From rom-com icon to fearless producer, Kate Hudson is in her renaissance era, and she’s loving every minute of it.

In this candid conversation, Kate takes us behind the scenes of Song Sung Blue, the inspiring true story that had her “bawling” at the first screening. She shares how discovering Claire’s real-life journey—complete with love, music, tragedy, and triumph—reminded her why she became an actress in the first place. From singing alongside Hugh Jackman to portraying a woman whose resilience reshaped her life, Kate reveals how the role stretched her emotionally and artistically in ways she’ll never forget.

She also dives into her hit comedy series with Mindy Kaling, where she stars and serves as a producer, embracing creative ownership and finding joy in collaboration. Plus, Kate reflects on navigating early blockbuster success with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, breaking past outside perceptions, staying grounded as a mom of three, and why connection has always been her secret ingredient.

Warm, funny, and deeply thoughtful, this episode is a masterclass in longevity, reinvention, and leading with heart.

Listen to learn:

- How Kate prepared to play a real-life woman in Song Sung Blue

- Why singing alongside Hugh Jackman felt different this time

- What producing with Mindy Kaling has taught her about creative power

- How she navigated post–rom-com superstardom on her own terms

- The books, self-growth rituals, and mindset shifts fueling her next chapter

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..

#KateHudson #WomenInentErtainment #SongSungBlue #HughJackman #MindyKaling #HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days #WomenInFilm #FemaleProducer #ActressLife #HollywoodRenaissance #CareerReinvention #CreativeOwnership #WomenProducers #RomComIcon #FilmPodcast #EntertainmentInterview #BehindTheScenes #TrueStoryFilm #OnSetLife #LongevityInHollywood #WomenSupportingWomen #CreativeJourney #StorytellingMatters #ArtistEvolution #FilmIndustryLife #LeadingWithHeart

What does it take to build a lasting career in horror and still protect your creative soul?

Director Natasha Kermani traces her path from editing neighborhood videos on an early iMac to premiering her first feature, Imitation Girl, and becoming a distinctive voice in genre filmmaking. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Natasha shares how the horror community embraced her early work and why she found freedom in a genre that welcomes experimentation, new perspectives, and bold storytelling.

Her latest film, The Dreadful, was years in the making, written in the emotional aftermath of the 2016 election and inspired by a folktale about two women surviving brutal times. Natasha reflects on navigating industry resistance to period films, shelving and resurrecting the script, and ultimately bringing it to life with Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, and Marcia Gay Harden, all on a tight 17-day shoot.

In this candid conversation, she also shares her vulnerabilities as a director, the pressure of low-budget filmmaking, and her commitment to protecting time for process and imagination in an industry obsessed with speed.

Listen to learn:

- How the horror community became a launchpad for her career

- Why The Dreadful was shelved and how it came back to life

- The reality of directing a feature in just 17 days

- How collaboration (and preparation) fuels her sets

- Why “dreaming time” is essential to meaningful filmmaking

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..

#NatashaKermani #WomenInFilm #FemaleDirector #IndieFilmmaker #GenreFilmmaking #FilmDirectorLife #IndependentFilm #TischSchoolOfTheArts #NYUFilm #HorrorFilmmaking #HorrorDirector #HorrorCommunity #IndieHorror #GenreFilm #PsychologicalHorror #FolkHorror #HorrorFans #TheDreadful #ImitationGirl #SophieTurner #KitHarington #MarciaGayHarden #PeriodFilm #LowBudgetFilmmaking #17DayShoot #CreativeProcess #FilmmakingJourney #DirectorInterview #BehindTheScenesFilm #ProtectYourCreativity #ArtVsIndustry #WomenInHorror #CreativeEntrepreneur

Before she was an award-winning actress, Octavia Spencer wanted to be a producer, and that instinct to build, solve, and champion meaningful stories still guides her every move.

In this candid and inspiring conversation, Octavia opens up about balancing genres, from comedy and horror to true crime, and why she gravitates toward projects that resonate deeply rather than simply spotlight her performance. As executive producer and voice behind Feds and Lost Women of Alaska, she shares how both series act as powerful bookends: one honoring the voices of underserved women whose stories were overlooked, the other spotlighting the real-life “Avengers” working to bring justice to victims. For Octavia, producing isn’t about control; it’s about assembling the right storytellers and ensuring important narratives are told with care and intention.

She also reflects on her early days as a casting assistant, the mentors who shaped her career, and the importance of staying grounded in an industry that can easily pull you off-center. Her advice to the next generation? Embrace the discomfort. That’s where evolution lives.

Listen to learn:

- Why Octavia chooses entire stories, not just roles

- How producing allows her to create opportunities for others

- The intentional balance behind Feds and Lost Women of Alaska

- Why discomfort is essential to artistic growth

- How community and mentorship shaped her 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..

#OctaviaSpencer #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInFilm #WomenInHollywood #ExecutiveProducer #Storytelling #Feds #LostWomenOfAlaska #FilmIndustry #TVIndustry #EntertainmentPodcast #ProducerLife #HollywoodCareer #CreativeLeadership #WomenInMedia #MentorshipMatters #CareerInFilm #ArtisticGrowth #EmbraceDiscomfort #BehindTheScenes #WomenSupportingWomen #FilmAndTelevision #IndustryInsights #PodcastInterview

What happens when the story you thought had ended still has more to say?

Bestselling author Laura Dave opens up about the evolution of her breakout hit The Last Thing He Told Me and its powerful sequel, The First Time I Saw Him. Sparked by the Enron scandal and written over the course of a decade, Laura reveals how she unknowingly crafted two books at once and why making her heroine a survivor, not a victim, was non-negotiable. She shares the surreal experience of partnering with Hello Sunshine, developing the series for Apple TV+, and watching Jennifer Garner bring Hannah Hall to life on screen.

From researching Fisher Island to finding creative clarity in the medieval streets of Èze, France, Laura reflects on the themes that define her work: redemption, second chances, and the witnesses who hold up mirrors to our truest selves. She also shares insights into her Netflix adaptations of The Night We Lost Him and The Divorce Party, her 5 a.m. writing rituals, and the song that soundtracked each novel.

Listen to learn:

- How a real-life corporate scandal sparked a decade-long creative journey

- Why writing the sequel felt riskier than the original bestseller

- What it’s really like collaborating with Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon

- Laura’s “day book/night book” reading method

- The grounding rituals that keep her focused eight books in

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..

#LauraDave #WomenInEntertainment #AuthorInterview #BestsellingAuthor #BookToScreen #AppleTVPlus #JenniferGarner #ReeseWitherspoon #WritingLife #CreativeProcess #ScreenAdaptation #WritersOfYouTube #StorytellingPodcast #BehindTheScenesBooks #NovelToSeries #AuthorLife #WritingRituals #CreativeJourney #PodcastEpisode

What does it take to modernize a story people already love without losing its soul? Writer-producer Rachel Shukert joins Women in Entertainment for a warm, hilarious, deeply craft-forward conversation about building female-led worlds that feel timeless and true.

From overlapping NYU memories (and the oddly permanent “NYU smell”) to her early career writing sharp, personal essays in the pre-social-media internet, Rachel shares how quiet time helped shape her voice. That work led to books, options, and a leap into TV right as the industry’s early-2010s boom opened doors for writers outside the traditional track.

Rachel breaks down her approach to adaptation, whether it’s The Baby-Sitters Club or The Burbs, by focusing on what she calls the core “North Star.” She also reflects on the meta magic of the GLOW writer’s room, new-mom energy in Hollywood, and how her real life echoed storylines she helped write.

Listen to learn:

- How Rachel identifies the “non-negotiable” heart of an adaptation

- Why you can’t “talk yourself into” the right project

- The difference between story (emotional arc) and plot (the engine)

- How she builds character from life-wants, not episode-wants

- What she’s developing next—and why her default protagonist is a woman

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..

#RachelShukert #WomenInEntertainment #TheBabySittersClub #GLOW #TheBurbs #TheHandmaidsTale #Peacock #Netflix #DisneyPlus #JudyBlume #SummerSisters #NYU #TVWriting #Showrunner #Adaptation #WomenLedStories #WritersRoom #Screenwriting #HollywoodMoms #StoryVsPlot

Sara Bareilles has always known there’s a difference between writing songs because it’s fun, and writing songs because it’s how you make it through the day. In this episode, Sara opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her path: a high school experience that shut her down creatively for years, the loneliness of studying abroad in Italy that revealed music as a lifeline, and the slow-build grind of open mics, MySpace hustle, rejection, and eventual breakthrough.

From there, Sara reflects on the “left turns” that kept her career expansive, especially her move to New York and the leap into musical theater with Waitress, a decision she says she was naive enough to say yes to before fully understanding the scale of the commitment. She also shares why vulnerability is her favorite quality in people, how anxiety can blur into intuition (especially for women), and why speaking the truth out loud can be “medicinal.”

The conversation circles grief and the profound power of comedy, too, including Sara’s time on Girls5eva.

Listen to learn:

- How music became Sara’s coping mechanism and career compass

- What rejection taught her about identity as an artist

- Why Waitress changed everything (and what she didn’t know going in)

- How she approaches vulnerability, anxiety, and intuition

- Why grief can create connection and performance can become catharsis

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...

#SaraBareilles #WomenInEntertainment #Waitress #Broadway #Songwriting #WomenInMusic #GriefAndHealing #Vulnerability #Girls5eva #ComeSeeMeInTheGoodLight #CreativeProcess #MentalHealthInTheArts

Costumes aren’t just clothes; they’re storytelling, psychology, and world-building stitched into every scene. In this episode, three iconic designers - Lyn Elizabeth Paolo, Marylin Fitoussi, and Amy Parris - take us inside the real work behind the looks that audiences obsess over. From unexpected beginnings to defining “magic moments” on set, they share how a career in costume design is built: on grit, curiosity, and trust.

They talk process, starting with the script, diving deep into research, and collaborating with directors, producers, and actors to build characters that feel lived-in. They also pull back the curtain on the job’s biggest misconception in the fact that it’s not glamorous; it’s early calls, long hours, constant problem-solving, and being a therapist, firefighter, and leader all at once. Additionally, they cover AI and what it means for creativity, and why protecting the human, intuitive “library” inside a designer’s mind matters more than ever.

Listen to learn:

- How designers translate words into a visual world through research

- Why “costume is psychology” (and how collaboration really works)

- The truth about managing budgets, teams, and on-set chaos

- How to handle social media criticism—and still trust your gut

- What gets newcomers hired: passion, curiosity, and a can-do attitude

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 #CostumeDesign #WomenInFilm #TVandFilm #BehindTheScenes #CreativeLeadership #StorytellingThroughStyle #FashionInFilm #FilmCraft #Mentorship

What happens when a bestselling YA author bets on herself right as the world shuts down?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Stephanie Garber takes us behind the scenes of her first adult novel, Alchemy of Secrets, a project she sold in early 2020 and spent five years bringing to life. Known for the beloved Caraval universe, Stephanie shares the honest, strategic reasons she made the leap into adult fiction along with the creative freedom that came from writing a technicolor, noir-tinged Los Angeles filled with hidden magic, treasure hunts, and hope.

Stephanie reflects on growing up loving movies, building LA as a living, breathing character, and why she believes adult stories can, and should, still be fun. She also opens up about craft: why she no longer believes in “standalones with series potential,” how romance beats shaped her longer arcs, and what it means to write with intention rather than fear.

The conversation takes an exciting turn as Stephanie recounts the unforgettable moment she learned that Julie Plec, the visionary behind The Vampire Diaries, had read Alchemy of Secrets. From fangirling to forging a partnership with Universal, Stephanie shares why this adaptation journey has left her feeling optimistic, supported, and deeply grateful.

Listen to learn:

- Why Alchemy of Secrets took five years and why that time mattered

- How career strategy and creative passion can coexist

- What makes Los Angeles the perfect setting for an adult treasure hunt

- How to think about series vs. standalones without breaking your heart

- Why hope is the one ingredient Stephanie always writes into her stories

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...

#StephanieGarber #AlchemyOfSecrets #JuliePlec #WomenInEntertainment #InHerWordsPodcast #AuthorsOfInstagram #BookToScreen #UrbanFantasy #WritingCareers #WomenCreators

Jenna Santoianni didn’t grow up dreaming of Hollywood; she grew up without cable. But that outsider perspective became her secret weapon as she carved out a powerful career at the center of television’s biggest transformations.

In this episode, Jenna traces her path from aspiring broadcast journalist to influential TV executive, beginning with early internships in development, a formative start at Creative Artists Agency, and a long, hard-fought road into scripted television. She opens up about learning the business before the streaming boom, getting her first real TV break at BermanBraun, and building shows during an era when rules, budgets, and expectations were constantly being rewritten.

Now a leader at MRC, Jenna reflects on what defines an MRC show, from bold creative voices to stories that have something to say, and why hits like House of Cards, Ozark, and Poker Face reshaped the streaming landscape. She also dives into the loss of 22-episode seasons, the challenge of measuring success today, and why audiences still crave characters they can grow up with.

Listen to learn:

- How growing up without TV shaped Jenna’s creative instincts

- Why character is the most powerful hook in modern storytelling

- What’s been lost and gained in the shift to short streaming seasons

- How success metrics have fractured across platforms

- Jenna’s practical advice for aspiring executives on building real mentorship

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 #JennaSantoianni #WomenInEntertainment #TelevisionExecutives #StreamingEra #TVDevelopment #MRC #CareersInHollywood

What does it take to “land the plane” on one of the most ambitious shows in modern TV and still keep it feeling human?

In this episode, VFX Supervisor Betsy Paterson pulls back the curtain on joining Stranger Things for its final season and stepping into a world where every sequence is a high-stakes puzzle. Betsy walks us through the reality behind the spectacle: a long prep period shaped by constant planning, storyboards, and pre-vis, followed by a full year of shooting and an equally massive post-production push. Her north star is always the same, ground the visuals in reality so the emotion and performance stay front and center.

We dive deep into how the team approached Vecna with a hybrid practical/CG solution designed to preserve Jamie Campbell-Bower’s performance while reducing the brutal hours in the makeup chair. Betsy also shares the craft (and chaos) of collaboration, working hand-in-hand with special effects, stunts, wardrobe, and cinematography, whether that means building rigs for falling “goo” or problem-solving a stab-able Demogorgon stand-in with… flower foam.

Listen to learn:

- What a three-year VFX timeline really looks like

- How Vecna was redesigned with a performance-driven hybrid approach

- Why the best VFX starts with practical, on-set reality

- The behind-the-scenes teamwork that makes big creatures believable

- Where AI is (and isn’t) actually helping VFX pipelines today

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...

#InHerWordsPodcast #WomenInEntertainment #BetsyPaterson #StrangerThings #VisualEffects #VFXSupervisor #Vecna #TheUpsideDown #Netflix #Weta #ILM #Maya #Houdini #JamieCampbellBower #DufferBrothers #JamesGunn #Peacemaker #PostProduction #Filmmaking #CGI #PracticalEffects #AIInFilm