I interviewed Steven Levitan, the co-creator and showrunner of Modern Family, one of the most successful sitcoms of the past two decades. What makes him fascinating isn't just that he wrote hundreds of TV episodes, but how he thinks about the craft of comedy writing itself. We talked about why story breaking is the hardest part of TV writing, how he juggles multiple storylines in 21 minutes, the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch writers, why the best jokes come from character, how to build character dynamics that last hundreds of episodes, and why Modern Family was designed to bring joy to families. If you want to understand how professional comedy writers think about storytelling, character development, and the creative process behind hit television, this conversation will give you an inside look at the secrets that made Modern Family. Enjoy!

Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.

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