Best Spec Script Podcasts (2025)

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Author/Showrunner DJ MacHale on Unlocking Stories & Taking Control of Your Writing Career 1:20:55

Play Pause

6d ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Join us for a captivating evening with D.J. MacHale, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pendragon series and creator of the cult-favorite TV show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" From bestselling books to iconic screen moments, D.J. has spent his career crafting stories that resonate across generations. In this exclusive event, he’ll shar…

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Yazmin Monet Watkins: Poetry, Roller Skates & Speaking Truth 41:14

7d ago41:14

41:14

Yazmin Monet Watkins is a poet, comedian, screenwriter, actress, organizer, avid roller skater and adventurer. She can be seen on season two of Grand Crew on NBC, Comedy Central and has co-developed and written pilots for Netflix & Comedy Central.By Shayna Weber

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Social Media in your Screenwriting Career: Interview w/ Nic Curcio and Kristen Tepper 59:45

7d ago59:45

59:45

This week, we chat with screenwriters Nic Curcio and Kristin Tepper about branding, social media, and what it means to create content as a writer in today’s industry. We dive into how writers can approach their digital footprint, whether you need to be on social media, how to build an authentic brand, the blacklist, and a ton more... Nic Curcio: @N…

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Where to Spend Time: IP or Spec? 44:33

14d ago44:33

44:33

Inspired by a post from Screenwriter Zack Stentz, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss whether it's a smarter career move to work on IP or to put your head down and write your own spec. They discuss the realities of what it means to work on IP vs. Specs, their own experiences working in both markets, and the consequences (both good & bad) of wo…

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From Acting in MAJOR PAYNE to Writing, Directing, Composing, AND Acting in BITTERSWEET (Apple TV) w/Steven Martini 1:05:26

17d ago1:05:26

1:05:26

Hey there, everybody! Today on the show, we have writer, actor, director, composer, editor, and singer/songwriter Steven Martini. I met Steven on Twitter and quickly realized, "OH MY GOD, THAT'S CADET ALEX STONE FROM MAJOR PAYNE!" I was a big fan in my childhood, so it was a thrill to meet Steven now, 30 years later. And it's been an interesting th…

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MAILBAG: Ready to Send Your Script? Writer’s Groups, Pitching & More 34:50

20d ago34:50

34:50

It’s a mailbag episode! Tasha and Josh tackle listener questions - from writer’s groups to pitching and more. Plus, This Week in Writing… Tasha is not a boring writer. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul LundquistBy The Act Two Network

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Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 2) 30:08

28d ago30:08

30:08

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the live action adaptation of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, breaking down, from a writer's perspective, what made it successful and, in these podcasters opinions, unsuccessful as an adaptation. TWIW: Voice in screenwriting is about pacing, and here's why. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by t…

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Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 1) 45:47

1M ago45:47

45:47

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the live action adaptation of LILO & STITCH, breaking down writer and director choices that helped launch it into massive numbers at the box office and that, in these podcasters opinions, makes it the most successful live action Disney adaptation yet! TWIW: Josh thinks he can be a detective after writing one…

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When Life Happens, How to Keep Writing 39:37

1M ago39:37

39:37

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman have just been side-lined by sicknesses and Tasha is recently back from a month on the road. It's time to talk about how to keep writing during unexpected obstacles. Inertia in the right direction is important, but Life can get in the way. Let's talk practical, real ways to keep going during tough times. Questions /…

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The Truth About Agents 10:54

1M ago10:54

10:54

How Writers Really Get Repped (The 90/10 Rule You Need to Know), Take 10 with ISA Founder Craig JamesBy Craig James

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RE-RELEASE: How to Stay in Screenwriting Shape 37:58

2M ago37:58

37:58

Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss a blog post by Final Draft about 5 Ways to stretch your Screenwriting muscles every day so you never lose writing momentum, even on days you don't feel like writing. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg…

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Allegra Oxborough, Table Read My Screenplay Grand Prize Winner & Director Paul Lindsay 16:52

2M ago16:52

16:52

The most recent Table Read My Screenplay contest brought the grand prize winner to the South of France during the Cannes Film Festival. Hear from screenwriter Allegra Oxborough & director Paul Lindsay.By Scott Markus

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Jen Butler, Emerging Screenwriter Interview Series 1:04:02

2M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Jen Butler is a comedian and storyteller who specializes in writing feature-length, multi-layered dark comedy screenplays focusing on the complex nature of humans as they navigate spiritual and emotional awakenings. When not writing screenplays, Jen tells comedic real-talk stories to her 275,000 online followers (@jenbutlersays IG, TikTok, & Thread…

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Are You Excited? JUNE 2025 EDITION 22:08

2M ago22:08

22:08

Summer movies are out! And it's time to see if you're excited about what Hollywood has to offer in June! Some surprises, and some long-awaited blockbusters. What will you be seeing this June? Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul LundquistBy The Act Two Network

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Screenwriter Update! AJ Bermudez, author & co-writer of "My Dead Friend Zoe" 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

A. J. BERMUDEZ is an award-winning author and filmmaker based in Los Angeles and New York. Her first book, Stories No One Hopes Are About Them, won the 2022 Iowa Short Fiction Award and was a 2023 Lambda Award Finalist. Her most recent feature film project, My Dead Friend Zoe (co-written with director Kyle-Hausmann Stokes, starring Sonequa Martin-G…

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Top Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discover a list of top tips for aspiring Screenwriters, according to the New York Film Academy. They disagree fundamentally with some tips, and expound on the practicality of others in the real world. There is advice for up & coming Screenwriters everywhere. Tasha and Josh help translate that advice into real-life s…

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A Writer's Tools: The Oversized Sketchpad 31:21

2M ago31:21

31:21

Host Tasha Huo rants about her oversized sketchpad and the different ways she's used it to help break multiple script ideas. She answers listener questions on using the sketchpad, and, really, just won't shut up about the sketchpad. TWIW: What would Tasha's greatest betrayal of Josh be? / Don't sleep on The Accountant and The Accountant 2 Questions…

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8 Famous Improv Moments Writers Can Learn From 39:32

3M ago39:32

39:32

Not everything you see on screen was in the script. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down 8 famous improvised movie moments - what made them work, how they changed the scene, and what screenwriters can learn from embracing spontaneity. Questions or comments? Hit us up at [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist.…

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Stephanie Bast, Emerging Screenwriter Interview 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

Stephanie Bast was abandoned in Korea, adopted by Italians and raised in a town so small and white, someone asked: “How are you gonna understand her when she starts speaking?” Fiercely loved and protected, she was taught to fear “the other” while knowing “the other” was herself. She started to write comedy to heal a wound. Now she writes to heal ot…

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Know Your Story 40:46

3M ago40:46

40:46

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dig into the importance of: Knowing Your Story. As screenwriters, we all get notes that make us question everything - is the story different now? Is it better? Or just... different? Tasha and Josh break down knowing your characters and ways to stay grounded when the note floodgates open. Plus: Are You Excited?! Ques…

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A Screenwriter's Self-Talk Cycle 32:19

3M ago32:19

32:19

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about self-talk, the kind that holds us back, and the kind that pushes us forward. How do we recognize and manage those self-destructive thoughts, and how do we start talking kinder to ourselves as writers. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist…

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Short Film Table Read, "Suicide at Noon" by Merrit Chelsey Schmidt 27:31

3M ago27:31

27:31

Suicide at Noon Logline: A newly organized but suicidal woman must withstand the various objections of her friends and family and convince them to support her or be forced to cancel her perfectly scheduled upcoming suicide.By Merrit Chelsey Schmidt

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Writing for the Audience (and not sell out) 41:47

3M ago41:47

41:47

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss a hotly debated topic -- writing for an audience (it's not what you think it is). What does it mean to think about the audience when you write a scene and how do you do without compromising your vision as a writer. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist…

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Script Consultant Pioneer Linda Seger discusses her latest book, "Unpacking" 59:24

3M ago59:24

59:24

There's a lot to unpack here as Linda Seger is full of interesting stories and lessons learned along the way. As a pioneering female entrepreneur, she was on the cutting edge of a new type of business - being a screenplay consultant. Her passion, drive, and wiliness to dive into every opportunity took her from small town Wisconsin to lecturing arou…

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Emerging Screenwriter Interview: Adam Karpel 51:12

3M ago51:12

51:12

A native New Yorker, Adam received a BFA from Ithaca College and completed one year of his MFA at UCLA before deciding to quit because those hard wooden classroom chairs were really chafing his ass. Writing began for him when his first play was produced at the West Coast Ensemble Theater in Hollywood. A creative executive who happened to be in the …

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Framing Devices: What They Are and When They Work 39:49

3M ago39:49

39:49

What is a framing device, and why do writers use them? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman explore the storytelling tool that bookends so many scripts. They also have a little disagreement about the use of a framing device in White Lotus... Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist…

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How to Advocate for Yourself 51:30

4M ago51:30

51:30

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss ways to advocate for yourself, whether you have reps or not, and the importance of thinking of yourself as the CEO of your own company of one. TWIW: the new Nicholls Fellowship setup / Josh's insane Monday morning that ended with a 911 call Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Pa…

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The First Room: A TV Writer's Experience w/Edith Rodriguez (DEXTER: RESURRECTION on Showtime, MATLOCK on CBS) 1:24:43

4M ago1:24:43

1:24:43

Hey there, everybody! Today on the show, we have a returning guest, Edith Rodriguez. Edith and I first spoke on the pod right after we both landed our first managers in late 2021. Now, we're back and Edith has been in two different writer's rooms and shares her experience! Edith Rodriguez grew up between the sunny beaches of Puerto Rico and cold wi…

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"Offbeat," pilot episode, Table Read My Screenplay Grand Prize Winner 30:58

4M ago30:58

30:58

"Offbeat," pilot episode, 2020 Table Read My Screenplay Grand Prize Winner, written by Marshall “gripp” Gillson.By Marshall “gripp” Gillson

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How to Get Repped (REPOST) 43:17

4M ago43:17

43:17

Getting repped can seem impossible, but the good news is there are actually many different paths to representation. In this repost from S4, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down what worked for them in their own careers and what they've seen work for other writers. TWIW: Josh finished a pilot with his wife and celebrated with Taylor Swift, Ta…

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Starting Your Story Through Location 46:08

4M ago46:08

46:08

Some stories begin with a character. Others begin with a question. But what if yours begins with a place? This week, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman kick off a new series on story starting points — beginning with how location can be more than just a setting. Stephen Sondheim Instagram POST. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by t…

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"The Icebox," Award-Winning Short Screenplay Table Read 19:44

4M ago19:44

19:44

Please enjoy a performance of the Table Read My Screenplay Award-Winning short script, "The Icebox" by Brian P. Glass. Cast: Elijah Terrell Haney, Hye Bin Lee, Carson Grant, Damon Evans & narrated by Felicity Wren.By Brian P. Glass

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A Physical Therapist on Writers' Pains with Melody Garcia 54:44

4M ago54:44

54:44

A writer has unique aches and pains due to the nature of their work: sitting for hours on end, hunched over a computer, typing, fidgeting, etc. Physical Therapist, Melody Garcia, talks about what common ailments she sees among writers and what you can do to prevent and treat your aches and pains. TWIW: Mickey 17 and a Q1 goals check-in! New Segment…

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Should You Outline? 33:35

5M ago33:35

33:35

Let's discuss outlines. Should you do them, when is it right for your project and not? Do you ask for it as a step in your deal, or keep it to yourself? Does an outline take the magic and joy out of writing, or can it help you get through an idea when you might otherwise falter? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how they and other writers th…

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Why Now? - What It Means, How to Answer It 32:43

5M ago32:43

32:43

We've all been asked "Why now?" by someone who has read our script or listened to our pitch. But it probably doesn't mean what you think it means. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what an exec is really asking when they say, "Why now?" And how best to answer it. They also discuss ways to prevent ever being asked this questi…

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The Oscars 2025 Episode! W/ Dave Levinson 56:19

5M ago56:19

56:19

The Oscars are here! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman welcome back Dave Levinson (Friend Of The Pod) to break down predictions, categories, and blockbusters that should have been recognized… plus, will everyone actually be watching? The Oscars are a Hollywood tradition - and we need to get into it. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edit…

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MAILBAG: Pilots, Day Jobs, Meetings, and More! 36:20

5M ago36:20

36:20

It's Mailbag time! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dive into the Act Two inbox and answer listener questions. Don't forget you can always reach out! Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: [email protected] The Act Two Network

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Extended Interview with Michael Graf Screenwriter of "Green and Gold" 42:46

5M ago42:46

42:46

Green and Gold: A struggling family farmer wagers everything on a high-stakes Championship bet, while his granddaughter's musical ambitions could be their ticket to a new beginning. Starring Brandon Sklenar, Craig T. Nelson, M. Emmet WalshBy Max Timm & Scott Markus

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The Screenwriter’s Brand: Find Your Lane 38:27

6M ago38:27

38:27

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dive back into branding yourself as a screenwriter. We're often told to stay in a lane, but how can you widen that lane? How can you tackle multiple genres at once? And how do you build a brand without boxing yourself in? Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul L…

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ISA Pitch Panel Featuring Executives from Atomic Robot, Morning View Ent & Snarky Elephant Prods 1:16:34

6M ago1:16:34

1:16:34

Solid pitches sell screenplays. Join us to watch pitches delivered to Creative Executives at prominent companies and hear live feedback. Learn the DOs and DON'Ts of great pitching, so you'll be prepared when you're in the room! Caroline Dillingham is the Chief Executive Officer of Morning View Entertainment LLC, where she leads the company in its m…

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One Room. Lots of Drama. Writing Contained Movies w/ Dave Levinson 39:54

6M ago39:54

39:54

Special guest alert. Dave Levinson is back. We’re discussing contained stories — high-stakes, small-scale scripts. We’re diving into what makes these stories work, offer some of our favorites, and discuss why they're so appealing to the industry. Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist…

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Writing To "Cheer Moments" 38:04

6M ago38:04

38:04

"Cheer Moments" build to those audience-pleasing, emotionally satisfying moments... whether they’re moments of victory, revelation, or catharsis. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss writing to these moments, where this term came from (pretty sure it's JJ Abrams), and offer examples. Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@Gm…

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Writing in a Crisis 23:39

6M ago23:39

23:39

In difficult times, it's easy to feel lost or that our job as Screenwriters doesn't matter or make a difference. But the opposite is, in fact, true. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about what it's like to write during the crisis of the Los Angeles wildfires, how it's helped them cope, and how it actually sheds light on the un…

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Los Angeles Fire Wellness Check-In 4:55

7M ago4:55

4:55

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman want to thank all of our listeners for their support and their check-ins during this unprecedented disaster. We are safe, we are together, and our hearts are broken for Los Angeles. Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist…

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2025 Goals (Part 2) 50:05

7M ago50:05

50:05

2025 Screenwriting Goals have been made and now it's time to execute them. Join hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman as they talk about realistic, practical and effective ways to accomplish your screenwriting goals this year. Making career goals and accomplishing them are completely doable and within your control. Let's do this, together. Follow us @AC…

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2025 Goals (Part 1) 43:34

7M ago43:34

43:34

In the final episode of Season 5, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk through their 2024 writing goals to see how many they achieved and what lessons can be learned from their failures to prevent a repeat next year. They also list their 2025 writing goals in prep for their New Year's episode... TWIW: Specs are back! / Movies are back! / Josh's da…

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Nolan Corn 43:13

7M ago43:13

43:13

As INTERSTELLAR (2014) gets its IMAX re-release, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how Christopher Nolan world builds in the film, utilizing every aspect of filmmaking at his disposal from shot framing, camera movement, dialogue, scene-dressing and music. Join in on a mini-breakdown of a masterclass in world-building. Follow us @ACTTWOWRITER…

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The Holiday Edition: Blacklist Winners, Holiday Gifts, Staying Productive 47:03

7M ago47:03

47:03

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how to survive the holidays as a writer while staying productive, the best holiday gifts to get writers, and how to shop for those pesky managers and agents of yours. TWIW: the Blacklist winners were announced, and Tasha & Josh have some favorites; movie-watching etiquette disaster during Interstellar; Tasha…

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Christmas Genre Mashups: Why They Work 35:01

8M ago35:01

35:01

Christmas movies are the best! We dive into the Christmas magic of genre mashups, discussing how some films seamlessly blend Christmas themes with action, music, and comedy. We explore how these films balance the holiday spirit with unexpected twists ... and why we love them for it. Follow us @ACTTWOWRITERS Questions/Comments: [email protected]…

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Advice for Screenwriters from a Literary Manager w/Allard Cantor (Epicenter) 1:20:25

8M ago1:20:25

1:20:25

Hey there, everybody! Today on the show we have a very special guest--literary manager at Epicenter, and one of my managers, Allard Cantor! New York City born, New Jersey bred, and University of Wisconsin educated, Allard Cantor started life as an envelope salesman in Manhattan before choosing to follow his passion for film and moving to Los Angele…