Today’s guest is kids’ TV writer and creator, Margaret Hoffman.

She has written for Sesame Workshop (Esme and Roy, Sesame Street Digital), Netflix (The Cuphead Show!), Sid & Marty Krofft (Mutt & Stuff), Lilypad Library, and Hellosaurus. She's also developed new shows with 9 Story Media, Sesame Workshop, and Sutoscience. When not writing for TV, Margaret creates videos for her preschool YouTube channel, Giggle Time, or writes for the theater, where her plays have been performed at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival (New York, NY), Rita Goldberg Theater (New York, NY), and CultureDC’s Source Theater (Washington, D.C.).

In this episode, Margaret and I retrace her journey arriving in New York City to study writing, her foray into TV writing and puppetry work, and unpack insights and advice for writers and creatives navigating industry transitions and professional uncertainty.

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Today’s guest is Léa Taranto, a disabled Chinese Jewish Canadian writer who lives with OCD and comorbid disorders, and the author of the debut YA novel A Drop in the Ocean.

In this episode, we explore how she transformed her early experiences and diaristic writing into autofiction, unpack harmful tropes about mental health and treatment, and get a glimpse into her upcoming projects.

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Today’s returning guest is pop culture commentator, Twitch streamer, and cybersecurity analyst Tara Edwards. In this episode, we discuss two films that have come out this year, both of which carry a culturally specific lens centered around demons, sinners, and music: “Sinners” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” We dive inside both films to compare and contrast their thematic elements, usage of music and spirituality, and their impact within their respective cultural spheres.

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Today’s returning guest is Paul Silva, aka the Creative Alchemist. He is a guide, coach, and collaborator that blends intuition, creativity, and spiritual insight to help multi-passionate entrepreneurs and creatives break through barriers and create meaningful lives and businesses. Through his work, he helps people clarify their ideas, navigate creative blocks, and move from stuck to in-motion with curiosity, discipline, and presence.

When he’s not coaching, Paul is exploring the world through photography, video, writing, and storytelling, bringing a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the messy, rewarding process of creating. In this conversation, we talk about embracing change and life chapters from a place of leadership, lessons from Paul’s sobriety, and the ever-evolving journey of a creative.

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Today’s guest is the incomparable multidisciplinary theatre-maker, musician, performer, and writer Diana Oh. They were known for combining experimental theatre, art installation and ritual to create deeply communal and transformative spaces, which include signature projects like “My Lingerie Play,” “The Infinite Love Party,” “My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre,” and “Art Chxrch.” They can be heard on the audio drama “Give Me Away,” which just premiered its third season.

Diana tragically passed away on June 17, 2025, and their loved ones, as well as the theatre community, are grieving this immeasurable loss while celebrating the joy Diana brought to our lives. The following conversation was recorded in May, 2016 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. We talked about the highs and lows of being an artist, and different ways to sustain ourselves in a rapidly changing media landscape.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that you are not alone. In the U.S.and Canada, you can call or text '988' to connect with a trained crisis responder, 24/7, for free and confidential support with mental health, emotional distress, or suicidal thoughts. For listeners outside North America, please seek out local mental health resources or crisis lines in your area. Your life matters, and there are people ready to listen and support you.

Today’s returning guest is writer, editor, and my friend Tara Edwards. In this episode, we dive inside the hit television medical drama “The Pitt,” and analyze the storytelling elements that make the show one of the television breakout hits of 2025.

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Today’s guest is multi-disciplinary writer, producer and dramaturg Aisha Josiah, from London. She is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has also written for publications such as Media Diversified, The Upcoming, and Mouthlondon. She has served as the editor of the independent theatre blog Fringebiscuit since 2014.

In this conversation, we dive inside Aisha’s nomadic and multicultural upbringing, her passion for exploring postcolonial narratives, and the art of dramaturgy and criticism.

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Today’s returning guest is Sol Smith, the author of “The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery” and a certified autism specialist who is autistic, dyslexic, and living with ADHD. He spent more than two decades as a college professor before shifting his professional focus to coaching other autistic and ADHD people to gain autonomy in their lives. Sol’s speaking skills have earned him a following of hundreds of thousands on TikTok and led to educational seminars about neurodiversity with corporations around the world.

In this conversation, we dive inside the different paths for diagnosis, the scientific and social factors that impact allistic and autistic people, and different roadmaps towards self-acceptance, fulfillment, and community.

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