Episodes

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...

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 making, the difference between TV and film rejection and why he was so desperate to become a movie producer. He tells rejection stories, his own battles to get Triple Frontier made and what's most important to him - blockbuster money, awards or working with good people. Andy ta...

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 a show and the importance of working with great people. He talks about the frustration of working on a difficult show, with impossible deadlines and budgets and managing the absurdity of the situation. And what he learned from that for when he next ran a room. Joseph explai...

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, managing client expectations and why emailing rejection is often the best way. He talks openly about his career, the different ways executives articulate passing on a project and the importance of honesty and accuracy when sharing bad news. An insightful and amusing journey thro...

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 talks openly about the different shortcomings of showrunner, what he learned from good and bad bosses and the importance of fostering creativity. He explains how he takes rejection, why he’s comfortable taking about it and how much of his success he owes to 20 years of therap...

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 working with execs who give you freedom to be creative and the challenge of transitioning to non-medical shows. Neal tells us how he deals with rejection, making television during Covid and gives inspiring advice to the next generation of writers.

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. He talks about the risks of leaving the relatively safe world of producing in Shondaland to push forward with writing elsewhere, the continual fear that you never know if you'll work again and his enjoyment of the process of creating. He explains what he has learned about ...

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 writing, thinking it was easy and then quickly finding out it wasn’t. Jonathan talks about his worst rejections, being flown across the country only to be replaced by a mysterious extra person in the room and whether he would rather win an award as an actor or a writer. He a...

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' moment on the stage at Comic Con and his attempts to be a 'serious science fiction writer'. Thunder explains the journey of Sharknado's meteoric rise, the contradictory notes around how much humor to put in and his attempts to recreate that success again. He explains his f...

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 achieving success - with a few more firings and one more set ban along the way. David talks about being embarrassed by his early mistakes, his own personal journey of change and growth and what he learned along the way. Honest, funny and enlightening - an in-depth blow-by-b...

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 Marvel's Daredevil. He talks honestly about when to push back on execs, how to compromise and when to admit you have it wrong. Steven talks about directing, what he got right, what he got horribly wrong and being shouted at by a line producer. And gives great advice about w...

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 role models behind the camera when she was acting, how she wants to change that and some of the things she had to put up with on set. Keegan is honest about how she deals with rejection as an actor, not wanting to watch shows she didn't get on and tells us about some of her...

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 people's shows. He talks about the dilemma of writing your soul and writing to make a living with a family, what he's learned about the industry and what he learned as an adult (and why he encourages other writers to take acting classes). And he tells those considering joining t...

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) and the sense of achievement she gets from her creative work. In painful detail, she walks us through the time another writer told her he wanted to do a 'page one' rewrite of her script and how she circled around Los Angeles in an uber crying. She describes writing her fir...