Susanna Fogel is a director, screenwriter, and novelist best known for her work in BOOKSMART and THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. David Iserson is a filmmaker, writer, and producer best known for his work on MR. ROBOT, MAD MEN, and NEW GIRL.

Iserson, alongside Fogel, served as co-creators, writers, and executive producers for the television series PONIES, a 70s-set spy thriller starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson.

The series follows two PONIES ("persons of no interest") working anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the USSR, and the pair become CIA operatives. Together, they work to uncover a vast Cold War conspiracy and solve the mystery that made them widows in the first place.

In this interview, we talk about the professional marriage between Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, the development history and production origins of their series PONIES, research and working with consultants, plus much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend, as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Alex Russell is a writer and director best known for his work on DAVE and THE BEAR. He also won an Emmy award for his work as a writer and Supervising Producer on Netflix/A24’s BEEF.

His directorial debut, LURKER, is a psychological thriller that follows a retail employee who infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom. As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.

In this interview, we talk about the distinction between having a unique voice and mastering the technical craft and structure of a script, the collaborative nature of writers' rooms and the role of serving a showrunner's vision, how working on DAVE led to opportunities on other shows like BEEF and THE BEAR, the development of his film LURKERS, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend, as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Jamie Heinrich is an independent filmmaker, director, and producer who gained recognition in the independent film circuit for his micro-budget feature film, I LIKE YOU. Recently, he has also become a prominent voice in the AI filmmaking space, teaching creators how to leverage AI tools for viral content and professional production.

Join here: https://www.skool.com/filmmaking/about?ref=04b08a2d713a4d44b83081a3f4e6b01a

In this interview, we talk about his career in independent filmmaking, the integration of filmmaking, technology, and community through AI digital education, the fear of being replaced by technology, and the future potential of producing a full-length feature film using AI tools.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend, as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Mike Makowsky is an Emmy Award-winning American screenwriter and producer best known for writing and producing the 2019 HBO film BAD EDUCATION, starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.

In late 2025, Makowsky released the Netflix limited series DEATH BY LIGHTNING, which he created and wrote. The series chronicles the rise and assassination of U.S. President James A. Garfield, starring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen. The project was adapted from Candice Millard’s book Destiny of the Republic. We also spoke with actor Michael Shannon, who plays Garfield, in Episode 680 of the podcast.

In this interview, we talk about the inspiration for the series DEATH BY LIGHTNING, the immense difficulty of mounting and finishing a period piece in the current industry landscape, advice on pitching historical fiction, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Caleb Walker is a 16-year-old high school student and filmmaker. Over a year ago, he wrote, directed, and produced his first short film, ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG, which went on to screen at the All-American High School Film Festival.

He recently finished his first feature-length script, which is a horror movie oriented around Mexican culture and urban legends. He is also currently working on and completing a script oriented around 9/11.

You can view his short film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN3GQDvMy78

In this interview, we talk about his thoughts on breaking into the film industry, role models, inspiration and writing process for his first short film ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG, the indie production process and creative constraints, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Chandler Baker is a New York Times bestselling novelist turned screenwriter, showrunner, and producer. Her first feature film, OH. WHAT. FUN. premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 3. The film follows Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. This year, her husband and grown kids get distracted and forget their mom.

As her family scrambles to find her and salvage their Christmas, Claire rediscovers what the holidays mean when you’re finally free to put yourself first. The film also stars Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Jason Schwartzman, and Eva Longoria.

In this interview, we talk about the origin and inspiration for the film OH. WHAT. FUN., transitioning from young adult novelist to writing for an older audience, the success of her book WHISPER NETWORK, the pros and cons of outlining vs. "pantsing", and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Jason Fuchs is the writer, co-creator, executive producer, and co-showrunner of HBO Max's IT: WELCOME TO DERRY. The series serves as a prequel to the successful IT films and explores the origins of the infamous killer clown Pennywise. Set in 1962, it follows a family that arrives in Derry, Maine, just as children begin to disappear.

Jason made his feature writing debut with the box office hit ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, which at the time of its release was the highest-grossing animated film internationally and made Jason the youngest screenwriter to have a film gross over $250M. He then went on to co-write Warner Brothers’ acclaimed 2017 film WONDER WOMAN starring Gal Gadot. He also wrote New Line’s IT: CHAPTER 2.

In this interview, we talk about his adaptation work and how he approaches each project, his involvement with the IT universe, collaborating with Stephen King, long-form storytelling in TV, balancing fan expectation and originality, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Becca Topol is co-producer and story editor of MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, which follows the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, and Miles Morales as they team up with Super Heroes to defeat foes.

A writer of both film and television series, Topol's writing credits include Disney Jr.'s Emmy and Imagen Award-winning ELENA OF AVALOR, and the live-action feature film THE RAMEN GIRL.

In this interview, we talk about her transition to entertainment and shift to writing, moving through Disney, writing for SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, how being an "outsider" can be an advantage in the industry, writing for TV vs. features, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Zach Baylin and Kate Susman are a successful husband-and-wife creative duo and the co-founders of the production company Youngblood Pictures. Baylin is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter who achieved prominence for his debut feature, KING RICHARD - where Will Smith won the Oscar, and has since co-written major films including CREED III, THE ORDER, GRAN TURISMO.

Susman, a producer and screenwriter, is his primary creative partner, and together they co-created, co-wrote, and served as executive producers and showrunners for the upcoming Netflix crime thriller limited series, BLACK RABBIT.

The series follows the owner of a New York City hotspot (Jude Law) who allows his turbulent brother (Jason Bateman) back into his life and opens the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he's built.

In this interview, we talk about how their writing collaboration started, the elements of a good partnership, their work process and writing philosophy, their show BLACK RABBIT, and the challenges of writing for TV/limited series.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Michael Shannon is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony Award-nominated actor with a distinguished career in film, television, and theater. This fall, he stars opposite Russell Crowe and Rami Malek in the historical drama NUREMBERG and plays President James Garfield in the Netflix series DEATH BY LIGHTNING.

DEATH BY LIGHTNING dramatizes the stranger-than-fiction true story of 20th U.S. President James Garfield and his admirer, Charles Guiteau, who assassinated him.

In this interview, we talk about his career, his latest project DEATH BY LIGHTNING, inspirations and acting philosophy, the type of roles that intrigue him, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!