Best Sreenwriting Podcasts (2025)

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034: Game of Thrones S2 - How to write a successful book series 38:08

4+ y ago38:08

38:08

Editor Reactions: Randall: The intertwining storylines are so intriguing. Great setup. Mel: The Game of Thrones has officially started in this season with everyone wanting to be the next king, no matter who has a right to it and who does not. Parul: The hungry for power in Season 1 (society genre) has continued and kicked off a war. What's the Glob…

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033: Game of Thrones S1 - Winter is Coming 30:52

4+ y ago30:52

30:52

This is a series with a mini-plot, multiple characters that each pursue their own storyline but come together for a larger story arc. In this first season of Game of Thrones you’ll see multiple storylines weaving together. But the value at stake is power - the clue is in the name: the Game of Thrones. This is closely linked to the action genre with…

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032: Ozark Season 3 - It just gets better 30:43

5y ago30:43

30:43

Randall: I totally understand the hype on this series, I can’ believe it took this long for me to watch it. It just keeps getting better. Parul: This show is getting darker and more complex. It’s riveting. Randall: I think this is really what makes a good thriller, the ability to have compelling subplots/ red herrings that also have equally life/ d…

1
031: Ozark Season 2 35:55

5y ago35:55

35:55

What did we think? Randall: Great 2nd season, they kept the surprises and tension going Parul: This show is on fire! Beginning Hook: Inciting Incident: Del is killed and Marty must get rid of Del's body before Cartel find out Turning Point Progressive Complication: Cartel tasks Marty with securing reparations for Del’s death, as he was the lieutena…

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030: Ozark Season 1 - 6 Core Questions and Foolscap 25:16

5y ago25:16

25:16

Did the Story Work? Randall: Pretty good, some nice surprises, overall the story worked. Parul: High stakes, constantly moving. The story worked as a thriller. What are the Editor’s Six Core Questions? It’s a great way to analyze any story and figure out if it works. Here are the questions. We’ll touch on them in this podcast, but the full notes ca…

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029: Ozark Intro 12:25

5y ago12:25

12:25

Randall Expectations: I’m excited to watch this series, it’s got a lot of good hype. I also really enjoyed Breaking Bad, with which I see some similarities. Parul Expectations: In terms of Genre? Action or Thriller with morality. Status? Maybe? It’s unclear why he’s making the choice, but we know he’s chosen to be a drug dealer and now will pay the…

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028: Killing Eve Season 3 Finale - Does the Story Work? 27:23

5y ago27:23

27:23

Villanelle demonstrates a cold brutality even though she looks stunning and absolutely beautiful which deceives everyone around her. Her beauty and innocent appearance is like the trap that lures her victims into her reach so that she can kill them. Villanelle doesn’t follow a moral code and only does what excites her. If she has to do something, s…

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027: Killing Eve Season 3 Ep 8 - Are you Leading or Am I? 30:09

5y ago30:09

30:09

Initial Observations: Mel - Seems like the biggest crisis and the most at stake was neither for Villanelle nor Eve, but for Konstantin in this final episode, while Eve and Villanelle were only bystanders. If I wouldn’t love the character of Konstantin that much, the episode would have been lots more disappointing. Parul - 50% thriller, 30% love, 20…

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026: Killing Eve Season 3 Ep 7 - Beautiful Monster 33:54

5y ago33:54

33:54

Initial Observations: Mel - I’m lost. I’m not engaged in the show anymore. Parul - We’ve veered off the global genre Randy - World’s worst assassins Read our show notes at www.storygrid.com or www.sgshowrunners.comBy Randall Surles, Parul Bavishi, Melanie Naumann

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025: Killing Eve Season 3 Ep 6 - End of Game 41:11

5y ago41:11

41:11

Initial Observations: Mel - Very unexpected, and not believable beginning, and then the characters became unreal for me, too. Parul - I like many scenes, glad the investigation is back on track, but I’m worried about the global story Randy - No way! Recap: Villanelle goes home, sees her family, wins the dung throwing contest at the local fair, kill…

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024 - Killing Eve Ep 5 - Mommy Issues 29:46

5y ago29:46

29:46

Initial Observations: Mel - A documentary about life in remote Russia that has a tragic, but expected ending. Parul - If I’m looking for a silver lining - here is a good way to look at how one might introduce a villain’s backstory Randy - WTH? To see all of our show notes visit us at www.storygrid.com or www.sgshowrunners.com…

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023 - Killing Eve Ep 4 - Still Got It! 27:37

5y ago27:37

27:37

Killing Eve S3 Ep4 Initial Observations Mel - Confusing, because I wondered why they’ve changed the way they tell an episode, especially in midseason? Probably only to keep the tension between Eve seeing Niko and in between until we found out why we thought something was off. Parul - I’m not sure about the new format. But I am happy about the addit…

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022 - Killing Eve Ep 3 - They Meet Again! 32:15

5y ago32:15

32:15

Mel - Finally, Killing Eve is indeed back. Everything we loved about the show, they had saved for this episode. Loved it. Parul - Mostly good. A little disappointing. Randy - Nothing new, not too many surprises “I want to smell like a Roman Centurion coming across an old foe who once hurt her greatly, but the centurion comes back and is now an Empe…

1
021 - Killing Eve Episode 2 - Management Sucks! 32:47

5y ago32:47

32:47

First Impressions Mel - This episode did not work for me and I’ll add the why later on. Parul - Strangely, I really enjoyed this episode, and I was really disappointed when the series ended. Randy - I get it, they had to have an episode where the two protagonists both know that each other is alive, but it was kind of slow and even the Clown assassi…

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020 - Killing Eve is Back! Villanelle is Back! 26:01

5y ago26:01

26:01

Initial Observations: Mel - Without Eve in her life, Villanelle returns to her old self. Parul - I no longer look at Constantine Randy - Villanelle is back killing in her unique way, and the trailer shows some other scenes which look interesting to say the least. I’m in. Inciting Incident: Randy - Eve is alive. I mean, we knew that, but we had to s…

1
019 - 6 Core Questions to Netflix Series You 51:38

5y ago51:38

51:38

Initial Observations Mel - The villain is the hero of his own story. And it was great to get into the mind of a psychopath, especially through the first-person narrative, seeing how he leaves red herrings for whoever is trying to get him and start seeing the good guys as his antagonists while wanting him to succeed. Parul - Another great story wher…

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018 - Introduction to Netflix series You 19:28

5y ago19:28

19:28

Randall and Melanie analyze the trailer on YouTube and the Wikipedia description to establish the viewer expectations based on the assumed Genre.By Randall Surles, Melanie Naumann

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017 - The Witcher 6 Core Questions 1:15:25

5y ago1:15:25

1:15:25

With three protagonists and three timelines, the story can get a bit confusing for those with no prior knowledge of the Witcher Universe. There were some good scenes, but the editors break down the problems and offer some solutions. Initial Observations - One word or one sentence. Randy: Interesting, but no game of thrones. One word: confusing Mel:…

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016 - The Witcher Introduction and Expectations 24:27

5y ago24:27

24:27

What other epic fantasy television or movie series have you guys watched? Melanie: Hercules, Narnia, Dungeons and Dragons, Warcraft Randall: Magicians; Shannara Chronicles Parul: Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Xena: Warrior Princess, Wonderwoman You'll find our show notes on: sgshowrunners.com/the-witcher/the-witcher-intro/ or on storygrid.com…

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015 The Umbrella Academy - Did the story work? 53:58

5+ y ago53:58

53:58

We've analysed The Umbrella Academy TV Series of Season 1. In this episode we talk about the global story and if it satisfied our expectations or not. And if not, let's find out why. We talk about genre, moments we expect, the point of view, wants and needs of the characters as well as wrap up the Season by using the 5 commandments for Beginning Ho…

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014 Introduction to The Umbrella Academy Season 1 18:15

5+ y ago18:15

18:15

Due to the high interest he had in our episode that included the 6 core questions for Season 1 and 2 of Killing Eve, we’ve decided to change our format for this podcast. The Podcast will now have two episodes a month: An intro to a new series that will introduce the series and talk about expectations from seeing the trailer and reading series descr…

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13: Killing Eve Season 2 - Does the Story work? Editor Six Core Questions 1:09:55

5+ y ago1:09:55

1:09:55

Since we’ve talked so much about the first season of Killing Eve, we don’t want to leave the big question unanswered, why the second season wasn’t perceived as good as the first one. It’s gonna be just this one episode where we focus on the global story and will answer and discuss the most important questions to see where Killing Eve Season 2 didn’…

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12: Does the Story Work? Killing Eve Season 1 - Editor Six Core Questions 49:06

5+ y ago49:06

49:06

The series is finally over!!!! Now the team will go through the Editor's Six Core Questions and write the Foolscap for Killing Eve Season 1. Genre: Thriller, Serial Killer POV: Eve Polastri and Villanelle; Dramatic Irony Obligatory Scenes and Conventions: For Complete Show Notes, go to: www.storygrid.com or www.sgshowrunners.com Next Episode, we wi…

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11: Who is the Victim? - Killing Eve Ep8 and the Ending Payoff 31:47

5+ y ago31:47

31:47

Inciting Incident Parul: Eve has discovered Constantin with Carolyn. This is important because she can no longer trust Carolyn. Melanie: Eve has discovered that Villanelle is free and not in prison anymore. This is upending her world. It also turns on life and death since Villanelle is free to kill more. Melanie suggests that Parul’s Inciting Incid…

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E10: The Middle Build of Killing Eve 20:54

5+ y ago20:54

20:54

As a review, if you follow the Story Grid Method, most stories are made up of the following elements: 3 Acts - Beginning Hook, Middle Build, Ending Payoff There are 5 Commandments in each scene, episode, and act that includes the Inciting Incident, the Turning Point, the Crisis Question, the Climax, and the Resolution There are 15 Core Scenes that …

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09: Red Herrings - Killing Eve Ep7 34:20

5+ y ago34:20

34:20

Inciting Incident Parul: You could say that the Inciting Incident is when Eve is ordered back to London, but I actually think it’s when they find out that Nadia has been killed and they are back at square one, and I think that Eve is only ordered back after that fact is discovered. Progressive Complications/ Turning Point Parul: Progressive Complic…

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08: Shapeshifters - Killing Eve Ep6 31:39

5+ y ago31:39

31:39

Episode Summary: Set in Russia Villanelle goes to prison to kill Nadia Eve and Carolyn travel to Moscow to interrogate Nadia They meet Constantin and Vladimir - two Russian intelligence agents and former boyfriends of Carolyn One interview with Nadia granted - but Constantin interrupts before Nadia tells Eve and Carolyn about Constantin. Nadia give…

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07: A Love Story - Killing Eve Ep 5 27:23

5+ y ago27:23

27:23

Review of Episode 5 - I Have a Thing About Bathrooms Eve stops the car and faces Villanelle, and Villanelle doesn’t kill her Eve learns Villanelle’s real name - Oxana Frank gets to a safe house Frank tells Carolyn about the 12 and his bribes Eve puts on the perfume and clothes that Villanelle bought Villanelle breaks into Eve’s house, they talk, th…

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E6: Twisted Romance - Killing Eve Ep4 24:19

5+ y ago24:19

24:19

Intro to Episode 4 - Sorry Baby Bill’s Funeral Villanelle trouble with Constantin - work as a team Eve trouble with husband - he thinks she might have had an affair with Bill Eve gets her suitcase back with new clothes bought by Villanelle Eve and Elena try to find Frank to ask about bribes Villanelle and team hunt Frank down Nadia kills the male t…

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E5: The Killing Becomes Personal - Killing Eve Ep3 24:23

5+ y ago24:23

24:23

Intro to Episode 3: Don’t I know you? Villanelle makes another kill at a German sex fetish joint Eve erotically or flatteringly describes Villanelle to a sketch artist Eve and Bill go to Berlin to follow up on Villanelle's latest kill Villanelle is on the prowl - she watching Eve from afar and steals her suitcase, and hacks into her phone call to h…

1
04: The Beginning Hook for Killing Eve 27:49

5+ y ago27:49

27:49

This week we will discuss the 5 Commandments of the Beginning Hook of Killing Eve. Some things to remember: 3 acts - most stories are made up of 3 acts - BH, MB, EP 5 commandments are present in each act The Global Life Value - determined by the primary genre of the story Every core scene turns on the global value In this case, as we think that Kil…

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03: The Protagonist on a Mission - Killing Eve Ep2 25:44

5+ y ago25:44

25:44

This week we will discuss the 5 Commandments of episode 2 of Amazon Prime’s Killing Eve. Inciting Incident Melanie: When Eve is fired, her computer files are scrubbed and Carolyn discovers that Eve has independently been putting together a file about assassinations conducted by women killers. As Carolyn asks Eve about those files, Eve tells her she…

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02. The Assassin and the Detective: Killing Eve Ep1 24:56

5+ y ago24:56

24:56

Review of Episode 1 - "Nice Face" Some excellent assassinations A bored MI-5 employee The Assassin and the hunter meet As the Spartans would say in the movie 300, it’s a good start As a quick recap, Villanelle kills an Eastern European Politician/ Human Trafficker but leaves his Polish girlfriend behind as the sole witness. Eve is late to an emerge…

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01. Intro to Killing Eve: The Ultimate Thriller 25:53

5+ y ago25:53

25:53

What is the hype about for Killing Eve? We discuss that, Genre, and the conventions/ obligatory scenes of a Thriller. Also, what is your favorite female assassin in films, television, or novels (or even comic books)? Let us know, write us at [email protected] or visit our webpage at www.sgshowrunner.com.…

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00. Why we're watching TV shows 2:54

5+ y ago2:54

2:54

Welcome to the Story Grid Showrunners Podcast, dedicated to helping writers master their genre. If you’re writing a book and you want to make it stand out, we can help you. How? We’ll be watching and analyzing hit TV series using the Story Grid and will help you apply what we’ve learned to your own writing. Why the Story Grid? There are many templa…

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