In Her Words

Heather Graham is an actress, writer, and director. Her next film is an American Western titled Place of Bones, directed by Audrey Cummings and also starring Tom Hopper, and will be in select theaters and on digital/demand on August 23rd.  The film is about a mother and daughter who fight for survival after a gang of outlaws descend on their ranch following a botched bank robbery.

Heather has made a conscious choice over the years to tell empowering female stories and to write/direct and produce as well.

Following, she will be seen in A Chosen Family, a film that she also wrote and directed. The cast of the film, which made its world debut at the 2024 Santa Barbara Film Festival, includes Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, Andrea Savage, John Brotherton and Michael Gross. She recently received the King Vidor Award while showcasing the film at the SLO Int’l Film Festival. Check out the trailer HERE.  This comes as her second feature after Half Magic, which she wrote, directed and starred in and made waves in the industry in 2018.

This year also marks 25 years since Heather graced the screen in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and 15 years since she was seen in The Hangover, both iconic films and exciting anniversaries.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908  

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE 

Sara DeWitt is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of PBS KIDS, where she oversees the strategic direction of the nation’s leading educational media service for children. She manages a cross-disciplinary team that produces content, develops digital platforms, distributes assets, and creates educational products aimed at fostering learning. Under her leadership, PBS KIDS has established itself as a trusted educational brand, delivering innovative digital experiences such as award-winning games, apps, podcasts, augmented reality experiences, and learning analytics platforms that track children’s progress. Her efforts have also helped make PBS KIDS a gold standard in children's digital privacy and security.

With over 20 years in public media, DeWitt has been at the forefront of the digital transformation of PBS KIDS. She is a sought-after speaker on topics like screen time, games, and learning, delivering a TED Talk and speaking at conferences such as SXSW, Games for Change, and the Grace Hopper Celebration. Her contributions to the field have earned her accolades including Cynopsis Media’s Top Women in Digital Award and the Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology. DeWitt holds both an MA and a BA in English from Stanford University and has a background in early childhood education and media research.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE 

Attica Locke is a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer, celebrated for her gripping narratives in both literature and television. She is best known for her Highway 59 trilogy, which includes Bluebird, Bluebird, Heaven, My Home, and the latest release, Guide Me Home, all praised for their deep exploration of race, justice, and identity in the American South. Locke has won numerous accolades, including the Edgar Award, and her screenwriting credits include Empire and When They See Us. She also serves as a producer for Little Fires Everywhere. A graduate of Northwestern University, Locke continues to captivate audiences with her ability to tell powerful stories across genres and mediums.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE  

Chai Vasarhelyi is an award-winning filmmaker known for her compelling documentaries and narrative films. She co-directed the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo, which captured the breathtaking journey of rock climber Alex Honnold. Vasarhelyi's body of work often explores themes of resilience, risk, and the human spirit, as seen in films like The Rescue and Nyad, a narrative feature she co-directed about legendary swimmer Diana Nyad. A storyteller at heart, Vasarhelyi blends her background in journalism and photography with a passion for intentional storytelling, creating films that push boundaries and inspire audiences worldwide.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE 

Writer, Director, Producer Veena Sud is no stranger to dark crime and mystery dramas and continues to break barriers as a cutting-edge filmmaker with a knack for “dark, flawed and complicated” women.

Currently, Sud is adapting Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a TV series for Amazon Prime Video with Left Bank Pictures executive producing. Sud is most known for creating, writing, and producing the ground-breaking AMC/Netflix original series The Killing, which was the first US television series of its kind to portray a murder mystery over the course of multiple seasons. The series was nominated for a Golden Globe and six Emmys, including Outstanding Cast for a Drama series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama series.

Sud’s second original series from Netflix on police violence in America, Seven Seconds garnered an Emmy win for Best Leading Actress in a Limited Series, a Golden Globe nomination, and several NAACP Image Awards.

Sud’s feature film THE LIE (Blumhouse), which she wrote and directed, premiered as a Gala Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, and debuted on Amazon in 2020. Her dark thriller TV series hybrid, The Stranger starring Maika Monroe and Dane DeHaan was a standout series on Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Quibi mobile platform. It’s since been re-edited as a feature-length film and will debut on Hulu on April 15.

Sud was previously a writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the CBS police procedural Cold Case. She worked as a print and broadcast journalist in New York City and in film distribution at Third World Newsreel before moving into television writing. Sud is an alumnus of New York University’s Graduate Film and Television program and earned her B.A. at Columbia University. Her short films have also been screened internationally, including at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Sud has been included in The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Showrunners List as well as Variety’s Women’s Impact Report. She is represented by William Morris Endeavor and Anonymous Content and her attorney is Bruce Gellman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman and Newman. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908   

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE  

Melanie Marnich is a Golden Globe-winning writer, internationally acclaimed playwright, and seasoned television showrunner known for her masterful storytelling. With a career spanning both stage and screen, Melanie has garnered critical acclaim for her work, including her standout episode of Big Love, "Come, Ye Saints," which earned her a Writers' Guild nomination and was named one of the best TV episodes of 2009 by Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine. Her plays have been produced at prestigious venues like The Kennedy Center, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Manhattan Theatre Club, showcasing her deep understanding of character and narrative.

As the creator and showrunner of the Peacock TV series Apples Never Fall, based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel, Melanie brought her unique vision to life, blending suspense, intrigue, and emotional depth. The series dives into the complexities of family dynamics and secrets, earning praise for its compelling adaptation.

In addition to her writing and showrunning work, Melanie serves on the Board of Trustees for the Humanitas Foundation, where she continues to champion the power of storytelling. Her work across multiple mediums has made her a respected voice in the entertainment industry, known for her ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply with audiences.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE  

Sharon Lawrence grew up in North Carolina (Charlotte and Raleigh), graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism and spent her college summers doing musicals in summer stock. She became an Actors Equity Member in 1984 and a SAG-AFTRA member in 1987. She may be best known for her multiply Emmy Award-nominated and SAG Award-winning portrayal of ADA Sylvia Costas Sipowicz in NYPD Blue. She also played, among many roles, a stay-at-home prostitute in Desperate Housewives, a charming but murderous realtor on Monk, the twisted jailbird mother of a sociopath on Criminal Minds, a serial killer on Law and Order: SVU, and a mother coming to terms with her long-lost daughter on Rizzoli & Isles -- not to mention bantering with Alfred Molina on Ladies Man or beating up Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

An accomplished stage actress, Lawrence played twenty different female characters in the Noel Coward cabaret, Love, Noel at the Wallis. Lawrence starred in Sir Noel Coward's final play, A Song at Twilight, at the Pasadena Playhouse, and as Vivien Leigh in Orson's Shadow (winner LA Drama Critics Circle Award, nominated for Ovation Award). At the Mark Taper Forum, she created the role of Maureen in the premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Poor Behavior and was featured Carl Reiner's gala, Enter Laughing. Her Broadway credits include revivals of Cabaret, Fiddler On The Roof and Chicago (as Velma Kelly).

A former Chair of Women In Film Foundation, she is affiliated with the Board of Directors of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation as well as WeForShe.org, HealTheBay.org and UNC-Chapel Hill General Alumni Association.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Trigger Warning: A very small part of our conversation is about Sharon's new play, which is centered around suicide. We want to flag this sensitive subject matter for any of you who may have been affected.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE

Kara Talve is an Emmy-nominated composer and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her work in film and television. As a leading composer at Bleeding Fingers Music, she has significantly contributed to numerous projects with her exceptional talent and collaborative spirit. Most recently, Kara co-scored Peacock & SkyTV’s series “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” with Hans Zimmer, starring Harvey Keitel and based on the popular novel by Heather Morris, which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) and and Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Another notable recent project is Apple TV+‘s “Prehistoric Planet,” where she collaborated alongside Hans Zimmer and Anže Rozman. Narrated by David Attenborough and produced by Jon Favreau in conjunction with BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit. This work received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special, won Best Original Score for a Documentary Series at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs), and was nominated for the 2022 Bulldog Television Broadcast Awards.

Other recent releases for Kara include Baz Luhrmann’s celebrated “Faraway Downs,” the expanded version of the film “Australia” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, for which she used an 80+ piece orchestra, and “Adrift,” directed by Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy. She is also currently a composer on the iconic animated series “The Simpsons,” where her styles range from the show’s iconic orchestral sound to nearly every other genre imaginable, including their famous annual Treehouse of Horror episodes.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908     

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE  

Leah McKendrick is a Latina American multi-hyphenate filmmaker and actress from San Francisco. Her directorial debut, SCRAMBLED, which she also wrote and stars in, premiered at SXSW 2023 and is based on Leah’s real journey through egg freezing and 30-something singledom.

#Scrambled⁠ ⁠#LeahMckendrick⁠ ⁠#BeverlyHills⁠ ⁠#iknowwhatyoudidlastsummer⁠ ⁠#MFA⁠ ⁠#SummerLovin⁠ ⁠#DirectorialDebut⁠ ⁠#Masterclass⁠ ⁠#CreativeCareers⁠

This week on In Her Words as part of our Summer Stories Series, we sit down with the amazing writer, actor, producer and podcast host, Tembi Locke. 

Tembi’s memoir, “From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home,” a NYT bestseller, was adapted as a limited series - From Scratch - for Netflix in partnership with Hello Sunshine. Serving as co-creator and executive producer, the adaptation  became an instant global hit, spending weeks on Netflix’s Top Ten List in over thirty countries around the world and earning six NAACP Image Award nominations and the prestigious Los Angeles Film Italy award. Tembi is also an accomplished actor with over sixty film and television credits, most recently recurring on Never Have I Ever. Offscreen, she is a nationally recognized speaker for her keynotes on resilience, loss, and motherhood; her TEDX talk has been viewed by individuals and nonprofits worldwide.

Tembi launched the second season of her weekly original podcast “Lifted,” on Jan 25, 2024. This new season of the podcast specifically takes a look at women in the food industry and culinary arts. From change-makers to entrepreneurs, this season highlights the way women are changing culture and business; and builds on the first season, in which Tembi shared her own personal journey and interviewed other female creators and artists involved in making From Scratch.

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television to media and gaming and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation and beyond.

Listen on: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ2EPGuC1PhcqJpGW?si=fdb445a8906b49b4  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-her-words/id1674672975   

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/In-Her-Words-Podcast/B0BWYXYBF6?action_code=ASSGB14908    

Find us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women_in_entertainment/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninentertainment   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InHerWords_WIE