Rachel Axler is a former Daily Show writer whose longing to write more dialogue and story motivated her to become a staff writer at NBC’s Parks and Rec and eventually move on to write for Bored To Death, New Girl, and The Goodwin Games. She shares the similarities and differences of working at these shows and we work together to write the funniest tweet ever written about the Petraeus scandal, though that’s admittedly subjective. Rachel also has a graduate degree in playwriting… so take that!

Elliott Kalan is an Emmy-winning writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and co-host of the podcast The Flop House. He's also written for various magazines and Marvel Comics. But more importantly, he helped me kick things off with this "Very Special Bonus Test Episode". It doesn't include us writing a joke together but it does include us almost constantly going off topic in hilarious fashion. And, as usual, loads of advice and "learny" moments.

Co-creator and former head writer of The Daily Show and Air America Radio co-founder, Lizz Winstead, is one of the top political satirists in America. She also has dogs that like to bark and eat their own poop – a fact confirmed DURING this podcast. Lizz and I eat pistachios (loudly) and discuss what she was looking for when she was hiring The Daily Show’s original writing staff. Lizz’s experience and insight into the creative process is invaluable to aspiring and established comedy writers alike and I can’t think of a better way to kick off The Writers’ Bloc Podcast.