Actress Courtney Taylor ( Ballard, Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, Out of My Mind ) joins In Her Words to share her journey from college theater lover to starring alongside Hollywood icons. She opens up about working with Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, Harrison Ford, and Maggie Q, the lessons she’s learned about making bold choices, and why building community is essential for longevity in entertainment. Plus, Courtney talks dream roles, her passion for creating behind the camera, and the advice she’d g...
Aug 19, 2025•31 min•Ep. 122
Julie Plec — creator, show-runner, and executive producer behind The Vampire Diaries universe— joins In Her Words to talk about her incredible journey from Dawson’s Creek to We Were Liars . She shares behind-the-scenes insights on creating iconic characters, navigating the changing TV landscape, and why timeless storytelling still resonates across generations. From YA book adaptations to industry shifts in streaming, Julie’s perspective is a masterclass for women building careers in entertainmen...
Aug 14, 2025•47 min•Ep. 121
From her breakout role opposite Tom Cruise in Risky Business to her unforgettable turn in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle , Rebecca De Mornay has captivated audiences for over four decades. In this episode of In Her Words , Rebecca opens up about her unconventional childhood in Europe, the fateful audition that changed her life, and the passion for portraying strong, complex women that has shaped her career. She also shares insights from her latest projects—including Saint Clare, The Up and Comer...
Aug 05, 2025•42 min•Ep. 120
Actress, producer and now director JoAnna Garcia Swisher joins In Her Words to talk about leveling-up her career—and why she wants other women in entertainment to do the same. From helming her first episode of Netflix’s hit Sweet Magnolias (after a whirlwind location shoot in New York City) to launching her own production banner Rolling Clover and lifestyle brand The Happy Place, JoAnna breaks down the skills, mentors and mindset shifts that helped her move behind the camera. She also previews t...
Jul 31, 2025•14 min•Ep. 118
Bestselling author and Under the Influence podcast host Jo Piazza joins In Her Words to discuss her latest novel Everyone Is Lying to You - a sharp, satirical thriller set inside the wild world of mom influencers and tradwives. Jo dives into what inspired her to write about the illusion of "slow living," the rise of AI babies, and how influencer culture is blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Plus, she shares her journey from traditional journalism to podcasting, book publishing, and scr...
Jul 29, 2025•31 min•Ep. 116
Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Kathy Bates speaks at the 2025 WIE Summit - reflecting on her legendary career - from her iconic role in Misery to her critically acclaimed performance and producing role in CBS’s Matlock. She opens up about the evolution of women in entertainment, the importance of creative control, and her advocacy work with the Lymphatic Education & Research Network. With nearly five decades of groundbreaking work across stage, film, and television, Bates shares her in...
Jul 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 116
Join bestselling author and Fated Mates podcast co-host Sarah MacLean as she dives into the power of romance storytelling, how she crafted her newest novel Summer Storms, and why the genre continues to inspire millions. From pandemic reflections and island-set inheritance games to her writing process, evolving industry insights, and the sisterhood of romance readers—this episode is packed with heart, humor, and wisdom for creatives, writers, and readers alike. In Her Words presents thoughtful co...
Jul 15, 2025•35 min•Ep. 115
Two-time Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Noma Dumezweni joins the Women in Entertainment podcast to discuss her wide-ranging career—from originating the role of Hermione in Harry Potter & The Cursed Child to starring in The Undoing, The Watcher , and Disney’s The Little Mermaid . Noma opens up about her latest roles in Murderbot and The Friend , navigating emotionally rich storytelling, and why vulnerability is a superpower for women in entertainment. This is a must-listen for creative...
Jul 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 114
Step inside the world of 11:11 Media, the next-gen content powerhouse co-founded by Paris Hilton. In this episode, we sit down with President & COO Bruce Gersh and Chief Commercial & Brand Officer Rachel Webber to explore how they’ve redefined modern storytelling - blending content, commerce, and community across platforms. From launching viral campaigns to driving cultural impact and advocacy, they share the strategic vision behind their fast-moving media engine, why legacy models are n...
Jul 01, 2025•29 min•Ep. 113
Actress, musician, and podcaster Candice King (best known as Caroline Forbes on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals) opens up about her journey from teenage musician to beloved TV star. In this candid and heartfelt conversation, Candice reflects on embracing life’s pivots, the power of her fanbase, and the personal growth that inspired her new podcast, A Superbloom. Tune in for an honest, empowering discussion filled with inspiration for women creating their own paths in entertainment. Listen ...
Jun 26, 2025•49 min
In this candid master-class, six-time Emmy-winner Amy Sherman-Palladino —creator of Gilmore Girls , Bunheads , The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the new ballet-drama Étoile —joins In Her Words to trace the roller-coaster career that took her from dancer to Roseanne staff writer to record-breaking show-runner. Amy reveals: The “crazy six-month” leap from improv classes to her first TV staff job and how Roseanne shaped her storytelling rule: “make the small big, the big small.” Why Lauren Graham was t...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of In Her Words , we sit down with Kristen L. Berry - author of the powerful debut novel We Don’t Talk About Carol to explore the inspiration behind her gripping blend of family drama, social justice, and suspense. Kristen shares how pandemic walks and true crime podcasts sparked her storytelling, the realities behind missing Black women in America, and her journey from a career in PR to a two-book deal with Penguin Random House. A must-listen for aspiring writers and women navig...
Jun 19, 2025•23 min•Ep. 111
Actor-writer Justine Lupe joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to unpack the craft that powers her scene-stealing turns—from Morgan in Netflix’s breakout comedy Nobody Wants This to Willa Ferreyra on HBO’s Succession and Astrid on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . A Juilliard graduate who debuted in Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha , Lupe reveals: How auditioning for a “three-episode arc” on Succession turned into a series-regular ride to the Emmys Balancing sharp comedy ( Nobody Wants This , Criste...
Jun 10, 2025•55 min•Ep. 111
Actor-writer Sheila Carrasco —fan-favorite Flower on CBS’s hit comedy Ghosts —joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to unpack a journey that spans the South Side of Chicago, NYU Tisch, Harvard, the Groundlings & UCB, and finally a breakout series-regular role at age 38. Carrasco explains: Turning strict theater training into improv superpowers that landed auditions on Jane the Virgin , Life in Pieces , and more Why years of stand-in jobs, commercials, and self-produced sketches were t...
Jun 05, 2025•38 min•Ep. 109
Emmy-nominated writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner Yahlin Chang joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to break down the craft of creating must-watch drama for today’s streaming world. Chang traces her path from culture critic at Newsweek to writers’ rooms on ER, Dirty Sexy Money, and, ultimately, Hulu’s global phenomenon The Handmaid’s Tale —where she’s earned HUMANITAS and Writers Guild honors for centering complex female stories. In this episode, learn how She landed her first...
Jun 03, 2025•35 min•Ep. 110
In this episode of In Her Words by Women in Entertainment , Emmy- and Tony-winning producer Jenifer Westphal —Founder & CEO of indie studio Wavelength —pulls back the curtain on making bold, “human-first” stories that stick. Westphal explains: How she launched Wavelength at age 52 and quickly backed hits like Won’t You Be My Neighbor? , Athlete A and the new feature On Swift Horses Why diversifying into Broadway ( The Outsiders , Here Lies Love ) and branded content keeps her studio thriving...
May 29, 2025•33 min•Ep. 110
Emmy-winning comedy powerhouses Tracey Wigfield ( 30 Rock , Saved by the Bell ) and Lang Fisher ( Never Have I Ever , Brooklyn Nine-Nine ) sit down with In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to talk all things funny and fearless. The co-creators and showrunners of Netflix’s upcoming series The Four Seasons share: their personal journeys from writing rooms to showrunner chairs insider tips on writing and producing hit TV comedy how they’re adapting the iconic 1981 film for a new generation the p...
May 27, 2025•21 min•Ep. 109
Award-winning playwright and show-runner Molly Smith Metzler (Juilliard, two-time Lecomte du Nouy Prize winner) joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to share the creative secrets behind her breakout Netflix drama Maid—a series that racked up 469 million hours viewed and 15 award nominations. Metzler digs into: Developing SIRENS for Netflix and why it’s her boldest project yet. Her step-by-step creative process for crafting powerful female-driven stories Lessons from an illustrious career...
May 22, 2025•30 min•Ep. 108
How do you film a story the industry would rather ignore—and keep everyone safe along the way? Hosts Gretchen McCourt and Renee Rossi sit down with award-winning directors Yoruba Richen and Emma Schwartz to unpack the making of The Fall of Diddy (Max/ID). They walk us through: The emotional tightrope of interviewing survivors of abuse The concrete safety steps taken to protect sources and crew Why cultural context matters when wealth and celebrity cloud accountability The balance between rigorou...
May 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 107
She’s the Emmy-winning scene-stealer behind CBS’s hit Elsbeth , fan-favorite Polly on Claws , and Arlene from HBO’s True Blood - Carrie Preston is here to deliver a master class in character-building, career stamina, and fearless storytelling. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a Georgia community-theater kid became “the queen of quirk” (NYT) and Juilliard-trained powerhouse The Columbo-inspired secrets to playing Elsbeth Tascioni across The Good Wife , The Good Fight & now ELSBETH Surviving...
May 14, 2025•37 min•Ep. 105
Lisa Filipelli is an Emmy-nominated entertainment executive and Partner at Select Management Group, where she leads strategy across a roster that reaches over one billion people worldwide. A trailblazer in the creator economy, Lisa has redefined modern talent representation—bridging traditional and digital media, producing award-winning content, and launching headline-making brand partnerships. From Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to fashion and beauty campaigns with Bare Minerals and Ma...
May 08, 2025•27 min•Ep. 104
We’re diving deep with Natasha Rothwell—Emmy‑nominated scene‑stealer Belinda from The White Lotus, creator‑star of Hulu’s How to Die Alone, and founder of Big Hattie Productions. In this episode: Crafting magnetic characters: how Belinda was born and why humor + heartbreak is her secret sauce From Insecure writer’s room to executive producer: lessons Issa Rae taught her about fearless storytelling Building a production company that flips the script for marginalized voices—plus the viral Who TF D...
May 06, 2025•44 min•Ep. 103
Get cozy as we chat with Nita Prose, the brilliant author behind the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Maid, and its highly anticipated sequel, The Maid’s Secret. Nita invites us into the intriguing world of Molly Gray, everyone's favorite quirky hotel maid turned amateur detective, as she discusses crafting characters, building suspense, and the art of writing cozy mysteries with clever twists. Packed with behind-the-scenes insights, storytelling advice, and delightful anecdotes, this episode i...
May 01, 2025•24 min•Ep. 102
Melissa Fumero, star of “Brooklyn 99” and “Grosse Pointe Garden Society”, joins us for this warm, funny, and insightful conversation where shares candid stories from her journey—from her Cuban-American roots to becoming one of TV's most beloved Latina actresses. We go behind the scenes of her roles on shows like “One Life to Live”, “Blockbuster”, and her directing work on “Primo”. Melissa opens up about navigating Hollywood, advocating for Latino representation, and balancing life both in front ...
Apr 29, 2025•49 min•Ep. 101
Marina Adair has sold over a million books, topped Amazon’s Kindle chart at #1, and has been named a Best of TikTok author. Now, she’s giving us a master class in modern rom‑com storytelling as we unpack her sizzling new enemies‑to‑lovers novel Love to Hate You—a You’ve Got Mail–inspired showdown where sparks (and snark) fly in Mystic, CT—while diving deep into the business and craft of contemporary romance. Inside the episode: • Marina’s journey from screenwriting to million‑copy novelist and H...
Apr 24, 2025•26 min•Ep. 100
“Lopez vs. Lopez” showrunner Debby Wolfe—one of network TV’s few Latine showrunners—pulls back the curtain on transforming real‑life chaos into laugh‑out‑loud television. From Miami roots to being a Hollywood trailblazer, she shows how generational trauma, mental health, and family reconciliation can spark universally resonant laughs. Inside the episode: Insider craft tips from writers’ room to showrunner’s chair Lessons learned on “The Conners”, “Primo”, and “One Day at a Time” Why authentic La...
Apr 22, 2025•34 min•Ep. 99
Nancy Thayer is a New York Times bestselling author of 38 novels—including Summer Light on Nantucket, The Summer We Started Over, and The Hot Flash Club—whose work has been translated into fifteen languages. In this episode of In Her Words, Nancy takes us on a literary escape to Nantucket, where she’s lived for 40 years in a historic captain’s house alongside her husband, cat, and thousands of books. She joins Gretchen McCourt and Renee Rossi to discuss her latest novel, “Summer Light on Nantuck...
Apr 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 98
Join us for a conversation with NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent and anchor Vicky Nguyen as she discusses her powerful new memoir, Boat Baby , chronicling her family’s escape from Vietnam and her rise in journalism. Vicky opens up about her transition to investigative reporting, the emotional impact of covering consumer health stories, and the evolving media landscape—including the importance of local news and tackling misinformation. She also shares how cultural values, mult...
Apr 15, 2025•49 min•Ep. 97
Bestselling author Katy Hays ( The Cloisters ) joins Gretchen McCourt to dive into her new novel Saltwater . They explore the power of setting, complex female characters, and the role of book clubs in today’s literary world. Katy also shares how social media is reshaping the way we read and connect with books. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, this episode unpacks themes of family, ambition, and storytelling. In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainm...
Apr 10, 2025•21 min•Ep. 96
Carrie Coon continually balances both prestige and mainstream projects and chooses standout roles across film and television. She is wrapping the wildly successful HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3, as Laurie, a corporate lawyer navigating a tense vacation with her two childhood friends. She starred in the critically acclaimed His Three Daughters last fall, playing a complex sister alongside Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen, earning praise for her emotional depth in the drama about family and los...
Apr 08, 2025•49 min•Ep. 95
