What happens when a director sets out to make a rom-com that feels joyful, cinematic, and genuinely hopeful again?

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, Kat Coiro sits down with Renee Rossi and Jocelyn Westerhold to talk about directing You, Me & Tuscany and why she was drawn to a love story that puts joy front and center. She shares how the film channels the spirit of classic romantic comedies, why Anna’s messy, heartfelt journey felt so important to bring to life, and why Halle Bailey was the only person she ever imagined in the role.

Kat also opens up about the creative energy behind her wider career, from collaborating with Will Packer to directing standout projects like Girls5Eva and Matlock. Along the way, she reflects on working with powerhouse talents including Tina Fey and Kathy Bates, the importance of creating space for actors to play, and the through line that connects her work across genres: complex, surprising characters, especially for women.

Most of all, this is a conversation about making art with courage. Kat shares honest advice for emerging filmmakers on learning every corner of the craft, making mistakes, and staying open to the fear that often signals meaningful creative growth.

Listen to learn:

- Why Kat wanted You, Me & Tuscany to feel like a return to classic rom-com joy

- What made Halle Bailey essential to the role of Anna

- How Kat balances meticulous preparation with improvisation on set

- What she learned from collaborating with Tina Fey, Will Packer, and Kathy Bates

- Her best advice for aspiring directors, producers, and storytellers

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KatCoiro #YouMeAndTuscany #WomenInEntertainment #HalleBailey #WillPacker #Girls5Eva #Matlock #KathyBates #TinaFey #RomCom #Directing #Filmmaking #WomenDirectors #Podcast #EntertainmentIndustry

What happens when someone else sees your potential before you do?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Christina Voros opens up about her remarkable journey from documentary filmmaking and cinematography to becoming a defining creative force inside Taylor Sheridan’s television universe. From Yellowstone to 1883, Bass Reeves, The Madison, and beyond, Christina shares how her career was shaped by unexpected opportunities, bold creative trust, and a willingness to step into roles she wasn’t always sure she was ready for.

She reflects on the family-like culture behind these productions, the challenge of making visually sweeping, emotionally intimate “eight-hour movies,” and the reality of directing under intense conditions — from brutal weather to complex animal work to massive multi-camera set pieces. At the heart of the conversation is Christina’s belief that great leadership is grounded in respect, generosity, and creating an environment where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

She also offers deeply honest advice for aspiring filmmakers: don’t let “no” be the end of the story, don’t underestimate anyone on set, and don’t wait for the perfect path to appear before moving forward. Sometimes the most meaningful careers are built through side doors, creative detours, and the people who dare you to dream bigger.

Listen to learn:

- How Christina Voros built an unconventional path from documentaries to prestige television

- What makes Taylor Sheridan’s productions uniquely ambitious and creatively demanding

- Why trust and collaboration are central to her leadership style on set

- How she balances directing, cinematography, and producing at the highest level

- Her best advice for aspiring filmmakers navigating rejection, risk, and reinvention

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#WomenInEntertainment #ChristinaVoros #Yellowstone #TaylorSheridan #TheMadison #1883 #Cinematography #Directing #WomenDirectors #WomenInFilm #Filmmaking #CreativeLeadership

What happens when a new book arrives at the exact moment your life is changing, too?

In this heartfelt episode, Rebecca Serle sits down to talk about Once and Again, her newest novel, and why this book feels especially meaningful in a season of new motherhood. She shares how the story’s multigenerational relationships—between daughters, mothers, grandmothers, and the family we long to understand—became a way to explore tenderness, conflict, and connection with fresh honesty. With her trademark warmth, Rebecca reflects on why readers continue to respond to the emotional depth in her work and how Once and Again expands that legacy.

The conversation also dives into the “magic” readers love in Rebecca’s fiction. From The Dinner List to One Italian Summer and now Once and Again, she explains how magical realism helps her get closer to the emotional center of a story, faster and more vividly. She also offers candid advice for emerging writers, from building a daily word-count practice to treating writing not as torment, but as a joyful act of commitment.

Listen to learn:

- Why Once and Again is Rebecca Serle’s most emotionally easeful book launch yet

- How motherhood changed her relationship to publishing and creativity

- What magical realism unlocks in her storytelling

- Her practical writing routine and best advice for new authors

- Why family lineage, especially mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaughter bonds, remains central to her work

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#RebeccaSerle #OnceAndAgain #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #MagicalRealism #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #MotherhoodAndCreativity #OneItalianSummer #TheDinnerList #InFiveYears

What makes a high-stakes medical drama feel unexpectedly comforting? In this thoughtful and fascinating conversation, The Pitt writer Valerie Chu unpacks the answer and takes us inside the creative process behind one of television’s most resonant shows.

Valerie shares her unconventional path to the series, from starting as an assistant to breaking into the writers’ room with a sample that had nothing to do with medicine and everything to do with character. She reflects on building stories in real time across a single hospital shift, writing before the cast was in place, and why the emotional truth of the doctors matters just as much as the medical cases themselves. Along the way, she opens up about the challenge of portraying grief, residency, and end-of-life care with honesty and restraint.

She also reveals how The Pitt works so closely with emergency physicians, residents, and specialists to create a level of realism that has deeply resonated with audiences and even with healthcare workers themselves. Warm, candid, and full of insight, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how great television gets made.

Listen to learn:

- How Valerie Chu landed The Pitt with a character-driven sample

- Why the writers’ room begins with character, not just casework

- What makes The Pitt feel like a “comfort show” despite the intensity

- How real doctors and residents shape the show’s emotional and medical accuracy

- Valerie’s best advice for aspiring writers trying to break into television

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#ValerieChu #ThePitt #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #JohnWells #ScottGemmell #NoahWyle #TVWriters #Screenwriting #MedicalDrama #WarnerBrosTelevision

What if the future of Hollywood is not something to fear, but something to build?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Renee Rossi and Jocelyn Westerhold sit down with Tobias Queisser, CEO of CineLytic Group, to unpack one of the industry’s most emotionally charged topics: AI. But instead of feeding the usual panic, Tobias offers a grounded and refreshingly optimistic perspective on where entertainment is headed. From forecasting box office performance to improving submissions, distribution, and rights sales, he explains how utility AI can support the business of film without replacing the creative heartbeat that drives it.

Throughout the conversation, Tobias makes the case that many of Hollywood’s current challenges are not caused by AI at all, but by outdated systems, weak transparency, and a resistance to modernizing the business side of entertainment. He shares how CineLytic’s tools are helping studios, producers, and financiers make smarter decisions, discover new voices faster, and better position projects for theatrical or streaming success.

This episode is ultimately a hopeful look at what comes next: a more sustainable, data-informed, creatively empowered Hollywood. For anyone curious about the intersection of storytelling, technology, and leadership, Tobias makes one thing clear—the industry’s next era could be stronger than ever.

Listen to learn:

- Why Tobias believes AI is a tool, not a threat

- How utility AI can improve forecasting, submissions, and distribution

- Why Hollywood’s business model needs more transparency and modernization

- How new technology could help emerging voices get discovered faster

- Why Tobias is more optimistic than ever about the future of the industry

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#WomenInEntertainment #HollywoodFuture #FutureOfEntertainment #EntertainmentIndustry #FilmIndustry #MediaInnovation #StorytellingMatters #AIinEntertainment #AIinHollywood #CreativeAI #EntertainmentTech #TechInFilm #FutureOfAI #DataDriven #AIForGood #FilmBusiness #MediaStrategy #IndustryInsights #StreamingWars #ContentEconomy #CreativeEconomy

What does it take to recognize a star before everyone else does?

In this special Women in Entertainment roundtable, we sit down with acclaimed casting directors Liz Lewis, Lisa London, and Christi Soper for a timely conversation on the craft of casting, just as the industry celebrates a major milestone with the Oscars’ new achievement in the casting category.

From DreamWorks animation and studio blockbusters to indie films, television, commercials, and breakout young talent, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how casting really works. Liz, Lisa, and Christi share their personal journeys into the field, how they build lists, collaborate with producers and directors, champion unexpected choices, and fight for new talent. They also open up about the emotional weight of the job, the evolution from in-room auditions to self-tapes, and how instinct, preparation, and human connection all play a role in finding the right person for the role.

Listen to learn:

- Why casting’s new Oscar recognition feels so overdue

- How casting directors build lists and discover fresh talent

- What makes someone “jump off the screen” in an audition

- How self-tapes have changed the actor-casting relationship

- Why talent, timing, and tenacity all matter in building a career

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#WomenInEntertainment #CastingDirectors #Casting #FilmCasting #LizLewis #LisaLondon #ChristiSoper #AcademyAwards #Oscars #FilmIndustry #EntertainmentIndustry #BehindTheScenes #CastingProcess #Auditions #SelfTapes #ActorLife #ActingCareer #TalentDiscovery #WomenInFilm #WomenInHollywood #HollywoodCasting #FilmPodcast #EntertainmentPodcast #IndustryRoundtable #BreakingIntoHollywood

From rom-com icon to fearless producer, Kate Hudson is in her renaissance era, and she’s loving every minute of it.

In this candid conversation, Kate takes us behind the scenes of Song Sung Blue, the inspiring true story that had her “bawling” at the first screening. She shares how discovering Claire’s real-life journey—complete with love, music, tragedy, and triumph—reminded her why she became an actress in the first place. From singing alongside Hugh Jackman to portraying a woman whose resilience reshaped her life, Kate reveals how the role stretched her emotionally and artistically in ways she’ll never forget.

She also dives into her hit comedy series with Mindy Kaling, where she stars and serves as a producer, embracing creative ownership and finding joy in collaboration. Plus, Kate reflects on navigating early blockbuster success with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, breaking past outside perceptions, staying grounded as a mom of three, and why connection has always been her secret ingredient.

Warm, funny, and deeply thoughtful, this episode is a masterclass in longevity, reinvention, and leading with heart.

Listen to learn:

- How Kate prepared to play a real-life woman in Song Sung Blue

- Why singing alongside Hugh Jackman felt different this time

- What producing with Mindy Kaling has taught her about creative power

- How she navigated post–rom-com superstardom on her own terms

- The books, self-growth rituals, and mindset shifts fueling her next chapter

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KateHudson #WomenInentErtainment #SongSungBlue #HughJackman #MindyKaling #HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days #WomenInFilm #FemaleProducer #ActressLife #HollywoodRenaissance #CareerReinvention #CreativeOwnership #WomenProducers #RomComIcon #FilmPodcast #EntertainmentInterview #BehindTheScenes #TrueStoryFilm #OnSetLife #LongevityInHollywood #WomenSupportingWomen #CreativeJourney #StorytellingMatters #ArtistEvolution #FilmIndustryLife #LeadingWithHeart

What does it take to build a lasting career in horror and still protect your creative soul?

Director Natasha Kermani traces her path from editing neighborhood videos on an early iMac to premiering her first feature, Imitation Girl, and becoming a distinctive voice in genre filmmaking. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Natasha shares how the horror community embraced her early work and why she found freedom in a genre that welcomes experimentation, new perspectives, and bold storytelling.

Her latest film, The Dreadful, was years in the making, written in the emotional aftermath of the 2016 election and inspired by a folktale about two women surviving brutal times. Natasha reflects on navigating industry resistance to period films, shelving and resurrecting the script, and ultimately bringing it to life with Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, and Marcia Gay Harden, all on a tight 17-day shoot.

In this candid conversation, she also shares her vulnerabilities as a director, the pressure of low-budget filmmaking, and her commitment to protecting time for process and imagination in an industry obsessed with speed.

Listen to learn:

- How the horror community became a launchpad for her career

- Why The Dreadful was shelved and how it came back to life

- The reality of directing a feature in just 17 days

- How collaboration (and preparation) fuels her sets

- Why “dreaming time” is essential to meaningful filmmaking

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#NatashaKermani #WomenInFilm #FemaleDirector #IndieFilmmaker #GenreFilmmaking #FilmDirectorLife #IndependentFilm #TischSchoolOfTheArts #NYUFilm #HorrorFilmmaking #HorrorDirector #HorrorCommunity #IndieHorror #GenreFilm #PsychologicalHorror #FolkHorror #HorrorFans #TheDreadful #ImitationGirl #SophieTurner #KitHarington #MarciaGayHarden #PeriodFilm #LowBudgetFilmmaking #17DayShoot #CreativeProcess #FilmmakingJourney #DirectorInterview #BehindTheScenesFilm #ProtectYourCreativity #ArtVsIndustry #WomenInHorror #CreativeEntrepreneur