Women in Entertainment

For Ming-Na Wen, storytelling has always been about connection, whether she’s bringing a groundbreaking character to life onscreen or sharing the recipes that have fed her family for generations.

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, the celebrated actor and Disney Legend opens up about creating her cookbook, a project inspired by fans who spent years asking for the recipes behind the food she shared online. Ming-Na reflects on growing up as the daughter of restaurateurs, carefully testing and measuring every recipe herself, and overcoming the doubts that made her wonder whether she had the credentials to write a cookbook at all.

She also looks back on the extraordinary impact of The Joy Luck Club, the experience of finally entering a room filled with other Asian actors, and the lifelong friendships that followed. From ER and Mulan to Agent May and Fennec Shand, Ming-Na shares how her childhood love of science fiction eventually led to a career filled with heroes, action, and “nerd dreams” come true. Plus, she reveals the genre she still hopes to conquer: the romantic comedy.

Listen to learn:

• Why Ming-Na initially doubted she could write a cookbook
• How food became a way to preserve family history and connection
• What The Joy Luck Club meant to her as a Chinese American actor
• Why playing action heroes became unexpectedly addictive
• The kind of role she would still love to take on next

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#MingNaWen #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #TheJoyLuckClub #Mulan #DisneyLegend #StarWars #Marvel #AgentsOfSHIELD #FennecShand #AsianAmericanRepresentation #ChineseAmerican #Cookbook #FoodAndFamily #WomenInHollywood

Tiffani Thiessen has spent more than 40 years growing up, evolving, and reinventing herself in front of audiences around the world.

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment podcast, Tiffani looks back on a career that began when she was just eight years old and led to culture-defining roles on Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills, 90210, White Collar, and beyond. She shares what it was like navigating fame before social media, breaking away from the expectations surrounding Kelly Kapowski, and embracing the very different Valerie Malone.

Tiffani also opens up about the life behind the roles: raising two children, protecting family boundaries online, balancing work with motherhood, and staying grounded through gratitude, empathy, and the support of the women who shaped her life. She also takes us inside Coven Academy, where she plays the head of a school for witches and warlocks in a story centered on sisterhood, found family, and discovering the strength that comes from finding your people.

Listen to learn:

• How Tiffani navigated more than four decades in Hollywood
• Why Valerie Malone was an important career shift after Kelly Kapowski
• How she approaches social media and protects her children’s privacy
• The family values and mentors that have kept her grounded
• Why Coven Academy’s message of sisterhood and found family resonates with her

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ..

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast.

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85.

#TiffaniThiessen #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #SavedByTheBell #BeverlyHills90210 #WhiteCollar #CovenAcademy #WomenSupportingWomen #Sisterhood #Hollywood #Acting #WorkingMoms #EntertainmentIndustry

For Kelli Giddish, a lasting career is built by continuing to do the work.

On this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Kelli joins us to reflect on her remarkable journey as Amanda Rollins on Law & Order: SVU, where she is entering her 16th season. She shares why the series continues to connect across generations, how she handles the emotional weight of its most difficult storylines, and what it means to be working under the show’s first female showrunner.

Kelli also looks back at the unexpected path that brought her to acting, from nearly studying physics or astronomy to training in theater, appearing on All My Children, and learning firsthand that there is no single instruction manual for building a creative career.

She also shares what she has learned simply by watching Mariska Hargitay lead, why age can be approached as possibility rather than limitation, her hopes to create more stories families can experience together, and what audiences can look forward to as SVU approaches its milestone 600th episode.

Listen to learn:

• Why Kelli believes SVU has become a multigenerational “comfort show”
• How she decompresses after emotionally difficult storylines
• What soap operas taught her about discipline and preparation
• The career lesson behind her mantra, “work begets work”
• What Mariska Hargitay has taught her about longevity, leadership, and embracing what comes next

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KelliGiddish #LawAndOrderSVU #SVU #AmandaRollins #MariskaHargitay #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Acting #WomenInTelevision #CareerAdvice #EntertainmentIndustry #NBC

Jill Wagner didn’t wait for Hollywood to hand her the role she wanted; she helped create it.

The actress and producer joins the Women in Entertainment Podcast to trace the remarkable path from her small-town North Carolina roots to Punk’d, family-friendly films, and eventually Taylor Sheridan’s high-stakes world of Lioness. Jill shares how fear of being pigeonholed pushed her to keep evolving, and how a conversation around a backyard bonfire with her husband became the spark for a story about women serving in the military.

She also takes us inside the physical and emotional transformation required to become Bobby, from years of training to the haircut that finally helped her see the character in the mirror. Jill reflects on the military women who inspired her performance, the personal details she brought to Bobby, and the relentless mindset that carried her through exhaustion: “You asked for this.”

Along the way, she opens up about Taylor Sheridan’s creative process, her admiration for co-star Zoe Saldaña, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who can see possibilities in you before you can see them yourself.

Listen to learn:

• How Jill unexpectedly launched her acting career on Punk’d
• Why she refused to stay in one Hollywood lane
• How the original idea for Lioness began
• What it took physically and mentally to become Bobby
• Why creating your own opportunities can change the trajectory of your career

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#JillWagner #Lioness #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #TaylorSheridan #ZoeSaldana #WomenInFilm #WomenInTelevision #Acting #FemaleCreators #Hollywood #CareerReinvention #WomenInTheMilitary

Heather McMahan may be selling out iconic venues, but she still approaches her career with the same mix of hustle, humor, honesty, and relentless ambition that got her there.

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, Heather looks back on the long road from working restaurant shifts near Radio City Music Hall to eventually selling out the legendary venue herself. She shares how transparency helped her build an intensely loyal audience, why relatability sits at the heart of her comedy, and how stand-up gives her the creative freedom to keep moving even while television projects can take years to develop.

Heather also takes us inside her writing process for a new comedy special, her experience developing a show with Hulu, and the challenge of constantly creating new material while touring and promoting what came before. Along the way, she talks about social media, comedy culture, dream collaborators, staying grounded in Atlanta, and why there is still so much she wants to accomplish.

Listen to learn:

• How Heather built a loyal audience through honesty and relatability
• What selling out Radio City meant after years of grinding
• How she writes, tests, and edits material for a stand-up special
• Why she believes emerging comedians need to embrace social media
• The television, acting, and comedy goals still on her wish list

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#HeatherMcMahan #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Comedy #StandUpComedy #FemaleComedians #RadioCityMusicHall #Hulu #EntertainmentIndustry #WomenInComedy

Sometimes the role that changes everything arrives after the season when nothing seems to be working.

Katherine LaNasa joins Women in Entertainment to talk about the extraordinary success of The Pitt, its 26 Emmy nominations, and the collaborative environment that makes the series feel so authentic. She celebrates the women working across the production, from writing and makeup to art direction, and shares why working with John Wells had long been on her career bucket list. She also reveals how immediately she connected with Nurse Dana and why she chose to bring a Pittsburgh accent to the character.

The conversation turns deeply personal as Katherine reflects on navigating unemployment, cancer, regret, gratitude, and the practice of learning to enjoy life while she is living it. She explains why The Pitt feels like “grace from the universe,” how she has learned to work alongside fear instead of waiting for it to disappear, and why the show’s focus on people caring for one another may be part of its powerful connection with audiences.

She also takes us behind the viral “Baby Jane Doe” moment, talks about her love of disappearing into wildly different characters, teases Count My Lies, shares her hopes of returning to the stage, and makes one future goal very clear: she wants to play a queen.

Listen to learn:

• Why Nurse Dana felt instinctively right from Katherine’s very first audition
• How gratitude helped her through unemployment, illness, and career uncertainty
• Why The Pitt strives for total immersion rather than a documentary feel
• The story behind her Pittsburgh accent and the viral “Baby Jane Doe” moment
• Why Broadway and finally playing a queen are still on her creative wish list

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #ThePitt #NurseDana #Emmys #Acting #WomenInFilm #WomenInTelevision #JohnWells #CountMyLies #Broadway #Resilience #FemaleCreatives #WomenInHollywood

This episode is supported by Hulu.

Karin Slaughter may be known for writing unforgettable darkness, but at the heart of her stories is something far more hopeful: the belief that tomorrow can be better.

The bestselling author joins the Women in Entertainment podcast to discuss the evolution of her career, from creating the Grant County and Will Trent series to building the world of North Falls with the intention of creating a long-running series from the very beginning. Karin takes listeners inside her unconventional writing process, explains why she loves ending the North Falls books with cliffhangers, and reflects on what has kept her creatively energized across more than twenty books.

She also opens up about bringing her work to television. Karin shares why she embraces the differences between the Will Trent books and the ABC series, and what it was like to write every episode and serve as showrunner on The Good Daughter, starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy. Along the way, she talks about crime fiction, BookTok, reading across genres, resisting the algorithm, and why writers need both persistence and curiosity.

Listen to learn:

- Why Karin created North Falls as a series from day one

- How she balances darkness, humor, and hope in crime fiction

- What she learned from adapting her own work for television

- Why authors have to let screen adaptations become their own art

- Her two essential pieces of advice for aspiring writers

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KarinSlaughter #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #NorthFalls #TheSecretsWeHide #WeAreAllGuiltyHere #WillTrent #TheGoodDaughter #CrimeFiction #ThrillerBooks #WomenWriters #BookTok #WritingAdvice #Authors

This episode is supported by Wrapbook, the all-in-one platform for production payroll, spend and accounting. Learn more here: http://wrapbook.com/wie

Support for this episode also comes from Hulu.

THE SECRETS WE HIDE (7:41)

Shop the North Falls series here: https://amzn.to/3Scd3CK https://amzn.to/4geGwnp

Shop 'The Good Daughter' here: https://amzn.to/3SzuwFg

Karolina Wydra’s story is a powerful reminder that a dream can go quiet without ever truly disappearing.

On this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Karolina reflects on growing up in Poland during communism, where resourcefulness, creativity, and independence were woven into daily life. After moving to America at 11, she found her way into modeling as a teenager, traveling the world and building the resilience that would later serve her as an actor. At 25, she finally gave herself permission to pursue the craft she had secretly loved for years.

Karolina also opens up about stepping away from acting to become a mother and the uncertainty she faced when she was ready to return. Then came an unexpected audition for Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus. After more than 5,000 submissions, casting revisited handwritten notes from years earlier, rediscovered Karolina, and helped open the door to a role she describes as beyond her wildest dreams. She also shares how dream work, preparation, collaboration, and trust helped her shape the enigmatic Zosia.

Listen to learn:

- How Karolina’s childhood shaped her independence and creativity

- What modeling taught her about rejection and work ethic

- Why she waited until 25 to fully pursue acting

- How she returned to Hollywood after motherhood

- The remarkable casting story behind her role in Pluribus

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KarolinaWydra #Pluribus #VinceGilligan #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Acting #Hollywood #WomenInFilm #CareerReinvention #Motherhood #Resilience

This episode is supported by Wrapbook, the all-in-one platform for production payroll, spend and accounting. Learn more here: http://wrapbook.com/wie

Sometimes the breakthrough arrives after you stop insisting that your dream unfold exactly as planned.

D’Arcy Carden joins the Women in Entertainment Podcast for a heartfelt and hilarious conversation about friendship, creative fulfillment, and building a life around the work you love. She takes listeners behind the scenes of The Five-Star Weekend, where an early Pictionary game helped Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, Harlow Jane, and D’Arcy form a genuine connection that carried into their performances.

D’Arcy also shares how the deeply supportive, female-led production gave her the safety to explore Brooke’s most vulnerable moments. Looking back on her career, she clarifies that she never planned to abandon acting. Instead, she began accepting that her childhood vision of television success might change, only for The Good Place to transform her career. She reflects on the emotional impact of playing Janet, the meaningful relationships viewers have formed with her work, and why improv remains one of the great loves of her life.

Listen to learn:

- How the Five-Star Weekend cast created authentic chemistry

- Why support behind the camera strengthens vulnerable performances

- What D’Arcy loves about playing women “on the verge”

- How redefining success created space for new opportunities

- Why improv teaches courage, presence, listening, and reaction

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#DArcyCarden #TheFiveStarWeekend #TheGoodPlace #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #WomenInComedy #FemaleFriendship #Improv #WomenInTelevision

This episode is supported by Wrapbook, the all-in-one platform for production payroll, spend and accounting. Learn more here: http://wrapbook.com/wie

What happens when a filmmaker turns one of production’s most frustrating problems into a platform designed to help more stories get made?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Wrapbook co-founder Cameron Woodward traces his journey from producing commercials to building a spend-management platform for film, television, commercial, and unscripted productions. After experiencing the costly inefficiencies of paper onboarding, mailed timecards, delayed payroll, and complicated compliance requirements, he saw an opportunity to create a better system, one built by production people for production people.

Cameron explains how Wrapbook brings employee onboarding, payroll, production accounting, vendor management, insurance, labor relations, and tax-incentive reporting into one connected platform. He also reflects on Hollywood’s evolving relationship with technology, arguing that automation can reduce administrative burdens without replacing the creative decisions at the heart of filmmaking. Through examples ranging from independent features to documentary shorts, he reveals how efficient infrastructure can help producers do more with limited resources and expand the marketplace of ideas.

Listen to learn:

- Why producers are natural entrepreneurs and problem-solvers

- How outdated payroll processes inspired Wrapbook

- Where automation can support, not replace, creative work

- How production teams navigate incentives, compliance, and insurance

- Why better infrastructure can lead to more original storytelling

Thanks to Wrapbook for supporting the show! For those of you looking to make production payroll and accounting easier and faster to navigate, head to wrapbook.com/wie to get set up.

The Women in Entertainment Podcast 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/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Wrapbook #FilmProduction #ProductionFinance #EntertainmentTechnology #FilmPayroll #ProductionAccounting #IndependentFilm #CreativeEntrepreneurship #FutureOfFilmmaking