...

The podcast shifts from writer to director and we are delighted to be joined by Jen McGowan. She tells us her journey into directing, how winning an award early in her career changed her view of Hollywood and the importance of setting expectations. We compare boxing and the entertainment industry, the importance of an outlet for anger and frustration and how she deals with rejection and failure. Jen talks about diversity in the industry, how much things have changed since she began and why her a...

Fascinating interview with another successful Canadian - this time showrunner Brad Wright, co-creator of Stargate SG-1 and Netflix's Travelers. He talks about how he managed to avoid moving to Hollywood, why being Canadian is being an advantage and the joys of working on Canadian productions. Brad talks about getting into genre shows, the 'no assholes' policy in their room on Travelers and what a privilege it is to work in the TV industry. We hear about his struggles getting a show after Stargat...

We talk to the incredible Craig Thomas, co-creator and showrunner of How I Met Your Mother. He explains how he nearly derailed himself after success came early, the importance of focus on successful projects and the risk of distraction. We talk about being 'hot' and the pressure that creates, we hear some incredible stories of failure and rejection as well as some extraordinary interactions with execs. Craig talks about How I Met Your Mother, how How I Met Your Dad didn't work and taking the gam...

We start season 2 with veteran showrunner and novelist Rob Thomas. We get straight into it with the crushing blow of losing an overall deal with a major studio, a hellish year of development and concerns that his most recent show might be his last. Rob explains how he went pretty much straight from Dawson’s Creek writer to showrunner, what he learned along the way and how he is a bad consultant but a great boss. In an honest and revealing interview he tells us what he is worrying about, shares s...

Ahead of the return of our second season, Noah and Dan sit down for another of their little chats. They talk about Noah's recovery from illness, the incredible reception to our first season and what is to come in the second. We start our listener's questions segment, discuss the amazing honesty of our guests so far and set the scene for 50 more stories of rejection, failure and adversity.

Noah and Dan review the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss. They talk about what they learned, why they did it and how much it meant to both of them. And Noah reveals a secret that will bring new meaning to overcoming adversity.

We end the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss with Bill Lawrence. He tells about his multiple early firings, how he feels when his shows fail to become hits and how difficult it was to pitch Ted Lasso. He talks about dealing with success, what he learned early in his career and how he feels about comparing his new projects to his old ones. Bill explains that success in this industry is being allowed to make 'one more show', how he protects himself emotionally from failure and how...

One of his producers died in a car crash, another was murdered - and these aren't even his most dramatic stories! In the penultimate show of the season, we talk to legendary screenwriter Steven E. de Souza. The Die Hard writer, with more than $2bn in box office to his name, takes us on a fabulous romp through Hollywood. We talk about some of his biggest successes, but also how even he struggles to get the movies he wants made. We talk about some epic adversity on some of his big movie sets, but ...

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 got his break on Due South, how he measured his time in the business one job at a time and then how he chose to leave a show he wasn't enjoying and that move created the opportunity that led to House. David describes the relative ease of selling House, something he hasn't e...

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 took on his health. Derek described the pressure of rushing a second season to meet network deadlines, how much he’s learned along the way and he also explores the preparation he does with his cast. We explore what might come next for him, the joy of the limited series format...

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 with writing partner Jim Dunn, the benefit of working so closely with someone - particularly during the dark days - and their path to becoming a success. He tells us about the early breakthrough with Haven, how they were out of their depth and learning on the job, and how it t...

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, the benefits of working with a big name and her step-by-process for moving the show forward and the importance of not overthinking what the audience will want. LaToya tells us about her struggles rising through the ranks, the difficulty facing diversity hires and the frustrat...

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 Disney, burning the bridge to the comics world and how social media impacts art and artists. And Chuck advises new writers to be careful about social media - "the juice is not worth the squeeze". He talks about writing novels, attempted transitions to screenwriting and how th...

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 checks, the book adaptation that got away and how they felt about it and the parallel success of Fantasy Island. They describe the lost project as like 'an ex-boyfriend who you don't want to see in the street' and explained why they won't ever watch it and why it hurt so much. We...

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 and creativity and the practicality of raising a family in Hollywood. Hart talks about his Canadian politeness, how Bones became a subversive show and his frustrations of later shows not achieving Bones' longevity. He talks about the novels he writes, the one he really want...

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, her support and compassion for the victims and the lengths lawyers and large organizations go to create obstacles. Mo talks honestly about her own experience of abuse, the panic attack that hit her and her unrelenting desire to get the truth out. She explains the complex wor...