Best Playwrights Spotlight Podcasts (2025)

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Gatekeepers, Pushing the Line, Independent vs Mainstream, and the Limitations of Specificity - Playwright's Spotlight with Isaac Laskin 51:32

3h ago51:32

51:32

Send us a text In this episode, musical theatre playwright Isaac Laskin stopped by Playwright's Spotlight to talk about the the development and evolution of his hit L.A. musical Hey, Morgan. He dispels the rumor of being challenged to write a musical about a dear friend, how the origination started as individual standalone songs about his roommate …

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2404: Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers 28:00

3d ago28:00

28:00

This is the story of Simple Health Plans, a $150 million health insurance scam that preyed on desperate Americans and left thousands buried in medical debt. We'll meet Dawn, who nearly fell victim to their scheme, and Steven Dorfman, the mastermind who spent over a million dollars on jewelry while his customers discovered their "insurance" was wort…

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186. Melissa Kosar // Director 45:43

11h ago45:43

45:43

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by Director, Melissa Kosar. Melissa has been a recurring director on primetime hits like Abbott Elementary and The Goldbergs. She was Co-Executive Producer / Director on season two of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers for Disney+. On ABC, she has directed Black-ish, American Housewife, The Wonder Years, and The Mid…

1
2403: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 3 41:32

10d ago41:32

41:32

Harry spent nearly two years believing the woman he loved was dying of brain cancer. He stood by her for every surgery, organ failure...None of it was real. In this episode, Harry walks us through the emotional fantasy Rachel built. Want the full story? 🎧 Listen to The Rachel Cancer Scam Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hn5De466DmCIN8Sppw5Ik…

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185. Winer Dunn // Writer & Director 48:36

9d ago48:36

48:36

Today on Whats My Frame I'm joined by award-winning filmmaker, Winter Dunn. Winter is dedicated to amplifying universal narratives through the lens of BIPOC voices. Her short film, Dear Mama, premiered at SXSW and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Film (Live Action). Dear Mama is currently streaming on The New Yorker's Screening Room …

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Listener Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine (BONUS) 20:22

14d ago20:22

20:22

In this bonus episode, Ali, one of my longtime Patreon supporters, reached out after listening to the Cancer Sympathy Machine series. Ali talks openly about her past with addiction, stigma, Hep C treatment and why some people hide the truth about what they’re really going through. I’m also sharing two listener stories about friends, classmates, and…

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Defining Weird, Living in the Creative "World", and Letting Go of Creative Control - Playwright's Spotlight with Clara Rodriguez 50:26

17d ago50:26

50:26

Send us a text Playwright Clara Rodriguez jumped into the Playwright's Spotlight in the midst of the run of her latest play - Pointy Scissors. In this discussion, we delve into the theatre company at Theatre West in Los Angeles and their Writers in Residence program. We unpack her journey into playwriting and her motivation and inspiration, the fee…

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2402: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 2 30:34

17d ago30:34

30:34

Why would anyone fake cancer? Money? Sure. Attention? Definitely. But as I learned in this episode… the motives are a lot darker, messier, and more human than you might expect. In Part 2 of The Cancer Sympathy Machine, we go beyond the headline-grabbing scams and into the emotional machinery behind these lies. With the help of cancer-survivor-turne…

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184. Britton Payne // The Autism Scene 45:59

11d ago45:59

45:59

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by Britton Payne. Britton is an entertainment attorney, recently of Warner Bros. Animation and Nickelodeon. On the side, Brit regularly presents at comic cons and elsewhere about autism and pop culture, including "Authentically Creating Autistic Characters," "Autism in Comic Books," and "After 50 Years, Why do Sp…

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Writing the Absurd, Doubting Your Talent, and Recognizing Gifts and Weaknesses - Playwright's Spotlight with James Merolla 1:11:06

18d ago1:11:06

1:11:06

Send us a text Playwright James Merolla streamed onto Playwright's Spotlight. We had an engaging and honest conversation about his background as a director and a theatre reviewer and how that eventually led to becoming a playwright. We discuss his struggles with rejection and doubting your talent and being a late-starting and older playwright and e…

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2401: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 1 37:49

24d ago37:49

37:49

Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe. In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of the most convincing cancer fakers out there. From Madison Russo’s botched medical props to Elizabeth Teckenbrock’s alleged search history...“Is it illeg…

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Dakota Spotlight: Meanwhile in Mankato 56:03

25d ago56:03

56:03

On PRETEND, we tell stories about people who build false identities and hide the truth in plain sight. This week, we are featuring a case that fits right into that world. It is the newest season of Dakota Spotlight, titled “Meanwhile in Mankato.” In 1965, an 18-year-old gas station attendant named Ray Dahm was murdered during an overnight shift at …

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183. Daniel Pearle // Screenwriter & Playwright 54:40

24d ago54:40

54:40

Today on Whats My Frame I'm joined by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Daniel Pearle. Daniel joins us to chat about his newest project THE BEAST IN ME where he served as writer and executive producer. We take a deep dive into creative process, research and understanding your character's voice. Daniel's plays have been produced and developed at…

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2309: From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology Behind Allison Mack 43:23

1M ago43:23

43:23

Smallville's Allison Mack is out of prison, and she's finally talking. What was NXIVM, and how did Allison Mack become a high-ranking member? NXIVM was a self-help organization that sold leadership training and personal development courses. Beneath the surface, it operated as a coercive group led by Keith Raniere, using control tactics like starvat…

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182. GG Hawkins // Writer & Director 46:19

1M ago46:19

46:19

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by writer-director and podcaster GG Hawkins. Her directorial debut I Really Love My Husband had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW festival. Today we talk about specificity of chemistry, GG's writing and creative process, the importance of finding the right educators and creative mentors for you finding your sup…

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Bonus: The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships (Cracks in the Fandom) 28:05

1M ago28:05

28:05

This bonus episode is a chance to step back and make sense of everything that just unfolded in Cracks in the Fandom. If you listened to the series, you saw how an Instagram unfollow spiraled into harassment, infighting, and full-on chaos inside the SVU fandom. This series was petty, confusing , and pretty revealing about how people form attachments…

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Narrative, Reversals, Mapping the Journey, and Running Away with the Circus - Playwright's Spotlight with Dietrich Smith 1:24:51

1M ago1:24:51

1:24:51

Send us a text Dietrich Smith jumped into the Playwright's Spotlight after the opening of his World Premiere adaptation of Franz Kafka's novel Amerika. We explore his background as the literary manager at the Open Fist Theatre Company and the trends he observed from submissions. We speak about establishing theme and whose story it is in a piece, ma…

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181. Sammi Cannold // Director 45:13

1M ago45:13

45:13

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by Broadway, film, and television director Sammi Cannold. Sammi is one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, one of Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch, one of Town & Country's Creative Aristocracy, and a Drama Desk Award winner. In 2025, she made her episodic directing debut helming Epi…

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The Hypnotist - Alien Abductions 39:56

1M ago39:56

39:56

Alien abductions. Hundreds of people say it’s happened to them. They’re not looking for fame or attention. Some keep it a secret...haunted by memories they can’t explain. In Day 3 of PRETEND’s Halloween Marathon, we meet Dr. John Mack, a Pulitzer Prize–winning Harvard psychiatrist who risked his reputation to study these so-called abductees. Using …

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The Haunted Tourist 1:00:29

1M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

It’s Day 2 of my Halloween Marathon, and today we’re diving into The Haunted Tourist. I’m joined by Brandon Schexnayder, host of Southern Gothic and Fear Daily—two shows that live and breathe ghost stories. Together, we pull back the curtain on haunted tourism: the ghost tours, the myths, and the money that fuels them. From fake cemeteries built fo…

1
The Real Vampires 43:00

1M ago43:00

43:00

Hey, it’s Javier. Quick update: Meghan Walsh, the subject of my Cracks in the Fandom series, has filed copyright complaints on every major platform. As a result, Spotify and Patreon have temporarily taken down the series. My attorneys are already on it, and we expect everything to be restored soon. In the meantime, it’s Halloween weekend — so let’s…

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2304: Cracks in the Fandom part 4 56:21

2M ago56:21

56:21

Important Update on “Cracks in the Fandom” Meghan Walsh, the subject of my latest series, filed a copyright infringement claim with all major podcast platforms. As a result, Patreon and Spotify have temporarily removed the episodes pending review. The good news? You can still listen to the entire series on Apple Podcasts. https://itunes.apple.com/u…

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Inspirational Feedback, Weight-Bearing Walls, and Recognizing and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - Playwright's Spotlight with Sofia Streisand 1:01:44

1M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Send us a text Sofia Streisand dropped into Playwright's Spotlight to discuss the U.S. premiere of her play Bluebeard's Castle (that I misspoke as Blackbeard's) November 1st through November 23rd. In this discussion, we discuss the difference between Russian, European, and American theatre, her journey from musical theatre to playwriting, writing m…

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180. Joanna Davis // Casting Director 37:14

2M ago37:14

37:14

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by Casting Director, Joanna Davis. Joanna has been in the industry for over 20 years. She started her career as a casting intern when she was just in high school. Throughout her first few years, Joanna worked at production companies, a talent agency, and on documentaries. Taking everything she learned in those po…

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Applied Theatre, Writing Bilingual, and Dramaturgical Playwriting - Playwright's Spotlight with Ankita Raturi 1:21:19

2M ago1:21:19

1:21:19

Send us a text Ankita Raturi basked under the Playwright's Spotlight for the World Premiere of her play Neha & Neel. In this discussion we break down the concept of applied theatre and being a teaching artist, how it effects character, exercises that extrude character and whether or not the practice makes it into a piece. We unpack earning a monolo…

1
2303: Cracks in the Fandom part 3 44:53

2M ago44:53

44:53

Cracks in the Fandom — Part 3 (Edited Copyright Cut) PRETEND: Stories about real people pretending to be someone they’re not Michelle Ivey has been painted as the villain. Meghan Walsh calls her a stalker, a criminal, a threat to her life. She’s warned not to contact her. But in this episode, I do just that. I talk to Michelle. And what I find is s…

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179. Jennifer Schwalenberg // Casting Director 25:39

2M ago25:39

25:39

Jennifer Schwalenberg is a New Mexico Casting Director based in Santa Fe. She began her casting career in Los Angeles in 1995, working for prominent commercial casting director, Beth Holmes. She spent five years honing the craft of traditional commercial casting while also scouting the streets for directors who favored “real people.” During her ten…

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Writing Theatrically, Working on the Puzzle, and the Ecosystem of Theatre - Playwright's Spotlight with Crystal Skillman 1:03:26

2M ago1:03:26

1:03:26

Send us a text Playwright Crystal Skillman beamed into the Playwright's Spotlight from Indianapolis for the run of her World Premiere play The Rocket Men. We discuss how one becomes a 4-time NYT's Critics' Pick playwright, what it means to be a "theatrical" writer, writing design on the page and offering solutions, trusting and listening to your au…

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2302: Cracks in the Fandom part 2 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

Meghan Walsh says she is being stalked by three people. One of them is Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay. Sounds impossible, right? But she’s not the only one saying it. In this episode, we meet Lauren. She claims to be the biological mother of Mariska’s adopted daughter. Her story begins with a supposed secret adoption, and spirals into accus…

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Formulas and Slow Burners, the Process of Radio Dramas, and Making Mystery Interesting - Playwright's Spotlight with John Ballentine 1:10:54

2M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

By James Elden

4M ago52:07

52:07

Today on What's My Frame I'm joined by Casting Professional and Actor, Andrew Dahreddine. Andrew is based between Los Angeles and New York. He is currently casting Lauren Minnerath's debut feature film, CLARE (which has been supported by Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW); Stacey Maltin and Jay DeYonker’s feature film, C-SIDE (working title); and Rebecca…

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Playwrights Spotlight Podcasts

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