Working

A TV Critic Pivots to Exposing Hollywood Abuses


Listen Later

This week, host June Thomas talks to journalist Maureen Ryan, author of the book Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. In recent years, Ryan has pivoted from TV criticism to writing stories focused on abuses of power in the TV industry. Her new book touches on troubling situations on shows like Lost, Saturday Night Live, The Goldbergs, Sleepy Hollow, and more.


In the interview, Ryan discusses her reporting process and what it's felt like to watch the creators of some of her favorite shows come under fire.


After the interview, Thomas and co-host Nate Chinen discuss why there might be some reason for hope in Hollywood after all. 


In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Ryan talks about how her pivot to this kind of reporting has affected her career.


Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.


Podcast production by Zak Rosen.


If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

WorkingBy Slate Podcasts

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

380 ratings


More shows like Working

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,901 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,475 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,822 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,155 Listeners

Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

11,535 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,225 Listeners

The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,966 Listeners

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia

1,378 Listeners

Slate Debates by Slate Podcasts

Slate Debates

2,844 Listeners

Hang Up and Listen by Slate Podcasts

Hang Up and Listen

996 Listeners

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show by Slate Podcasts

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

1,028 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,698 Listeners

Slate News by Slate Podcasts

Slate News

5,637 Listeners

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn by NPR

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

2,615 Listeners

Slate Culture by Slate Podcasts

Slate Culture

1,872 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,236 Listeners

Slate Health by Slate Podcasts

Slate Health

53 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,063 Listeners

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future by Slate Podcasts

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

238 Listeners

Slow Burn by Slate Podcasts

Slow Burn

23,897 Listeners

Decoder Ring by Slate Podcasts

Decoder Ring

2,109 Listeners

City Arts & Lectures by City Arts & Lectures

City Arts & Lectures

397 Listeners

Slate Presents: One Year by Slate Podcasts

Slate Presents: One Year

1,284 Listeners

One Year by Slate Podcasts

One Year

1,195 Listeners

How To! by Slate Podcasts

How To!

1,938 Listeners

Culture Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Culture Gabfest

436 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,892 Listeners

Hear Me Out by Slate Podcasts

Hear Me Out

60 Listeners

Critics at Large | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

Critics at Large | The New Yorker

651 Listeners

Well, Now by Slate Podcasts

Well, Now

48 Listeners

Navel Gazing by John Dickerson

Navel Gazing

97 Listeners

The Law According to Trump by Slate Podcasts

The Law According to Trump

7 Listeners

Standoff: What Happened at Ruby Ridge? by Slate Podcasts

Standoff: What Happened at Ruby Ridge?

130 Listeners

Slate's Audio Book Club by Slate Podcasts

Slate's Audio Book Club

0 Listeners

When We All Get To Heaven by Eureka Street Productions

When We All Get To Heaven

1 Listeners