The Writers Hangout
THE WRITERS HANGOUT, a podcast that celebrates the many stages of writing from inspiration to the first draft, revising, getting a project made and everything in-between. We’ll talk to the best and brightest in the entertainment industry and create a space where you can hang out, learn from the pros and have fun.
Episodes
194 episodes
Here's The Story with The Brady Bunch's Eve Plumb
HAPPINESS INCLUDED: It’s finally time for Jan, Jan, Jan!Sandy has a groovy chat with the legendary Eve Plumb, famously known as the misunderstood middle child, Jan from The Brady Bunch. Eve offers delightful insights into her new memoir,...
Agent vs. Manager? What Writers Need to Know!
In today's episode, Sandy breaks down Agent vs. Manager and the important facts screenwriters need to know.Plus, Sandy dives deep and shares the latest details of the courtroom drama centered on screenwriter Kurt McLeod and Zero Gravity ...
Writer/Director Max Neace Creating With Constraints
Sandy chats with film producer, writer, and director Max Neace about his journey into the entertainment world. Max shares how he learned the ropes of producing and used that knowledge to make his own movies, like Shift—a thrilling film created ...
Writer/Director Thom Harp on Finding the Humor In HOME DELIVERY
We are so happy to have as our guest, Thom Harp, a screenwriter and director recognized for his work in comedy films and digital media. Thom is here to discuss 'HOME DELIVERY,' his latest comedy, which he both wrote and directed, scheduled for ...
Spade Robinson Shares Secrets on Collaborating with Writers to Refine Their Scripts
We're delighted to introduce Spade Robinson, a talented filmmaker, screenwriter, and story consultant. She runs the Atlanta Film Project, a consulting firm dedicated to helping storytellers polish their scripts and projects. Currently, Spade is...
Inside Writing With Showrunner Joel Church-Cooper (BROCKMIRE, GOING DUTCH)
We’re thrilled to welcome Joel Church-Cooper, a highly admired TV showrunner celebrated for his talent in creating shows around the industry’s top comedic voices. We hear how Joel took a viral short video and turned it into the acclaimed half-h...
Vacations Can Be Murder With Dawn M. Barclay
We're excited to welcome suspense author and travel journalist Dawn M. Barclay. She's here to share insights about her intriguing book: Vacations Can Be Murder, a fascinating travel guide that uncovers the locations of major crimes and buried b...
Producer Marc Resteghini On The Producer & Writer Relationship—What Makes A Successful Collaboration?
Have you ever wondered what a film and television producer does and thinks? Well, you’re in luck because our guest is the talented Marc Resteghini, a producer who owns Jack Tar Pictures, a company based at Amazon Studios. Marc’s first release u...
Molly Ringwald Has A Great Idea For Your Script, Short or Vertical Series
Sandy recently came across an article in Variety that she thinks could spark your creativity for your next screenplay, short film, or vertical series. We also take a moment to revisit the March 2024 episode of 'Don’t You Forget About John Hughe...
Actors And Writers With Guest Brian Austin Green
As a winter storm sweeps across the United States, bringing heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies and Plains through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, we hope everyone stays warm and safe. Today, we're excited to welcome ...
Peter Dekom! Carnivorous Hollywood and the New Rebels: Writers
This week, we invite the esteemed Peter Dekom to provide an in-depth analysis of the intense bidding wars between Netflix and Paramount, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities confronting the entertainment industry today. How do these dyn...
One Super Easy Tip To Make You a Better Writer
Watching movies can significantly boost your writing skills by providing a visual masterclass in storytelling, character development, and structure that you can actively analyze and incorporate into your work. We highlight five key areas a scre...
Catching Gen Z With Rachel Sennott's I Love LA
Sandy explores a recent Ankler.com article titled: 'Gen Z Is Huge. Their TV Shows Are Tiny. And Hollywood Is Panicking,' written by Whitney Friedlander. Showrunners Nahnatchka Khan, Ben Kronengold, and Rebecca Shaw, along with top executives, d...
Vertical Storytelling And Its Significance For Writers
Vertical storytelling is gaining popularity, with more producers—mostly overseas—hiring screenwriters for vertical series. While these projects originated in Asia and the initial pay was low, they now offer fair compensation for au...
Understanding Schizophrenia: How Rob And Michele Reiner's Tragic Deaths Highlight The Escalating Mental Health Crisis W/Neal Nordlinger, Interventionist And Former Film Producer
Tragically, on December 14, 2025, Rob and Michele Reiner were fatally stabbed by their son, Nick Reiner. How could something like this happen? To assist in understanding these devastating deaths, our guest is Neal Nordlinger, an author, interve...
The Hostile Takeover of Warner Bros. and Its Implications for Writers
Hang out with Sandy as she discusses the joint statement from WGA East and West about the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix and the hostile takeover by Paramount. Plus, an update on Carl Rinch, the writer/director who embezzled $...
Murder of Mafia Princess and Screenwriter Susan Berman
Rewind. On Christmas Eve 2000, Susan Berman, a talented journalist, screenwriter, and author, sadly lost her life at her home on 1527 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. Susan, the cherished daughter of a mobster and a former dancer, was ra...
Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein And 8 Writing Tips
Sandy shares writing advice from Guillermo del Toro, a talented director, screenwriter, producer, and artist whose incredible work spans horror, fiction, and fairy tales. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1964, del Toro’s passion for film and hor...
The Tragic Murder of Screenwriter Adrienne Shelly
In remembrance of the wonderful writer, director, and actor Adrienne Shelly, we're excited to share again The Writers' Hangout Episode dedicated to her story, which we originally posted in the month she passed. It's a heartfelt chance to ...
Our Guest Is Comedy Legend Jerry Zucker!
Sometimes, dreams really do come true! We're thrilled to have with us the amazing Jerry Zucker, who, alongside his brother David and their friend Jim Abrahams, played a huge part in transforming comedy in the 1980s. Together, they brought a fre...
Happy Halloween With A Recap of The Ghost And Mr. Chicken!
Happy Halloween!!Hang out with Sandy, Terry, and special guest screenwriter Mark Steen as they recap "Ghost and Mr. Chicken," starring Don Knotts from "The Andy Griffith Show" fame. Directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Jam...
The Strange Disappearance of Screenwriter Ian Mackintosh
Rewind Episode -- British screenwriter Ian Mackintosh’s plane went missing on July 7, 1979, nineteen days before his thirty-ninth birthday, over the Gulf of Alaska. What happened remains a mystery. Join us as we tell the story of Lieutenant Com...
Rewind: Drinking With Hitchcock and Writing 'Rear Window'
Rewind Episode: Join Sandy and Terry for a fun chat about how a short story from a dime store magazine turned into one of Hollywood's most talked-about films and the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 1954. The film REAR WINDOW, featuring stars li...
Patricia Resnick On Writing “9 to 5,” Working With Cher, And Writing For Mad Men
We have a fantastic episode for you. My guest is screenwriter, producer, and standup comedian Patricia Resnick, best known as the writer of the iconic film “9 to 5” and the author of the book for “9 to 5: the Musical.” Patricia Resnick was also...
Carolyn And Kai Omine Talk Writing The Simpsons + Spill Exclusives
Carolyn Omine and Kai Omine hang out with Sandy to discuss their Disney+ episode of The Simpsons called "Yellow Mirror." This mother and son writing team (Carolyn Omine is an Emmy-winning producer who joined the Simpsons’ writing staff in Seaso...