What do you do when you’ve got no credits, no connections, and no clue? TV writer Michael Jamin (King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead) figured it out.

On this episode of Living to Write, Michael stops by to talk writing, running a show, and how he broke into the industry with zero experience. We dig into how building a social media following helped launch his debut book, A Paper Orchestra, and the one thing he wishes he’d known before getting started.

Produced by Brian Landwehr & Bailey Patterson.

Ever wondered what it’s like to send Nicolas Cage on a quest for a stolen truffle pig or craft a post-apocalyptic studio blockbuster? Writer and director Michael Sarnoski is here to share all the details on how he blends subtle darkness with authentic humane connection. Join us as Michael takes us through the writing process of "Pig" and "A Quiet Place: Day One," working on a studio franchise, vomit drafts, finding his unique voice on the page, and advice to emerging writers. Plus, we tackle his next project, which stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer.

A Quiet Place: Day One is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Pig (2021)

For more visit: Story Summit

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

The time has finally come. One of the Masters of Horror himself, Mick Garris, is here.

Writer, director, producer, and Stephen King's most trusted collaborator, Mick is the mind behind The Stand, The Shining miniseries, Sleepwalkers, Desperation, and the legendary Masters of Horror anthology series. From Hocus Pocus to Critters 2, he's lived every corner of genre filmmaking and survived to tell the tales.

We dig into how he went from writing scripts at 12 to becoming one of horror's most iconic voices. How he approaches spec scripts, what fuels his creativity after decades in the dark, and how a gig with Steven Spielberg led to a career working with King, Carpenter, and Dante. We also get into his Post Mortem podcast and that legendary Quentin Tarantino finale.

If you love horror, you need to hear this one...

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Visit: StorySummit.us

YES, CHEF! Today on the menu: Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, story editor and writer on FX’s The Bear!

When she’s not penning scripts for Gaslit (Starz) and The Dropout (Hulu), she’s busy writing her upcoming play, This Party Sucks.

Let's go behind the scenes of The Bear, talk about writers’ room dynamics, how to break into the industry, and what keeps her coming back to the blank page.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Did someone say Greased Lightning? On this episode of Living to Write, Hollywood legend and T-bird himself, Randal Kleiser, joins the show to chat about a career that spans Grease, The Blue Lagoon, White Fang, and so much more!

We dig into his new book, Drawing Directors, his early days working with George Lucas, and the encounters with filmmakers who shaped his path. We also look at the lasting cultural impact of Grease, follow up on how directors choose projects, and ask what keeps a filmmaker inspired after decades in Hollywood.

It’s a conversation about filmmaking, lessons learned, and how to survive Hollywood.

For more information on Story Summit, visit Story Summit.

This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Welcome to Bailey Meets World! (IYKYK) This time on Living to Write, Bailey and Brian chat with Emmy-winning writer, producer, and director Mark Blutman, known for Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World.

We discuss writing, the legacy of Boy Meets World, top-notch poutine (because priorities), and what every new emerging writer truly needs to hear. Plus, we cover his latest projects, thoughts on the WGA strike, and classic Feeny wisdom.

Follow Mark on Twitter @BlutmanMark.

Check out the latest on the WGA contract and join the Story Summit Facebook writing group. For more on Story Summit, visit Story Summit.

"Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good." - Mr. Feeny

On this episode of Living to Write, we’re hanging with the insanely talented Jessica Welsh! A fellow Story Summit Summiteer and the mind behind Shania!, the spec script that lit up the 2021 Black List.

We dive into her writing journey, life in the Apple TV writers’ room, and her insider take on the 2023 writers' strike. Plus, the ultimate screenwriter showdown: Is outlining essential or just a creativity killer? Buckle up.

Keep up with Jessica: https://jessica-welsh.com

For more information on Story Summit, visit Story Summit.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

“Writers don’t sell scripts hiding behind laptops.”

This time on Living to Write, we’re joined by the wildly versatile Spyder Dobrofsky— Hallmark Christmas movie mastermind turned horror-western gunslinger with Teardrop on Tubi.

We talk about his journey, his directorial debut (Down Below), and that time he ended up on The Jay Leno Show. The highs, the challenges, and what it really takes to make it in this industry.

Follow Spyder on Twitter @SpyderDobrofsky for updates on Down Below.

For more on Story Summit, visit Story Summit.

Produced by Brian Landwehr & Bailey Patterson.

Welcome to the very first episode of Living to Write! And we’re kicking things off with a legend—Jeff Arch, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle and author of Attachments.

We dive into the wild story of how Sleepless sold, the comedy gig that almost changed everything, and Jeff’s creative process. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories, hard-earned wisdom, and what it’s like mentoring Brian and Bailey (spoiler: chaos).

Jeff's novel "Attachments": Amazon

Story Summit Writing Group: Facebook

This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr, Kenton Edward Dobrowolski and Bailey Patterson. For more information visit Story Summit.

Lucky there’s a Patrick Meighan guy! Join us as we chat with Family Guy writer Patrick Meighan on the show's 25th anniversary. Patrick shares insights into keeping the Griffin family fresh, balancing irreverence with heart, and his journey from intern to guy who writes the show.

For more visit: Story Summit

This episode of Living To Write is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

This time on Living to Write, writer/director Drew Hancock, fresh off his feature debut Companion, joins us to talk about why he writes, how he made the leap to directing his first film, why story is everything, and how he keeps imposter syndrome from slowing him down.

Support for this episode comes from Story Summit.

This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr & Bailey Patterson.

On this episode of Living to Write, Brian and Bailey sit down with Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning writer/director Peter Hastings.

With Dog Man now out in the world, Peter discusses why he writes, how improv led him to screenwriting, what it was like working with Steven Spielberg on Animaniacs, and how writing is like music for him. Plus, a look at the projects that shaped his career and what keeps him coming back to the blank page.

Support for this episode comes from Story Summit.

This podcast is produced by Bailey Patterson and Brian Landwehr.

On the latest episode of the Living to Write, Brian and Bailey chat with Story Summit founder and former Paramount Pictures studio executive David Paul Kirkpatrick in Part 1 of an unforgettable conversation.

Throughout his illustrious career as president of the Motion Picture Group and head of production at both Disney and Touchstone, David helped bring to life some of the most iconic and influential films and franchises of all time, including — Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Friday the 13th, Top Gun, Ghost, The Hunt for Red October, Witness, Reds — and a Living to Write favorite — Can’t Buy Me Love.

His remarkable history, combined with talents as both a writer himself and mentor to many, makes David just the man to share some of the most insightful advice and outrageous Hollywood-insider stories you’ll ever hear.

What’s it like to be a studio executive? What does it take to actually greenlight a film—and what quietly kills it?

Tune in to Part 1 to find out what really happens behind the curtain. And yes... He names names.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson conclude their two-part conversation with former president of Paramount Motion Picture Group, David Paul Kirkpatrick.

As the man who greenlit some of the most iconic films in cinematic history, David knows not only how the Hollywood machine works, but why it sometimes doesn’t.

Why do so few people in the studio system actually read scripts? Why does strong coverage matter more than you think? What does it take to get a studio project across the finish line? And what really happens when a movie falls apart?

Plus, why did Michael Jackson shed tears over lunch with David? And is Steven Spielberg truly the mensch the world believes he is?

With a remarkable career, a writer’s heart, and a mentor’s wisdom, David brings both insight and irresistible Hollywood tales in one of the most revealing conversations we’ve ever had.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Brian and Bailey chat with The Naked Gun (2025) screenwriters Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

Comedy ain’t easy. And neither is the job of continuing the beloved Naked Gun franchise with a new chapter that honors the spirit of Lt. Frank Drebin without feeling stuck in the past.

But that is exactly what Dan Gregor and Doug Mand have accomplished, and they are here to discuss why and how they do what they do, the lessons learned from years of partnership, and what it takes to keep audiences laughing in a new era.

Their journey from the improv comedy scene to How I Met Your Mother, from Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers to The Naked Gun, is a colorful one. So tune in for all that, plus their thoughts on comedy writing in the age of YouTube, and why even in Hollywood a good script is never truly dead.

This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Paul Schrader wrote classics like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ, directed American Gigolo, Affliction and First Reformed, documented the history of the transcendental style of film, and he’s still hard at work telling stories with impact.

In this special episode, we present his engaging Story Summit VIP Guest Lecture, recorded shortly after the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where he premiered his latest feature, Oh, Canada.

Hear how a strict Calvinist upbringing devoid of cinema led to Paul picking up the mantle of the transcendental style of filmmaking, and how he utilizes metaphor to draw audiences into his stories without all the handholding.

If you care about meaningful cinema with lasting impact, or simply want to hear what Taxi Driver is actually all about, don’t miss this episode.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

Imagine writing for an animated Disney series. Now, imagine being invited to write for the Star Wars universe. And imagine that leading you to the Marvel universe.

And now, imagine your audience is preschoolers!

In this episode of Living To Write, Brian and Bailey talk with James Eason-Garcia, who has done all this and more.

His behind-the-scenes stories are fun and enlightening, and his industry and craft advice applies to far more than just animation and writing for kids.

Join us to hear everything from how the industry works to how to fine-tune your portfolio to get the attention your writing deserves.

And along the way, James even shares his strategy for storing 30,000 comic books!

Produced by Bailey Patterson and Brian Landwehr

This episode features Rachel Shukert, showrunner behind The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix) and executive producer on The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), charting her fascinatingly unconventional path from New York memoirist and playwright to Hollywood showrunner.

Is television overstaffed right now? What’s the best way to get yourself into a writers’ room? How should writers think about the anxieties that both propel them and get in the way?

Brian and Bailey discuss all this and more with Rachel, including what she learned from her first chaotic writers’ room, what it was really like producing GLOW alongside Jenji Kohan, and how she has kept building her television career through Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu) and most recently The 'Burbs (Peacock).

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

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Links mentioned in this episode:

Everything Is Going To Be Great by Rachel Shukert https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Going-Great-Underfunded-Overexposed/dp/0061782351

Have You No Shame? by Rachel Shukert https://www.amazon.com/Have-You-No-Shame-Regrettable/dp/0345498615

Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher of BriTANicK fame sit down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how and why they write.

How is their collaboration like an open romantic relationship? What were the writers’ rooms on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Saturday Night Live like? How can a detailed outline save your screenplay before you even start writing? How is effective pitching much more than just describing your project well? And what did they learn from their time in the director’s chairs?

And why are Brian and Brian so happy about the spelling of their names?

After over 18 years working together—and with their directorial debut Pizza Movie now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and Over Your Dead Body hitting theaters April 24th—Brian and Nick have plenty to share.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Canadian writer-director Chandler Levack sits down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how and why she writes.

How did her music journalism experiences inform her screenwriting? How did she make her first film without a studio deal? How does she deconstruct her favourite screenplays when building her own scenes? Why are rom-com tropes so worthy of our love and respect? How do filmmaking careers really get started these days? Why was she so excited to get a call from Adam Sandler?

And how could her parents boost her career by faking an illness?

With both of her newest projects dropping the very same day—Mile End Kicks in theaters, and Roommates on Netflix—Chandler has plenty to share, and she doesn’t hold back.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

His 2015 Fantastic Four screenplay was rewritten by so many other writers that eventually just three words of his remained. Today he’s the sole screenwriter on Mortal Kombat II, and already tackling the sequel.

Screenwriter Jeremy Slater sits down with Brian and Bailey to discuss why he writes, how he writes, and what other writers would do well to keep in mind on their own journeys.

How does a kid too scared to take a bath after watching Jaws end up writing for Marvel and DC? Why should screenwriters be careful about considering themselves “artists”? What keeps him returning to the page even when the goalposts keep moving? How does he cap off his writing each day by setting himself up for success the next morning? What are Hollywood “round table” meetings all about, and how do they work?

And why does he say screenplays are primarily “promotional documents”?

Jeremy has plenty to say about how his Mortal Kombat II made it to theaters, how he makes sure he’s a screenwriter people want to work with, and how he keeps it that way.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

He wrote a screenplay his reps didn’t even know about. Five years later, his movie is on Netflix, starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.

Screenwriter Jeremy Robbins sits down with Brian and Bailey for a deep dive into how that all happened, how he navigates the film and television industries, and why he writes.

How did Jeremy become a writer? What does he think about working in writers’ rooms versus writing alone? Why does he focus on spec screenplays even with other deals on the table? How does a script started during the pandemic make it to Netflix? What did a 2021 spot on The Black List end up meaning for him years later?

And what can close-up magic possibly teach us about effective pitching?

Jeremy has plenty to share about why he wrote his action survival thriller Apex, and how the screenplay evolved before reaching the screen.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

After leaving the world of advertising for life as a writer, countless publishers passed on his novel before he finally heard the unexpected yes that changed everything.

Screenwriter David J. Rosen sits down with Brian and Bailey to discuss why he writes, how he writes, the path that got him where he is, and the practices that keep him there.

How did a panicky moment at a Snapple sales meeting push him toward writing? When are screenwriters maybe better off not knowing the rules? Can a thriller be funny without spoiling the stakes? Why would he ever tell himself to “just write it badly?”

And what might be more important than talent and luck when it comes to your screenwriting career?

David has plenty to say about how his Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed series made it to Apple TV, and why you may want to focus on getting your screenplay done, instead of making it perfect.

Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson