Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss: Recent Episodes
Noah Evslin and Dan Rutstein
Behind the glitz and glamor, Hollywood can be brutal. For every success, there are many more rejections and failures. Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss explores that world and each week a new guest will talk about dealing with rejection, failure and adversity in the entertainment industry. Writer Noah Evslin and podcaster Dan Rutstein ask the questions.
We have the remarkable Minkie Spiro on the show. Heavily Emmy nominated for All Her Fault, she talks about her start in documentaries, the family disapproval of her career choices and what she learned on Holby City.
We talk about being pissed on by rats and what that teaches you about life, she uses some great British phrases and we discuss award shows.
We talk Downton Abbey, 3 Body Problem and show producing compared to directing.
One of our funniest and most brightest episodes with a legend.
A true fairytale today as we talk to Craig Gerber, creator of Disney princess shows galore.
He tells us his fascinating tale of fairies that led him to create Sofia the First while stuck in a traffic jam, the joy of working at Disney and presentation and diversity in writing rooms.
He talks about his early career struggles, creating the new Sofia the First: Royal Magic show and what next for his writing career.
A heartwarming tale of success in Hollywood articulately told.
We welcome the dynamic writing duo of Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson to the show.
We talk about celebrating wins together, the mechanics of a writing pair and their new show It’s Not Like That.
They tell us why they have a shared inbox, being mistaken for a couple couple and the changing dynamics of writing rooms.
A deep dive into the world of writing partners navigating today’s TV landscape.
What a nice man!
We have Thom Harp on the show to talk movies, pitches and being nice.
We talk persistence, writing what you know and getting the best out of your team.
Thom describes the frustrations of years of pushing, how he made the most of the Covid opportunity by listening to sensible advice and the joy of working in a job you love.
A really fun, informative and engaging chat.
We have the impressive Courtney Lilly on the show.
He talks about the state of Hollywood, being in the same storm but a different boat and the luck it takes to succeed.
We hear about his start as a journalist, showrunning on a show created by someone else and the importance of Morpheus.
Why Black-ish was a success, talented actors over good writing and the importance and value of diversity.
A fascinating and insightful interview full of self-reflection, nuggets of wisdom and candour.
Episode 150 and we have a legend on. It’s David Zucker, he of The Naked Gun and Airplane fame.
He is as funny and witty and irreverent as you would hope he would be.
David tells us the story of how he got Airplane made, we talk about the puns of it all and why he doesn’t like the new Naked Gun movie.
He talks about spoofs, his new project the Star of Malta and the self-confidence to move to Hollywood.
We hear about when he was king of Hollywood, how they tricked the DGA into letting three of them direct a movie and his new course - Master Crash - https://mastercrash.kit.com/join
A fittingly insightful conversation for episode 150 with a true Hollywood legend.
Rogue One writer Gary Whitta returns to the podcast and we talk…podcasts.
The British writer explains why he decided he needed to make a scripted podcast, casting Jon Boyega and how bad Hollywood is at the moment.
He talks us through where he sees the industry, the process of pitching this show and his views on taking notes.
In his usual witty, sardonic style, we also cover advice for writers, the frustrations of projects falling apart and the joy of creating again.
A very fun, irreverent and insightful romp around Hollywood with one of its sharpest minds.
Check out his pilot at www.seeyouinhell.tv
The magical Craig Thomas returns to the podcast.
The How I Met Your Mother co-creator comes on to talk about his heart-warming novel That’s Not How It Happened.
Craig talks about why he wrote the book, disability in Hollywood and the tortuous process of writing a novel.
He explains his personal journey with his son’s rare disability, why it was so important to write this book and how he used his tv writing skills to help finish the novel.
A genuine, heartfelt and important episode about a passionate man wanting to tell a story properly. Must listen material.
We talk to filmmaker Martyn Robertson and sports surgeon Gordon Mackay about the inspiring feature doc Make it to Munich.
In a crossover episode we talk Hollywood and whisky, pioneering surgeries and telling stories with heart.
They explain how the extraordinary story of a young man’s courage to overcome life-changing injuries has ended up at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood - the adventures they had along the way and the importance of real life heroes.
He was told he had no future in the entertainment business and yet Australian Nick Verso has gone on to have a stellar career.
In this episode we talk about dealing with such raw rejection, how he found his place in the business and also the other early project that was turned down - and the apologies he has had about that since.
We talk about why he started directing, how we got good at writing and managing the Australia-Los Angeles divide.
A raw and candid episode from a smart and driven creator. And Noah gets excited when Nick starts talking about DJ'ing.
We talk to the incredible, passionate and enthusiastic James Eason-Garcia, co-EP of Ironman and his Awesome Friends.
Noah and I geek out a little and cover both James' career while also asking superhero and Jedi questions of a man who has special access to both of those worlds.
We talk about his journey from fan to working on these projects, the excitement of actually of walking through the doors of Disney to work and taking notes on established franchises.
James talks about the state of the industry, the ongoing fascination with superheroes and collecting memorabilia.
A really insightful discussion full of pure joy (from all three of us) of such fascinating worlds.
We talked to Australian showrunner and writer Tony Ayres.
He talks about his Netflix show The Survivors, comparing himself to others and the balance between commerce and art.
We explore his Chinese-Australian roots, the benefits and disbenefits of being niche and how Australia sees Hollywood and Hollywood sees Australian.
We also cover the changing language of Hollywood, how he has changed to adapt to the industry and the blessing and the curse of being attached to The Slap.
We bring on the fascinating Daniel Casey.
He tells us his Hollywood origin story, giving up directing to get a script moving, his route to F9 and the excitement of working on a serious franchise.
Daniel talks about the exciting of being on the set of a $250m movie, how nice Fast and Furious fans were and how close he came to running out of money and giving up.
He talked about some huge projects - including a Batman film - that got away, directing short films and being told to kill himself on social media when announcing his new show.
Insightful, honest and specific, a great chat about what a writing career can really look like.
We are delighted to have the legendary Eriq La Salle on the show.
The talented actor, writer, producer, director and novelist joins us to talk about his illustrious career, the power of storytelling and his love of acting but not necessarily some of the business of acting.
We talk about a writing rejection leading to acting, an acting rejection leading to directing and frustrations about pay disparity and inequality shaping his work as a producer.
Eriq talks about his role as producing director on On call, how he ended up acting in it as well and what he would have done if he hadn't been an actor.
An inspiring episode by one of the industry's longest serving and broadest talents.
We talk to The Irrational Showrunner Arika Lisanne Mittman.
She talks about her ten years as an assistant, finally getting her break and what she learned along the way.
We discuss the rise and fall of network television, what the industry learned from the strike and whether she's any good at firing people (she's not!).
Arika talks about her strengths and weaknesses as a showrunner, gives advice to those wanting to join the industry and the times she nearly got fired as a script co-ordinator.
A detailed and entertaining journey through every facet of TV writing from an inspiring leader with a lot of episodes under her belt.
We talk to Equalizer showrunner Joe Wilson.
In one of our most candid episodes so far, he talks about his journey from East Cleveland to Hollywood, the tough days at the start and even sleeping in his car.
He explains how he got his break, how he is treated when he goes home and what sort of showrunner he aspires to be.
We talk cool Hollywood moments, his strengths and weaknesses and the show about bands he aspires to make.
A gritty episode that explores all the areas Hollywood doesn’t normally talk about.
It's always fun we have two guests on, particularly when they are talking about Wolf Productions first go at a streaming platform.
We talk to showrunner Tim Walsh and co-creator Elliot Wolf about their new show On Call, making the most of the freedom of a streamer, whether the police in Long Beach still like them and how hard the industry is right now.
Elliot talks about the Wolf legacy, trying new approaches to the industry and his pride in the new show.
Tim is brutally honest about his time as a security guard, why he also assumes every show will be his last and gives great advice for those entering the industry today.
A great insight into the new TV world which gets as honest as you'll hear it.
We talk to Sally Bradford Mckenna, co-showrunner of the new Peacock show Laid.
She explains how she first got her break, reluctantly, on Will & Grace, how her father's career helped shaped hers and why every show needs two showrunners.
She talks about the evolution of comedy writing, difficult rooms early in her career and being brought in to solve problems on shows, and how that didn't always go down well.
Sally talks about the excitement of co-showrunning, why she wants to try it solo and how much she has learner from her partner Nahnatchka Khan.
A fascinating episode exploring comedy, showrunning and the intricacies of making it in Hollywood.
We talk to showrunner JJ Bailey.
He talks about his new show The Hunting Party, finding a new angle for a procedural and the excitement of getting a new network show on air.
We hear about the complexity of the showrunner role, learning a way round a writers room and whether you should write about your hobbies.
Great insight from a man who seems too nice to be successful in Hollywood.
We're back after our New Year and fire break and have a great oe, Coco and Cleaner writer Matthew Aldrich.
He talks about the power of spec scripts, why he never celebrates his wins and the pressure and intensity of working with Pixar.
He tells about sourcing ideas from news articles, how prior success has meant nothing for future success and the state of Hollywood today.
We also cover not living in LA, alternative pastry chef careers and why he feels so fortunate.
A great first episode of the year from a man with some amazing films under his belt.
We talk to former HBO President and now producer Sue Naegle.
A fascinating insight from the top of Hollywood about how Game of Thrones nearly didn’t get made, working with Eddie Redmayne and the art of saying no.
Sue talks about producing multiple shows at the same time, the projects that got away and the fear of where the next deal is coming from.
We also talk about Hollywood coming out of its dark times, the Day of the Jackal and what she learned being an agent.
Extraordinary insight from a varied and successful career.
We talk to comedy writing legend Kevin Abbott.
He talks about the drinking, drugs and smoking of his first comedy rooms, how he got his break in the business and working through the night.
Pitching while an exec was peeing, why writers are all miserable and the behaviours that are no longer acceptable.
Kevin explains that Hollywood is in its worst possible spot, why creatives are not valued and how the industry has changed to be so much more business than show.
A fascinating and hilarious discussion with a legend of the business.
We talk to the magnificent Michael Costigan, producer of such hits as Brokeback Mountain, Robin Hood and Hit Man, among many others joins the show.
He talks about his new TV series Based on a True Story, his transition from movies to the small screen and how hard it is to get anything made.
Michael explains his journey from terrible assistant, to producing seminal movies and compares adversity in film and television.
An honest and candid romp through Hollywood, with tales of the biggest directors and a genuine passion for every project he touches.
What an episode!
We talk to TV legend Frank Cardea about his decades in the business.
He tells us about his move from accountancy to producing, the extraordinary longevity of his writing partnership and working on more than 400 episodes of NCIS.
We hear some great examples of failure, some great examples of success and also some great examples of leadership.
A fascinating deepdive into one of Hollywood longest and most prodigious careers.
We talk to Michael Rauch. He starts with an extraordinary film school firing, then a late-night 'show being un-picked up' call and how he recovered from those early career setbacks.
He tells us about his casting frustrations, managing multiple projects, and what he learned from great showrunners.
An excellent episode full of brilliant anecdotes.
We talk to the fascinating Mark Goffman.
He tells us about swapping real Government speech writing at the State Department for writing on the West Wing, some extraordinary career luck and ventriloqism documentaries.
Mark talks about the importance of giving people a voice in a room, the importance of working with good people repeatedly and the importance of reflecting something of yourself in every show.
He talks about regret, where he derives his satisfaction in the writing process and he answers the question 'are your shows better in your head or on the screen'.
A fascinating interview with a brilliant creator.
We weren’t finished with John Wirth, so he comes back for more.
This time we talk leadership style, drinking too much soda and the use of the red pen.
John talks about being blunt, some more failure stories and even more advice.
We speak to the legendary John Wirth.
He talks about a Hollywood career so long that he can't even remember all of the shows he has run, the shows he has been fired from and arguing with actors who hadn't won Emmys.
He talks about managing upwards, 'run money' and an extraordinary argument with talent about trust.
A remarkable episode with a remarkable storyteller.
We talk to the extraordinary SJ Hodges.
She talks about changing her name to a gender neutral one to get read, jumping from staff writer straight to show runner and what she learned from managing a literal car crash on The Player.
Then SJ shares her personal journey of losing her husband to a brain tumour, what she did next and how she ended up building a community around her memoir Uneven Ground.
A poignant and honest episode.
The podcast is back for the second half of season three and we have a cracker.
Gary Whitta, writer of Book of Eli and Rogue One gives an extraordinary interview about his transition from video game editor to writer, working on Star Wars and his frustrations with Hollywood.
He gves us an extraordinary pig analogy, talks about the excitement and pressure of being asked to work on the world's largest franchise and why he now won't watch any new Star Wars shows.
One of the most honest and candid interviews we've had, Gary holds back nothing as he talks about his rollercoaster journey to the pinnacle of Hollywood.
A must listen for writers, Star Wars fans and anyone interested in perseverance, creativity and how to play the Hollywood game.
After a long mid-season break, we are back up with the second half of Season Three of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss.
Noah and Dan talk about what they have been up to the last few weeks - Noah's show got cancelled! - and we thank our long-term partner Scriptation and then introduce tomorrow's episode with Rogue One writer Gary Whitta.
This taster episode will just remind you of the quality of our banter, get you reacquainted with our voices and sets the table for a great upcoming season.
Our first Oscar winner!
For the last episode before our mid-season break we have Ed Swick on the show.
He talks about his new book - Hits, Flops and Other Illusions.
And we talk winning Oscars, writing truthful books about Hollywood and his extraordinary career.
He tells us how the industry has changed, that films like the ones he made aren’t made anymore and a bit more about winning Oscars.
Ed tells us about his motivation for making movies, his favourite industry moments and how writing his book helped him relive his Hollywood story.
A fascinating episode with one of the entertainment industry’s biggest hitters.
We talk to the fascinating Jim Mickle.
He tells us about this start in independent movies, taking a break during the strike and the upcoming final season of Sweet Tooth.
He explains how he got in to tv, becoming a showrunner and suffering from imposter syndrome and working in New Zealand during a pandemic.
Jim talks about how hard and tiring being a showrunner was, nearly working with Stallone and why he is pleased to have made slow progress at the beginning of his career.
A really interesting discussion with an engaging and successful showrunner.
We talk to the fascinating Emily Fox who tells us about getting fired, trying to stuff a large chair into a car in the rain while in tears and the importance of connection in a writing room during a pandemic.
She tells us about her shows getting cancelled due to a change of exec, being nice to people firing her and building bonds among colleagues.
We talk the importance of support outside the industry, her cancellation radar and her ability to forget about failed projects.
A fun and interesting discussion with a delightful writer.
We talk to Emmy-nominated writer and producer Wendy West.
She talks about researching murder, her love of morgues and being the only woman in the room early in her career.
Wendy talks about mentoring young female writers, supporting veterans and what it's like to work in the Dick Wolf world.
She explains her path to success, her love of crossovers and finding out her show is being cancelled by fax.
A fascinating insight into procedural TV by one of the best to have done it.
We talk to Oscar and Emmy award nominee Eddie Schmidt.
He talks about being comedy adjacent, his time in an improv troupe and how he moved into the showrunning part of Hollywood.
We discuss leadership style, the fun of working in comedy and the demeaning comments of mean bosses.
We talk about how to appreciate comedy, the complexities of navigating Hollywood and being able to speak truth to talent.
A fun and insightful discussion about working and succeeding in the comedy part of Hollywood.
In a slightly different style of episode we talk to comedian Ray Ellin.
We discuss how social media has changed comedy, hear some magnificent failure anecdotes from comedy clubs and bars and talk through the process of creating comedy.
Ray talks us through his love of live standup, working in tv and why he made a podcast about Little House on the Prairie.
We also cover cancel culture, Aruba and The Magic Castle.
A fun and fascinating romp through entertainment through a different lens.
We talk to Oscar-nominated writing partners Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy,
They talk about their fight to get the Fighter written, battling both the mob and Hollywood, the joy of an Oscar nomination and the slog of the promotional campaign.
They talk about how they savour every moment of red carpets and parties, the importance of never giving up and the frustrations of the arbitration system.
They joke about their fear of TV writing and reveal the secret to Hollywood success - playing football with British people!
A fascinating discussion about the slog of making movies and the joy of watching them make it to the big screen.
We talk to screenwriter Tom Vaughan who opens up about his Hollywood journey.
He talks about his early career, the arrogance and refusal to take notes even from Disney and the mistakes he made.
He talks candidly about being 'a drunk', how despite success he deservedly couldn't get people to work with him a second time and moving into teaching and taking a break from Hollywood saved him.
We talked about his Razzie nomination, how he reinvented himself and why he's not proud of any of the movies that he wrote.
An extraordinary insight into the mind of a writer who is happy to now share his experience and knowledge with those coming up in the industry.
We talk to the fascinating Matthew Carnahan.
He tells us about his early work with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, why he didn't want to work in TV and how he broke in to that world.
He talks passionately about choosing meaningful projects over money, the joys of a successful project and the anger at the death of that same project.
Matt talks about his early-career rage, losing projects to strikes, executive firings and bad luck and the things that bring him career satisfaction.
The most honest and candid of discussions with a man with a fascinating and varied career.
The One with 4-time Emmy winner Ted Cohen.
We speak to Ted about his time on Friends, what’s it like to win an Emmy and how we coped after coming off Friends and spending ten years in the development wilderness.
We talk about the switch from comedy to drama, writing for himself and getting on Veep.
Then we hear about Succession, working on a game- changing project, his desire to create his own show and when you know you’re working on something special.
A fascinating discussion with an award winner with some of the best tv credits in the business.
We talked to Head of Casting at Universal Content Productions, Steven O’Neill.
He proudly talks about his work helping people achieve their dreams, how he fell in love with casting and what the pandemic did to change the process.
He talks about how to deal with disagreements with showrunners, separating behaviour from performances and running into actors who he hasn’t cast.
A fascinatingly honest, rather inspirational discussion about helping Hollywood dreams come true.
We talk to legendary showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker.
He talks about his journey from music journalist to writer, what he learned from the tough world of hip-hop and how he used those skills in Hollywood.
Cheo talks about the similarities between running and writing, finding pockets of time to write and how screenwriting can be painful.
He describes embracing the suck, seizing his moment and writing as pie-eating.
A fascinating interview with a talented storyteller.
We speak to Keith Geller who talks us through his unscripted journey.
We talk game shows versus docu-follows, shrinking budgets and higher expectations and picking only proven formats.
He talks about his journey from Shakespeare to Wipeout, the role of social media and the changing attitudes towards mental health and crises.
Keith talks pitching new formats, creating his own show and trying to create a fun, fair and safe work environment.
An insightful look at the world of large scale unscripted television.
We talk to the lovely Daniel Kunka, writer of Netflix number one movie Lift.
We talk zombie apocalypses, impregnating wolves and the unlikely demise of a great script.
He tells us about his 15 year gap between movies, writing for a female lead and ending up with Kevin Hart and how it feels to have the number one movie on a global steaming platform.
Daniel also explains the anxiety of losing his health insurance while his wife was pregnant, anxiety and selling scripts that don’t get made.
A fascinating discussion with an articulate and funny writer.
Back from the winter break and we have another 'case study' episode of the podcast.
We talk to Marc Benardout and Hugh Broder, producers of He Went That Way, a new movie out tomorrow.
They talk about working with Jacob Elordi and Zach Quinto, about dealing with the death of their director but also Marc's son during production and the 19-year journey to get the film made.
We discuss prison visits, poetry professors and sibling serial killers.
And the costs of an animatronic chimpanzee.
We talk to the effervescent Ashley Michel Hoban.
She talks about the excitement for her new show coming out today, her journey from assistant to showrunner and what she learned along the way.
She tells about self belief, imposter syndrome and how’s she’s expecting to feel tomorrow morning after tonight’s Dr Death Season 2 premiere.
Ashley discussed the importance of just writing, the pressure of being a showrunner and what she’s learned from previous colleagues who have supported her.
A fascinating episode full of candour, humour and insight.
We speak to the excellent David Slack.
We talk about how an independent movie failure led him to Hollywood, the path from animation to live action and getting fired from Law and Order.
David tells us about the shows that didn’t make it, claiming unemployment and some of the poor behaviour that has gone on in Hollywood.
We also cover post-strike executive interactions (good), AI ruining civilization (not so good) and the hedge fundication of the industry (not good at all).
The day before his new movie hits 3000 theaters in 38 countries, we talk to the talented Adam Anders.
He tells us about his transition from a very successful music career with shows like Glee to his 17 year journey to writing, producing, directing and songwriting for a Christmas family musical called Journey to Bethlehem.
Adam talks about being creatively unfulfilled, the tightrope to walk when working on a religious movie and his extraordinary pursuit of Antonio Banderas.
He explains how hard it has been to promote a movie without actors due to the strike, the emotional toll of being away from his family for six months and how he felt at the friends and family screening and the importance of putting his parents in the credits.
A case study in perseverance.
Must. Listen. Episode.
We have the legend that it David Kirschner. He talks getting his break designing an album cover for Neil Diamond, pitching Steven Spielberg at his July 4th party and Hocus Pocus going from abject failure to cult classic.
David explains the story of Hocus Pocus taking years to make, bombing and leaving him in tears and then growing into a massive success.
We hear about being sworn at by Harvey Weinstein, how he thinks naivety helped him navigate Hollywood and the importance of being nice.
An extraordinary interview with a man whose work everyone knows and loves.
We talk to Jeremy Adams about his life in animation.
He tells us about the difficulties animated writers face, how they are treated compared to TV writers and how hard it is to break out of the mould.
Jeremy tells us about his successes, the sacrifices his family had to make and the irony of creating great work for little pay and then watching millions be made in consumer goods products.
He explains what makes great animated writing, they joys of the comic world and his dream to writer a live action feature.
A fascinating insight into an unsung part of the industry that creates huge profits, memorable characters and shows that don't age.
We talk to the extraordinary Deborah Pratt. She tells us about how she got her break in Hollywood, her period of homelessness even after Quantum Leap and what she did to get her career back on track.
Amazingly, we also cover a wide range of topics from Frank Sinatra to Airwolf to fan chat rooms.
Deborah tells us about fighting against discrimination, pushing hard for groundbreaking scripts and what she learned about showrunning along the way.
We talk passion projects, flying helicopters and how to manage fan expectations.
A fascinating discussion with one of Hollywood's real characters.
This season we seek to explore failure and rejection in different parts of Hollywood.
We have Jordan Moblo, EVP IP Management and Creative Acquisitions of Universal Studio Group.
He talks why he is plans to be an agent didn't work, the books that got away and how they try and treat the authors they work with.
He explains how they set expectations for what might happen to a book during the long road to production, authors they try not to work with and how he deals with competition from both other studios and other writers.
Jordan tells us about changing his company's deal making structure after negative feedback, feeding frenzies before books are even published and a bit more about managing expectations.
And he gives advice to aspiring authors hoping to get a TV show made.
We talk to the fantastic Lisa Morales. She tells us about crashing James Cameron's Hummer, her role as an executive and then giving that up to become a writer.
She walks us through being fired for not being confident enough, imposter syndrome and rebuilding her confidence and her career.
What she learned on her journey to being a showrunner, what she did when she got there and what her advice is to others on the way up are also all covered.
We talk through the concept of 'caring but not giving a sh*t', how it helped her and why she tells everyone else about it.
A candid epsiode, recorded before the strike, about the highs and lows of live in Hollywood.
We have the the amazing ‘Jewaiian’ twins who tell us about writing Moana, their early failures and why poetry didn’t pay the bills.
They talk about representation in native Hawaiian storytelling, being down to their last 12 dollars and the emotionally challenging story of the making of Adrift.
The twins explain how they celebrate success, how they deal with failure and their lives as teachers.
A wonderful chat with a couple of serious Hollywood stars who also tell one of the most extraordinary stories of personal and professional worlds intertwining.
Season 3 Premiere
We have legendary Simpsons showrunner Mike Scully on the show.
He talks about being pigeon-holed as ‘Cartoon Boy’, losing out on an Emmy to the Rugrats Passover special and writing jokes for $25 for Yakov Smirnoff.
He tells us about being accused of being a UN Observer for being so quiet in a writing room, having a show cancelled for being too wild and crazy when they specifically asked for a wild and crazy show and tells us about the comedy show pitch which got no laughs.
A brutally honest and insightful interview from one of the industry’s most decorated creatives.
After a season break and, not withstanding the strike, the podcast returns.
In this pre-season show, we talk about the strike, what people can expect this season and how much Noah surfs.
We talk writers, execs and who you can expect to hear from.
We temporarily return from our mid-season break to hear from Burn It Down author Mo Ryan.
She talks about writing her book, what she tried to achieve and her hopes for the industry.
On her second podcast appearance she describes the toll writing a book like this takes, the chapters she didn't write and what she thinks about the future of Hollywood.
A powerful interview with a passionate author about an important book.
Our 100th guest is the amazing Erica Huggins, President of Fuzzy Door Productions.
She talks about her early days as a film editor, being fired and told she will never work in this town again and her subsequent successful career.
She talks balancing the comedy of Ted with the pressures of the modern world, working with Seth MacFarlane and the transition from film to television.
We talk resilience, leadership and running a real business in Hollywood.
Erica talks working in partnerships, inspiring interns and the film shoot that was shut down by the threat of cartel violence.
Extraordinary interview with an amazing and inspiring leader.
We talk to the extraordinary Chef Andre Rush in a slightly different episode of the podcast.
The former solider and White House Chef talks about his transition into television, the 'sharks' he found there and why he chose to make the leap.
Chef Rush tells us about the stresses of White House cooking, his role in spreading awareness about mental health and being in the gym at the Pentagon on September 11.
We talk spilt wine, working with Gordon Ramsay and his desire to stay in television after the success of his first show.
An extraordinary interview with an extraordinary man.
We talk to the excellent Brannon Braga. He talks about the pressure of working on the Star Trek franchise, understanding when he was, and wasn't, 'in peril', and we walk through his failures.
Brannon tells us about which shows were hits, which were cancelled and what type of leader he is.
We discuss how he receives fan feedback, working on his soul's work and taking notes from the studio.
A thorough and candid look at Hollywood life from a man who has been at the top for a long time.
We talk to Steve Vitolo, aspiring writer and now a tech leader. He tells us his story of writing in rooms, getting his show cancelled and developing his app on the side.
He talks not taking advantage of his new found access, feature writing and telling his TV colleagues about his app.
Steve tells us about leadership, winning an Emmy and when to quit writing.
A fun interview about breaking in and getting out of Hollywood.
We talk to the amazing Diane Ruggiero-Wright. She talks passionately about early success, a big cancellation and nearly returning to waitressing.
She tells us why she regrets not completing her education, the huge fall-out she had at the end of our her first show and why she isn't very good at taking notes.
We talk writing ability, over-noting and leadership style as well as hearing about imposter syndrome, the overconfidence of youth and writing characters based on you.
An extraordinarily honest and fascinating discussion about the ups and downs of Hollwyood.
We talk to the amazing Diane Ademu-John. She talks about her first writing room, being afraid to speak and then getting fired from Crossing Jordan.
She talks about leadership, co-showrunning and learning and growing even from bad projects.
Diane talks about her love of genre, her new production company and working on a large ‘estate’ like Dune.
An inspiring interview about confidence, storytelling and the inevitably of being fired.
We talk to Australian showrunner Luke Tunnecliffe.
He tells us about trying to run a sports documentary during a global pandemic, bringing an LA production to Australia only to get locked down and moving from sports documentaries to scripted dramas.
He explains the difficulty of pitching Australia in Hollywood, the Australian obsession with sport and what he learned about showrunning managing productions during Covid.
We talk the shows that got away, the importance of trust and relationships with streamers and editing 7,500 hours into 7 episodes of television.
We speak to the extraordinary Gina Yashere about her journey from British comedian to American sitcom actress and showrunner.
She talks about her dream to play a best friend in a sitcom, the lack of pressure because she never really wanted to be a showrunner and moving to America.
Gina talks about her powerful comedy, talking about her childhood suicide attempt and breaking down barriers.
She tells us how she doesn't yet feel successful, how she wants to help others like a 'rich white man' helped her and the importance of telling Nigerian stories.
We talk the changing landscape of Hollywood, working for network television and her love of stand up.
A funny, powerful and inspirational interview with one of Britain's finest comics.
Two Englishmen talk Hollywood rejection as we managed to lose Noah for the episode.
Veteran Jim Piddock tells us about his fight for fair pay for Tooth Fairy, what a nice man the Rock is and his huge problems with a high profile actress.
He compares rejections as a writer, an actor and then an author, tells is about his thousands of failed auditions and why he loves writing.
Jim talks casting, the studio exec who ruined his dream project and also shamelessly plugs his book!
We turn the microphone round and have host Dan Rutstein as guest.
Friend of the podcast Paul Bae asks the questions with Noah as Dan talks through unsuccessfully applying for 100 jobs, getting laid off during the pandemic and the resilience needed to change careers.
He talks openly about the importance of vulnerability, what he's learned from interviewing showrunners and why he didn't succeed as a writer (because he only wrote one thing!).
It's not your normal episode but it has plenty of rejection, failure and adversity.
We talk to the fascinating Eric Guggenheim.
We talk early career success, serious imposter syndrome and working with his brothers (one of whom has already been on the podcast).
He tells us about his good years, his fallow years and how much he loves being in a room.
We discuss the importance of learning the craft of writing, how it feels to tell your staff your show is cancelled and then how it feels to tell them you’ve been picked up by another network.
A very human, a very vulnerable and a very interesting discussion.
We talk to the extraordinary Simran Baidwan.
She tells us about her best and worst rooms, the transition from criminal prosecutor to Hollywood and the importance of grace in leadership.
We cover inclusion, telling a good story and how to not put roadblocks in your own path.
Simran tells us how her Indian immigrant parents dealt with her career move, why she walked away from TV's number one show and why aspiring writers should just write.
An extraordinarily thoughtful and insightful interview with a Hollywood rising star.
We talk to the amazing Jeffrey Lieber - for the second time.
We take a deep dive into the world of failure, rejection and adversity in Hollywood.
We talk ill-fitting jobs, managing and leading teams and shit sandwiches.
Jeffrey tells us about his fears of not showrunning again, talks us through the mistakes he’s made and gives advice to aspiring writers.
A fascinating insight into the darker side of the business with one of its great minds and critical thinkers.
We talk to the fascinating Paul Bae. The teacher/comedian/podcaster/screenwriter/actor talks us through his journey.
We talk failing in screenwriting and acting leading to millions of downloads for his scripted podcasts, getting a chance to tell Korean stories and his secrets to pitching.
He tells us how naming Korean menu items cost him a speaking part in the Interview, telling authentic stories and being offered an overall deal for terrible money.
A fun and funny interview with a serious student of the craft.
We talk to the extraordinary Ildy Modrovich. She talks about arranged marriages, the importance of two showrunners and the pilot that was guaranteed - until it wasn't.
She talks about losing her confidence, making sure others don't lose theirs and missing out on Sons of Anarchy to take a safer job.
Ildy tells us about dealing with failure, the importance of good timing and not taking it personally when projects fail.
Motivational and inspirational in equal measure.
We speak to the amazing and hilarious Chris Sheridan.
He reads out some of his rejection letters, tells us about making calls from payphones on street corners and why he really didn't want to work on Family Guy.
But then he talks about how great working on Family Guy was, running his own show and working in the studio kitchen.
Chris tells us about travelling cross country to Hollywood, the importance of remembering his humble beginnings and dealing with success.
A fun, insightful and inspirational interview.
We have comedian, actress and writer Brittani Nichols on the show.
A fascinating discussion about diversity, inclusive comedy and working on a rocketship of a show like Abbot Elementary.
We talk happy and unhappy rooms, friendships on shows and how nice her Abbott Elementary colleagues are.
We talk perseverance in a career, award nominations and what comes next.
A fun, entertaining and insightful discussion with a Hollywood rising star.
We talk to the dynamic duo of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods about gimmicks in scripts, a yes after multiple nos and what happened to their directing dreams.
They talk with incredible candor about their Quiet Place journey, what happened, what they learned and how they coped with a complex career conundrum.
We talk difficult decisions, celebrating and commiserating and putting things in perspective.
A fascinating interview with two of the most genuine writers about their unique Hollywood story.
We talk to novelist and showrunner Dari Polatin.
She talks about getting her book written at 4am and during lunchbreaks, the rarity of being allowed to adapt a novel and the struggles of a junior female writer in a room full of men.
She talks about writing plays, struggling to pay bills and her pride in showrunning her own show.
Daria talks about social media, fan feedback and the vulnerability of failure.
A fascinating and insightful interview with the creator of a number one global Netflix show.
We talk to the amazing Andy Siara.
He tells us the story behind the time loop in Palm Springs, his fear of never working again and gives the most extraordinary piece of advice about hope.
He talks the difficult of showrunning, explains what he does well and what went wrong for him when he lost control of his story and why he loves co-showrunners.
We cover starting a family, touring rock bands and the importance of having a magic script.
You’ll never hear a more honest, raw and self-critical interview about making it in Hollywood.
We talk to development executive Alex Hedlund.
We talk at length about Matt Damon movie The Great Wall, why it failed, how he was involved and when he realised it was going wrong.
He tells us what he learned from working on it, how it impacted his career and how it killed a genre.
Alex talks about giving and taking notes, how he now chooses his projects and working on sensitive documentary topics.
A great interview full of great advice.
We talk to the extraordinary John Cameron Mitchell.
We talk failure in writing, directing and actor, the risks of coming out and how they decide which projects to work on.
John talks Hedwig, passion projects and discrimination.
They tell a remarkable OnlyFans story, explain the fightback against stereotypes and makes very clear their view on content houses.
JCM also talks about every failure leading eventually to success, some amazing career near-misses and how you can follow your heart AND still be commercially successful.
An interview like no other.
We (by which we actually mean just Dan) talk to writer and director Peter Kosminsky.
He tells us about his early firings (of which there were many including lasting only a day as a researcher because they didn't like his ideas around tampon tax) as well as how he went from Chemistry student to lighting expert.
He discusses his shortcomings as a director, his strengths and how they work on both sides of the Atlantic and the time he nearly gave up after being completely out of his depth on a big Hollywood movie.
We talk about trying to write AND direct, his love of research and being a chameleon.
A fascinating interview with a cerebral, analytical and inisghtful master of his craft.
We talk to the magnificent Amy Berg. She tells us her journey through Hollywood - taking a step down to be an assistant, her first big break on North Shore and her start with a writing partner (and then his moment of grace and nobility that ended that partnership).
She talks openly about being bullied to the point of physical illness, what happened after that boss was cancelled and what she learned from the experience.
We talk about the challenges facing the industry nowadays, the cycle of boom and bust in Hollywood and how she copes with the pressure.
An insightful and honest discussion with an industry veteran - full of advice, inspiration and sensitivity.
In our first episode in the second half of the season, we talk to dynamic duo Rasheed and TJ about their journey to the top.
How to decide the credits, how to share victories/commiserate losses and instances of when outside forces have tried to pull them apart are all covered in this fun and insightful episode.
We discuss bad rooms, bad jobs and bad people. But also rewarding shows, great colleagues and the joy of writing.
The pair discuss what keeps them up at night, the importance of original ideas and dispense excellent advice about a changing industry.
An educational and entertaining chat with two of the best.
We talk to amazing British showrunner Joe Barton.
He tells us about being fired from Batman, what a British showrunner does and standing in the snow waiting to be rejected.
We cover writing about a foreign culture, critical versus commercial success and a bit more about being fired from Batman.
He tells us about his creative process, British interest in America and the importance of grammar when looking for an agent.
A fascinating discussion with a very cool, very fun, very successful creator.
We talk to Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio.
He tells us about his dream of being an airline pilot, falling into this career by accident and becoming a showrunner in his 20s.
Toby tells us about killing projects, giving notes and part of the American Idol set nearly falling on him.
We talk nepotism, the role of a studio president and the transatlantic cultural differences in unscripted.
A fascinating insight into the unscripted world with a showrunner turned studio exec - and the most polite guest we've had.
We talk to Emmy-nominated showrunner Josh Silberman.
We talk eating rats, nearly freezing to death and creating compelling TV.
He tells us about his journey to the top, stolen show ideas and how to treat junior staff.
Josh also talks Gene Wilder, working for Disney and constant seasickness.
A fascinating insight into unscripted television by one of the best.
We talk to the effervescent Meredith Scardino.
She tells us about the transition from late night to episodic, handling rejection of both instant and slow ideas and how her upbringing prepared her for a life of pitching ideas.
We discuss warm rooms, mean rooms and no asshole policies and what sort of leader she is.
Meredith talks about the issues with virtual rooms, the joy of writing comedy and the dopamine hits of pitching a good idea.
A fun romp through the world of comedy with an entertaining and insightful guest.
We speak to the showrunner and creator Anthony Q Farrell. He talks about working in an office, then The Office, and then back to Macy's.
We talk about the uncertainty of starting out and knowing when it is safe to give up the day job, his animated show that he is desperate to share and 'work as therapy'.
Anthony tells us about his leadership style. the 'sick cyclical journey of Hollywood, and going back to the basics of story telling.
He tells us about writing his own voice, the breadth of work he created to get his break and the importance of being collaborative.
A fascinating discussion with the Canadian Showrunner of the Year.
We talk to the extraordinary Michael Starrbury.
He tells us about his treasured film script that he just can't get made, his decision to not move to Los Angeles and his determination to run his career the way he wants.
He talks about turning down jobs to stick to his path, ignoring the warnings of others and only moving forward with projects he believes in.
Michael talks about drive, commitment and being collaborative.
We also talk diversity quotas, avoiding 'bake offs' and White House invitations from Michelle Obama.
A fascinating insight from a powerful rising star in the industry.
We speak to the fascinating James Roland.
He talks about working long hours on terrible film sets, his journey into directing and rates his abilities as a showrunner.
We talk diversity, the importance of treating people well and what he learned from bad bosses that helped his leadership.
James talks about endangering Harry Belafonte, literally falling asleep at the wheel and giving every one in the room a voice - and a great scene from the Purge that came from that.
A fun and insightful discussion with a man who has worked in many different roles in Hollywood.
We talk to showrunner Beth Schwartz.
She talks about her painfully long journey from assistant, how she now treats those in that position and what she learned along the way.
She happily shares her tale of her slow start, nearly flying home and giving up and how she got her big break.
Beth talks about respect in a room, the dangers of comparisons with other peoples' careers and finding your own unique path.
A fascinating and honest discussion .
We talk to the amazing Tze Chun.
He talks us through his mathematical approach to creativity and goal-setting - a short every six months, 100 episodes of television! - his transitions from film to tv and back again and talks us through his first big break.
Tze explains how his stubbornness ensured he would never give up, he explains his strengths and weaknesses and how he leads.
A insightful and thoughtful episode with a committed and determined creator.
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
In one of our most in-depth and emotional interviews we talk to showrunner Patrick Macmanus.
He tells us his Hollywood journey - part-time bartending, failed at acting and transition to writing.
Patrick talks about giving up on the entertainment business, moving to Mongolia and breaking a promise to his mother-in-law.
We go deep discussing distance from family, sacrifice and the commitment needed to make it through the tough times.
A powerful, honest and painful discussion about succeeding in Hollywood the hard way.
Screenwriting #TVWriting #Showrunner #Writing #Adversity #Failure #Rejection #Hollywood
We talk to Simon Barry about his adventures in Hollywood and are joined by guest co-host and Maze Runner writer Grant Pierce Myers.
He talks about his first short film screening that no one turned up to, losing a girlfriend and gaining an agent the same day and how he came to Hollywood to be a screenwriter without a script.
Simon describes how he both felt he didn't belong, but also how much he loved the Hollywood process - and the creative change he needed to make to be successful.
We talk dark days, hamster wheels and healthy delusions.
An honest and insightful discussion about making it Hollywood with plenty of mistakes made along the way.
The podcast shifts from writer to director and we are delighted to be joined by Jen McGowan.
She tells us her journey into directing, how winning an award early in her career changed her view of Hollywood and the importance of setting expectations.
We compare boxing and the entertainment industry, the importance of an outlet for anger and frustration and how she deals with rejection and failure.
Jen talks about diversity in the industry, how much things have changed since she began and why her acting career didn't pan out.
And why being told to 'expect to be poor for ten years' set her up for success.
A fascinating interview with a candid guest exploring a different part of Hollywood.
Fascinating interview with another successful Canadian - this time showrunner Brad Wright, co-creator of Stargate SG-1 and Netflix's Travelers.
He talks about how he managed to avoid moving to Hollywood, why being Canadian is being an advantage and the joys of working on Canadian productions.
Brad talks about getting into genre shows, the 'no assholes' policy in their room on Travelers and what a privilege it is to work in the TV industry.
We hear about his struggles getting a show after Stargate, how 17 years with one studio made it harder for him to make progress and how he felt 'like a new writer' when trying to get his next show made.
Brad talks about taking failure personally, how an exec thought he should have retired after his long-running success and wondering whether he would ever make another show.
We talk to the incredible Craig Thomas, co-creator and showrunner of How I Met Your Mother.
He explains how he nearly derailed himself after success came early, the importance of focus on successful projects and the risk of distraction.
We talk about being 'hot' and the pressure that creates, we hear some incredible stories of failure and rejection as well as some extraordinary interactions with execs.
Craig talks about How I Met Your Mother, how How I Met Your Dad didn't work and taking the games out of the Goodwin Games.
An entertaining and intriguing romp through TV land with one of the good guys of the industry.
We start season 2 with veteran showrunner and novelist Rob Thomas.
We get straight into it with the crushing blow of losing an overall deal with a major studio, a hellish year of development and concerns that his most recent show might be his last.
Rob explains how he went pretty much straight from Dawson’s Creek writer to showrunner, what he learned along the way and how he is a bad consultant but a great boss.
In an honest and revealing interview he tells us what he is worrying about, shares some simple but powerful advice and explains the pleasure he gets from seeing his old assistants win awards.
Fascinating insights from the creator of multiple shows.
Ahead of the return of our second season, Noah and Dan sit down for another of their little chats.
They talk about Noah's recovery from illness, the incredible reception to our first season and what is to come in the second.
We start our listener's questions segment, discuss the amazing honesty of our guests so far and set the scene for 50 more stories of rejection, failure and adversity.
Noah and Dan review the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss.
They talk about what they learned, why they did it and how much it meant to both of them.
And Noah reveals a secret that will bring new meaning to overcoming adversity.
We end the first season of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss with Bill Lawrence.
He tells about his multiple early firings, how he feels when his shows fail to become hits and how difficult it was to pitch Ted Lasso.
He talks about dealing with success, what he learned early in his career and how he feels about comparing his new projects to his old ones.
Bill explains that success in this industry is being allowed to make 'one more show', how he protects himself emotionally from failure and how even he, with all his success, still lives 'in fear' of his shows not working.
He learned some important lessons as he got fired so often in his early career - don't turn down show gifts, always appreciate a successful show (even at the risk of being mocked by his friends) and be less arrogant!
Bill tells us about a season working on Friends, the excitement of building Scrubs and the fun of working on Ted Lasso with a mixed British and American writing staff.
And the time he passed on a studio.
An extraordinary chat with an extraordinary writer.
One of his producers died in a car crash, another was murdered - and these aren't even his most dramatic stories!
In the penultimate show of the season, we talk to legendary screenwriter Steven E. de Souza. The Die Hard writer, with more than $2bn in box office to his name, takes us on a fabulous romp through Hollywood.
We talk about some of his biggest successes, but also how even he struggles to get the movies he wants made. We talk about some epic adversity on some of his big movie sets, but also his frustrations at trying to move projects forward, some of the challenges he has faced with over-eager executives and how some of his projects so nearly went wrong.
A fascinating seat round the table hearing from one of Hollywood's giants.
We talk to the legendary showrunner David Shore. He talks us through his journey giving up working as a lawyer in Canada and moving to Hollywood with very limited contacts - and very limited writing skills. He explains how he got his break on Due South, how he measured his time in the business one job at a time and then how he chose to leave a show he wasn't enjoying and that move created the opportunity that led to House.
David describes the relative ease of selling House, something he hasn't experienced since and trying not to compare every subsequent project to it.
We discuss writing rooms, the distractions of other showrunnner responsibilities and the difference between a mediocre episode that was badly directed/acted and badly written. David tells us about the joy of a good script turning into good television, explains the importance of the words on the page over other skills a writer might have and what matters to him at this stage of his career.
A detailed and insightful discussion with a Hollywood legend.
We talk to Derek Simonds about his experience taking up the reins of The Sinner.
He talks openly about the overwhelming experience of taking on the multi-disciplinary showrunner role, the pressure it created and the toll it took on his health.
Derek described the pressure of rushing a second season to meet network deadlines, how much he’s learned along the way and he also explores the preparation he does with his cast.
We explore what might come next for him, the joy of the limited series format and why he wants to join another room and see another showrunner in action.
An in-depth discussion about vulnerability, pressure and creating an award-winning show for a first time showrunner.
We talk to the remarkable Sam Ernst. He tells his story of instant success in the restaurant business followed by early failure in the entertainment industry and what he learned along the way.
Sam explains his relationship with writing partner Jim Dunn, the benefit of working so closely with someone - particularly during the dark days - and their path to becoming a success.
He tells us about the early breakthrough with Haven, how they were out of their depth and learning on the job, and how it took some frank advice to get them back on track after falling out of favor with the studio.
An in-depth and honest discussion with a thoughtful and articulate writer, restauranteur and raconteur.
We talk to showrunner LaToya Morgan. She tells us about her vision board, her ambition and her rise to the top of the entertainment business.
She explains the pressure of working on her big new show Duster with J.J. Abrams, the benefits of working with a big name and her step-by-process for moving the show forward and the importance of not overthinking what the audience will want.
LaToya tells us about her struggles rising through the ranks, the difficulty facing diversity hires and the frustration of not being given a voice in writing rooms.
She explains what she learned from that, why she wants to give back and the role mid-level and senior writers can play in supporting those at the start of their journeys.
A fascinating discussion with an articulate and powerful voice in the industry.
We talk to the fascinating writer Chuck Wendig.
He tells us about Star Wars fans liking him in real life, but not online, and getting dropped by Marvel over political tweets.
We discuss the politics of cancel culture around Disney, burning the bridge to the comics world and how social media impacts art and artists.
And Chuck advises new writers to be careful about social media - "the juice is not worth the squeeze".
He talks about writing novels, attempted transitions to screenwriting and how the pandemic ruined his Wanderers project.
He explains how he won a screenwriting competition, what he learned and how he moved back in to novels.
A fascinating discussion about a different type of writing, rejection in the literary world and the pain of not making the jump over the fence into TV.
We talk to writing duo Liz Craft and Sarah Fain.
They talk about the dynamics of a writing duo, when and how they have disagreements and how they deal with both rejection and success.
The practicalities of splitting pay checks, the book adaptation that got away and how they felt about it and the parallel success of Fantasy Island.
They describe the lost project as like 'an ex-boyfriend who you don't want to see in the street' and explained why they won't ever watch it and why it hurt so much.
We also talk about diversity, how being in a duo shielded them in some ways and how they run their rooms.
A fun and honest discussion about Hollywood and their journey through it together.
We speak to the fantastic Hart Hanson. He talks about being courteous but cranky, his unwanted reputation for being nice and why he would never bully his team.
He explains the bizarre genesis of Bones, the balance between art and creativity and the practicality of raising a family in Hollywood.
Hart talks about his Canadian politeness, how Bones became a subversive show and his frustrations of later shows not achieving Bones' longevity.
He talks about the novels he writes, the one he really wants to sell and the fun of working with Steve Coogan.
A fantastic and insightful trip around Hollywood with one of its nicest success stories.
We talk to veteran journalist Mo Ryan. We explore the complex world of Hollywood, reporting on abuse and toxicity in the industry and the personal toll it has taken on her.
She tells how she approaches these type of stories, her support and compassion for the victims and the lengths lawyers and large organizations go to create obstacles.
Mo talks honestly about her own experience of abuse, the panic attack that hit her and her unrelenting desire to get the truth out.
She explains the complex world of entertainment journalism and the balance between exposing abuse and reviewing tv shows and how she swaps between the two.
A powerful, sometimes dark, revealing and memorable interview about the dark corners of Hollywood from someone who works hard to shine a light on them.
We talk to film producer Andy Horwitz. He talks about about how to let writers go from projects, trying to treat people fairly but also the principle of 'protect the movie at all costs'.
Adam explains the process of movie making, the difference between TV and film rejection and why he was so desperate to become a movie producer.
He tells rejection stories, his own battles to get Triple Frontier made and what's most important to him - blockbuster money, awards or working with good people.
Andy talks about the original Suicide Squad conundrum of it being a commercial success but a critical failure, how he feels about being attached to projects like that and what he learned from it.
A fascinating discussion with a nice guy in a difficult job.
Having written or produced more than 120 hours of television, Joseph Mallozzi has had a stellar career. We talk to him about the relative comfort of working on one show for more than ten years, his impatience when he isn't on a show and the importance of working with great people.
He talks about the frustration of working on a difficult show, with impossible deadlines and budgets and managing the absurdity of the situation. And what he learned from that for when he next ran a room.
Joseph explains the relative strength of a writer's position in tv and features and why he has been so happy working in the TV business. He talks about enjoying working away from LA in Toronto and shares some of the highlights, and lowlights, of his career.
An illuminating and in-depth discussion with an industry veteran.
We talk to insightful and wisdom-filled manager Zadoc Angell.
This long-time literary agent, manager and TV producer, as well as current Co-President of Echo Lake Entertainment, talks about moving from agent to manager, managing client expectations and why emailing rejection is often the best way.
He talks openly about his career, the different ways executives articulate passing on a project and the importance of honesty and accuracy when sharing bad news.
An insightful and amusing journey through the long and successful career of a talent manager who also happens to be one of the nicest guys in the business.
We talk to the remarkably funny and articulate Marc Guggenheim.
The industry veteran talks about moving from procedurals to genre, working for an abusive showrunner and his regrets over taking a gig ‘just for the money’.
He talks openly about the different shortcomings of showrunner, what he learned from good and bad bosses and the importance of fostering creativity.
He explains how he takes rejection, why he’s comfortable taking about it and how much of his success he owes to 20 years of therapy.
A fun and insightful romp through the long and eventful Hollywood career of a brilliant writer and even nicer man.
We talk to doctor-turned-writer and showrunner Neal Baer.
He talks us though his journey on ER, the public service he performs and the lives he has saved through television.
We cover the anti-science movement, the joy of working with execs who give you freedom to be creative and the challenge of transitioning to non-medical shows.
Neal tells us how he deals with rejection, making television during Covid and gives inspiring advice to the next generation of writers.
On a special episode, we push Noah Evslin into the guest hot seat and the creator of the world's most successful scripted podcast Paul Bae joins as co-host.
Noah talks about his experience of rejection, failure and adversity. He talks about the risks of leaving the relatively safe world of producing in Shondaland to push forward with writing elsewhere, the continual fear that you never know if you'll work again and his enjoyment of the process of creating.
He explains what he has learned about the industry and rejection from this podcast, Paul tells us some classic stories of Hollywood meanness and even Dan shares a story of rejection about being made redundant.
A different approach to the classic themes of rejection, failure and adversity in a one-off special.
We talk to Canadian-British actor and producer Jonathan Lloyd Walker. He talks about his career, moving between disciplines and the different types of rejection he has met in each one.
He explains how he had a fast start in writing, thinking it was easy and then quickly finding out it wasn’t.
Jonathan talks about his worst rejections, being flown across the country only to be replaced by a mysterious extra person in the room and whether he would rather win an award as an actor or a writer.
He advises young writers to diversify, talks about the safety net of dual skills and why he never moved to Los Angeles from Canada.
It is a cultural phenomenon that beautifully treads the line between disaster film and farce. We talk to the writer of the first four Sharknado movies Thunder Levin.
He talks about the success of the franchise, his 'rock star' moment on the stage at Comic Con and his attempts to be a 'serious science fiction writer'.
Thunder explains the journey of Sharknado's meteoric rise, the contradictory notes around how much humor to put in and his attempts to recreate that success again.
He explains his frustrations in trying to move forward new projects, chasing the high of the franchise's success and gives candid advice to the next generation of writers.
A fascinating insight into a legendary Hollywood franchise from a writer who is as honest as he is funny.
Fired, banned from set, thrown off projects, fired again, briefly blackballed.
An extraordinary interview with writer and show creator David Steinberg about his journey from an arrogant youngster, to rebuilding his career and achieving success - with a few more firings and one more set ban along the way.
David talks about being embarrassed by his early mistakes, his own personal journey of change and growth and what he learned along the way.
Honest, funny and enlightening - an in-depth blow-by-blow walk through the difficult Hollywood landscape from a man on a mission to normalize failure.
We talk to producer and screenwriter Steven S. DeKnight.
He talks about his career highlight working on Spartacus, the opportunities he missed that led to him taking that meeting and the challenges (and excitement) working on Marvel's Daredevil.
He talks honestly about when to push back on execs, how to compromise and when to admit you have it wrong.
Steven talks about directing, what he got right, what he got horribly wrong and being shouted at by a line producer.
And gives great advice about writing not what you know, but what you are passionate about.
A masterclass from an industry giant.
We talk to actor-turned-director Keegan Connor Tracy, She tells us why she chose to try her hand at directing, the struggles of starting from the bottom again but why now is the right time for her.
She talks about the lack of role models behind the camera when she was acting, how she wants to change that and some of the things she had to put up with on set.
Keegan is honest about how she deals with rejection as an actor, not wanting to watch shows she didn't get on and tells us about some of her worst firings.
An inspiring conversation with an accomplished actor taking a brave step into a new discipline.
We talk to Michael Fuller who talks us through the pain and heartbreak of his show Quarry being cut, how he used cigarettes and bourbon to get through it and the balance between being a showrunner and being part of other people's shows.
He talks about the dilemma of writing your soul and writing to make a living with a family, what he's learned about the industry and what he learned as an adult (and why he encourages other writers to take acting classes).
And he tells those considering joining the industry to 'just write'.
We talk to lawyer-turned-writer Melissa London Hilfers. She talks about her transition from attorney to entertainment, what her old colleagues think of her new role (and how they are easily impressed by celebrity namedropping) and the sense of achievement she gets from her creative work.
In painful detail, she walks us through the time another writer told her he wanted to do a 'page one' rewrite of her script and how she circled around Los Angeles in an uber crying.
She describes writing her first script with a baby on her lap, managing family expectations and the pride in creating a show.
Melissa talks about some of the issues in Hollywood for a female writer, how her former career gives her the strength to stand up for herself and others and also how she is making sure she is running her room right.
An inspirational story (with a few tears) of making the move to Hollywood and making it work.
This week's guest is the extraordinary writer, creator and double Emmy winner Javier Grillo-Marxuach.
He works out how many of his 23 shows have been cancelled (a few), how many he has quit (some) and which were the ones he cared most about and were most proud of (The Middleman). We talk about how winning Emmys 'doesn't suck' (and giving them to his parents to display), the joy of being able to create a show he loved and the time he tried, and failed, to sell out.
Javi talks about some of the frustrations of the industry, how close he came to a second 'soul' project and the balance between making money and working on shows you care about.
He explains why he is so happy to talk about failure and share scripts and pitches and how he wants to give back to younger writers so they can avoid making mistakes he made.
A funny, insightful, painful and inspirational episode with one of the real characters of Hollywood.
We talk to the extraordinary writer and producer Akela Cooper.
She talks about combatting the loneliness of writing, particularly during a pandemic, the sage advice of her mother and the discipline of constantly working on her own projects even when in a room.
Akela talks honestly and openly about an abusive experience she faced, how she had the strength to walk away and the fear that she would be branded 'difficult' in a tough industry.
She explains how she overcame that challenging time, what she has learned from it and the ways she wants to run her own show.
A deep, personal and powerful interview which ends with the ‘will you die’ approach to dealing with failure.
We talk to legendary writer, show creator and exec producer Glen Mazzara.
He talks about crisis training in the entertainment industry, how he still suffers from imposter syndrome and the time a knife fight broke out on the Shield when prostitutes mixed with actresses playing prostitutes.
Glen told us about facing such a serious rejection that he couldn't get out of bed for three weeks and it took a year, and a commencement speech at NYU, to get over it.
We discuss the need to provide better training for leaders, why he mentors and how he wishes he had worked on more of his own projects and ideas.
An extraordinary deep dive into the world of rejection, crisis and adversity told with a clarity and thoughtfulness that makes this episode a must-listen masterclass.
We talk to the extraordinary Ryan Knighton, a blind writer of books and TV.
He explains how blindness helps him with the art of describing scenes, using the time he doesn't spend on driving and video games to perfect his craft and the risks of being typecast and only being asked to work on visual impairment projects.
Ryan also talks about the advantage of pitching without seeing people's responses, how he uses nudging with his assistant to help him and whether or not he thinks he has lost projects because of his disabililty.
He explains how he got in to TV writing because nobody else would adapt his book, the pacing and musicality of language and the time he was forced to do a large rewrite just because an executive was changing roles and needed to buy time.
And he talks about his love of surfing.
We talk to Kira Snyder, computer game designer-turned-writer and now showrunner. She talks about the 'new' Hollywood and its concern for mental health and wellbeing, how working in corporate America has helped her prepare to be a showrunner and why working on Eureka was so fulfilling.
Kira talks about diversity, how failed computer games prepared her for failure in Hollywood and the importance of working on projects you really care about.
We discuss making the next project the most important, the thrill of working within sight of the Hollywood sign and looking for the good in every failure.
And Noah name drops his Hollywood life and meeting Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino on his studio's lot.
We talk to writer and graphic novelist Bryan Hill.
He tells us about an extraordinarily cruel early rejection, how he channeled that, and other setbacks, into success and why he feels without failure he wouldn’t have done what he’s done.
Bryan talks passionately about dealing with setbacks, staying true to the writer you want to be and helping your managers help you.
And he also gives the most extraordinary piece of advice to aspiring writers - a step-by-step walkthrough of a winning movie formula, complete with suggested titles.
An insightful, thoughtful, inspiring and practical guide to making it in the world of writing.
We talk to showrunner Joe Henderson about his Hollywood journey.
He talks about his formative years as an assistant and how he is grateful for the extended period he spent at this position - but then also about his triple promotion.
Joe talks about the complications of Lucifer: the odd premise, the early cancellation the stop-go issues around later series - but also its tremendous success.
He explains whether or not he expects people to have watched his shows, the importance of maintaining quality throughout a season, despite budget constraints, and what he's learned about failure during his years in the business.
An industry veteran shares honest insight and helpful tips.
We hear the fascinating take of Jeffrey Lieber, the creator of the first version of the Lost pilot.
We talk about how he dealt with his relationship with the show as it went in a different direction, the years it took him to process it and his views on the show and how the ending was received.
He talks about why he writes, the role therapy has played and how he approaches new roles.
He talks about the struggle of writers, what he is hoping to achieve with Charmed and the importance of story, colleagues and happiness.
An extraordinary interview, offering a level of courage, introspection and honesty that makes it required listening for anyone in the industry.
We talk to veteran writer Jose Molina.
He talks through the balance between finding a long-running show, finding a show you like and making bold and reckless decision early in your career.
He explains why young writers should actually take advice from their mentors, even if they think none of the rules apply to them, why he quit SVU and he tries to define 'success'.
Jose talks about worrying less about his next gig and more about his next gig being the right one, the important of working to pay the rent and gives advice for the next generation of writers.
An insightful and fun discussion with an industry stalwart.
We talk to Marc Bernardin about his different careers and the different types of failure he suffered. He talks about journalism, being fired while on vacation and knowing when to break the rules and reach out to interview subjects for opportunities in writing.
He explains the pros and cons of diversity hires in Hollywood, getting fired from TV writing and then his return to journalism.
Marc tells us how he got back to screenwriting while working for Playboy, making the most of his opportunities and why it’s so important to strive for meaningful career goals and not settle.
We also cover the importance of having a writing niche, ethics and etiquette in the writing world and making sure your work is good enough before you ‘shoot your shot’.
An honest and insightful romp through journalism and tv writing with one of Hollywood’s popular characters.
We talk to David Goodman, veteran writer and WGA West President. He talks about the pain of a comedy writer pitching jokes that don’t land, the thin line to tread between comedy and causing offense and knowing you’ll get fired if you can’t make people laugh.
He describes some iconic comedy rooms, talks about his animated show that got made but never aired and the responsibility of Guild presidency and standing up for writers everywhere.
Extraordinary anecdotes, insight and advice from a veteran writer and leader.
We talk to show creator Mickey Fisher. He tells us about how his 'overnight success' wasn't actually overnight, being fired in hotel rooms and having his gate pass for the studio revoked as the first sign his show was getting cancelled.
He explains his version of imposter syndrome, getting fired from a role as a three-wheel motorbike ambassador and his first meeting and instant bonding with a very pregnant Halle Berry.
He talks honestly about nearly quitting his dream, knowing his limitations and why he is so nice.
A great chat with a Hollywood nice guy who earned success on a different path.
We talk to the amazing John Rogers. The veteran writer and showrunner gives his views from 30 years in the industry.
He tells the amazing story of the awful Catwoman, how he owned his role in the movie, what went wrong and buying rounds with 'Catwoman money'.
John tells us about the transition from stand-up comedian and sitcom actor to Cosby, developing the Jackie Chan animated series and being 'on the list' as a showrunner.
He described buying fountain pens as his treat, the multiple failures in between successes and how new studio bosses kill off all their predecessors' projects.
A rollercoaster ride of honesty and insight from one of the industry's famously candid leaders.
We talk to the extraordinary Shawn Simmons about his cult hit Wayne.
He tells us about the rare occurrence of having his network cancelled under his show, the joy of a show being reborn on Amazon and the 'heat' of having a hit show.
But he also explains about the expectation of failure amid the success, the incredible learning of coming up through the development side of the business and working on kids TV.
Shawn tells us how close he came to quitting, going two years without a job and the 'dark and scary' conversations he had with his family.
And he talks about his failed stand up career due to stage fright, the maths of making jokes and the desire to be a writer because he 'doesn't know how to do anything else'.
A brutally honest conversation about the period in between the success.
We talk to horror writer Jeff Howard. He tells us about being rejected - with various levels of misfortune - by Nicolas Cage, John Stamos and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
He talks about the kiss of death 'well told', the desire for a quick 'no' and self-sabotaging a meeting by failing to read the room. And Noah tells the story of pitching to a sleeping exec.
Jeff tells us about his movie that was sold, then died, then they were asked to re-pitch the same movie - just another way Hollywood can reject you.
He also works down his 'rejection list', works out his success rate is around 8% and how you can never work out which project will be a hit.
With great humor and acceptance he talks about the lack of feedback on failures, how to interact with those who have rejected you and trying to have sympathy for those making the green light decisions.
Prodigious writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe joins the podcast. He talks honestly about missing out on his dream Lord of the Rings project, the amount of time spent continuously looking for his next role and his ratio of 8 failures for every success - meaning hundreds of rejections in his long career.
He tells us about the relief of working on long-running shows, the excitement of being on Star Trek and the meagre budgets he had to work with Andromeda compared to today's blockbusters.
Robert also recounts a story about being fired from the show he created for cost reasons, although surviving longer than people thought, and how he used an inheritance to fund the beginning portion of his career - and how close he came to having to quit the business altogether.
We talk to actor and writer Geoffrey Thorne.
The actor turned writer tells his extraordinary story of riches to rags and back to riches again.
He talks about why he walked away from a successful acting career in In the Heat of Night, the people that doubted him, the desperate times of pretending to be his own manager and being turned for a job drawing Disney-style porno promos.
He talks about the struggles to make it as a writer, hanging on to the positive comments of one editor and building a varied career writing what he wanted.
Geoffrey talks with extraordinary honesty - interspersed with some timely profanity - about the very real struggles of making it in a tough profession.
A fun, heartfelt and candid journey through Hollywood.
We talk to writer-turned-manager John Zaozirny, President of Bellevue Productions.
He talks about his move from writing to management, stories of firing and being fired and why he loves the industry.
John talks about being fired even when he has created success for his clients, the slow death of projects and the need to be careful with overnight success.
He explains why he tries to help new writers brace for failure, how he does pastoral care for his talent ('more nurse than doctor') and the importance of setting expectations.
A candid discussion about the highs and lows of Hollywood from a manager's perspective.
We talk to the amazing Ann Cusack. She speaks honestly about the process of dealing with rejection, what she learned from the roles she didn’t get and the obsession with social media and the illusion of success.
She talks about the under-rated importance of just being a nice person, working on harmonious sets and remembering to say thank you.
Ann tells us about the support system of being part of a successful Hollywood family, the absence of sibling rivalry and also the importance of finding your own way of dealing with rejection and the roles that got away.
An honest, articulate and insightful discussion of the realities of the entertainment industry.
We talk to writer and showrunner Matthew Federman. He talks about how he runs a writing room and pro-actively solves problems, the mistakes he made pitching and what he's learned from brilliant bosses.
He explains the slightly broken Hollywood hiring process, why he cares about his writers who work for him so much and how he didn't make the most of career opportunities after working on the West Wing.
Matt also tells us he came on the podcast to explain that making it in Hollywood is harder than people think, that people try too hard to be nice which creates more problems and the helpful balance of having a writing partner.
An honest and insightful discussion.
We talk to Maze Runner writer Grant Pierce Myers. He tells us about getting a movie green lit and being fired in a single phone call, the challenge of backing up a hit with a second success and the importance of courtesy among writers when you're brought on for a rewrite.
He tells us about reading he has been kicked off a movie in the trades, the importance of savoring wins and having 'Hollywood days' with his wife.
An honest analysis of rejection in the entertainment business by a brilliant writer.
We talk to the extraordinary Sheryl J. Anderson, veteran writer and showrunner. She tells us how 'famous, toxic' writers' rooms taught her how to lead her own show the right way, her regrets about not speaking up to protect women writers in her youth and the tremendous influence of her military father.
She explains how the best work can be done by a happy team, how the extraordinary success of Sweet Magnolias only inspires her to work harder and her 'law school' moments of sitting on the kitchen floor crying in the middle of the night and wondering if she should give up writing and do something different.
An honest, thoughtful and insightful view of how to survive and succeed in Hollywood.
We talk to screenwriter Dan Hernandez. He tells us about how he handled the pressure of writing fan favorite Detective Pikachu, the big opportunities that got away in his career and going to high school with Josh Gad.
He explains the benefits of being part of a writing duo, the importance of finding people around you with good 'taste' and how he handles the anxiety and rejection of a career in Hollywood.
Dan tells how every big rejection in his career led back to eventual success, losing a movie because it was funded by Russian mobsters and the importance of luck in your career.
Actor Erik Palladino talks us through his rollercoaster career after 30 years in Hollywood.
He tells us how his pilots never get picked up, the time he was told he had a job by his agent on a Friday and on the Monday they admitted they’d called the wrong person and how, as an older actor, he worries more about his next paycheck than becoming a star.
He tells us about how he deals with rejection, his calmer philosophy about missing out on parts as he gets older and the time he didn’t learn his lines for a very complex scene - and how he got through it.
Erik also tells us why he sees himself as a success, how the big Morgan Freeman break-out moment could still come and how he got a part working with Guy Ritchie despite getting nervous and flubbing his network audition.
Screenwriter Zack Stentz gives an honest account of the tough world of Hollywood and what a writer has to go through to make it.
He talks about the red carpet highs of Thor and X-Men First Class but then the long periods of struggling to get anything made.
In a powerful and candid discussion he talks about dealing with toxic fandom, the emotions of splitting from a long-time writing partner and going it alone as well the transition from film to tv and back again.
He talks about his fears of being aged out of Hollywood, how he takes no success for granted and the cold-hearted world of taking over writing rooms from cancelled shows.
And how he nearly gave it all up to go back to journalism, even though that profession was in freefall.
We talk to Adele Lim, writer on Crazy Rich Asians and the new Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon.
She talks about her journey from TV to film and her struggles along the way.
Adele tells us she wrote some of her best work while coping with the anger of pregnancy-related discrimination, the monsters in TV writing rooms and why, as an Asian female, she felt she had to be better and harder working than colleagues around her.
She talks about becoming an accidental role model after her very public pay-parity dispute around the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians and how that difficult moment ended up turning into something really positive.
And she tells aspiring writers to be ready to face adversity but also how they can be brave and speak up and build the career they want.
Your hosts Noah Evslin and Dan Rutstein explain what their new podcast is all about.
Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss, is a podcast about failure, rejection and adversity in the entertainment industry.
Seasoned Hollywood writer Noah and former diplomat and podcaster Dan take you on a journey through the lows of Hollywood life and are joined each week by a talented guest who will guide you through their journey and how they dealt with the difficult times along the way.
It's honest, candid, inspirational and heartbreaking in equal measure.
We hope you enjoy!