6 Podcasts Every Screenwriter Needs Right Now

In this ‘new reality’ we’re living in, it’s easy to feel cut off from your screenwriting community: writers groups can’t meet, taking a mentor or an executive out for coffee and a chat can’t happen, and most of us are quarantined alone.

So how do you fill that void and enhance your writing career? Podcasts.

Hearing people discuss the craft of writing and the business of Hollywood can help further your knowledge and sharpen your skills without actually having to be part of the physical conversation. 

Plus, if you’ve hit a day where you’re just plain unmotivated - listening to a podcast about writing is a great way to feel like you’re working on your career without ever having to pick up your laptop. 

In no particular order, here are 6 great podcasts to listen to right now:

1. On the Page with Pilar Alessandra

I’ve talked about Pilar on the blog before and with good reason - she's traveled the world teaching screenwriting, and story analysis. Her podcast is like a‘one stop shop’ for all things related to a screenwriter’s life. She breaks down a lot of “screenwriting myths”, answers questions from real screenwriters, and covers writing across most scripted mediums and genres (features, tv writing, pitching, webisode writing and even video game writing). Also, this one isn’t just about the craft it’s also about the business, covering: branding, agents and managers, and networking. I was honored to be a guest on the podcast twice. It was such fun!

2. The Black List Podcast with Franklin Leonard

If you haven’t heard about The Black List by now, you’ve been living under a rock. The website is devoted to shining a light on scripts and screenwriters that may have got lost in the Hollywood shuffle (their tagline is literally ‘where filmmakers & writers meet’). Their podcast is just as devoted to helping screenwriters as their website is: presenting interviews with filmmakers, producers, and creators of all kinds as well as table reads of great scripts (that have yet to be produced). This podcast helps you get to know the industry’s ‘movers and shakers’ as well as delivers some inspiring screenplays.

3. Scriptnotes with John August and Craig Mazin

Each week, John August and Craig Mazin (who are accomplished screenwriters in their own right) discuss anything and everything that interests screenwriters - the business, the craft, and even how to get motivated. They cover questions screenwriters really want answered, like ‘what’s the difference between a script revision and a polish?’ And ‘what to wear to meetings?’ He also does some excellent interviews. One of my personal favorites is his interview with Phoebe Waller-Bridge where they discuss how to take notes as an actor/writer.

4. The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith

Like a lot of podcasts on this list, Jeff interviews writers, producers, and Showrunners behind some of your favorite shows. Guests have included people like Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (Key and Peele). What sets this podcast apart, is Jeff’s thoughtful interview style - he manages to pull his interviewees into deep conversation and discuss topics some writers avoid like: how they make a living as screenwriters, or what their personal motivation was for writing a specific script. This podcast will give you a peek into the process behind making a successful script, but it will also give you a peek into what makes a lot of big name screenwriters tick.

5. Happier in Hollywood with Liz Craft and Sarah Fain

Friends since high school and writing partners for 17 years, these mid-western women have found a way to navigate the mean streets of Hollywood’s film industry. I love them! They went through my WGA Showrunner Program and are true advocates for writers.

On their podcast they walk you through how to survive and thrive amidst the realities of a writing career in Los Angeles. One of the best things about this podcast is its relatability. Liz and Sarah admit to burn out, talk about what it’s like to go to meetings in Hollywood, and even share their weekly celebrity sightings. Listen to this one if you need a healthy dose of commiseration as well as some great career tips (like how to pitch like a pro). It was great to be a guest on their podcast.

6. Black Men Can’t Jump in Hollywood with Jonathan Braylock, Jerah Milligan, and James III

A podcast that is as funny as it is thought provoking, Black Men Can’t Jump is hosted by three friends who take films with leading actors of color and analyze them through a lens of race and diversity. Each episode they put one film at a time under the microscope, questioning whether the character’s break new ground and ultimately help the cause of “black” Hollywood or not. One of my favorite episodes is where they review Hidden Figures, and Jerah manages to change everyone’s opinion from loving it to accepting it’s also very problematic. This podcast is always funny and will definitely make you look at some of your favorite films (and film characters) in a whole new way.

A few other great podcasts to check out are: Paper Team, WGA’s 3rd & Fairfax, and Whiting Wongs.

What’s your go to screenwriting podcast? Let me know @CaroleKirsh!