6 Podcasts for Screenwriters

In the past few years podcasts have exploded in popularity and it’s easy to see why. You can listen to them while driving (hello Hollywood traffic), working out, cooking dinner, or even taking a bath. They’re convenient, usually free, and cover almost any topic and interest under the sun (for some weird reason almost every comedy writer I know is addicted to murder podcasts) and there are lots of screenwriting podcasts.

Screenwriting podcasts aren’t only a great way to learn more about writers you admire, scripts you aspire to write, and jobs you eventually want in the industry; they are also a source of commiseration (screenwriting is a tough gig, and even the best screenwriters in Hollywood face challenges and have bad days). 

So, if you haven’t listened to a great screenwriting podcast yet, give it a try. No matter where you are in your screenwriting career, there's a podcast for you.

Here are 6 excellent podcasts for screenwriters: 

1. SCRIPTNOTES PODCAST 

Hosted by John August and Craig Mazin, this podcast provides insights into the craft of writing as well as the business. Whether you want learn how other writers approach their process, avoid common pitfalls, and gain insight into how to write scene and character. Or if you want to learn more about the professional world of Hollywood like, what goes on in a writers’ room, or the nuts and bolts of made-for-streaming movies — this podcast is a great resource.

2. SCRIPT APART

Hosted by Al Horner, Script Apart walks listeners through the process of getting a screenplay to the big screen - changes that were made, what was cut, what was kept, and why. Each episode explores the initial scripts of popular films directly from the perspective of the screenwriters who wrote them (Al Horner asks great questions, and some of the first draft secrets that are revealed are truly mind-blowing).

3. HAPPIER IN HOLLYWOOD 

Hosts Liz Craft and Sarah Fain walk you through how to survive and thrive amidst the realities of a writing career in Los Angeles. They have been friends since high school and writing partners for 17 years. I love them! They went through my WGA Showrunner Program and are true advocates for writers. 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 a few years ago (If you’re curious my episode is: ‘Ep. 99: Eat It with Grace’).

4. ACT TWO PODCAST

Act Two prides itself on being ‘a podcast that demystifies what it means to be an everyday working screenwriter.’ Every episode is crammed with information about screenwriting, from the creative side (genre, methodology) to the business side (WGA, rates, general ‘do’s and don’ts’). Also, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman are screenwriters themselves who don’t shy away from sharing how they cope with the process of building a career. If you want to feel like someone is in the trenches with you, give this one a listen. 

5. THE WRITERS PANEL

While a lot of the podcasts on this list cover screenwriting for both film and TV, The Writer’s Podcast is geared specifically toward TV writing. Branding itself as the “definitive insider’s guide to our current golden age of television”. Host Ben Blacker interviews writers, producers, and showrunners and also features live convention panels. Guests have included TV legends like Vince Gillian and Amy Sherman Palladino with talking points that run the gamut from creating for TV, to the current media landscape, to “secrets of the biz”. This podcast is more industry focused than craft focused, but that’s its value - whether you’re an aspiring writer or more advanced in your career, you’ll hear at least one great tidbit that relates to you.

6.  BULLETPROOF SCREENWRITING PODCAST

This podcast aims to help writers make their scripts, you guessed it, bulletproof. Every week host Alex Ferrari interviews award-winning screenwriters, best-selling authors, agents, managers, and countless other industry insiders. Past guests include Hollywood heavy-weights like Edgar Wright, Derek Kolstad, Eric Roth, Oliver Stone, and Richard Linklater. Also, the great thing about this podcast is it has an entire catalogue of episodes geared towards TV writers of all levels. There are episodes for newbie TV writers like, “How to Write for Television, Netflix & Hollywood”. As well as episodes for writers who have been in the game for a while and are setting their sights on Showrunning like, “Confessions of a First Time Showrunner with Kaye Singleton” or “The Art of Television Showrunning with Steve DeKnight”. Some people think the amount of commercials on this podcast can be a bit maddening, but if you have the patience to endure a few ads, the content is well worth it.

What podcasts inspire you? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!

For more industry info and tips check out these additional resources:

For the ultimate guide to pitching a TV show that sells, check out my e-book, The Ultimate Guide to a Killer Pitch

To learn how to create your “personal logline” read my free e-book, Tell Your Story in 60 Seconds.

For my in-depth video course on breaking into the business go to: Carole Kirschner’s Hollywood Boot Camp.

And you can find my book, Hollywood Game Plan on Amazon or at Michael Wiese Productions (MWP).