Best Meg LeFauve Podcasts (2025)

1
246 | Do I Need to Self-Produce to Sell My Writing? (ft. Emily Brundige) 1:09:33

5d ago1:09:33

1:09:33

Emily Brundige was tired of waiting around for gatekeepers to say yes. So, she stopped asking. In this candid conversation with Lorien, Emily shares how her frustration with the traditional hurry-up-and-wait pitch process pushed her to self-produce an animated short. That project — born from passion, resourcefulness, and a refusal to wait — eventua…

1
Can You Reverse Aging? The Surprising Role of Skin in Longevity | Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira 1:04:40

6d ago1:04:40

1:04:40

What if our skin—our most visible organ—is actually one of the best gateways to longevity and vibrant health? This week’s guest is Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira—a brilliant scientist, a bio-chemist with a focus in stem cells and tissue engineer who’s redefining what it means to age well. As co-founder and CEO of OneSkin, Carolina’s using cutting-edge …

1
Lift As You Rise: Purpose-Driven Approach to Leadership with Ellyn Shook 52:30

8d ago52:30

52:30

What does it take to create a workplace where people thrive—where leadership is human-centered, purpose-driven, built for the future, and knows how to get results? Today, as part of our Modern Leadership series I’m excited to sit down with Ellyn Shook, the former Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer at Accenture, to explore the evolving lands…

1
245 | How To Pivot Genres and "Re-Brand" Yourself As A Writer (ft. Carla Banks-Waddles) 1:05:00

11d ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Carla Banks-Waddles (BEL-AIR) has lived many lives as a writer. From being a valued member of multi-cam half hour rooms, to pivoting towards single cam serialized family dramas, Carla has had a wonderfully diverse career. How? She wrote her way there. Enjoy Carla's insightful, optimistic, and sometimes obsessive approach to how we can craft our dre…

1
Judd Apatow: "Never Stop Learning and Never Stop Growing" 1:24:54

13d ago1:24:54

1:24:54

What does it take to stay emotionally grounded in an industry built on ego? This week, we sit down with Judd Apatow—the legendary director, producer, and comedy mastermind behind some of the most influential films and TV shows of the past three decades. From "Freaks and Geeks" to "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," Judd has not only created cultural touchsto…

1
The Human Side of Human Resources: Creating Authentic Connection with Rhonda Morris 48:48

15d ago48:48

48:48

What does it take to lead at the highest levels—while staying true to who you are? Today’s guest is Rhonda Morris, the former VP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Chevron. Rhonda is a powerhouse—sharp, competitive, and deeply committed to helping others perform at their best. How do I know that? Because we’re friends. Her journey started back in…

1
244 | Brent Forrester's (The Office, The Simpsons) Comedy Writing Masterclass 1:13:02

18d ago1:13:02

1:13:02

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so TAKE BRENT'S CLASS: https://www.brentforrester.com/webinar Brent Forrester wasn't naturally funny, and he's the first person to admit it. And yet, when Brent was in his early 20s, he studied comedy like a science, and it has fostered one of the most successful comedy writing careers of anyone worki…

1
Diplo - Grammy Award Winning DJ: “Don't Be Afraid of Failing” 1:06:34

20d ago1:06:34

1:06:34

How do you stay ahead in an industry that never stops evolving? Today, we are diving into the mind of one of the most prolific, boundary-pushing, and curious creators of our time—Diplo. Perhaps you know him for his music career—with Grammy award winning hits and game-changing collaborations, or for headlining some of the biggest festivals in the wo…

1
Write On: 'NCIS Origins' Showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal 37:42

21d ago37:42

37:42

“If you can make the twists [in the story] hit your character in an emotional way and set up their emotional arc, then when the case twist intersects with them, if it's hitting them in the deepest way, in the most unexpected way, maybe – then you've done your job. So it's getting that emotional arc to really bounce off of the crime story in the mos…

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Write On: 'Dying for Sex' Co-Creator & Co-Showrunner Kim Rosenstock 46:57

21d ago46:57

46:57

On today’s episode of Write On, we chat with Kim Rosenstock, co-creator and co-showrunner for the new limited series, Dying For Sex, starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate and Sissy Spacek. Based on a true story, Dying for Sex is about a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who abandons her husband of 15 years to begin a journey of sexual…

1
Leadership's Missing Link: How Empathy Unlocks Human Potential with Matt Breitfelder 57:45

22d ago57:45

57:45

The best leaders aren’t just great decision-makers—they build cultures. So what does it actually take to create a thriving, high-performance culture? Today’s guest, Matt Breitfelder, is one of the most influential leadership architects in modern business. As Partner and Head of Human Capital at Apollo — one of the world’s leading asset management c…

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243 | If You've Ever Wanted To Quit Writing, Listen To This. 56:29

25d ago56:29

56:29

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so You are not alone, and keep writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

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Innovation Expert: Embrace the Creative Process and Find Joy in the Unknown | JoAnn Garbin 1:03:57

27d ago1:03:57

1:03:57

What does it take to go from nothing to something—and then scale it into meaningful impact? I want to introduce you to someone you may not be familiar with, unless you’re in the innovation space -- JoAnn Garbin. JoAnn has led innovation teams at some of the world’s most influential companies—including Microsoft, and she is one of those rare minds w…

1
Write On: 'The Residence' Creator & Showrunner Paul William Davies 43:07

1M ago43:07

43:07

“I didn’t really set out to make Cordelia (Uzo Aduba) quirky. I just wanted to make her distinctive. I just really thought about who I wanted her to be and how I thought [birdwatching] would be an interesting way for her to approach her job. And the very first thing that came to me was just her use of silence and her ability to just be comfortable …

1
Indie Film Craft 1 | Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (The Peanut Butter Falcon, Los Frikis) Discuss Authentic Collaboration 1:07:19

1M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

WATCH LOS FRIKIS: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Los-Frikis/0H49M436MMS223JUKJ26Q95EKJ READ ALONG: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3QojbCeXG11xowk5u6y-RONQhCSguwG/view?usp=drive_link Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz are the first to admit "they're not the cool kids." Their widely celebrated debut THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON was bootstrapped by g…

1
World Champion Climber Sasha DiGiulian on Risk, Fear, and Thriving Under Pressure 1:08:42

1M ago1:08:42

1:08:42

What happens when your biggest obstacle isn’t the mountain—it's your own self-doubt? Sasha DiGiulian is one of the world’s top rock climbers and a pioneer in the sport—with multiple first female ascents, national titles, and a world championship under her belt. Sasha’s unique approach to navigating fear, risk, and doubt is masterful. In this conver…

1
ANNOUNCEMENT: New Bonus Spinoff Show For Filmmakers Drops In Feed THURSDAY! 0:34

1M ago0:34

0:34

We are launching a brand new monthly BONUS show this Thursday in feed, hosted by our producer Jeffrey Crane Graham. Don't miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

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Manage Your Emotions So They Don’t Manage You | Dr. Ethan Kross 59:50

1M ago59:50

59:50

How much control do we really have over our emotions? And what if the key to mastering them is easier than you think? This week’s conversation is a special one. It was recorded in front of a live audience at Live Talks Los Angeles, where I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Dr. Ethan Kross, one of the world’s leading experts on emotion…

1
242 | Welcome To Wrexham Showrunner John Henion Discusses Theme As A Central Creative Throughline 59:32

1M ago59:32

59:32

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Whether you're on your billionth draft, or stuck in post on a docuseries, finding a connective THEME to tell your story is one of the most valuable ways to create a cohesive and satisfying story. Today's guest, John Henion, understands that better than anyone. His impressive career as an episodic d…

1
Write On: Peter Katz - Manager & Producer, Story Driven 35:04

1M ago35:04

35:04

“Sameness is terrible. Your goal is to cut through it. If you have a unique perspective, you’re going to take vampires or anything that everybody thinks they know and do it in a way that’s really exciting and gets people really pumped up about it. There are all these incredible worlds to explore, but there just needs to be somebody that can take yo…

1
How John Paul DeJoria Built Billion-Dollar Brands | Founder of Patrón and Paul Mitchell 59:29

1M ago59:29

59:29

What if one of the unlocks for living “the good life” lies in the simple act of giving, even when you have nothing? Today's guest is an icon of entrepreneurship, resilience, and generosity - John Paul DeJoria - a cofounder of not one but two billion dollar companies, Patrón Tequila and Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products. What you might not know, thou…

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241 | Bob's Burgers Executive Producers & The Great North Creators Discuss Adult Animation 1:23:57

2M ago1:23:57

1:23:57

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://twslworkshops.circle.so The Molyneux Sisters (BOB’S BURGERS, THE GREAT NORTH) believe that character is at the center of all great comedy. For Wendy and Lizzie, specificity, character quirks, and close observations about the friends (and strangers) around them will always provide the cocktail for a great character. Hear …

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NFL Stardom to Rock Bottom: Ryan Leaf on Redemption & Resilience 1:17:38

2M ago1:17:38

1:17:38

What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around—your talent, your success, your career—comes crashing down? Ryan Leaf’s story is one of the most dramatic arcs in professional sports. Once the No. 2 overall draft pick behind Peyton Manning, Ryan saw his NFL career unravel under the weight of expectations, addiction, and ultimately, pr…

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Write On: 'Long Bright River' Showrunner Nikki Toscano 35:44

2M ago35:44

35:44

“With an adaptation, you can never give back your first read. So, what are you taking away? What fills your soul? Why do you want to tell this story? And then that becomes sort of the North Star. And I’m tethered more by that North Star than by the actual moves that are happening in the book,” says Long Bright River showrunner, Nikki Toscano, about…

1
240 | George Saunders' Storytelling Masterclass 1:16:21

2M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so George Saunders is a writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction, whose work has amassed a collection of awards, including The Booker Prize for his debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. His essay collection A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, which focuses on the storytelling prowess of four Russian ma…

1
System of a Down’s Serj Tankian on Turning Passion Into Purpose 1:06:46

2M ago1:06:46

1:06:46

How do the best in the world channel the intensity of their emotions—like frustration, anxiety, and love—into creative power that impacts the world? Serj Tankian is a Grammy-winning artist, activist, and frontman of the iconic rock band System of a Down. Known for his dynamic vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, Serj blends creativity, activism, an…

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239 | Wicked Co-Writer Dana Fox on Why You're Avoiding Your Writing 1:03:44

2M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

Dana Fox offers an incredibly generous admission in today's conversation: "I find writing REALLY torturous." And yet, she's one of Hollywood's most successful writers, having written on major franchises like CRUELLA and recently WICKED, which has earned her countless industry award nominations. What's her secret? Tune in as she discusses why writin…

1
Robert Greene on Power, Purpose, Struggle, and Love 1:18:09

2M ago1:18:09

1:18:09

What does it mean to develop mastery of self and mastery of craft? That’s a foundational question. Today, I’m really excited to welcome back to the podcast, one of the great minds of our time—Robert Greene. You probably know Robert as the author of some of the most influential books on human behavior—The 48 Laws of Power, Mastery, and The Laws of H…

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238 | How To Create and Maintain a Screenwriting Career Outside of LA or NY (ft. Will Fetters and Chris Sparling) 1:13:23

2M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.cricle.so For decades, if you wanted to make it as a Hollywood writer, the first step was simple: move to Hollywood. But increasingly, screenwriters have found that they're able to create and foster screenwriting careers outside of Los Angeles. Two folks who have done that successfully, Will Fetters and Chri…

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The Future of Leadership: Scaling Teams with Empathy & Purpose | Deb Cupp, President of Microsoft Americas 1:00:11

2M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

In this fast-evolving business landscape, how do leaders turn setbacks into opportunities for growth? Today, I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Deb Cupp—the President of Microsoft Americas. Deb embodies the best of leadership – and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve had an up-close view of how she works – she comes alive at the intersection o…

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237 | Malcolm Washington & Virgil Williams (The Piano Lesson) On Adapting August Wilson's Pulitzer-Winning Masterpiece 1:02:02

2M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so It's no secret that plays and movies are entirely different mediums, so how do you give the cinematic treatment to a play as celebrated as "The Piano Lesson" by Pulitzer Prize-winning August Wilson? From the start, co-writer and director Malcom Washington came in with a very specific take on the ma…

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Write On: Comedy Writing with Brent Forrester 41:50

3M ago41:50

41:50

“My recommendation to anybody who is writing animation is to take advantage of the things you can do in animation that you can’t do in live action, which is to spend an infinite amount of money, right? If you and I are going to write a scene and you say, ‘Oh, let’s set it on a battleship, but then space aliens come and suddenly we’re transported to…

1
How a UFC Fighter, Olympic Skier, and Extreme Climber Master High-Pressure Moments | The Mindset Roundtable 53:02

3M ago53:02

53:02

How do a UFC fighter, Olympic skier, and extreme climber manage high pressure moments? This is an episode unlike any we’ve done before. Last summer you may remember that a few members of the Finding Mastery Team, along with Olympian and X-Games Champion Kaya Turski, UFC Champion Vitor Belfort, and famed climber Tommy Caldwell, went aboard the USS R…

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The Death of a Team – What Happens When The Game Is Over | The Game Inside The Games, Ep. 5 27:45

3M ago27:45

27:45

The Super Bowl can mark the pinnacle of a team’s journey—but when the final whistle blows, another game begins: the game of transition. For NFL players, the end of a season isn’t just about the scoreboard—it’s about identity, loss, and what comes next. Some teams prepare for this reality. Others ignore it, only to face the reality later. In this ep…

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Brandon Marshall on The Longest Two Weeks in Football | The Game Inside The Games, Ep. 4 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

For two weeks, players are surrounded by relentless media, soaring expectations, and the weight of a lifetime of preparation. Some rise under the pressure. Others crumble. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and Brandon Marshall unpack what makes the Super Bowl build-up so uniquely intense—and how the best athletes tra…

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Football’s Dirty Secret: It’s Not About the Best Team—It’s About Who Adapts | The Game Inside The Games, Ep. 3 28:03

3M ago28:03

28:03

The Super Bowl isn’t always won by the best team—it’s won by the team that adapts when everything falls apart. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and Greg Olsen break down the hidden battle of the Super Bowl—the fight to stay mentally agile when the game doesn’t go as planned. Greg shares firsthand insights from Super…

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NFL Legend Greg Olsen on the Preparation and Pressure of Calling the Super Bowl | The Game Inside The Games, Ep. 2 38:35

3M ago38:35

38:35

For the players on the field, the Super Bowl is the ultimate test of skill and composure. But just above them, in the broadcast booth, another high-stakes performance is unfolding—one with no second chances, no instant replay, and no room for error. In this episode of The Game Inside the Games, Dr. Michael Gervais sits down with Greg Olsen, former …

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236 | Liz Feldman (Dead To Me, No Good Deed): Writing is Self-Destruction, Self-Reflection, and Self-Correction 1:04:31

3M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so What sounds harder? Writing a pilot alone at your desk, or running your own TV show with 300 folks trying to execute your vision? For Liz Feldman, it's the former, which affirms what we often say on this show: writing is really, really hard. Despite that, Liz has almost 30 years of TV writing exper…

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The Game Inside the Games: Episode 1—The Kickoff 6:07

3M ago6:07

6:07

The Super Bowl is more than just a game—it’s a test of mindset, resilience, and the ability to perform under the brightest lights. In this special Game Inside the Games series, Dr. Mike is joined by NFL legends Greg Olsen and Brandon Marshall to explore the unseen psychological battles that define champions. Kicking off the series, Mike breaks down…

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When to Lean In and Let Go - The Art of Leadership, Teaching, and Raising Resilient Kids | National Teacher of the Year, Missy Testerman 1:08:53

3M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

What does it take to foster confidence, independence, and resilience in the next generation? Missy Testerman is 2024’s National Teacher of the Year. Her insights, honed over three decades of teaching elementary schoolers in rural Tennessee, have impacted not just classrooms but the entire educational landscape. Missy has a unique gift for transform…

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235 | Mike Jones (Soul, Dream Productions) Returns: What Makes a Great Act 3? 1:17:22

3M ago1:17:22

1:17:22

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Pixar story genius Mike Jones gets candid with Meg about endings: what makes a great ending, and more important, what makes an emotional ending. Meg and Mike also discuss selfish characters, narrative feature film engines, and how to keep our storytelling fresh when we feel like we're locked in the…

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Write On: 'The Performance' Co-Writer Josh Salzberg 43:38

3M ago43:38

43:38

“Fugler (Robert Carlyle) was a character that I really connected with from the beginning. I know it sounds a little strange that the Nazi was my way into this, but it really was that idea of, ‘How can we get inside his head and make sure that he’s a fully fleshed out person that way?’” says Josh Salzberg about trying to make his villain, a Nazi nam…

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The Power of Failure: Transforming Setbacks into Success with Dr. Amy Edmondson 1:06:31

3M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

What if the way you think about failure has been holding you back? What if reframing failure could be a major breakthrough to unlocking your potential? Today’s guest is Dr. Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor and one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership, psychological safety, and the transformative power of failure. Her …

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James Clear on The Science of Building Habits That Last | From The Vault 1:02:34

3M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

What if the key to achieving your biggest goals in 2025 and beyond isn’t about willpower—what if it's about building the right habits? Today, we are super excited to re-release one of our favorite episodes from the Finding Mastery vault – one of our earlier conversations with James Clear. Why this episode, and why now? … As we near the end of Janua…

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Write On: 'Inside Out 2' Co-Writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein 1:00:55

3M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

“People think sequels are easier, and I’m like, ‘No, no, it’s much harder. It is much harder to write.’ They have never written sequels, those people, because you need to do everything as well as the first and yet better, and go to new places, follow all the world rules, but create new ones. I mean, it’s just so many balls in the air,” says Meg LeF…

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234 | Why Fairy Tales Are The Foundation For Modern Storytelling (ft. Kelly Younger) 1:13:44

3M ago1:13:44

1:13:44

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so To say that Kelly Younger is a fairy tale expert is an understatement. He's built an entire career around his obsession with fairy tale principles, so much so that he's become a coveted story consultant, and a frequent writer for THE MUPPETS universe, with credits on MUPPETS NOW and MUPPETS HAUNTED…

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How Creativity Can Help Us Unlock Our Potential | Writer of Pixar's Inside Out, Meg LeFauve 1:13:53

3M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

What does it take to create stories that resonate with millions—and what can those stories teach us about ourselves? Meg LeFauve, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2, has spent her career unlocking the magic of storytelling. But her insights go far beyond the screen. Meg is a master of exploring vulnerability…

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233 | TV Development: Everything You Need To Know (ft. Glen Mazzara) 1:20:04

3M ago1:20:04

1:20:04

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Glen Mazzara has produced, created and/or showran a litany of amazing projects. His impressive resume includes The Walking Dead (he showran seasons 2 and 3) and Damien, which he also created. But even Glen is the first to admit that there's a certain amount of luck that comes with getting the covet…

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Write On: 'The Boys' Creator & Showrunner Eric Kripke 56:45

3M ago56:45

56:45

“The most subversive thing this show could do is make you cry… If you really boil down television, really cook it in the pan, it’s the character business. I’m in the character business. Movies are in the plot and spectacle business, for television, there’s a thing about laying in bed and watching someone in your bedroom or living room that you real…

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Does Manifestation Really Work? Top Neuroscientist on the Power of Intention | Dr. James Doty 1:18:45

3M ago1:18:45

1:18:45

What if compassion isn’t just a nice to have—but a game-changer for high performance? Dr. James Doty is a world-renowned neurosurgeon, a clinical professor at Stanford, and the founder of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). He’s also the NYT bestselling author of Into The Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Disc…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Meg LeFauve Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen