We talk to the incredible Jan Nash. She tells us about her long and storied career in Hollywood, the importance of compassionate leadership and her time as a studio executive.
She tells us what she learned as an investment banker, the importance of telling your own story and the privilege of working in a career you love and putting it all into perspective.
We discuss leadership styles, the benefits of co-showrunners and sharing the load, and what makes for a successful room.
Jan tells us her future plans, tells us why she loves the Hawaii franchise and some of her hopes for it and gives some important advice.
A deep and thoughtful interview with a legend of the industry.

We talk to the extraordinary writer, showrunner and producer Liz Hannah.
She talks about working with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in her breakout script, getting tattoos after project successes and not buying her husband gifts.
We discuss the pressure of following up a big success, having two hits out at once and the anxiety of working in entertainment and the feeling of relief when getting an overall deal.
Liz discusses the journey of the Post and working with Spielberg, her mum finding out about the deal in the trades and the advice she received on set.
We also cover therapy, being re-written and what she plans to do next.
An honest, fascinating and in-depth discussion about the lows and highs of the industry with an in-demand star.

In an episode with two British voices, it was a pleasure to have writer and director Nida Manzoor join us on the podcast.
She tells us about the excitement and nerves of directing for British institution Doctor Who, turning down a chance to work on a Marvel show and bringing her show We Are Lady Parts to life.
She talks us through the process of both writing and directing, how she chooses her next projects and the challenges of achieving the level of representation she wants.
We talk about the differences between writing rooms in Britain and America, avoiding being pushed into writing Muslim stereotypes and penning superhero movies.
A fascinating interview with a rising star with a unique voice.

We talk to NCIS legend Christopher Silber.
He talks about his first time working on the franchise, the difficult work environment at the time and getting fired.
But then also his return to the franchise, his continued love for the work and the creation of the Hawaiian iteration of the show.
Christopher discusses the pressure to succeed, the difficulties of being a showrunner - and why he shares the workload with others - and the importance of understanding the toughness of the path of a writer before one sets out.
We talk about learning from bad bosses, how to run a room well and the rare feeling of having a first season of show going smoothly.
A fascinating discussion with a leading showrunner.

Studio president Beatrice Springborn joins the podcast to give the view from 'upstairs'.
She talks about her journey through journalism, start-ups and Pixar with some Film School thrown in.
We discuss her leadership style , her empathy when rejecting projects and whether she wants commercial success or awards.
Beatrice talks about completing a writing course and what she learned about rejection and failure, how she nearly quit the industry and what keeps her up at night.
She tells us the process that execs go through when considering projects, the importance of seeing the bigger picture and the time she broke down in tears after rejecting a project.
An emotional, honest and insightful interview with a leading industry figure.

We talk to director Tessa Blake about her rise through the world of episodic TV.
She talks about the balance between craft and leadership skills, what she learned as a cocktail waitress and the importance of learning people's names.
Tessa tells us about early rejections, insinuations that women couldn't succeed in this part of the industry and her attempts at writing.
She explains how she overcame the obstacles in front of her, her legendary levels of preparation and how she uses that preparation to free her up to be flexible on set.
An honest and powerful discussion about directing, industry bias and making great television.

We talk to TV writer, WGA Board Member and co-founder of Pay Up Hollywood Liz Alper. 
We chat with Liz about the challenges she’s faced this year looking for work as well as what the industry is facing as a whole in the middle of what feels like an industry-wide slowdown. 
She discusses what the guild is doing to help writers sustain their careers as well as the impetus for Pay Up Hollywood, a program designed to pressure the major studios into paying assistants more. 
Liz also opens up about how her work with this program has possibly hurt her career. 
A candid conversation with a longtime TV writer and WGA board member who is striving to make things better not only for working writers but aspiring writers as well. 

We talk to comedian, writer and showrunner Mike Royce.
He talks us through his life as a comedian, compares bombing on stage to bad pitching in a room and the joy of regular Emmy nominations.
And then trying to find success post-Raymond, failing at one show yet getting into the showrunners' club and being given another chance with the next one.
We discuss why showrunning is hard, what he learned from others and used in his rooms and the importance of food and going home early.
Mike tells us about panic naps, learning that other writers might be better and becoming a leader.
An honest, fun and insightful romp through Hollywood with one of the nice guys of the industry. 

We talk to Shudder General Manager Craig Engler.
The writer-turned-exec tells us what he’s learned about rejection as a writer and how he  now behaves as an exec.
Craig talks about the emotional heartbreak of a writing project ending in turmoil and legal dispute, how that drove him back to the exec side of the business and what it meant to him.
He explains why he likes to give a quick no, how sometimes they greenlight too quickly for some writers and gives a great explanation of what horror actually entails.
And he tells aspiring writers to just keep writing and only worry about what they can control.
An insightful discussion about a different part of the industry.

We talk to showrunner Vaun Wilmott who tells stories of giving up acting, selling shampoo and breaking into the world of writing.
He tells us about his 'overnight success', taking more than ten years of writing until he created Dominion and the joys of being the number two in a room.
We talk about leadership over Zoom, missing out on the snacks and lunches of the old days and working on a 'dream job' like Star Trek.
Vaun talks about his shows, the importance - in a world of rejection - of remembering your value and your successes and we get in to imposter syndrome, in all its forms.
A candid and insightful interview.
#Screenwriting #TVWriting #Showrunner #Writing #Adversity #Failure #Rejection #Hollywood