Scriptnotes Podcast

Episodes

1. 758 - Revisiting The Dropout

   27 Oct 2026 · 1 h 30 min · S16 E758

   What are storytellers' responsibilities when it comes to real-life figures? How much fiction can you blend with fact? You Can See Everything is the latest film exploring Elizabeth Holmes, the fascinating and singular…

2. 757 - Nerding Out on Story with Andrew Stanton

   20 Oct 2026 · 54 min · S16 E757

   John and Craig welcome a long-awaited guest: Andrew Stanton, writer-director behind many beloved Pixar films including Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., WALL-E, and the Toy Story franchise. They talk about making sequels,…

3. 756 - Archetypes

   13 Oct 2026 · 54 min · S16 E756

   Since the dawn of storytelling, there have been archetypes. What aspects of archetypes are actually useful for writers? And how do we move beyond tropes to create complex characters? Pick a card, any card! John and…

4. 755 - Directing Your Writing

   6 Oct 2026 · 1 h 28 min · S16 E755

   What changes when you take off your writer hat and put on your director hat? In this compendium episode, John, Craig, and Scriptnotes coordinator Lauren Loesberg review directing advice previously given on the podcast.…

5. 754 - East of Eden with Zoe Kazan

   29 Sep 2026 · 54 min · S16 E754

   John welcomes writer and actress Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks, The Big Sick, She Said) to talk about her sweeping and thorough reimagining of East of Eden, releasing on Netflix on October 1st. They discuss her approach to…

6. 753 - The One with Aaron Sorkin

   22 Sep 2026 · 1 h 07 min · S16 E753

   Today, we welcome longtime fantasy guest, Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, The Social Network) to talk through his writing process and tease his upcoming film, The Social Reckoning. Does Aaron Sorkin use…

7. 752 - General Meetings

   15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 13 min · S16 E752

   Think of this as a crash course in general meetings. In this compendium, John, Craig and Scriptnotes intern, Lauren, mine previous episodes for advice on the bewildering "general." They aim to answer every question…

8. 751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson

   8 Sep 2026 · 1 h 00 min · S16 E751

   What if you zigged when you thought you should have zagged? As an actress, a writer, a showrunner, and a host, Erin Gibson's career has been unpredictable. But look closer and you see it's driven by consistent values,…

9. 750 - Quinceañera

   1 Sep 2026 · 45 min · S15 E750

   The year was 2011. We had Occupy Wall Street, Hangover II, 50 Shades of Grey… and a podcast named Scriptnotes. On this episode, John and Craig celebrate their podcast Quinceañera, marking fifteen years together on mic.…

10. 749 - Famous People with Taffy Brodesser-Akner

    25 Aug 2026 · 1 h 04 min · S15 E749

    John and Taffy sit down for a candid conversation surrounding fame, interacting with famous people, and the depiction of fame on screen. They also answer a listener question about cold email etiquette and the delicate…

11. 748 - One Room Movies

    18 Aug 2026 · 1 h 00 min · S15 E748

    John and Craig lock in on one-room movies. How does confinement change character behavior? What opportunities can a single location give you? Plus, they consider how much dithering a character should indulge. They…

12. 747 - Wrapping It Up with Hacks

    11 Aug 2026 · 1 h 16 min · S15 E747

    John welcomes Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs to talk about the emotional and logistical process of closing out their five-season series, Hacks. Paul and Lucia also step up as guest readers for the Three Page…

13. 746 - How Would This Be a Crime?

    4 Aug 2026 · 58 min · S15 E746

    In today's edition of "How Would This Be a Movie?" John and Craig convert felonies into films. Together, they take a few crime-related news stories and decide how they might be adapted for the screen. They also…

14. 745 - Road Trip

    28 Jul 2026 · 1 h 02 min · S15 E745

    Buckle up! John and Craig discuss the elements that make up a classic road movie. They cover the quintessential scenes, common pitfalls, and the economic quandaries you'll find in the genre. They also answer listener…

15. 744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack

    21 Jul 2026 · 56 min · S15 E744 · Explicit

    John and Craig invite over Rashida Jones and Will McCormack to chat about their new film The Invite, out in theaters now. Rashida and Will divulge the origin story and dynamics of their own writing partnership, as…

16. 676 - Writing while the World is on Fire (Encore)

    14 Jul 2026 · 50 min · S15 E676

    How do you keep doing creative work when the world is falling apart around you? To sift through the despair and doubt, John welcomes back legendary Scriptnotes guest, writer-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. They…

17. 743 - Thinking on Your Feet with Ryan Condal

    7 Jul 2026 · 1 h 09 min · S15 E743

    John and Craig sit down with Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, just as its third season airs. They dive into Ryan's late start in Hollywood, spec scripts, the anatomy of a writers room, and thinking as a…

18. 742 - Obsession with Curry Barker

    30 Jun 2026 · 1 h 06 min · S15 E742

    John and Craig welcome Curry Barker, the writer-director behind this summer's surprise blockbuster, Obsession. It's a rom-com, a horror film and a great example of trusting your audience. We discuss Curry's roots, his…

19. 741 – Craig Takes Questions

    23 Jun 2026 · 49 min · S15 E741

    This week, Craig answers listener questions about rewriting on set, AI coverage, when and how to kill off characters, sizing up producers, and more. There's also an extra-special guest appearance for this week's One…

20. 740 - On Competence

    16 Jun 2026 · 59 min · S15 E740

    Why is it so satisfying to watch a highly-skilled character complete their goals? And why can it be equally hilarious to watch an incompetent character bumble through a slew of screw-ups? In this episode, John and…