Season 1
Epilogue - Season One review
Nov. 18, 2021
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 o…
Season Finale. Take 50 - Showrunner Bill Lawrence, Scrubs, Ted Lasso
Nov. 11, 2021
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 tal…
Take 49 - Writer Steven E. de Souza, Die Hard, Tomb Raider, Commando
Nov. 4, 2021
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 writ…
Take 48 - Showrunner David Shore, House, The Good Doctor
Oct. 28, 2021
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 h…
Take 47 - Derek Simonds, The Sinner
Oct. 21, 2021
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 …
Take 45 - Writer and Showrunner Sam Ernst, Haven, Carnival Row, Daredevil
Oct. 7, 2021
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 w…
Take 44 - Showrunner LaToya Morgan, Duster, The Walking Dead, Shameless
Sept. 30, 2021
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, …
Take 43 - Novelist Chuck Wendig, Wanderers, The Book of Accidents, Star Wars Aftermath
Sept. 23, 2021
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 …
Take 42 - Writers and showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, Women's Murder Club, Lie to Me, Fantasy Island
Sept. 16, 2021
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 chec…
Take 41 - Showrunner Hart Hanson, Bones, The Finder
Sept. 9, 2021
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 ar…
Take 40 - Journalist Mo Ryan, Vanity Fair
Sept. 2, 2021
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,…
Take 39 - Producer Andy Horwitz, Suicide Squad, Triple Frontier
Aug. 26, 2021
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 ma…
Take 38 - Writer and showrunner Joseph Mallozzi, Stargate SG-1, Dark Matter
Aug. 19, 2021
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 o…
Take 37 - Manager and producer Zadoc Angell, Echo Lake Entertainment
Aug. 12, 2021
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, mana…
Take 36 - Showrunner Marc Guggenheim, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Green Lantern
Aug. 5, 2021
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 …
Take 35 - Showrunner and Doctor Neal Baer, ER, Designated Survivor
July 29, 2021
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 wo…
Take 34 - Special Episode - Screenwriter Noah Evslin - with guest co-host Paul Bae
July 22, 2021
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…
Take 33 - Actor, writer, showrunner Jonathan Lloyd Walker, Van Helsing, Snowpiercer
July 15, 2021
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 …
Take 32 - Writer Thunder Levin, Sharknado
July 8, 2021
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 sta…
Take 31 - Writer and showrunner David Steinberg, Slackers, American Pie 2, No Good Nick
July 1, 2021
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 an…
Take 30 - Screenwriter and Producer Steven DeKnight, Buffy, Smallville, Spartacus, Daredevil
June 24, 2021
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 o…
Take 29 - Actor and director Keegan Connor Tracy - Battlestar Galactica, The Magicians
June 17, 2021
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 o…
Take 28 - Writer and showrunner Michael Fuller, Quarry, The Mosquito Coast
June 10, 2021
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 peo…
Take 27 - Show creator Melissa London Hilfers, Monarch
June 3, 2021
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 namedroppin…
Take 26 - Show creator, writer and Emmy winner Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Lost, Dark Crystal
May 27, 2021
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 …
Take 25 - Writer Akela Cooper, Luke Cage, The 100
May 20, 2021
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 h…
Take 24 - Showrunner and writer Glen Mazzara, Walking Dead, The Shield
May 13, 2021
We talk to legendary writer, show creator and exec producer Glen Mazzara. He talks about crisis training in the entertainment industry, how he still suffers from imposter syndrome and the time a knife fight broke out on the …
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 cra…
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…
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 wh…
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 pr…
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…
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 shoul…
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 su…
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 fir…
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 gettin…
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 b…
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 h…
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 desir…
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…
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 …
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 f…
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 ab…
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 slight…
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 amo…
Take 5 - Writer and showrunner Sheryl J.Anderson, Sweet Magnolias, Charmed.
Dec. 28, 2020
We talk to the extraordinary Sheryl J. Anderson, veteran writer and showrunner. She tells us how 'famous, toxic' writers' rooms taught her how to lead her own show the right way, her regrets about not speaking up to protect …
Take 4 - Screenwriter Dan Hernandez, Detective Pikachu, the Tick and 1600 Penn.
Dec. 22, 2020
We talk to screenwriter Dan Hernandez. He tells us about how he handled the pressure of writing fan favorite Detective Pikachu, the big opportunities that got away in his career and going to high school with Josh Gad. He exp…
Take 3 - Actor Erik Palladino
Dec. 16, 2020
Actor Erik Palladino talks us through his rollercoaster career after 30 years in Hollywood. He tells us how his pilots never get picked up, the time he was told he had a job by his agent on a Friday and on the Monday they ad…
Take 2 - Screenwriter Zack Stentz, Thor, X-Men First Class and Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
Dec. 9, 2020
Screenwriter Zack Stentz gives an honest account of the tough world of Hollywood and what a writer has to go through to make it. He talks about the red carpet highs of Thor and X-Men First Class but then the long periods of …
Take 1 - Screenwriter Adele Lim, Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon
Dec. 2, 2020
We talk to Adele Lim, writer on Crazy Rich Asians and the new Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon. She talks about her journey from TV to film and her struggles along the way. Adele tells us she wrote some of her best work…