Whether you’re a newbie screenwriter or a writer who seeks more success, there’s a podcast to guide you along your journey.
Many screenwriting shows dig into the mechanics of the craft and business of writing. Some gather Hollywood insider tips from award-winning writers and other leading screenwriters who freely share the knowledge they have gathered over the years.
Here are eight of the best podcasts for those who want valuable industry insights to help boost their screenwriting career.
Scriptnotes Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496
Hosted by John August and Craig Mazin, this podcast gives screenwriters the guidance they need to flourish in their profession. Whether listeners want to hone their craft or avoid common pitfalls in the writing process, this show is a great resource. It’s also a good way to learn what goes on in the comedy writers’ room, the mechanics of moving characters in and out of scenes, the nuts and bolts of made-for-streaming movies, and practically anything in the TV and film world that writers may be wondering about. 
The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-q-a-with-jeff-goldsmith/id426840843
Publisher of Backstory Magazine, Jeff Goldsmith uncovers the creative process of screenwriters and filmmakers by quizzing them on what makes them tick. In the March 19, 2022 episode, he asks Zach Baylin, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Jane Campion, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Jon Spaihts, and Eskil Vogt about their Oscar-nominated screenplays. Jeff is a writer and editor who is known for Pitfall 3-D: Beyond the Jungle, Twisted Metal: Black, and WarHawk: The Red Mercury Missions, and is therefore well-positioned to secure interviews with luminaries and ask burning questions screenwriters likely have.
The Screenwriting Life
When any budding screenwriter takes a look at the combined credits of professional screenwriters Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, they are bound to be impressed. Meg and Lorien have done writing and production work on films like Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Captain Marvel. The hosts’ guidance on dialogue and delivery, as well as other elements of the screenwriting craft, is designed to help writers be the best in the business. And speaking of the business of writing, it’s important to note that’s covered, too.
The Official Gilded Age Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-official-gilded-age-podcast/id1605253822
It’s natural for fans to be curious about the historical figures, places, and events that served as inspiration. That’s where podcasts come in. Discussions following each episode of a TV show can prove popular, as HBO has discovered. TCM’s (Turner Classic Movies) Alicia Malone and Tom Meyers from The Bowery Boys host HBO’s The Official Gilded Age Podcast. Cast and crew members join the hosts every week to share insights, experiences, and fascinating bits of history.
Script Apart
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/script-apart/id1518622561
In each episode of this intriguing podcast, the audience learns about the initial screenplays of highly acclaimed films directly from screenwriters who crafted them. The first-draft secrets that are revealed are truly fascinating. Hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek, this show walks listeners through the changes that were made, what was kept, and why, during the process of getting to the big screen. 
Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast with Alex Ferrari
According to this podcast’s website, this is the place “where screenwriters come to discuss the craft.” This show is designed to help writers make their screenplays bulletproof. Every week, host Alex Ferrari interviews Oscar®- and Emmy®-award-winning screenwriters, story specialists, best-selling authors, Hollywood agents and managers, and industry insiders. The entire screenwriting process is broken down in a straight-talking manner.
Past guests include three-time Oscar®-winning Writer/Director Oliver Stone, Eric Roth (Dune, Forest Gump), Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Slacker), Jim Uhls (Fight Club), Peter Rader (Waterworld), Diane Drake (What Women Want), Daniel Knauf (Carnival, Blacklist), and Derek Kolstad (John Wick).
3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3rd-fairfax-the-wgaw-podcast/id1001323963
The official podcast of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a hub for news and information about the WGAW, as well as interviews with top writers from the worlds of movies, television, and new media. Guests range from the duo of Ted Lasso co-developer/co-star Brendan Hunt and writer/co-star Brett Goldstein to the creator-showrunner Danny Strong of Hulu’s popular drama series Dopesick.
The No Film School Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-no-film-school-podcast/id1078804724
From filmmaking communities to a writing team’s journey to getting their first feature, this podcast aims to keep those who are building a career in filmmaking up to date on the latest opportunities and trends in the world of film and TV. The interviews with leaders in screenwriting provide answers to many emerging professionals’ questions.
Grab a notepad, if you chose to listen to any of these eight stellar podcasts. Between the entertaining banter and fascinating stories, screenwriters may fall in love with their chosen profession all over again. Best of all, there is a treasure trove of advice around everything from creating unforgettable characters to demystifying the path to success as a screenwriter. Take a listen today, and be prepared to take lots of notes.
September 2022 Issue
