From Passion to Purpose: Creating the World’s First Environmental Sitcom

🎙 In this episode of Inside Story of Building Businesses, I spoke with Monica Serban-Mantero, an environmental economist turned screenwriter, who’s on a mission to change how we think about climate change - through comedy!

Monica is the creative mind behind "Ten to Midnight," an environmental sitcom set to be filmed in Romania. In this episode, she shares her inspiring journey of turning her passion for sustainability into an award-winning screenplay.

💡 We dive deep into:

✅ The challenges of blending humor and science in storytelling

✅ Overcoming naysayers and staying motivated

✅ How to write characters that spark laughter while addressing real-life global issues

✅ Why ordinary people, not superheroes, are the key to saving the world

Monica’s story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit in the creative arts and how storytelling can spark change.

🎧 Don’t miss this fascinating conversation!

#EnvironmentalComedy #InsideStoryPodcast #Entrepreneurship #ClimateChange #StorytellingForImpact

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: From Environmental Economist to Screenwriter

03:44 - What Inspired Ten to Midnight and Its Goals

06:26 - Writing the Screenplay and Overcoming Naysayers

09:53 - The Journey of Rewriting and Improving the Script

12:50 - Why Comedy is a Powerful Tool for Serious Topics

15:25 - Monica’s Most Difficult Challenge in This Process

17:01 - The Voices and Characters That Stay with Her

19:05 - Creating Relatable Characters and Balancing Perspectives

20:54 - Blending Environmentalism and Humor in the Sitcom

25:48 - Tackling Climate Change Deniers with Comedy

29:07 - Realizing the Potential of the Project

31:08 - Expectations vs. Reality: Lessons from Monica’s Journey

33:30 - Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Ten to Midnight