Podcast appearances and mentions of Jesse Williams

The Grimoire Of Familiar Killers: The Lost Pages continues with Laugh Or Die, our month dedicated to horror comedies that know exactly when to scare you and when to make you laugh.This week we're diving into The Cabin in the Woods. Graeme Pass joins us to unpack the monster-filled madness, meta commentary, secret organizations, and one of the most ambitious horror concepts ever put on screen. Is it a parody, a love letter to horror, or somehow both at the same time?Episode 233 of Hey Did You See This One?Please remember to like, comment, subscribe and click that notification bell for all our updates! It really helps us out!Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins & Bradley WhitfordDirected By: Drew GoddardSynopsis: When five college friends (Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams) arrive at a remote forest cabin for a little vacation, little do they expect the horrors that await them. One by one, the youths fall victim to backwoods zombies, but there is another factor at play. Two scientists (Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford) are manipulating the ghoulish goings-on, but even as the body count rises, there is yet more at work than meets the eye.Watch LIVE on Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/heydidyouseethisone ) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@HeyDidYouSeeThisOne ) every Thursday at 8 PM ESTWE HAVE MERCH - https://www.redbubble.com/people/HDYSTMerch/shop?asc=u & http://tee.pub/lic/GdSYxr8bhtY Website: https://www.ufpodcasts.com/hdysto Audio version of the show: Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heydidyouseethisone Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-did-you-see-this-one/id1712934175YouTube Audio Podcast - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD6BOSx2RcKuP4TogMPKXRMCxqfh5k9IU&si=umIaVrghJdJEu2ARA MEMBER OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PODCASTSCheck us out online at: https://www.ufpodcasts.com/Main Intro & outro videos created by Steve Waters & Jason R PhillipsMain Intro and Outro Themes created by Joshua Howard - remixes by Jacob Hiltz & Jake ThurgoodLogo created by Jeff RobinsonWebsite by: https://www.facebook.com/worldmindinfoDirector Of Interstitials - Alex GowAdditional Intro and Outro song written and performed by Windom Earle – please follow at: (https://www.youtube.com/@windomearle)We use White Bat Audio for our pre-show– a user that creates DMCA free music for podcasters and YouTubers. Please follow at: (https://www.youtube.com/@WhiteBatAudio)Chapters:00:00 - Intro06:41 - Brief Synopsis09:03 - Brief Histories19:09 - Production Talk41:40 - The BODY Of The Episode03:36:19 - The Home Alone Of It All, Final Thoughts & Reviews03:46:13 - Plugs03:51:31 - Outro#heydidyouseethisone #TheCabinInTheWoods #HorrorComedy #HorrorMovies #MoviePodcast

One of our favourite global fashion icons is making headlines for her "robotic" morning habits, and we need to discuss whether her 6am espresso-and-emails vibe is aspirational or just plain exhausting.We’re also spiralling over a major security breach on a North Carolina film set that has led to "privacy please" being literally written in the sand.Finally, if you're looking for a guilty new pleasure we luxuriate in the rise of a new "sexy stories" platform that is completely flipping the business model for romance and adult entertainment.Love binge-watching TV? The Spill has launched a new podcast called Watch Party where we deep dive into the shows everyone’s talking about. Follow the feed on Apple or Spotify now. Plus remember The Spill drops the tea twice a day in this feed so follow us for all the latest entertainment news… OR you can WATCH our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and enjoy the watch! Link here. THE END BITS Find and follow us on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespillpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespillpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thespillpodcast/ Read all the latest entertainment news on Mamamia: https://mamamia.com.au/entertainment/ Support Independent Women’s Media: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ Your subscription helps us continue to tell the stories that matter to women. Want to join the conversation? Have feedback or a topic you want us to discuss? Send us a voice message or email us at thespill@mamamia.com.au and we’ll get back to you ASAP! Executive Producer: Monisha Iswaran Audio & Video Producer: Michael Kean Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast. From Mom and Mia. 00:02Speaker 2 Welcome to the Spill your daily pop culture fix. 00:05Speaker 1 I'm m Vernon and. 00:06Speaker 3 I'm Brief Player, executive producer of MoMA MIA's interview podcast No Filter, and former magazine editor. 00:12Speaker 1 We had a full intro. That's that's my intro. That's what I'm told to say. I love that. Well. I know yours is just your name, but you. 00:20Speaker 2 Know what that's because I don't know what's going on for me. 00:23Speaker 3 That is, it's because you are a name. It's because your talented girl too. Oh okay, well player. 00:28Speaker 1 Does stand out. 00:29Speaker 4 Well. 00:29Speaker 2 A name that is missing is LB Laura Brodney. It is she is having some fun with her family and we are holding down the fort LB. 00:38Speaker 1 If you're listening, no you're not. It's fun. We've got this. 00:42Speaker 2 Today on the show, we are going to be talking about a very firm statement a production company has put out towards its fan base of a very cult favorite show and what this means, I guess, for the future of film sets. We're also talking about how a lot of hot men doing a bit of. 01:00Speaker 1 A career turn. We're not complaining, we are, no, we are quite the opposite. 01:06Speaker 2 Really, But first I need to talk about our friend Victoria Beckham, so friend of the show, friend of the show, show of the podcast. So she recently went on Emma Gred's podcast. It's like over an hour long interview. Emma Greed, if you don't know, has developed so many of the Kardashian brands. She's like CEO of Chloe's Jean's brand, she was co founder of Skims. She's very very well known in the girl boss industry. 01:32Speaker 3 The girl is actually such an apt description. 01:36Speaker 1 I love it. 01:37Speaker 2 So Vibi did this interview with her, and there's so many juicy things in it. If you haven't watched her documentary on Netflix, you now don't need to. You just need to listen to this interview because she pretty much covers everything she says in the documentary. 01:51Speaker 1 She talks about her kids. 01:54Speaker 2 You know, when you're watching a YouTube interview and it like has the most replay, it shows you the most replayed moments literally about her talking about her kids and the differences between parenting children versus parenting adults. We've talked about bestie Brooklyn Beckham and everything that's going on between him and his mom. Best friend of the show, best friend of the show. She also talked about the alleged affair. She talked about her company making money, losing money, making money again. 02:20Speaker 3 It's super unusual for Victoria to give a like a big deep dive interview as well, so I think. 02:26Speaker 2 Like girl Boss to girl Boss, felt like it was environment Yeah, but like to be fair, a lot of the stuff she talks about with her company and her both her fashion brand and beauty brand is like really really interesting where she talks about She covered it in the documentary as well, but I guess emm agreed asks those really like kind of personal business se questions where she mixes business questions with lifestyle questions. There is one part of the podcast so that I really want to discuss, yes, and it's the part that no one's really talking about. It's her day in the live. 03:01Speaker 1 It's the highlight of the podcast for me. I just love to know. 03:05Speaker 2 What celebrity millionaires and billionaires are doing every day so I can try to replicate it in my sad little life. 03:12Speaker 3 On weekends, because we have jobs. 03:16Speaker 1 Because we have real jobs, real jobs. Should I take you through it? Yes? Oh please please? Okay, she's almost the weekend. I need to know, we need to. 03:23Speaker 2 Know okay, So she says, we get up every morning, thank God, off to a strong style. 03:31Speaker 1 We get up every single morning. That's crazy. 03:34Speaker 2 We get up every morning and we make Harper breakfast. What I've noticed in this day in the live, she doesn't mention about her own eating habits, because we all know she eats steamed fish and veggies every single day. And I don't think she wants to keep marketing that because I don't think she really wants a fish dealer. 03:49Speaker 1 She doesn't need it, doesn't need, she doesn't need, doesn't need a fish finger. 03:53Speaker 2 So they both make Harper breakfast. She says, if he's not traveling, David does the school run, she goes down to the gym. When she says down to the gym, I'm assuming downstairs. 04:03Speaker 3 And the like, Yeah, I don't think she's like popping going down the road, you know, the local like fitness first, no, non equivalent. 04:09Speaker 2 She's going down to the gym, and she does. Wait for forty five minutes. Then David comes back home, joins her, and then they work out together for another hour. 04:21Speaker 1 Oh, I know they're that couple. 04:23Speaker 2 An hour and forty five minutes every single morning in the gym that's a lot, girl, it's a lot. But she loves doing things with him. 04:29Speaker 1 Yeah, but like there are other things to do. Okay. 04:32Speaker 2 Then she says she goes to the office, which is ten minutes away from where she lives. 04:36Speaker 1 So I'm assuming the same time stamped this, Like, do we know, like when is she rolling into the now? 04:41Speaker 3 She kind of like, so it could be midday because if she's got up, we don't know when she gets up, made Harper breakfast or you know, being present for the breakfast making. 04:51Speaker 1 I can't see. I feel like it's David hands on not. 04:53Speaker 2 I feel like she'll make Harper like a juice and David makes the breakfast. 04:57Speaker 1 We know he cooks. He loves to cook. 04:58Speaker 3 And then like she's an arrow and forty five in the gym, has to shower, get I'm sure like that, you. 05:04Speaker 1 Know, becoming becoming BB. 05:06Speaker 3 Yeah, the day is not a quick time office mid day probably yeah, probably. 05:12Speaker 2 So she says it's only ten minutes away, so I'm assuming, like the same estate. 05:17Speaker 1 I'm assuming it's. 05:18Speaker 2 Like it's just next door, next door, a second home. Yeah, she says she goes in five days a week. Oh, what do we feel about that? Well, she says, I have to be there. It's where like all the ideas get made. There's something about going in every day, and I'm like, this sounds like a CEO who had hybrid working conditions and I told everyone. 05:40Speaker 1 To come here, to come back. 05:41Speaker 3 It's like, yeah, VB at the front line of pushing people back in the office's like, I. 05:45Speaker 1 Love being here all the time. Don't shut up, Phoebe. It's because you get to roll in a mid day. 05:50Speaker 2 Yes, And she says she doesn't travel that much. She only ever goes to New York because beauty. Her beauty brands in New York and her fashion brands in between London and Paris must be nice. 06:00Speaker 3 She has a lot of social engagements too, Like, I don't what she's doing this interview. 06:06Speaker 1 Yeah, on the weekend, probably. 06:09Speaker 2 Probably she's in the office five days with family time, Okay, I guess. 06:13Speaker 1 So. 06:13Speaker 2 She also says at six pm, they are all at home and they all have dinner together, no phones, they just talk about their days. 06:22Speaker 1 I love that. 06:22Speaker 2 Yeah, And she says that we are quite a traditional family. Most people won't believe that, but they are. 06:28Speaker 1 I believe that, but I think that it's ordained, like. 06:34Speaker 3 I don't know if it's well, we actually know for a fact it's not every child's choice to be part of that environment. But I can imagine they have strict rules about dinner together and no phones and yeah, well. 06:46Speaker 2 After everything that happened with like Brooklyn Beckham, I'm sure they are like quite strict parents. She also talked about how her daughter Harper is launching a skincare brand because she says that like her daughter used all of these like different skin cares and ruined her skin, and she wanted to create a really nice collection of like clean skin care for young girls to use, like sure, And I was like sure. I mean, like I'm kids meant to get acne. 07:17Speaker 1 Yeah, it's inevitable. Yeah, but it's good for them. 07:19Speaker 2 It's good for them. But as you know, I didn't really listen to any of that stuff. I was just like, let me know the day in the life. Yea other day in the life, and now we got it. So if you want to know what to do for to be Victoria Beckham, an hour and forty five minutes in the gym every morning. 07:31Speaker 1 That is in your house. Yeah, that's in your house. You have to have the gym in your house, and if. 07:35Speaker 3 You do go to work, it's down the road ten minutes. Yeah, and you're not really doing a commute. You're certainly not on the train. 07:40Speaker 1 You're fine, you'll do it. It's probably in you. I would say it's pretty easy to be VB. 07:44Speaker 3 But I don't know about an hour and forty five minutes in the gym every morning. 07:47Speaker 1 I'll give it a go tomorrow, I'm definitely not. No, I stop at waking up every day. We've got that down. I've got it down. Only five more steps to go. 07:58Speaker 2 So the summer turned pretty You might have heard of it. Yeah, she'll have a little old show. They're currently in the production of making the movie, which is meant to act as like the actual actual series finale. 08:11Speaker 1 Yes, this is it. 08:12Speaker 2 Yes, and they're currently filming. Recently, the production company that's doing so, on my Return, Pretty Amazon. 08:19Speaker 1 Tweeted this. 08:20Speaker 2 They said, we love the excitement, but sharing locations and visiting sets disrupts filming and creates real safety concerns for our cast and crew. We're working hard to create a protective bubble to make the best movie possible. Please help us protect the magic of Cousins. That's the place where it's set, not cousins in general, until it's ready to be shared after that. Jenny Hahn, who wrote the book and is also a big writer of the movie and the show, she also posted when people come to set, film and share videos, it disrupts the work and makes it harder for actors to get into character and causes unnecessary anxiety for them. 08:57Speaker 1 We often have to stop. 08:58Speaker 2 Production to clear crowds from the show, which breaks the crew's focus. This story means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to you too. I want to give you the best version of this movie. Please help protect our process, right. 09:11Speaker 3 Oh, Look, like fervent fandoms are a double edged sword because like they need that. That's why they have had a successful series. It's why they've got this movie coming out. They wouldn't have that without the fans. And the fans are so so so passionate, and like in my heart, I'm a fangirl, I always will be, and I have so much love for fangirls and boys. 09:32Speaker 1 Yeah, and I just think like. 09:34Speaker 3 The reason why, like they're showing up because they love it so much. They want to be part of that world. And it's like it's super endearing, but I do understand why. You know, it's not necessarily conducive to a good set. 09:47Speaker 2 I think they've also like this set and crew in particular, I've had such like bad luck when it comes to like fans being so intense about the show. Because when I first read this, I was kind of like, I was a bit like boohoo. 09:59Speaker 1 Like, yeah, everyone loves the show. Nice, just be nice. 10:03Speaker 2 But then I remembered when they were filming the series finale of the last season of the summer I turned pretty where Belly goes to Paris, and a lot of it was filmed in Paris. They had to fly Gavin over also who played Jeremiah, even though Jeremiah had no scenes in Paris, because everyone was just so intense and guessing who she would choose, Conrad or Jeremiah. And then around the same time, they were putting out Statesmen saying please stop bullying our cast. 10:29Speaker 1 They're not their characters. 10:31Speaker 2 So they've really been through a lot with their fan base. But it's the same exactly what you said. I feel like if I was like walking around the US or in Europe and I saw that they were filming close to me, I wouldn't want to go. 10:45Speaker 1 Of course, I would want to have a look see. Of course I would take a couple of picks. 10:48Speaker 3 I don't know if I would necessarily share them on social media because that's just not my bag. 10:52Speaker 1 But I would show my friends. Yeah, I'd sit here and talk about it. I would literally talk about it like. 11:00Speaker 3 Yeah, like it's it's even if it's not your absolute favorite show. Like obviously there are people that are going, oh my god, I want to see them up close. Let's plan a trip, and like, you know that is happening. I know that happened a bit on the set of people we meet on vacation. 11:14Speaker 1 Yeah, but the. 11:15Speaker 3 Interactions were actually all really lovely and all the reports were fine, and there wasn't kind of a messaging sent out that I'm aware of that was like, don't do this. 11:23Speaker 1 But you know, fandoms are why a. 11:26Speaker 3 Lot of these projects get off the ground in the first place, especially if they're you know, they're based on a book or whatever, so they come with an inbuilt fan base, and so with that comes like this experience. 11:38Speaker 2 And I do think it's changed a lot as technology has changed. Very true to it, Jenny Hahn said, in her statement that it really disrupts the cast and the crew. Like imagine thinking you're filming a show and now you have like a live studio audience who're just like reacting to everything. Plus with the fans filming stuff and posting it online, it just creates like this bigger, bigger thing where was before It used to be like, oh my god, I was in the background of parks and recreation, did you see me? 12:06Speaker 3 I think, like, I find it frustrating when there's too many clips shared on my like for you page. For you that's it where you're like, I don't want to see it, and it's like, oh, like the way I was tapping interested on stuff when The Devil Wears Prata, like stuff was all coming. 12:22Speaker 2 That literally happened to me when I watched the second movie because I watched it in cinemas after you guys went to the big premiere and I was seeing scenes that I'd already seen on my TikTok. It's annoying, right because everyone was just filming them, yeah. 12:34Speaker 1 Filming the way, walking on the streets and everything. 12:36Speaker 3 But then it's also funny as well because we saw so many stills and footage from that film of Anne Hathaway and Patrick Brammel on the Street. It was so gorgeous and so romantic, and then like that was totally missing from the film. So that's a funny experience as well, because we've all been primed and it's almost like part of the promo. And that's actually really interesting because some productions, yeah, are like if you can't beat them, join them, and they're using it as an opportunity for promo. So we've seen that a lot with like they've been filming and they've wrapped filming now on Sunrise on the Reaping, which is like the next installment of the Hunger Games franchise. It's like the cast were encouraged to show stuff on their own like social media, like let's do it first. Yeah, yeah, so they're like McKenna grace was like all over it, and you know, she's so great on social media anyway. But we got a lot of behind the scenes stuff from that production and the movie doesn't come out till November, but they like really leaned into it and like knew that they had this really really really passionate fan base and so they were like feeding people from the start. 13:41Speaker 1 That's really smart. 13:42Speaker 2 I have a feeling Marvel kind of did the same for the New Spider Man movie because Tom Holland does a lot of his own stunts where they got like fans filming him, like jumping over cars and stuff in New York, and they were sharing those own videos on their own socials. It also really interesting, like can work way that kind of helps the production company or give them ideas. Do you remember when the first stills of It Ends with Us came out? Oh, and we were seeing lively in like those costs, like the most horrendous wardrobe choices, the most mirandous wardrobe choices. 14:19Speaker 3 And then it was just like mass trolling of like this she wearing? 14:25Speaker 1 What is this? 14:25Speaker 2 And then we still saw some quiet questionable efforts in that movie, but like the ones that we saw on des Moir were like not in the movie at all, very similarly love story. What they had as like the dress for Carolyne Bassett, the first. 14:39Speaker 3 First glimpse at both of them, both of them, it was like, that's not how they looked like they were wearing like h and M pieces like it just it wasn't reflective. 14:48Speaker 1 And that's so important, particularly for that story. 14:50Speaker 3 Because they're like, firstly, yeah, he had a lot of money, he dressed really well. He was like stylish and gorgeous and you know, but she was known FIRS style. That was a trademark, so to miss that and even like it was right down to the hair, like that's not what Carolyn's hair looked like, and then they started to change. When the show dropped, it was like it had been absolutely coarse corrected and then they nailed it. 15:14Speaker 1 So it is interesting to see and it must be helpful for them. 15:17Speaker 2 They're getting that live feedback as a film versus when a trailer goes out and then they see all the. 15:22Speaker 3 Feed test audience at the end, so like you can't then go await the wardrobe sucks, Like you can't go and reshoot the entire thing. So that's really yeah, that's been really beneficial for them. I've noticed as well. The next series of AHS has been like teasing so much from behind the scenes they've been doing. So they've got the core cast of Coven back, which is really exciting because like in my be in many people's opinion, Coven was the best season three, right, it was season three, that's like the Witch season that was set in Your Orleans absolutely incredible and like the cast so so stellar. Now, if you remember Jessica Lang, who was in the first maybe I think. 16:04Speaker 1 Five seasons, yes, I think. 16:06Speaker 3 So Dan left and when I said no, I'm done, I'm never going back, right, she was like adamant, like no, no, no, no. 16:14Speaker 1 No, guess who's back? 16:15Speaker 5 Shut up? 16:16Speaker 3 Yes, And it was announced on set like they had her in costume and they were like playing into it and they've been dropping in on st same. 16:24Speaker 1 As Emma Roberts is back. And of course her famous line is, hey, bitch, I bet you thought you saw the last of me. 16:30Speaker 3 So that's how she promo that she was back, which was so cool. 16:34Speaker 1 Oh my god, I love so. 16:36Speaker 3 Fun and like, as a fan of that series, I was so excited to like, it's like playing along from home from the start. 16:42Speaker 1 It also extends their run. It gets people excited from the start. That's so true. 16:46Speaker 2 I was thinking of massive cult shows where everyone's been obsessed with and movies where they had to like go through extra lengths just to make sure nothing's link. And I found this really interesting. Fun facts, fun facts for the girls in Sex and the City. The last episode, Sarah Jessica Parker said, they filmed. 17:05Speaker 1 Three this is traditional tragicity not and just like that. Yeah, okay, great, I'm a purist. I'm glad that we're talking about it. 17:12Speaker 2 So three different ending. So the first ending that we all saw on our screens is she ends up with Big. The second fake ending that they filmed was her coming back to New York alone, and the third one can guess, oh, her ending up with Alexander Petrov's no. No, And she was like, yeah, it was so obvious because they were such bad end. 17:38Speaker 3 Look, the one of her coming back to New York alone would have been nice, would have been like it would proper. Yes, I actually think maybe if the show was set today that she re that's so true. Back then everyone wanted a happy ending and we weren't. You know, the show was already revolutionary enough. 17:54Speaker 1 The people weren't. Back then, everyone was like, what would you do with that? And then yes, we don't understand. I don't understand, but now we know, we now we know. 18:03Speaker 2 Kit Harrington on Game of Throw Yeah said that because all of their scenes were filmed in like rural areas, like in forests and like snowy mountains. 18:12Speaker 1 You're a fan and you tricked out that you know what you deserved exactly? Do you take that video? You tell us what's going on. 18:19Speaker 2 But they said they had paparazzi were coming camouflage with these big with these big lenses, filming them like walking up like because everything in Game of Thrones would have been a leak, because even just seeing two characters together and Game of Thrones would have been a huge league, even seeing a character still alive, a character still alive, like a character who's like never met another character together. So everything was like really high stakes. So he said that they all had to film a certain number of fake scenes, like proper fake scenes that they knew would never I. 18:51Speaker 1 Just think of the money that's being spent, so much. 18:53Speaker 2 Money on production on actors with Game of Thrones. 18:58Speaker 1 What a waste of money because any name, you know what. 19:07Speaker 3 Us, choose your own adventure, release them all and the people can decide how it should have ended. 19:12Speaker 1 Agree. 19:12Speaker 2 Okay, And this is my favorite one in Avengers end Game. So if you haven't watched Endgame, this is going to be a spoiler. 19:20Speaker 1 But come on, it's been years and years. I haven't watched it. I probably never will. 19:24Speaker 2 Okay, well this is not going to be a huge, huge spoiler, but there's a scene where there's a funeral. So, like one of the characters dies and they all go to a funeral. They told Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo, who are the two cast members known for accidentally leaking stuff. 19:39Speaker 1 Yeah, Tom Holland. 19:41Speaker 2 Tom Holland has given everyone Avenger plots. Yeah, his whole life, that's all he does, Avengers plots. They told the two of them that it was a wedding scene, and then they came dressed thinking they were filming a wedding scene and didn't realize. 19:54Speaker 1 Until they were there that it was a funeral. 19:56Speaker 2 And they still didn't tell them until the movie was released. Oh it was so only Robert Downey Jr. Was the only actor in that whole franchise to get the full script? 20:08Speaker 3 Is that because he was dead, because he whispered into a microphone. 20:13Speaker 1 Because he was dead, because he was don't tell anyone. 20:15Speaker 2 Yeah, so he was the only one. No one else everyone knew like bits and pieces. But Tom Holland literally thought the funeral scene he was filming for did. 20:23Speaker 1 The rest of the cart not realized when he was not there Robert because he also came there. He had to come. 20:32Speaker 3 That's so funny because that's not so much keeping it a secret from the fans. 20:38Speaker 2 Secret from the car so they don't accidentally. So Tom Holland couldn't actually like leak anything because he didn't know. 20:44Speaker 3 I want to know what film or TV set you would cross international date lines to go on stalk if it. 20:51Speaker 2 Was still filming, or if they did like another season or like brought it back to our screens. The Mindy Project, Oh I would, Oh my god, I would honestly get because like her whole thing was like she was a gynocologist, and I would literally get a doctorate and pretend that I'm a guyano and just to get on that set and be like I'm here to advise. I'm here to like, yeah, I'm here to see Mindy Kayling, here for miss Kayling. 21:19Speaker 1 Here for miss Kayling. 21:20Speaker 2 I'm here to advise as the doctor on set. Oh my god, I'd love that. 21:24Speaker 1 What would be yours? 21:25Speaker 6 Oh? 21:25Speaker 1 Look, if I'm looking backwards, it would be fleaback. That's such a good one. I feel like it would be fairly easy as well. 21:32Speaker 3 Yeah, I think so too. That would be pretty easy. Also, I feel like you're like. 21:36Speaker 1 Phoebe bit chill. 21:37Speaker 2 You know, she'd be so be excited to see you, would be I think she'dn't brite you on As a writer, I think so too. 21:42Speaker 1 Yeah, oh my god. And like looking forwards, I reckon that they'll have a bit of travel with the Hated Rivalry set next time. Oh yeah, they are going to have trouble. 21:52Speaker 3 Because if the summer I turned pretty is pulling out the fans for those two boys, imagine. 21:57Speaker 1 Taking it up a notch the Heated rivalry. 21:59Speaker 2 Will you give them so many points? Just film fake scenes, but make sure you release those ones to that. 22:04Speaker 1 Secluded cabin is suddenly going to look like it's got. 22:07Speaker 2 A great It's like, can you just remove the Airbnb signed from the lawn? 22:11Speaker 1 That'd be great. 22:13Speaker 3 Okay, And we have to talk about something that is joked around the Spill team that I have a doctrine in which she's Quinn. 22:20Speaker 1 Are you across Quinn? The app Quinn? 22:23Speaker 4 Oh? 22:23Speaker 1 When you say. 22:24Speaker 2 App Quinn, I am across it. When you just say Quinn general, I'm like, I don't think I met her. 22:30Speaker 1 The app quick Quinn. Yes. It is like audio erotica It is an app. 22:35Speaker 3 I came across it back at my last job when I was at Murray Claire and I was interviewing Thomas Dougherty. So Thomas Doherty you might remember from the reboot of Gossip Girls, and he's more recently and tell me lies. 22:48Speaker 1 Yes, he has a very chiseled jaw. He has a very chiseled jaw. 22:52Speaker 3 And despite the accent that he often sports in his shows, he's not American. 22:57Speaker 1 He's Scottish. So he's got a beautiful, beauty Scottish face. I couldn't get any better. He's got it. 23:03Speaker 3 And so Quinn is an app like you subscribe to. There's audio erotica on there, done by contributors, creators like normal guys out there. 23:13Speaker 1 It's like a sexy, calm app. It is, Yes, it's calm, but instead of falling asleep, you're getting horny. You're getting horned. Yeah, yeah, I like it because I. 23:22Speaker 2 Heard that women are more likely to get off on like audible sound versus visual. 23:30Speaker 3 Well it would seem so, and like I think, you know, that's the problem. A lot of like visual porn is not made for women, it's made for men. So this app, which was actually created by Caroline Spiegel, And if that name sounds familiar, it's because she's the sister of Snapchat creator Evan. 23:45Speaker 1 Oh my gosh, she's like and they're both sibling. 23:49Speaker 3 Yeah, yeah, Nepo's sibling. But she's like cooler chica and has created something that's like way better for the. 23:54Speaker 1 Girlies and fun sibling duo. Yeah, which also means that she's sister in law. 24:01Speaker 2 They should do a collab time Snapchat. 24:06Speaker 7 They made share a video. 24:07Speaker 6 I don't know. 24:09Speaker 1 So she's created this space where it is like about women's pleasure, much needed, much needed space where it's the focus. It's like female run, female staffed business. Predominantly most of the background creators on it are female. The voices are predominantly male. There are some female voices on it too, because it's like male for female and female for female. Correct. 24:31Speaker 3 Something that they started doing, as I mentioned with Thomas Doherty, was doing these things they call quinn originals with famous men narrating audio erotica. 24:42Speaker 1 I love that. 24:43Speaker 3 So Thomas Doherty came first, so we have to like thank him because he. 24:52Speaker 1 Led the way. 24:53Speaker 3 And what has followed has been like the most astounding lineup of top tier a War winning, and I'm like, when I say award winning, I mean like, like, these are guys that are like Emmy Golden Globe like nominade winners. So I'm going to run you through the stuff, right, Okay. So there's been Jesse Williams, who, of course like, oh my god, those eyes plays Jackson Avery in Ray's Anatomy speaking of Flea Bag, which we just did Andrew. 25:21Speaker 1 The actors at which is like normal accent, yeah, with his Irish accent. Tom blythe tom blythe Beautiful tom Bly God, so many that we already talked about today. There is is like promo for Sunrise on the Things. 25:36Speaker 3 Yeah, well he's not in that unfortunately, no, because it's set so yeah, so Ray Fines actually plays Snow in that one. Okay, Yeah, so it's it's a bit less sexy because tom blythe isn't in it, but Beautiful tom blythe Chris Brinney from the Summer Return pretty again another thing, yes, so okay, but also not only are they getting these men to do it, they're really explicit like they're not tame, right, They're not. So they're getting them to say yes to it. They're getting them to do it. There's sound effects and everything, and they're. 26:09Speaker 1 Getting them to do it at the exact. 26:11Speaker 3 Time that like their major project is. So when the summertime Pretty season three came out, that's when. 26:18Speaker 1 Chris's episode dropped. Wow, same as like okay, that's smart dropped. Like They're so amazing the way they're able to get them. 26:26Speaker 3 And as someone who like books talent, right, that's my job here, that's what I do for No Filter, I book the talent and when I worked in magazines, I booked the cover star talent. 26:36Speaker 1 Right. 26:36Speaker 3 It is hard, like there is like they have not much time to spare. It is hard to get someone like everyone's chasing them, especially when they're on for like those projects. So it is amazing to me how they've managed to get these guys to do this, which is like quite a hard sell I would imagine at the start. But I think that because of the lineup they've had, it's getting easier and easier because when you look at that roster, if you're like a talent manager and you look and you go, oh Andrew Scott, like wow, he's done this, like you know all of these like amazing actors, then you get more likely to show it and say hey, like. 27:11Speaker 1 Yeah, that's chat you. 27:12Speaker 2 And I also wonder because like Romanticy is like killing it in the genre game right now. 27:19Speaker 3 Funny you mention that because Jesse Williams, yeah, his one is themed around Romanticy still like a. 27:25Speaker 1 Very porn vie. I like that. 27:28Speaker 3 The other guys that have done it who we also just talked about was Connor Story and Hudson Williams stuff. 27:33Speaker 1 They did a series together. Of course they did. Of course they did, because that's. 27:36Speaker 3 What they can't do anything and they can yeah, they can never not do anything together. And there's plays into that same vibe as well. 27:42Speaker 2 Yeah, because it's like every like I mean, I'm a huge Romanticy reader, and like I know that a lot of production companies are thinking about taking these like books that everyone loves to the big screen. Like we know Michael B. Jordan's bought rights of a series that was like the whole room of him, like talking to Yarnha on the red carpet, everyone thinking she's going to be starring in one of his upcoming productions. 28:04Speaker 1 And I think this. 28:05Speaker 2 Is such a good opportunity for these men to like jump on this platform because you're obviously, if you're gonna listen, you're gonna visualize them. 28:13Speaker 1 Absolutely. It's not like an anonymous no, exactly what they like. And they all have like massive fan. 28:19Speaker 3 Bases and girls and the way that the Queen Girls tease the next celebrity on their TikTok and Instagram. You'll see like an arm or you'll. 28:26Speaker 1 See like I know that arm, well you do, because you're like I recognize those tattoos, I recognize those backsteps. 28:33Speaker 3 Well indeed, because the latest one to drop, the latest series was narrated by Sean Hattersey of The Pit. 28:42Speaker 1 Oh, he is such a good looking guy. He is such but everyone on the Pit is very good looking. Yeah, but especially those two sad, sad, sexy old doctors. 28:53Speaker 2 Right, oh my god, Okay, I'm really really you know now. 28:57Speaker 3 Okay, So when I hadn't watched The Pit because like, I don't. 29:00Speaker 1 Want to get around a medical drama. You know, you're very much like LB, like it's too real. 29:05Speaker 3 Yes, But then when I started seeing Sean hat to see on the Quinn's feed, I was like, he's really hot. And I've since watched The Pit now I love it, which is so I love that so they're very good, like Quinn seem very good at picking men who aren't just like super attractive and are doing really well in that. 29:21Speaker 1 Space, but also very like Zygeist. Yeah, like everyone's already talking about that. They absolutely nail it. 29:26Speaker 3 I'm going to give a shout out to the two girls at Quinn that run the social media, Brooke and Michayla. 29:32Speaker 1 You're doing guard's work. Girls. 29:33Speaker 3 Absolutely, they're like world class girls, girls what we want. They are both gorgeous, they're always on there, they're primoing, they're so funny. Yeah, you've got to get around on this great and they have really good taste in men because I can see like who they're tapping, you can you can see who that they picked. 29:52Speaker 1 But do you want to hear some? I definitely want to hear some? Okay, how do we want to do that? Shall I play you some and you can kind of guess who you think it is? Okay? 30:00Speaker 7 Yeah? 30:00Speaker 1 I like that, you like that? Okay, I'm nervous. Spillers. 30:05Speaker 2 If you're watching this on Apple podcasts or YouTube, close your eyes, don't look at me. 30:08Speaker 1 Do this. 30:11Speaker 5 I would take your clothes off until you were nothing, but you're underwear. I will get that sound out of you again, the one you made when you press your body into mind. 30:25Speaker 6 Oh, the pushing noises, breathless, desperate for some relief, and the pressure building inside you. 30:38Speaker 1 Oh my god, who do you think that is? Was that Chris Briny? No? Older? Older, much older? 30:47Speaker 3 Ah, I'm gonna read you the tags that were under the audio for that older man. 30:55Speaker 1 Forbidden romance, forbidden romance, mutual pining, sexting, nude picture, jealousy, personal backstory, consent, very important, it is important. M dom oh male dominant watching instructing you. Oh, it's my pit man. Sean had to see it is he sounds so young in. 31:18Speaker 3 That well they make so much feel like the breathy voice must be the breathiness. 31:22Speaker 1 I don't know. Maybe he just feels young because he's very exciting. 31:27Speaker 7 You like that? 31:28Speaker 1 All right, Let's try another one and say if you can guess who this is. 31:34Speaker 7 And you never even said a word about any of it to me. I thought you trusted me and we trusted each other, but you betrayed. 31:48Speaker 4 Me and no, no, I am Oh you're sorry. 32:01Speaker 7 Now you're sorry. Here, we've been sorry. We all that's your chance, prove it to me. 32:19Speaker 4 Beg. You heard me. 32:28Speaker 7 Beg. 32:33Speaker 4 Sorry isn't good enough? 32:36Speaker 7 Not for the anguish I should when you left me? 32:38Speaker 2 Oh my god, this could easily be Flee Back season three, Andrew, You're so right. 32:44Speaker 1 Yeah, So what's really funny is that not only do they like get these guys, and they get them when they're doing a major project. The story kind of weaves in a little instead of like Neil, he's saying, beg, beg, and he says it so well, and he says it so so well. 33:04Speaker 2 I wish I had like a transcript to reply to what are you saying? Because I was like, Oh, I didn't say sorry, but maybe I should have. 33:10Speaker 1 Maybe I should have. 33:11Speaker 3 Okay, and I'm going to play you one more Okay, this one I've chosen to show you just how explicit it can go. 33:20Speaker 1 Oh god, we're gonna have to beat that so much. 33:24Speaker 8 Do you want me to fill you up? 33:26Speaker 4 Darling? 33:28Speaker 1 And I will, but first the bed moving. 33:33Speaker 8 I need you to get me ready for you come here and Niel, whoa that? 33:41Speaker 1 And your leg's still working after that? 33:42Speaker 4 Darling? 33:44Speaker 8 Yeah, let me help you. You're so pretty like this so hazy from Climax on your knees for me. Do you see how hard do you make me? How much I love making you feel good? I need you to spit on it. 34:05Speaker 1 For me, please, my god. Someone British, right, someone British is a tom BLI. No, I don't know any British men. Okay, that one was Jamie Campbell Bauer. Oh my god, stranger things, Stranger things. That's guys, Oh my god. Just if you're like imagining, he is really hot in real life. He's really really beautiful in realize. 34:36Speaker 2 And this is actually a good strategy for him because a lot of people he played Bena's so good. 34:41Speaker 3 Yeah, he's very good at being scary that a lot of people just hated him. But he really just came out and this was actually he's done two series on Quicks. 34:49Speaker 1 He loves it, he loves it. 34:51Speaker 3 He's come back for more, and whenever he's asked about it in the interviews, he can't speak highly enough of it. He's like, my god, I love that it's a female led company. I love that it prioritizes women's pleasure. He's all over it, like dream man. I can talk about other days like he's love of my life. Right, So he's done two series of it, which is great news for all the fans of like ones that have been in the past thing like we want more, we want more. Jamie has like come back and done another one, so you never know what could happen. But the reason why I wanted to talk about this today is because this morning I woke up and did my morning scroll. I don't do it an hour and forty five minutes. 35:34Speaker 1 It's getting I scroll instare in TikTok instead. 35:37Speaker 3 And they're also very healthy habits, very healthy habits. They have started teasing their next Quinn original with a famous person. 35:49Speaker 1 Who is it. It would appear to be Sam Hewan from Outlander. 35:55Speaker 7 Stop. 35:56Speaker 1 They are so smart, good, are so blad, They so know what the girls want. 36:03Speaker 9 Oh, it's always hot men as well. They're always the hottest I know. And they also do you know what, they're all really good guys too. Yeah, there's no one on their rostar that you're like, oh, he's like there's complaints about him or there's something weird, Like they just they're good guys. 36:18Speaker 1 They do their background racent. 36:20Speaker 2 And it's also like this new wave of famous men and it's like I feel like it's a generational thing. Where like all the Hollywood men are kind of like aicked out by the like girl fan base because they. 36:30Speaker 1 Don't want to make movies for girls. 36:31Speaker 2 Yeshe was like, these men are leaning right in because we're the ones who are spending money to watch them exactly in our movies. Yeah, and they're like doing how I don't know, I feel like their career path, we're doing this is the absolute correct choice for them as well as like the Quinn girls, like I feel like it would have been so hard to develop like pretty much a pawn app for women, but also wanting it to be as like socially out there, like I feel like for women, firstly, no porn is ever made for women, and then for women. 37:02Speaker 1 To watch porn, we have to pretend we don't. 37:04Speaker 2 Yeah, and like with Quinn, it's like giving us a safe space to like share these videos with friends, to show them off and be like, yes, this is exactly what we want. 37:13Speaker 1 Well, that is so that it's so true. 37:15Speaker 3 And you know where one of the best places on the internet is the comments section, Yeah, Quinn's TikTok and Instagram, particularly TikTok because people are just funnier on there anyway. 37:25Speaker 1 But like I have this. 37:26Speaker 3 Theory that I know where all the hardcore directioners have grown up and gone, because no fan base was funnier, hornier, smarter the directions. 37:38Speaker 1 Now they're all Quin listeners. 37:40Speaker 2 They're all Queen listeners and probably Quinn writers. Yeah, Quinn, they're writing them scripts. 37:44Speaker 3 Yeah, but you know what they do tap really great writers to write these stories. 37:48Speaker 1 Well, it's like a proper like story. It's not like you're suddenly in the middle of it. No, no, no, It's it's like a beginning middle story. 37:58Speaker 3 So Jamie's story is like kind of a bit Draco Hermione coded. 38:02Speaker 1 It's one of those like Drake really good at. 38:04Speaker 3 Finding like the zeitgeisty things that the girlies are reading that's on platforms like AO three, which is like where all the. 38:10Speaker 1 Fan fit goes. 38:11Speaker 3 Speaking of I discovered on x there is so much AO three smart stories about the Pit. 38:19Speaker 1 It hasn't ever been going that long. 38:21Speaker 3 But the girls are at home like girls away, right, So I created the most like full on stories about the Pit. Okay, I need to know who you want to see next on Quinn. 38:31Speaker 1 Let me think who would be great? Can I tell you mine? 38:34Speaker 5 Yeah? 38:34Speaker 1 Can you tell me you tell me yours. 38:35Speaker 2 Well, I think I was thinking of this while we were just listening to those Donald Glover as childish Gambino. He was meant to come to send me to do a concert in like I think, I want to say, twenty eighteen nineteen, and he broke his foot and he couldn't perform, and I had bought VIP tickets for me and my sister and I wasn't even working then, and I sent him along Instagram message. I was disappointed that he didn't come. 39:02Speaker 1 And he didn't make it up to you by doing a Quinn. Yeah, he can make it up to me doing Quinn. 39:06Speaker 2 But I think, like I want my story to be him replying to me and going, okay, I'll do a private concept for you at my house. 39:13Speaker 1 Oh my god, I love this and that can be our whole queen story. 39:16Speaker 6 But actually went. 39:17Speaker 1 Out because you've put yourself in the narrative. I don't know what. 39:20Speaker 3 You're not wrong to do it, because that is actually the way that the stories are written. Like when you listen to them in the story, they're the partner in the story. 39:29Speaker 1 I like that. 39:30Speaker 3 Yeah, okay, I do have mine. Okay, it's Joseph Morgan. 39:35Speaker 1 It's Joseph. 39:36Speaker 3 He played Klaus in The Vampire Diaries and the Originals. 39:40Speaker 1 I need to look this up. I need to look this he makes look it up. He was like the really bad one. 39:45Speaker 3 He was like a really bad He's so sexy. He also has not aged, so I think he might. 39:50Speaker 1 Actually he's an English actor. He is an English actor. 39:54Speaker 3 He was so sexy as Klaus. I'd love him to just like can he as a vampire? 40:00Speaker 1 Yeah? Well a vampire. 40:01Speaker 3 He was a vampire werewolf highbrid because he was like way too powerful. 40:05Speaker 1 Oh, the most powerful and the bad guy. 40:07Speaker 3 Yeah, the most powerful and the bad guy. And I think he'd nail it, but I want him to do it as Klaus. 40:13Speaker 1 Yes, he would nail it. Yeah, canail You amen to that. Thank you so much for listening to the Spill today. 40:22Speaker 3 If you enjoyed this episode, the best way you can support it is to give us a five star rating wherever you listen. It goes a long way in helping us continue to bring you the very best content. And don't forget weekend watch drops at six tomorrow. The Spill is produced by Manisha it Is Warren, with video production by Michael Keene, Bye, bye,Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair [Instagram reel @jfpennauthor; Publishing Perspectives; Audible; Spotify]; Insights from a 7-figure author business [BookBub]. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community and get articles, discounts, and extra audio and video tutorials on writing craft, author business, and AI tools, at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn This episode has been created from previous episodes of The Creative Penn Podcast, curated by Joanna Penn, as well as chapters from How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book. Links to the individual episodes are included in the transcript below. In this episode: Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' trifecta, how to hook readers on the very first page Define the Dramatic Question: Who is your character when the chips are down? Absolute specificity. Why “she's controlling” isn't good enough Understand the Heroine's Journey, strength through connection, not solo action Use ‘Metaphor Families' to anchor dialogue and give every character a distinctive voice Find the Diagnostic Detail, the moments that prove a character is real Writing pain onto the page without writing memoir Write diverse characters as real people, not stereotypes or plot devices Give your protagonist a morally neutral ‘hero' status. Compelling beats likeable. Build vibrant side characters for series longevity and spin-off potential Use voice as a rhythmic tool Link character and plot until they're inseparable Why discovery writers can write out of order and still build deep character Find the sensory details that make characters live and breathe More help with how to write fiction here, or in my book, How to Write a Novel. Writing Characters: 15 Tips for Writing Deep Character in Your Fiction In today's episode, I'm sharing fifteen tips for writing deep characters, synthesised from some of the most insightful interviews on The Creative Penn Podcast over the past few years, combined with what I've learned across more than forty books of my own. I'll be referencing episodes with Matt Bird, Will Storr, Gail Carriger, Barbara Nickless, and Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. I'll also draw on my own book, How to Write a Novel, which covers these fundamentals in detail. Whether you're writing your first novel or your fiftieth, whether you're a plotter or a discovery writer like me, these tips will help you create characters that readers believe in, care about, and invest in—and keep coming back for more. Let's get into it. 1. Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' Trifecta When I spoke with Matt Bird on episode 624, he laid out the three things you need to achieve on the very first page of your book or in the first ten minutes of a film. He calls it “Believe, Care, and Invest.” First, the reader must believe the character is a real person, somehow proving they are not a cardboard imitation of a human being, not just a generic type walking through a generic plot. Second, the reader must care about the character's circumstances. And third, the reader must invest in the character's ability to solve the story's central problem. Matt used The Hunger Games as his primary example, and it's brilliant. On the very first page, we believe Katniss's voice. Suzanne Collins writes in first person with a staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short declarative sentences—that immediately grounds us in a survivalist mentality. We care because Katniss is starving. She's protecting her little sister. And we invest because she is out there bow hunting, which Matt pointed out is one of the most badass things a character can do. She even kills a lynx two pages in and sells the pelt. We invest in her resourcefulness and grit before the plot has even begun. Matt was very clear that this has nothing to do with the character being “likable.” He said his subtitle, Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love, doesn't mean the character has to be a good person. He described “hero” as both gender-neutral and morally neutral. A hero can be totally evil or totally good. What matters is that we believe, care, and invest. He demonstrated this beautifully by breaking down the first ten minutes of WeCrashed, where the characters of Adam and Rebekah Neumann are absolutely not likable, but we are completely hooked. Adam steals his neighbour's Chinese food through a carefully orchestrated con involving an imaginary beer. It's not admirable behaviour, but the tradecraft involved, as Matt put it—using a term from spy movies—makes us invest in him. We see a character trying to solve the big problem of his life, which is that he's poor and wants to be rich, and we want to see if he can pull it off. Actionable step: Go to the first page of your current work in progress. Does it achieve all three? Does the reader believe this is a real person with a distinctive voice? Do they care about the character's circumstances? And do they invest in the character's ability to handle what's coming? If even one of those three is missing, that's your revision priority. 2. Define the Dramatic Question: Who Are They Really? Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, came on episode 490 and gave one of the most powerful frameworks I've ever heard for character-driven fiction. He explained that the human brain evolved language primarily to swap social information—in other words, to gossip. We are wired to monitor other people, to ask the question: who is this person when the chips are down? That's what Will calls the Dramatic Question, and it's what he believes lies at the heart of all compelling storytelling. It's not a question about plot. It's a question about the character's soul. And every scene in your novel should force the character to answer it. His example of Lawrence of Arabia is unforgettable. The Dramatic Question for the entire film is: who are you, Lawrence? Are you ordinary or are you extraordinary? At the beginning, Lawrence is a cocky, rebellious young soldier who believes his rebelliousness makes him superior. Every iconic scene in that three-hour film tests that belief. Sometimes Lawrence acts as though he truly is extraordinary—leading the Arabs into battle, being hailed as a god—and sometimes the world strips him bare and he sees himself as ordinary. Because it's a tragedy, he never overcomes his flaw. He doubles down on his belief that he's extraordinary until he becomes monstrous, culminating in that iconic scene where he lifts a bloody dagger and sees his own reflection with horror. Will also used Jaws to demonstrate how this works in a pure action thriller. Brody's dramatic question is simple: are you going to be old Brody who is terrified of the water, or new Brody who can overcome that fear? Every scene where the shark appears is really asking that question. And the last moment of the film isn't the shark blowing up. It's Brody swimming back through the water, saying he used to be scared of the water and he can't imagine why. Actionable step: Write down the Dramatic Question for your protagonist in a single sentence. Is it “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you brave enough to love again?” or “Will you sacrifice your principles for survival?” If you can't answer this with specificity, your character might still be a sketch rather than a person. 3. Get rid of Vague Flaws, and use Absolute Specificity This was one of Will Storr's most important points. He said that vague thinking about characters is really the enemy. When he teaches workshops and asks writers to describe their character's flaw, most of them say something like “they're very controlling.” And Will's response is: that's not good enough. Everyone is controlling. How are they controlling? What's the specific mechanism? He gave the example of a profile he read of Theresa May during the UK's Brexit chaos. Someone who knew her said that Theresa May's problem was that she always thinks she's the only adult in every room she goes into. Will said that stopped him in his tracks because it's so precise. If you define a character with that level of specificity, you can take them and put them in any genre, any situation—a spaceship, a Victorian drawing room, a school playground—and you will know exactly how they're going to behave. The same applies to Arthur Miller's Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, as Will described it: a man who believes absolutely in capitalistic success and the idea that when you die, you're going to be weighed on a scale, just as God weighs you for sin, but now you're weighed for success. That's not a vague flaw. That's a worldview you can drop into any story and watch it combust. Will made another counterintuitive point that I found really valuable: writers often think that piling on multiple traits will create a complex character, but the opposite is true. Starting with one highly specific flaw and running it through the demands of a relentless plot is what generates complexity. You end up with a far more nuanced, original character than if you'd started with a laundry list of vague attributes. Actionable step: Take your protagonist's flaw and pressure-test it. Is it specific enough that you could place this character in any situation and predict their behaviour? If you're stuck at “she's stubborn” or “he's insecure,” keep pushing. What kind of stubborn? What kind of insecure? Find the diagnostic sentence—the Theresa May level of precision. 4. Understand the Heroine's Journey: Strength Through Connection Gail Carriger came on episode 550 to discuss her nonfiction book, The Heroine's Journey, and it completely reframed how I think about some of my own fiction. Gail explained that the core difference between the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey comes down to how strength and victory are defined. The Hero's Journey is about strength through solo action. The hero must be continually isolated to get stronger. He goes out of civilisation, faces strife alone, and achieves victory through physical prowess and self-actualisation. The Heroine's Journey is the opposite. The heroine achieves her goals by activating a network. She's a delegator, a general. She identifies where she can't do something alone, finds the people who can help, and portions out the work for mutual gain. Gail put it simply: the heroine is very good at asking for help, which our culture tends to devalue but which is actually a powerful form of strength. Crucially, Gail stressed that gender is irrelevant to which journey you're writing. Her go-to examples are striking: the recent Wonder Woman film is practically a beat-for-beat hero's journey—Gilgamesh on screen, as Gail described it. Meanwhile, Harry Potter, both the first book and the series as a whole, is a classic heroine's journey. Harry's power comes from his network—Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, his friendships with Ron and Hermione. He doesn't defeat Voldemort alone. He defeats Voldemort because of love and connection. This distinction has real practical consequences for writers. If you're writing a hero's journey and you hit writer's block, Gail said, the solution is usually to isolate your hero further and pile on more strife. But if you're writing a heroine's journey, the solution is probably to throw a new character into the scene—someone who has advice to offer or a skill the heroine lacks. The actual solutions to writer's block are different depending on which narrative you're writing. As I reflected on my own work, I realised that my ARKANE thriller protagonist, Morgan Sierra, follows a hero's journey—she's a solo operative, a lone wolf like Jack Reacher or James Bond. But my Mapwalker fantasy series follows a heroine's journey, with Sienna and her group of friends working together. I hadn't consciously chosen those paths; the stories led me there. But understanding the framework helps me write more intentionally now. Actionable step: Identify which journey your protagonist is on. Does your character gain strength by being alone (hero) or by building connections (heroine)? This will inform every plot decision you make, from how they face obstacles to how your story ends. 5. Use ‘Metaphor Families' to Anchor Dialogue and Voice One of the most practical techniques Matt Bird shared on episode 624 is the idea of assigning each character a “metaphor family”—a specific well of language that they draw from. This gives each character a distinctive voice that goes beyond accent or dialect. Matt explained how in The Wire, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, every character has a different metaphor family. What struck him was that Omar, this iconic character, never utters a single curse word in the entire series. His metaphor family is pirate. He talks about parlays, uses language that feels like it belongs in Pirates of the Caribbean, and it creates this incredible ironic counterpoint against his urban setting. It tells us immediately that this is a character who sees himself in a tradition of people that doesn't match his immediate surroundings. Matt also referenced the UK version of The Office, where Gareth works at a paper company but aspires to the military. So all of his language is drawn from a military metaphor family. He doesn't talk about filing and photocopying; he talks about tactics and discipline and being on the front line. This tells us that the character has a life and dreams beyond the immediate scene—and it's the gap between aspiration and reality that makes him both funny and believable. He pointed out that a metaphor family sometimes comes from a character's background, but it's often more interesting when it comes from their aspirations. What does your character want to be? What world do they fantasise about inhabiting? That's where their language should come from. In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a spiritual hermit, but his metaphor family is military. He uses the language of generals and commanders, and that ironic counterpoint is part of what makes him feel so rich. Actionable step: Assign each of your main characters a metaphor family. It could be based on their job, their background, or—more interestingly—their secret aspirations. Then go through your dialogue and make sure each character is consistently drawing from that well of language. If two characters sound the same when you strip away the dialogue tags, this is the fix. 6. Find the Diagnostic Detail: The Diagonal Toast Avoid clichéd character tags—the random scar, the eye patch, the mysterious limp—unless they serve a deep narrative purpose. Matt Bird on episode 624 was very funny about this: he pointed out that Nick Fury, Odin, and eventually Thor all have eye patches in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eye patches are done, he said. You cannot do eye patches anymore. Instead, look for what I'm calling the “diagonal toast” detail, after a scene Matt described from Captain Marvel. In the film, Captain Marvel is trying to determine whether Nick Fury is who he says he is. She asks him to prove he isn't a shapeshifting alien. Fury shares biographical details—his history, his mother—but then she pushes further and says, name one more thing you couldn't possibly have made up about yourself. And Fury says: if toast is cut diagonally, I can't eat it. Matt said that detail is gold for a writer because it feels pulled from a real life. You can pull it from your own life and gift it to your characters, and the reader can tell it's not manufactured. He gave another example from The Sopranos: Tony Soprano's mother won't answer the phone after dark. The show's creator, David Chase, confirmed on the DVD commentary that this came from his own mother, who genuinely would not answer the phone after dark and couldn't explain why. Matt's practical advice was to keep a journal. Write down the strange, specific things that people do or say. Mine your own life for those hyper-specific details. You just need one per book. In my own writing, I've used this approach. In my ARKANE thrillers, my character Morgan Sierra has always been Angelina Jolie in my mind—specifically Jolie in Lara Croft or Mr and Mrs Smith. And Blake Daniel in my crime thriller series was based on Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy. I paste pictures of actors into my Scrivener projects. It helps with visuals, but also with the sense of the character, their energy and physicality. But visual details only take you so far. It's the behavioural quirks—the diagonal toast moments—that make a character feel genuinely alive. That said, physical character tags can work brilliantly when they serve the story. As I discuss in How to Write a Novel, Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike is an amputee, and his pain and the physical challenges of his prosthesis are a key part of every story—it's not a cosmetic detail, it's woven into the action and the character's psychology. My character Blake Daniel always wears gloves to cover the scars on his hands, which provides an angle into his wounded past as well as a visual cue for the reader. And of course, Harry Potter's lightning-shaped scar isn't just a mark—it's a direct connection to his nemesis and the mythology of the entire series. The rule of thumb is: if the tag tells us something about the character's interior life or connects to the plot, it's earning its place. If it's just there to make the character visually distinctive, it's probably a crutch. Game of Thrones takes character tags further with the family houses, each with their own mottos and sigils. The Starks say “Winter is coming” and their sigil is a dire wolf. Those aren't just labels—they're worldview made visible. Actionable step: Start a “diagonal toast” notebook. Every time you notice something strange and specific about someone's behaviour—something that feels too real to be made up—write it down. Then gift it to a character who needs more texture. 7. Displace Your Own Trauma into the Work Barbara Nickless shared something deeply personal on episode 732 that fundamentally changed how I think about putting pain onto the page. While starting At First Light, the first book in her Dr. Evan Wilding series, she lost her son to epilepsy—something called SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. One day he was there, and the next day he was gone. Barbara said that writing helped her cope with the trauma, that doing a deep dive into Old English literature and the Viking Age for the book's research became a lifeline. But here's what's important: she didn't give Dr. Evan Wilding her exact trauma. Evan Wilding is four feet five inches, and Barbara described how he has to walk through a world that won't adjust to him. That's its own form of learning to cope when circumstances are beyond your control. She displaced her genuine grief into the character's different but parallel struggle. When I asked her about the difference between writing for therapy and writing for an audience, she drew on her experience teaching creative writing to veterans through a collaboration between the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts. She said she's found that she can pour her heartache into her characters and process it through them, even when writing professionally, and that the genuine emotion is what touches readers. We've all been through our own losses and griefs, so seeing how a character copes can be deeply meaningful. I've always found that putting my own pain onto the page is the most direct way to connect with a reader's soul. My character Morgan Sierra's musings on religion and the supernatural are often my own. Her restlessness, her fascination with the darker edges of faith—those come from me. But her Krav Maga fighting skills and her ability to kill the bad guys are definitely her own. That gap between what's mine and what's hers is where the fiction lives. Barbara also said something on that episode that I wrote down and stuck on my wall. She said the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul. I've been thinking about that ever since. On my own wall, I have “Measure your life by what you create.” Different words, same truth. Actionable step: If you're carrying something heavy—grief, anger, fear, regret—consider how you might displace it into a character's different but emotionally parallel struggle. Don't copy your exact situation; transform it. The emotion will be genuine, and the reader will feel it. 8. Write Diverse Characters as Real People When I spoke with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673—Sarah is Choctaw and a historical fiction author honoured by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian—she offered a perspective that every fiction writer needs to hear. The key message was to move away from stereotypes. Don't write your American Indian character as the “Wise Guide” who exists solely to dispense mystic wisdom to the white protagonist. Don't limit diverse characters to historical settings, as though they only exist in the past. Place them in normal, contemporary roles. Your spaceship captain, your forensic scientist, your small-town baker—any of them can be American Indian, or Nigerian, or Japanese, and their heritage should be a lived-in part of their identity, not the sole reason they exist in the story. I write international thrillers and dark fantasy, and my fiction is populated with characters from all over the world. I have a multi-cultural family and I've lived in many places and travelled widely, so I've met, worked with, and had relationships with people from different cultures. I find story ideas through travel, and if I set my books in a certain place, then the story is naturally populated with the people who live there. As I discuss in my book, How to Write a Novel, the world is a diverse place, so your fiction needs to be populated with all kinds of people. If I only populated my fiction with characters like me, they would be boring novels. There are many dimensions of difference—race, nationality, sex, age, body type, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, culture, education level—and even then, don't assume that similar types of people think the same way. Some authors worry they will make mistakes. We live in a time of outrage, and some authors have been criticised for writing outside their own experience. So is it too dangerous to try? Of course not. The media amplifies outliers, and most authors include diverse characters in every book without causing offence because they work hard to get it right. It's about awareness, research, and intent. Actionable step: Audit the cast of your current work in progress. Have you written a mono-cultural perspective for all of them? If so, consider who could bring a different background, perspective, or set of cultural specifics to the story. Not as a token addition, but as a real person with a real life. 9. Respect Tribal and Cultural Specificity Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673 was emphatic about one thing: never treat diverse groups as monolithic. If you're writing a Native American character, you must research the specific nation. Choctaw is not Navajo, just as British is not French. Sarah described the distinct cultural markers of the Choctaw people—the diamond pattern you'll see on traditional shirts and dresses, which represents the diamondback rattlesnake. They have distinct dances and songs. She said that if she saw someone in traditional dress at a distance, she would know whether they were Choctaw based on what they were wearing. She encouraged writers who want to write specifically about a nation to get to know those people. Go to events, go to a powwow, learn about the individual culture. She noted that a big misconception is that American Indians exist only in the past—she stressed that they are still here, still living their cultures, and fiction should reflect that present reality. I took a similar approach when writing Destroyer of Worlds, which is set mostly in India. I read books about Hindu myth, watched documentaries about the sadhus, and had one of my Indian readers from Mumbai check my cultural references. For Risen Gods, set in New Zealand with a young Maori protagonist, I studied books about Maori mythology and fiction by Maori authors, and had a male Maori reader check for cultural issues. Research is simply an act of empathy. The practical takeaway is this: if you're going to include a character from a specific cultural background, do the work. Use specific cultural details rather than generic signifiers. Sarah talked about how even she fell into stereotypes when she was first writing, until her mother pointed them out. If someone from within a culture can fall into those traps, the rest of us certainly can. Do the research, try your best, ask for help, and apologise if you need to. Actionable step: If you're writing a character from a specific culture, identify three to five sensory or behavioural details that are particular to that culture—not the generic version, but the real, researched, lived-in version. Consider hiring a sensitivity reader from that community to check your work. 10. Give Your Protagonist a Morally Neutral ‘Hero' Status Matt Bird was clear about this on episode 624: the word “hero” simply means the protagonist, the person we follow through the story. It's a functional role, not a moral label. We don't have to like them. We don't even have to root for their goals in a moral sense. We just have to find them compelling enough to invest our attention in their problem-solving. Think of Succession, where every member of the Roy family is varying degrees of awful, and yet the show was utterly compelling. Or WeCrashed, where Adam Neumann is a narcissistic con artist, but we can't look away because he's trying to solve the enormous problem of building an empire from nothing, and the tradecraft he employs is fascinating. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, readers must want to spend time with your characters. They don't have to be lovable or even likable—that will depend on your genre and story choices—but they have to be captivating enough that we want to spend time with them. A character who is trying to solve a massive problem will naturally draw investment from the audience, even if we wouldn't want to have tea with them. Will Storr extended this idea by pointing out that the audience will actually root for a character to solve their problem even if the audience doesn't actually want the character's goal to be achieved in the real world. We don't really want more billionaires, but we invested in Adam Neumann's rise because that was the problem the story posed, and our brains are wired to invest in problem-solving. This connects to something deeper: what does your character want, and why? As I explore in How to Write a Novel, desire operates on multiple levels. Take a character like Phil, who joins the military during wartime. On the surface, she wants to serve her country. But she also wants to escape her dead-end town and learn new skills. Deeper still, her father and grandfather served, and by joining up, she hopes to finally earn their respect. And perhaps deepest of all, her father died on a mission under mysterious circumstances, and she wants to find out what happened from the inside. That layering of motivation is what turns a flat character into a three-dimensional one. The audience doesn't need to be told all of this explicitly. It can emerge through action, dialogue, and the choices the character makes under pressure. But you, the writer, need to know it. You need to know what your character really wants deep down, because that desire—more than any external plot device—is what drives the story forward. And your antagonist needs the same depth. They also want something, often diametrically opposed to your protagonist, and they need a reason that makes sense to them. In my ARKANE thriller Tree of Life, my antagonist is the heiress of a Brazilian mining empire who wants to restore the Earth to its original state to atone for the destruction caused by her father's company. She's part of a radical ecological group who believe the only way to restore Nature is to end all human life. It's extreme, but in an era of climate change, it's a motivation readers can understand—even if they disagree with the solution. Actionable step: If you're struggling to make a morally grey character work, make sure their problem is big enough and their methods are specific and interesting enough that we invest in the how, even if we're ambivalent about the what. 11. Build Vibrant Side Characters Gail Carriger made a point on episode 550 that was equal parts craft advice and business strategy. In a Heroine's Journey model, side characters aren't just fodder to be killed off to motivate the hero. They form a network. And because you don't have to kill them—unlike in a hero's journey, where allies are often betrayed or removed so the hero can be further isolated—you can pick up those side characters and give them their own books. Gail said this creates a really voracious reader base. You write one series with vivid side characters, and then readers fall in love with those side characters and want their stories. So you write spin-offs. The romance genre does this brilliantly—think of the Bridgerton books, where each sibling gets their own novel. The side character in one book becomes the protagonist in the next. Barbara Nickless experienced this firsthand with her Dr. Evan Wilding series. She has River Wilding, Evan's adventurous brother, and Diana, the axe-throwing research assistant, and her editor has already expressed interest in a spin-off series with those characters. Barbara described creating characters she wants to spend time with, or characters who give her nightmares but also intrigue her. That's the dual test: are they interesting enough for you to write, and interesting enough for readers to demand more? As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, characters that span series can deepen the reader's relationship with them as you expand their backstory into new plots. Readers will remember the character more than the plot or the book title, and look forward to the next instalment because they want more time with those people. British crime author Angela Marsons described it as readers feeling like returning to her characters is like putting on a pair of old slippers. Actionable step: Look at your supporting cast. Is there a side character who is vivid enough to carry their own story? If not, what could you add—a specific hobby, a distinct voice, a compelling backstory—that would make readers want more of them? 12. Use Voice as a Rhythmic Tool Voice is one of the most important elements of novel writing, and Matt Bird helped me think about it in a technical, mechanical way that I found really useful. He pointed out that the ratio of periods to commas defines a character's internal reality. A staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short sentences—suggests a character who is certain, grounded, or perhaps survivalist and traumatised. Katniss in The Hunger Games has a period-heavy voice. She's in survival mode. She doesn't have time for complexity or qualification. A flowing, comma-heavy style suggests someone more academic, more nuanced, or possibly more scattered and manipulative. The character who qualifies everything, who adds sub-clauses and digressions, is a different kind of person from the character who speaks in declarations. This is something you can actually measure. Pull up a passage of your character's dialogue or internal monologue and count the periods versus the commas. If the rhythm doesn't match who the character is supposed to be, you've found a mismatch you can fix. Sentence length is the heartbeat of your character's persona. And voice extends beyond rhythm to the words themselves. As I discussed in the metaphor families tip, each character should draw from a distinctive well of language. But voice also encompasses their relationship to silence. Some characters talk around the thing they mean; others say it straight. Some are self-deprecating; others are blunt to the point of rudeness. All of these choices are character choices, not just style choices. I find it useful to read my dialogue aloud—and not just to check for naturalness, but to hear whether each character sounds distinct. If you could swap dialogue lines between two characters and nobody would notice, you have a voice problem. One practical test: cover the dialogue tags and see if you can tell who's speaking from the words alone. Actionable step: Choose a key passage from your protagonist's point of view and read it aloud. Does the rhythm match the character? A soldier under fire should not sound like a philosophy professor at a wine tasting. Adjust the ratio of periods to commas until the voice feels right. 13. Link Character and Plot Until They're Inseparable Will Storr made the case on episode 490 that the number one problem he sees in the writing he encounters—in workshops, in submissions, even in published books—is that the characters and the plots are unconnected. There's a story happening, and there are people in it, but the story isn't a product of who those people are. He said a story should be like life. In our lives, the plots are intimately connected to who we are as characters. The goals we pursue, the obstacles we face, the same problems that keep recurring—these are products of our personalities, our flaws, our specific ways of being in the world. His framework is that your plot should be designed specifically to plot against your character. You've got a character with a particular flaw; the plot exists to test that flaw over and over until the character either transforms or doubles down and explodes. Jaws is the perfect example. Brody is afraid of water. A shark shows up in the coastal town he's responsible for protecting. The entire plot is engineered to force him to confront the one thing he cannot face. Will pointed out that the whole plot of Jaws is structured around Brody's flaw. It begins with the shark arriving, the midpoint is when Brody finally gets the courage to go into the water, and the very final scene isn't the shark blowing up—it's Brody swimming back through the water. Even a film that's ninety-eight percent action is, at its core, structured around a character with a character flaw. This is the standard I aspire to in my own work, even in my action-heavy thrillers. The external plot should be a mirror of the internal struggle. When those two are aligned, the story becomes irresistible. Will also made an important point about series fiction, which is where most commercial authors live. I asked him how this works when your character can't be transformed at the end of every book because there has to be a next book. His answer was elegant: you don't cure them. Episodic TV characters like Fleabag or David Brent or Basil Fawlty never truly change—and the fact that they don't change is actually the source of the comedy. But every episode throws a new story event at them that tests and exposes their flaw. You just keep throwing story events at them again and again. That's a soap opera, a sitcom, and a book series. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, character flaws are aspects of personality that affect the person so much that facing and overcoming them becomes central to the plot. In Jaws, the protagonist Brody is afraid of the water, but he has to overcome that flaw to destroy the killer shark and save the town. But remember, your characters should feel like real people, so never define them purely by their flaws. The character addicted to painkillers might also be a brilliant and successful female lawyer who gets up at four in the morning to work out at the gym, likes eighties music, and volunteers at the local dog shelter at weekends. Character wounds are different from flaws. They're formed from life experience and are part of your character's backstory—traumatic events that happened before the events of your novel but shape the character's reactions in the present. In my ARKANE thrillers, Morgan Sierra's husband Elian died in her arms during a military operation. This happened before the series begins, but her memories of it recur when she faces a firefight, and she struggles to find happiness again for fear of losing someone she loves once more. And then there's the perennial advice: show, don't tell. Most writers have heard this so many times that it's easy to nod and then promptly write scenes that tell rather than show. Basically, you need to reveal your character through action and dialogue, rather than explanation. In my thriller Day of the Vikings, Morgan Sierra fights a Neo-Viking in the halls of the British Museum and brings him down with Krav Maga. That fight scene isn't just about showing action. It opens up questions about her backstory, demonstrates character, and moves the plot forward. Telling would be something like: “Morgan was an expert in Krav Maga.” Showing is the reader discovering it through the scene itself. Actionable step: Look at the main plot events of your novel. For each major turning point, ask: does this scene specifically test my protagonist's flaw? If not, can you redesign the scene so that it does? The tighter the connection between character and plot, the more powerful the story. 14. The ‘Maestra' Approach: Write Out of Order If you're a discovery writer like me, you may feel like the deep character work I've been describing sounds more suited to plotters. But Barbara Nickless gave me a beautiful metaphor on episode 732 that reframes it entirely. Barbara described her evolving writing process as being like a maestra standing in front of an orchestra. Sometimes you bring in the horns—a certain theme—and sometimes you bring in the strings—a certain character—and sometimes you turn to the soloist. It's a more organic and jumping-around process than linear writing, and Barbara said she's only recently given herself permission to work this way. When I told her that I use Scrivener to write in scenes out of order and then drag and drop them into a structure later, she was genuinely intrigued. And this is how I've always worked. I'll see the story in my mind like a movie trailer—flashes of the big emotional scenes, the pivotal confrontations, the moments of revelation—and I write those first. I don't know how they hang together until quite late in the process. Then I'll move scenes around, print the whole thing out, and figure out the connective tissue. The point is that discovery writers can absolutely build deep characters. Sometimes writing the big emotional scenes first is how you discover who the character is before you fill in the rest. You don't need a twenty-page character worksheet or a 200-page outline like Jeffery Deaver. You need to be willing to follow the character into the unknown and trust that the structure will emerge. As Barbara said, she writes to know what she's thinking. That's the discovery writer's credo. And I would add: I write to know who my characters are. Actionable step: If you're stuck on your current chapter, skip it. Write the scene that's burning in your imagination, even if it's from the middle or the end. That scene might be the key to unlocking who your character really is. 15. Use Research to Help with Empathy Research shouldn't just be about factual accuracy—it's a tool for finding the sensory details that create empathy. Barbara Nickless described research as almost an excuse to explore things that fascinate her, and I feel exactly the same way. I would go so far as to say that writing is an excuse for me to explore the things that interest me. Barbara and I both travel for our stories. For her Dr. Evan Wilding books, she did deep research into Old English literature and the Viking Age. For my thriller End of Days, I transcribed hours of video from Appalachian snake-handling churches on YouTube to understand the worldview of the worshippers, because my antagonist was brought up in that tradition. I couldn't just make that up. I had to hear their language, feel their conviction, understand why they would hold venomous serpents as an act of faith. Barbara also mentioned getting to Israel and the West Bank for research, and I've been to both places too. Finding that one specific sensory detail—the smell of a particular location, the specific way an expert handles a tool, the sound of a particular kind of music—makes the character's life feel lived-in. It's the difference between a character who is described as living in a place and a character who inhabits it. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, don't write what you know. Write what you want to learn about. I love research. It's part of why I'm an author in the first place. I take any excuse to dive into a world different from my own. Research using books, films, podcasts, and travel, and focus particularly on sources produced by people from the worldview you want to understand. Actionable step: For your next piece of character research, go beyond reading. Watch a documentary, visit a location, talk to someone who lives the experience. Find one sensory detail—a smell, a sound, a texture—that you couldn't have invented. That detail will make your character feel real. Bonus: Measure Your Life by What You Create In an age of AI and a tsunami of content, your ultimate brand protection is the quality of your human creation. Barbara Nickless said that the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. Don't be afraid to take that step back, like I did with my deadlifting. Take the time to master these deeper craft skills. It might feel like you're slowing down or going backwards by not chasing the latest marketing trend, but it's the only way to step forward into a sustainable, high-quality career. Your characters are your signature. No AI can replicate the specificity of your lived experience, the emotional truth of your displaced trauma, or the sensory details you've gathered from a life of curiosity and travel. Those are yours. Pour them into your characters, and they will resonate for years to come. Actionable Takeaway: Identify the Dramatic Question for your current protagonist. Can you state it in a single sentence with the kind of specificity Will Storr described? Is it as clear as “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you the only adult in the room?” If you can't answer it with that kind of precision, your character might still be a sketch. Give them a diagonal toast moment today. Find the one hyper-specific detail that proves they are not an imitation of life. And then ask yourself: does your plot test your character's flaw in every major scene? If you can align those two things—a precisely defined character and a plot that exists to test them—you will have a story that readers cannot put down. References and Deep Dives The episodes I've referenced today are all available with full transcripts at TheCreativePenn.com: Episode 732 — Facing Fears, and Writing Unique Characters with Barbara Nickless Episode 673 — Writing Choctaw Characters and Diversity in Fiction with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer Episode 624 — Writing Characters with Matt Bird Episode 550 — The Heroine's Journey with Gail Carriger Episode 490 — How Character Flaws Shape Story with Will Storr Books mentioned: The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love by Matt Bird The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book by Joanna Penn You can find all my books for authors at CreativePennBooks.com and my fiction and memoir at JFPennBooks.com Happy writing! How was this episode created? This episode was initiated created by NotebookLM based on YouTube videos of the episodes linked above from YouTube/TheCreativePenn, plus my text chapters on character from How to Write a Novel. NotebookLM created a blog post from the material and then I expanded it and fact checked it with Claude.ai 4.6 Opus, and then I used my voice clone at ElevenLabs to narrate it. The post Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character first appeared on The Creative Penn.

'The View' co-hosts weigh in on the president's response to protesters clashing with law enforcement following a second shooting in about a week involving ICE in Minneapolis.  Then, the co-hosts question if the search of a Washington Post journalist's home is an attack on journalism.  Plus, the co-hosts react to people finding comfort in shows where characters are good at their jobs that some are calling “competency porn.”  Kenan Thompson talks working with his heroes on ‘Saturday Night Live,' looks back on his iconic sketches on the show and shares the inspiration behind his new children's book, 'Unfunny Bunny'!  Jesse Williams discusses his new documentary 'Hoops, Hopes & Dreams' and shares what surprised him the most while studying Martin Luther King Jr. for the film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two unlikely travel mates and a tour of the American South that turns into a masterclass on what college sport really demands. We bring together Jesse Williams, national champion at Alabama and Super Bowl winner, and Chris Bates, a former Oklahoma State tennis player and founder of Study & Play USA, to map the modern pathway for Australian student athletes.Across locker rooms and alumni halls, we test the myths. Is JUCO a step down or a launch pad? Does NIL change everything or just turn up the noise? Jesse cuts through with lived experience: be undeniable. Best players play, but the best people last. He shares how JUCO forged resilience, why Alabama's culture still shapes his life, and how alumni support in the U.S. feels like coming home. We talk about the transfer portal, social media pressure, and the simple truth that winning cultures value character as much as speed and strength.If you're an Aussie eyeing the U.S., this is your blueprint. We break down why data-driven combines matter, how to build a credible athletic and academic profile, and why the right mindset beats hype every time. You'll hear the line that stopped a future first-rounder in his tracks: bridge the gap between who you think you are and who you really are. It's tough-love mentorship delivered with clarity, purpose, and a clear call to action—give yourself twelve months to build the missing 10 percent.Subscribe for more stories, practical steps, and honest insight on U.S. college sport. If this helped sharpen your plan, share it with a mate who needs a push and leave a review to help others find the pathway.

Think you know U.S. college sport from the headlines? Try walking seven campuses in ten days and stepping inside the rooms where performance is built. We share what's actually changed since COVID and why the pathway for Australian student athletes is more compelling than ever.From the moment we arrived, the pattern was unmistakable: proximity drives progress. Training centres, rehab, academic support, and fueling stations sit within a short walk of the dorms. That convenience isn't just nice to have; it hardwires better habits. We unpack how facilities have levelled up across divisions, why nutrition stations are everywhere, and how live data in gyms and tennis centres is turning PBs and workload into daily decisions. The vibe is alive, the systems are mature, and the focus is clear: help athletes improve faster.Coaches told us their appetite for internationals is growing, with Australians high on the list. The reason is athletes who travel far tend to value the opportunity and stick the process. We explain how to stand out: start early, build your baseline before you go, and use film, results, and academics to widen your options. We also cut through media noise: the “student athlete bubble” is real, and day-to-day life is more about class, training, and team travel than politics or headlines.NIL is reshaping incentives, especially where American football's economic engine is strongest. We take you behind the scenes at places like USC, Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama to show how game-day scale funds world-class support across sports. Even if your sport is smaller, understanding NIL, compliance, and personal brand can open real doors. It all adds up to a simple truth: if you prepare well before you land, the system is ready to accelerate you.

Jesse Williams On His Heart Attack + Alabama Football Mid-Season Evaluation!It's another hard-hitting episode of The Bama Standard, the show where Alabama football legends and diehard fans keep it real! Hosted by Justin Riley, former Alabama linebacker Marvin Constant, and Daniel Pettey, this week's show dives deep into how the Crimson Tide survived South Carolina and what's next as they head into a crucial bye week.We open with Marvin Constant's raw and unfiltered quick take on Alabama's latest performance — breaking down what went right, what still needs fixing, and how Kalen DeBoer's team can stay focused for the stretch run. Then, we welcome an Alabama great, Jesse Williams, to the show. The former Crimson Tide defensive lineman shares his thoughts on this year's squad, his emotional return to Tuscaloosa on game weekend, and his powerful story of battling back from heart issues with the same toughness that made him an Alabama legend.Whether you're a lifelong Alabama fan or just love college football, this episode delivers elite insight, passion, and real talk from inside the Tide family.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Silver Quintette - "Sinner's Crossroads" [0:00:00] Evangelist David Shows Sr and the Christian Seeker Chorus - "That Liar Shall Not Tarry in Thy Sight" [0:03:18] Mr. Jesse Williams and the Mt. Pisgah Chorus - "Serving the Lord" [0:07:39] Southern Gates Quartet - "I Found the Lord At Last" [0:12:39] Mr. Jesse Williams and the Mt. Pisgah Chorus - "Who Brought Me Safe" [0:17:33] Royal Gospel Travelers - "The Lord is My Shepherd" [0:19:33] Kelly Brothers - "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" [0:22:19] Singing Crusaders - "Now Lord" [0:25:17] Dixie Melo-Tones - "All In My Room" [0:32:22] Mighty Travelneers - "Liar" [0:34:42] Dixie Travelers - "Jesus Has Gone On" [0:39:18] Converters - "He Will Give What You Need" [0:44:55] Seniors of Harmony - "Let Him Come In" [0:41:49] Spiritual Redeemers - "He's My Friend" [0:47:39] Fabulous Golden Wings - "I've Got a Friend" [0:51:20] https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/157479

This week, Louis is joined by comedian Brendan Scannell to discuss Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, as well as The Rock's A24 debut in The Smashing Machine. Jesse Williams also joins to discuss his new Amazon series, Hotel Costiera, his experience with Steve Martin, Martin Short and Meryl Streep on Only Murders in the Building, as well as his memories of the late Richard Greenberg and his the Tony-winning play, Take Me Out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A severed hand, a missing billionaire, and a suspicious trophy wife. The pilot (“Sheryl”) of Hotel Costiera on Prime Video sets two tracks: a season-long mystery about the hotel owner's missing daughter and a one-off circumstance involving a billionaire's scheme to game his shareholders and family. We discuss the cliffside vibes and the cast—led by Jesse Williams, who steers a small crew of talented misfits through the hotel's emergencies. After weighing the pros and cons, and the logic faux pas, we share our rating. Tune in and enjoy. Welcome to Today's Episode!

On episode 67 of the Innovators Podcast, Annabelle Wadle, a Communications and Marketing Intern at the Iowa State University Research Park, interviews Jesse Williams, Founder of Dinder. In this episode we discuss what led Jesse to create his app, Dinder, and his experience with CyStarters.

For Hotel Costiera, Jesse Williams was drawn to making "something that is global.” The new Prime Video series stars Williams as Daniel De Luca, a former Marine who returns home to Italy to work at a hotel, only to find himself tasked with finding the missing daughter of the hotel's owner. While he has “no complaints” filming in Positano paradise, “I tried to stay relatively disciplined, but I ate a lot of pasta and bread,” Williams told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Of the character, he related to his duality. "I don't really say I'm half anything," he notes. "That has to have found itself stewing in something Daniel DeLuca is dealing with." And this series represents a new phase for Williams, taking creative control as a producer. "It certainly feels good... to bet on you in the same way you're trying to bet on yourself.” After leaving his iconic role on Grey's Anatomy, his first move was a deliberate challenge, first going to Broadway and now this, raising the stakes even further by creating an original show. “It's not based on IP or something else. Like it's really trying to forge something new in a space.” But at the end of the day, it's all about the process. "I love the collaboration that exists in our business." Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jesse Williams & Regina Hall join host Andy Cohen. Listen to lively debates on everything from the latest drama surrounding your favorite Bravolebrities to what celebrity is making headlines that week live from the WWHL clubhouse.Aired on 09/28/25Binge all your favorite Bravo shows with the Bravo app: bravotv.com/getbravoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jesse Williams se bagarre dans "Hotel Costiera". On vous conseille aussi "House of Guinness" sur Netflix

NBC News Medical Contributor Dr. Natalie Azar discusses gut health and creating a healthy microbiome. Plus, Selma Blair opens up about her personal journey navigating multiple sclerosis. Also, Jesse Williams talks his new action-comedy 'Hotel Costiera.' And, Orthopedic Physical Therapist, Karena Wu shares some footwear upgrades to ease pain and discomfort. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 5ú lá de mí Lúnasa, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1973 tharrtháil triúir buachaillí óga tar éis a síobadh a bháid innill ó thalamh agus mhúch an t- inneall den bhád. I 1988 d'fhostaigh na hospidéil sa tír 2 mhíle altraí sealadach. I 1988 chuaigh cúpla daoine ón chontae a sheinm cheol chuig an Eastóin sa U.S.S.R. I 1994 bhí feachtas tiomsú airgid mór ann chun forbairt a dhéanamh do Sea World I Lahinch. Sin Los Del Rio le Macarena – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1996. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1984 chan Bruce Springsteen cheolchoirm 1 amach as 10 ag The Meadowlands I New Jersey chun an teacht abhaile den turas Born In The USA a mharcáil. I 2007 rinne 12 duine tástáil DNA mar go raibh siad ag rá go raibh amhránaí James Brown a athair agus tháinig sé amach go raibh ar a laghad beirt acu ag insint na fírinne. Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá seo rugadh Louis Walsh in Éirinn I 1952 agus rugadh asiteoir Jesse Williams I Meiriceá ar an lá seo I 1981 agus seo chuid de na rudaí a rinne sé. Beidh mé ar ais libh amárach le heagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo. Welcome back to another edition of Ar An Lá Seo on the 5th of August, with me Lauren Ní Loingsigh 1973: 3 young boys were rescues and brought back to safety after their motorboat drifted away from land when their engine cut out. 1988: Irish hospitals employed 2,000 temporary nurses. 1988: Clare was set to be represented by Irish musicians on their tour to Estonia in the U.S.S.R. 1994: A major fundraising campaign was launched in efforts to raise needed funded to develop Lahinch Sea World. That was Los Del Rio with Macarena – the biggest song on this day in 1996 Onto music news on this day In 1984 Bruce Springsteen played the first of ten nights at the Meadowlands in New Jersey to mark the homecoming of the Born in the USA Tour. 2007 DNA testing on about a dozen people who claimed late soul star James Brown was their father revealed that at least two of them were telling the truth. And finally celebrity birthdays on this day – Louis Walsh was born in Ireland in 1952 and actor Jesse Williams was born in America on this day in 1981 and this is some of the stuff he has done. I'll be back with you tomorrow with another edition of Ar An Lá Seo.

Let's Welcome to the Georgia Songbirds family a local singer-songwriter, the winner of the Georgia vs Pennsylvania Songwriters Showdown and a super talented musician Jesse Williams. If you don't know Jesse you should really look into her music. She's one of a kind for sure, a truly old soul. Jesse came on the show and we talked blues, about her family, influences, the struggles and more. She even played us a few songs. So pull up a seat and listen in to mine and Jesse's conversation. Plenty of stories, phrases, and good times all around. 

Jay Maguire from the Texas hemp Federation and Jesse Williams from the Texas cannabis Collective joined the discussion this week regarding sb3 and the state of several bills in the 89th Texas Legislature. Countdown only 2 weeks remain! WILL HEMP SURVIVE IN TEXAS? Bad Science, Bogus Raids, and Bad Bills Testing Issues Law Enforcement Raids Timely Regulatory Bills Will Hemp Survive? www.texashempreporter.com www.BlazedNews.com 

Jesse Williams says "Music is medicine. Makes time fly. Makes things pause and puts words and sounds to things that are otherwise abstract and hard to get across.” This sweet soul from the North Georgia Mountains is a heck of a musician. Her guitar doesn't just sing—it cries, howls, and tells stories.

Jesse Williams grew up in church but didn't have a true relationship with Jesus until he was radically saved in November of 2018—setting him free from a porn addiction and fornication. Now, Jesse has recently married his wife, Ladayah, and he serves as a minister in Nova Hub church as their chief intercessor and a staff prophet. FOLLOW US: https://linktr.ee/elijahfireshow /// ElijahFire and ElijahStreams are part of Elijah List Ministries. Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/elijahfirepodcast ~

In this episode Breezy, Matthew, and Jim talk about two new signings, the Jesse Williams departure, roster construction, twitter vs bluesky vs threads, and more! Jim is on- Blue sky at @jimhicks.bsky.social Twitter at @ChattaGooner   We are on- instagram at @section109podcast twitter at @section109pod bluesky at @section109podcast.bsky.social tiktok at @section109podcast

On a special episode of The FloTrack Podcast, Ryan Fenton sits down with Sound Running's Jesse Williams to talk about the upcoming 2024 Cross Champs streaming live on FloTrack on Nov. 21, plus chat about what Sound Running hopes to do in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 21, 2024 ~ Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie are live on the 2024 WJR College Tour from Wayne State University, and talk with senior Sumer Chaudry, junior Sophia Martell, senior Jesse Williams, senior Austin Churley about life on campus, how they're being prepared for post-college life, and more!

This week on The Business of Open Source, I spoke with Jesse Williams and Brad Micklea, co-founders of Jozu and each with a long history of experience in various open source companies behind them. Even though Jozu is young, there was a lot to learn from these two and their experience in both open source and non-open source businesses. We talked about open source and not open source from CodeEnvy, Red Hat, AWS and Docker. “It's very hard to get a sustainable open source project if you don't have a company behind it paying those developers to work on it.” Some things we talked about: Why it's important to focus on ‘what people get” instead of ‘what you give people.' This is a fundamental component of effective product strategy and understanding your value prop: You can't just talk about about the features you're delivering; you have to connect that and focus on the value that people get from using the product. Jesse talked about the wizard behind the curtain that makes open source projects drive commercial adoption and revenue. You must be able to communicate the additional value of the commercial product; otherwise you will run the company into the group.Many open source companies get taken hostage by the open source community and end up having trouble monetizing because they make give away value in a way that is not sustainable.Users — and especially customers — are often unwilling to commit to a project if they are not convinced that the business behind it is healthy and has a sustainable business model. Open source, open standards and open governance — the relationship between the three and why we should all talk more about open standards and open governance in the open source ecosystem. The importance of really thinking through why you are open sourcing something, something that many companies don't think through. We wrapped up the conversation talking about how difficult it is to figure out which features to prioritize — and that this is a really hard decision for any startup. This is a big part of my shift to focusing on product strategy in my consulting. If you're an open source startup struggling with product prioritization and strategy, check out my product strategy offering. 

Ni bad om det och vi levererar – vi är tillbaka med våra ”Love is Blind”-reaktioner! Denna gång om UK-versionen som precis haft premiär. Vi snackar våra favoriter, snygghetsgraden på deltagarna, vem som har orimligt stora biceps, frånvaron av stereotypa brittiska tänder, white ass Jesse Williams-kopian, meditation-iskalla-duschar-och-träna-två-gånger-om-dagen som red flags, folk med oproportionerligt stora ansikten, vem som har ”stark rodent aura”, yrket ”luxury shopping guide” som täckmantel för ett kefft jobb, snubbar som blev sårade för TOLV år sen och fortfarande inte kan öppna upp, basic skålar + mycket mer! Vi lyckas också göra oss ovänner med både skönhetsoperations- och självhjälps-communityn. Enjoy! . Glöm inte att ni hittar videoversionen av podden på patreon.com/svh!  Stötta oss på Patreon för regelbundna bonusavsnitt + mer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Sponsor: Robinhoodhttp://thisistheconversationproject.com/robinhood      Today's Rundown:Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez's Alleged Divorce Papers Suggest They Have No Plans for a Messy Splithttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ben-affleck-jennifer-lopezs-alleged-174628129.html      UK leader Starmer condemns attack on asylum-seeker hotel as far-right violence spreadshttps://apnews.com/article/uk-protests-far-right-children-stabbed-police-2de808d796f81f719950acb4ea6f0af5   Wesley Snipes Nabs Guinness World Records with Blade Reappearancehttps://gizmodo.com/wesley-snipes-blade-deadpool-3-world-record-2000482467   Simone Biles not ruling out 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeleshttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/simone-biles-not-ruling-2028-olympic-games-los-angeles-never-say-never-rcna165010  More US schools are taking breaks for meditation as teachers say it helps students' mental healthhttps://apnews.com/article/back-to-school-mental-health-mindfulness-5f73bbd3324ad4e9e9723b5c49fa1616 Walgreens and CVS tinker with new looks as their usual way of doing business faces challengeshttps://apnews.com/article/cvs-walgreens-mini-drugstores-clinics-a62ee2422fb8178975b514e5b618ebe1 Pumpkin Spice is already on the menu — in Augusthttps://nypost.com/2024/08/02/lifestyle/pumpkin-spice-is-already-on-the-menu-in-august/‘SNL' star Punkie Johnson says she's leaving show after 4 seasons during NYC comedy gighttps://nypost.com/2024/08/02/entertainment/snl-castmember-punkie-johnson-says-shes-leaving-during-comedy-show-ahead-of-50th-season/ Haliey Welch Files For Several Head-Scratching Trademarks After “Hawk Tuah” Famehttps://www.totalprosports.com/general/haliey-welch-files-for-several-head-scratching-trademarks-after-hawk-tuah-fame/  RFK Jr. admits putting dead bear cub and old bicycle in New York City's Central Park nearly 10 years agohttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-admits-dead-bear-cub-old-bicycle-central-park-10-years-ago/   Website: http://thisistheconversationproject.com  Facebook: http://facebook.com/thisistheconversationproject  Twitter: http://twitter.com/th_conversation  TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@theconversationproject  YouTube: http://thisistheconversationproject.com/youtube  Podcast: http://thisistheconversationproject.com/podcasts  ONE DAY OLDER ON AUGUST 5:Maureen McCormick (68)James Gunn (58)Jesse Williams (43)   WHAT HAPPENED TODAY:2009: A study revealed that the French spend more time at the table and in bed than other nations.2013: The Washington Post was purchased by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos.2023: A brawl erupted at the riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama, after a dispute over a dockside parking spot between the co-captain of the Harriott II riverboat and the occupants of a private boat. The altercation, which had racial undertones and involved multiple people, gained significant media attention and led to several arrests and charges.  WORD OF THE DAY: requisite [ rek-wuh-zit ]https://www.dictionary.com/browse/requisite    required or necessary for a particular purpose, position, etc    The requisite qualifications for this job include both a degree in marketing and experience in digital advertising.   DAILY AFFIRMATION: Every Day, I Grow Stronger And More Resilient.Positive Mindset Reinforcement: This affirmation encourages a positive outlook, reinforcing the belief that challenges contribute to personal strength and resilience, making you more optimistic and proactive in facing life's challenges.https://www.amazon.com/100-Daily-Affirmations-Positivity-Confidence/dp/B0D2D6SS2D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EETIICRH9WKL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fTzmfgWDkLbB298QSG1XHw.XNema1TWDSl7tirdaNi6vv-LBlJA9T-P0y-UeCE2MN8&dib_tag=se&keywords=100+affirmation+payne&qid=1722807450&sprefix=110+affirmation+payne%2Caps%2C1345&sr=8-1   PLUS, TODAY WE CELBRATE: Green Peppers Dayhttps://www.checkiday.com/b082e70286aac96d90424d2ca09cc291/green-peppers-day#google_vignetteGreen peppers, known as green bell peppers or green sweet peppers, have their day today. There are other colors of bell peppers, like red, yellow, and orange, but just the green are celebrated today. Although considered vegetables in the culinary world, they actually are fruit. They are part of the Grossum cultivar group of the Capsicum annuum species, which are part of the Solanaceae family, or nightshades. Native to the tropics of the Americas, they were introduced to Europe and Asia by Spanish and Portoguese explorers in the late fifteenth century. They spread from there and are now grown around the world.  

Elisabeth Seldes Annacone is a screenwriter, producer and educator with over three decades experience in film & TV. Her career started working with Oliver Stone on WALL STREET, TALK RADIO, and BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY. Elisabeth then served as VP for Francis Ford Coppola, during DRACULA, SECRET GARDEN, and BUDDY. As a Sr. VP at MGM, Elisabeth had a helping hand in films like GET SHORTY, MULHOLLAND FALLS, TWO DAYS IN THE VALLY. After getting her MFA from UCLA in screenwriting, Elisabeth's first feature, THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL was released by HBO and stars Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates Pierce Brosnan, Jesse Williams and Lily Rabe. It is currently a New York Times critics' pick. Her pilot, WEEKENDS, is at UTV with Debra Chase producing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of the 3 Geeks Podcast! Today, we have an extraordinary guest, Bryan McClure, joining us to discuss his latest role as a documentary filmmaker in HBO's original movie, The Great Lillian Hall. In this riveting film, McClure stars opposite Oscar winners Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. The story centers on Lillian Hall (Lange), a beloved Broadway star battling confusion and forgetfulness as she prepares for her next big role. McClure's character, Keith, documents Lillian's tumultuous emotional journey, adding depth to this poignant narrative. Directed by Michael Cristofer and featuring a stellar cast including Lily Rabe, Jesse Williams, and Pierce Brosnan, The Great Lillian Hall is a must-watch! McClure shares insights into working on set, his collaborative experience with Kathy Bates, and the rewarding process of bringing his character to life. Bryan McClure has an impressive career spanning various genres and platforms. From his role as The Headless Knight in Disney's Haunted Mansion to recurring roles in Prime Video's The Summer I Turned Pretty and Netflix's Mindhunter, McClure has captivated audiences everywhere. Fans will also recognize him from The Walking Dead, Magnum P.I., Atlanta, DC Doom Patrol, and more. Don't miss this in-depth interview with Bryan McClure, where we explore his dynamic career, his experiences on set, and his future projects. Tune in now! Bryan's Socials: https://www.instagram.com/bryanmcclure/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ActorBryanMcClure/ #BryanMcClure #TheGreatLillianHall #3GeeksPodcast #JessicaLange #KathyBates #HBO #PodcastInterview #ActorLife

GUEST HOST Bigg Bump on de facto Affirmative Action in med school! Oakland stoplight copper wire stolen! Mixed race, radical spirit! The Hake Report, Monday, May 27, 2024 AD — Memorial Day Bigg Bump COHOST LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/@biggbump  |  https://x.com/bigg_bump  |  https://www.instagram.com/bigg_bump  |  https://soundcloud.com/bigg-bump  //  TIME STAMPS (combined) * (0:00:00) Topics with Bigg Bump * (0:03:46) Hey, guys! USS Iowa tee, LA hat/tee * (0:06:44) Affirmative Action, UCLA med school * (0:13:07) Picking black or picking white * (0:15:35) Vulnerable suffer; Cry racism. * (0:17:37) Social justice in medicine. Dean Jennifer Lucero * (0:25:22) GREGGATRON: Affirmative Action culture * (0:29:35) GREGGATRON: Fave callers list. * (0:34:10) GREGGATRON: Addressing Mark, understand him now * (0:36:36) Bigg Bump: Older whites saw better blacks * (0:40:10) Oakland stoplights now stop signs: Copper wire theft* (0:49:51) STEPHEN, MD: Greggatron a D.I.A.N. (D—b Ig'n—t A— N—) * (0:57:15) STEPHEN interrupted — STREAM DIED! * (0:57:22) WE'RE BACK! Part 2 * (0:59:28) Here with Bigg Bump * (1:00:57) Mixed-race, radical spirit (Jesse Williams!) List: Compensating * (1:19:25) Blacks not from the South, mixed compensation * (1:25:33) JOE, AZ: Affirmative Action, critical thinking * (1:28:57) JOE: 3/5ths, Missouri Compromise * (1:25:48) JOE: Mark putting channel at risk * (1:38:41) JOE: Trump travel ban judge, threats * (1:37:51) JOE toots his own horn * (1:41:53) JOE vs Bigg Bump, Trump * (1:43:16) Bigg Bump - "Get This Truth" BLOG  https://www.thehakereport.com/blog/2024/5/27/bigg-bump-with-hake-on-memorial-day-mon-5-27-24 PODCAST / Substack  HAKE NEWS from JLP  https://www.thehakereport.com/jlp-news/2024/5/27/trump-spoke-to-libertarians-endured-booing-hake-news-mon-5-27-24 Hake is live M-F 9-11a PT (11-1CT/12-2ET) Call-in 1-888-775-3773 https://www.thehakereport.com/show VIDEO  Rumble*  -  YT Pt 1 / YT Pt 2  -  FB Pt 1 / FB Pt 2  -  X Pt 1 only  -  BC Pt 1 / BC Pt 2  -  Ody Pt 1 / Ody Pt 2*  PODCAST  Substack  -  Apple  -  Spotify  -  Castbox  -  Podcast Addict  *SUPER CHAT on platforms* above or  BuyMeACoffee, etc.  SHOP  Spring  -  Cameo  |  All My Links  JLP Network:  JLP  -  Church  -  TFS  -  Nick  -  Joel  Get full access to HAKE at thehakereport.substack.com/subscribe

Hiya! Did you miss us? Don't answer that. Anyway, we took a lil break but we're back, baby, and this we are discussing the 2011 horror/mystery, The Cabin in the Woods! It stars a Chris Hemsworth who is most famous for being Liam Hemsworth's brother, Jesse Williams who is aging backward, and some other people that you've seen some stuff and things. Wanna know what think of this movie? Listen to the end to find out! Follow us on Instagram @meangirlsinterrupted for info on upcoming shows Watch Us: Mean Girls, Interrupted on Youtube Email Us: meangirlsinterrupted@gmail.com Visit: meangirlsinterrupted.com for all this stuff in one place!

One-Night-Only Month continues with The Cabin in the Woods! Ben, Bree, and Sam discuss Drew Goddard's 2011 horror-comedy satire. Directed by Drew Goddard, written by Joss Whedon and Goddard, and starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford.

...And we're back! There's not enough true romance in the world these days. If you can't be friends with someone across the country for 20 years and then start a blended family together in LA, what can you really do anymore? The guys are wrapping up Your Place or Mine (2023), starring Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoë Chao, Jesse Williams, Wesley Kimmel, Tig Notaro, and Steve Zahn. 

Is it going to drive anyone else nuts that the title of this movie doesn't have a question mark? Just Jared? Russ and Jared are cruising through Your Place or Mine (2023), starring Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoë Chao, Jesse Williams, Wesley Kimmel, Tig Notaro, and Steve Zahn. Long time listeners know the guys love a good montage, but will this movie go too far? (Probably not, it's not The Kissing Booth) Stay tuned for part 2 on Thursday!

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day to those who celebrate from your pals at ITMT! There's the smell of romance and comedy in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with another bad movie? The guys are falling in and out of love with the trailer for Your Place or Mine (2023), starring Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoë Chao, Jesse Williams, Wesley Kimmel, Tig Notaro, and Steve Zahn. Friends of the pod galore and a terrible premise, what's not to love?! Stay tuned for the full, scene-by-scene breakdown next week.

Larsa Pippen discusses her sex life, but is shower stuff sex? Our crew makes the important determination. Then, Jim Harbaugh, the NFL, and a discussion on the most successful siblings. Plus, our Friendly Neighborhood Race Lady Jemele Hill stops by to discuss the Detroit Lions, Todd Bowles and the weather, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola's approach to concussions, and Bradley Cooper. Also, Billy has a comparison for Taylor Swift: Grey's Anatomy actor, Jesse Williams. He'll explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"My father said that when you look at the cultural traditions of people, the European cultural tradition is a generation makes a mask. They put it up on the wall, put a glass box around it, and they point to it and say that's the greatest mask that's ever been made. The African tradition is every generation makes their own mask. So what we see with this constant creativity, this constant improvisation is a very human, African, homo sapiens tradition of not taking something and classicizing it to the point that nothing can be created beyond it and the generations after just have to kneel. It's about moving the culture forward."  Raoul Roach My guest is Raoul Roach, the son of the iconic and internationally revered jazz musician, Max Roach. Born in 1924, Max was firmly entrenched in activism, civil rights, and the social justice movement of the sixties and seventies. As a result, growing up, Raoul had a strong interest in social activism, being exposed to and mentored by some of the most pivotal black figures of that period, including Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, and Alvin Ailey.Born and raised in New York City by age fifteen, Raoul was cutting his teeth working for his legendary dad, first as an office assistant, a roadie, and eventually Max's road manager, before ultimately producing several of his concerts. As a 40-year upper echelon executive of the music industry, Raoul has worked with the biggest names in entertainment from Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Anita Baker. Raoul helmed the successful turnaround of Jones's Qwest Records as the organization's co-executive director.Raoul also co-founded and pioneered Harry Belafonte's social justice entertainment enterprise, Sankofa.org, as the organization's co-executive director along with Gina Belafonte. Raoul executed the recruitment of artists and celebrities such as; Usher, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Jesse Williams, John Legend, Common, Dave Matthews, Carlos Santana, Michael B Jordan, T.I., and many more in coordination with grassroots organizations and activists to produce, films, music videos, social media campaigns, PSA's, concerts and major festivals. These initiatives raised resources for non-profit organizations as well as awareness to impact social movement and social justice.Currently, Raoul is coordinating along with his siblings Max Roach 100, an 18-month international centennial celebration of his father's music and life that includes film, documentaries, social media, concerts, exhibitions, new and previously unreleased recordings. Experience the groundbreaking sounds of bebop pioneer and virtuoso composer Max Roach, whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him. "American Masters – Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes" premieres Friday, October 6 at 9/8c on PBS. HOW WE MOVE Stay tuned to the end of the guest interview when international speaker, writer and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and highlights some of the interesting people, places and things that have her attention.   Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life transitions are often some of the most difficult experiences for people to work through.  Whether you're facing a career change, a personal evolution, a shift in your health or relationships, or moving to a new home, change requires the skill of adaptability. In today's episode, our guest, Jesse Williams, reflects on the life experiences that helped him hone his skill of adaptability, and reveals the wide variety of areas where that skill became the lynch pin of his success. Although Jesse would describe himself as a washed up athlete, he is anything but that.  Growing up on the south-side of Brisbane, Australia, he rose from playing for the local football team to moving to America, playing as a powerful anchor on the defensive front at Arizona Western.  There, his exceptional skills led him to become America's top recruit, earning him a position at the University of Alabama, where he played a vital role in securing two National Championships.  Defying all expectations, Jesse was drafted to the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the only Australian to win a Super Bowl.  A husband, father, and coach, Jesse now speaks worldwide about his journey as an athlete and cancer survivor, working to provide opportunities for the next generation and using football as the catalyst. Despite the fact that Jessie talks a lot about sport, and a good bit about strength and conditioning, at its core, this episode is about transitioning into different cultures, finding yourself throughout the process, and learning how to take your platform and use it for something bigger than yourself. Some of the specific topics we get into are, The childhood adversity that laid the foundation for his success (12:20) The life transitions that forced him to become a better communicator (19:45) Specific skills that transferred from being an athlete to a coach and entrepreneur (32:20) The lessons he learned from the coaching staff at Alabama - what it means to “do your job” at the highest level (39:20) About Jesse/ How to Support His Cause: LinkedIn Instagram Link Tree - find information on Gridiron Australia and speaking requests here X - @GridironAust Referenced Resources: Ask us anything!  Go to artofcoaching.com/question for anything you'd like us to speak on or if you'd simply like us to help you get started finding the answers you're looking for! Podcast E266: How to Find Your Voice & Get Out of Your Head Art of Coaching Staff Development:  Consistent professional development is a non-negotiable if we want to perform and stay relevant in our field.  And as the leader of a staff or department, we do our best to promote an environment of consistent growth and high performance in all areas - both in technical skills and on the interpersonal side of things.  However, despite our efforts, organized and routine continuing education often gets pushed down the priority list when compared to all the other responsibilities we have on our plates.  That's why we at Art of Coaching have created a virtual staff development program, which is tailored to the needs and goals of your staff and department.   This program is NOT just an inspirational, “rah rah,” type of experience.  Specific and customized to your mission and values, we provide you and your staff with educational resources and guide you through discussion, tools, and strategies you can use to grow together in the areas of building trusting relationships, becoming better communicators, and strategically approaching hard conversations. Reach out to us HERE for more information.

TICKETS TO OUR 2023 TOUR ARE NOW ON SALE! BREAKING: Jesse Williams assigns his kids extra homework? Jenna Dewan broke her pinkie? Ashley Tisdale is an "Amazon Person"? What do all these extremely boring tabloid stories have in common? It's more stupid than you think. The Daily Mail thinks they're dragging Kate Beckinsale... but are they? Lauren Sanchez's bachelorette party ft. Kris Jenner; Normani gets a new manager (thank god); Megan Fox wrote a book of poetry; Tana Mongeau loses a podcast sponsor because she had a bad time on an Italian wine tour. No, really! Plus, T*yl*r Sw*ft (unintentionally?) steals the spotlight at a big Who Wedding and Noah Cyrus steals the spotlight (intentionally) at another big Who Wedding (her mom's). Call in at 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns for a future episode of Who's There?. Support us and get a TON of bonus content over on Patreon.com/WhoWeekly To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special milestone Episode number 100, we take a moment to reflect on an incredible journey and express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our dedicated listeners. Today we're celebrating authenticity and its profound meaning to each of us. Listen in as I invite you to look back at how embracing one's unique expression of authenticity has paved the way for the leadership journey for the guests in the last 99 episodes of the show. Plus, an invitation to discover what authenticity means to you. KEY TAKEAWAYS [0:00] - Celebrating Episode 100: A Special Journey of Authentic Leadership[00:00] - Welcome to milestone Episode 100! [00:17] - Gratitude for you, the listener, and Judi Fox whose persuasion led to the public debut of the podcast.[01:01] - Saluting our first guest, Raj Kapoor, who fearlessly stepped into the unknown as the first guest of the show. [01:16] - Special thanks to SquadCast the remote recording software solution I use to record every episode and the incredible Squadcaster community. [01:34] - A special thank you to Harry Duran Founder and CEO FullCast for strategically better episodes, and to the skillful hands at ProPodcast Solutions for making me sound good. [01:58] - Thanks to Adam Adams from Grow Your Show for steering us to remarkable growth.[02:09] - The artists behind our visuals: Rich Sullivan and Robby Beller.[02:17] - And a big shout out with gratitude to Nicholas (aka Nico) Cattaneo, and the musical ensemble behind our theme music - Tony Savarino and Jesse Williams.[02:46] - Beating the odds. [03:39] - Celebrating authenticity: the core of leadership.[04:41] - Decoding authenticity: drilling beyond the buzzwords to get to the true essence of authenticity and its connection to leadership.[05:42] - A story about the reason behind Taylor Swift's success and how authenticity propels individuals towards greatness. [06:46] - Three major insights from my conversations with extraordinary leaders. [07:25] - The journey to authenticity: embrace, don't conform, unless you're an a**hole, then do better (from Episode 98 with Vyra Scher). [08:29] - The spectrum of authenticity, based on how you want to design your professional...

Clea and Joanna share that Jesse Tyler Ferguson—a   previous Best Friend Energy guest—has a new podcast called Dinner's on Me! On his show, he's breaking bread with big-name friends—old and new—for a delicious meal and candid convos that can only happen over a glass of wine.   He's getting out of the studio and into his favorite restaurants in LA and   NYC with guests like his on-screen Modern Family sister Julie Bowen, Kristen   Bell, Fred Armisen, Jesse Williams, and so many more. He and his guests will get vulnerable about everything from relationships and family history to mental health and imposter syndrome. They'll laugh about his attempted modeling career and being starstruck by Beyoncé. Look, will a chocolate soufflé get him to reveal all his secrets? Yeah. Yeah, it will. So, join Jesse… dinner's on him. Dinner's on Me is a Sony Music Entertainment production. Want to be the first to get new episodes of Dinner's on Me? Subscribe to Dinner's on Me PLUS to get access to new episodes one week early and completely ad-free. Just click ‘Try Free'   at the top of the Dinner's on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email   podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Find more great podcasts from Sony Music   Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit   podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesse Tyler Ferguson is breaking bread with big-name friends—old and new—for a delicious meal and candid convos that can only happen over a glass of wine. He's getting out of the studio and into his favorite restaurants with people like his on screen Modern Family sister Julie Bowen, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Jesse Williams, and so many more. A celebrity-interview podcast, who's doing that? No one. Which is why Jesse needed to. He and his guests will get vulnerable about everything from relationships and family history, to mental health and imposter syndrome. They'll laugh about his attempted modeling career and being starstruck by Beyoncé. Look, will a chocolate soufflé get him to reveal all his secrets? Yeah. Yeah, it will. So, join Jesse… dinner's on him.  Dinner's on Me is a Sony Music Entertainment production.  Want to be the first to get new episodes of Dinner's on Me? Subscribe to Dinner's on Me PLUS to get access to new episodes one week early and completely ad-free. Just click ‘Try Free' at the top of the Dinner's on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today.  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grey's Anatomy star and my Take Me Out co-star Jesse Williams joins me at Pijja Palace, an Indian American sports bar in L.A.'s hip Silver Lake neighborhood. Over green chutney pizza, wings and soft serve – we dig into our relationships with our fathers, his childhood moving place to place, and we share some humiliating early career stories. Join us! Want next week's episode now? Subscribe to Dinner's on Me PLUS. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, but you'll also be able to listen completely ad-free! Just click “Try Free” at the top of the Dinner's on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. A Sony Music Entertainment & A Kid Named Beckett production. To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Find out more about other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm breaking bread with big-name friends—old and new—for a delicious meal and candid convos that can only happen over a glass of wine. We're getting out of the studio and into my favorite restaurants across Los Angeles and New York City with people like Julie Bowen, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Jesse Williams, Niecy Nash-Betts, and so many more. I know, a celebrity-interview podcast, who's doing that? No one. Which is why I needed to. We'll get vulnerable about everything from relationships and family history, to mental health and imposter syndrome. We'll laugh about my attempted modeling career and being starstruck by Beyoncé. Look, am I saying a chocolate soufflé is going to get me to reveal all my secrets? Yeah. Yeah, I am. So, join me… dinner's on me. Coming May 23rd, Dinner's on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and A Kid Named Beckett Productions. Want to be the first to get new episodes of Dinner's on Me? Starting on May 23rd, you can subscribe to Dinner's on Me PLUS on Apple Podcasts, to get access to new episodes one week early and completely ad-free. To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ladies are back this week discussing Ellen Pompeo's not-so-ceremonious exit from the iconic show ‘Grey's Anatomy.' After 19 seasons, Ellen finally says goodbye to Meredith Grey. Next, Juliet and Amanda discuss ‘Your Place or Mine', starring Ashton Kutcher, Reese Witherspoon, and Jesse Williams. They also discuss Rihanna's British Vogue cover, featuring her baby boy and A$AP Rocky, and more! Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins Producer: Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have another Grey's Anatomy cast member in the O.R.! Becca and Tanya hang out with Midori Francis (Dr. Mika Yasuda) and we talk ALL things Greys! Midori is sharing so many behind the scenes stories and we break down why this season might be the best season yet! And she shares what it was like meeting Jesse Williams on his return!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Broads are back to chat life updates, pop culture, and a #broadsquad update! First Jess gives a recap of her and her daughter's Rupaul DragCon experience (the amazing and the hilarious) and Bekah chats about why Grayston may never go to Disneyland again! Then (00:35:00) they dive into pop culture discussions about Bekah's Arie Luyendyk theory, Jesse Palmer becoming the official Bachelor in Paradise host, Kravis' wedding, Kourtney and Travis' PDA in front of Scott, Kendall's cucumber fiasco, Julia Fox's grocery store undies, Jess' Jesse Williams' d*ck pic rage, and Cara Delevinge/Megan Thee Stallion!   THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: ***THRIVE MARKET: Join Thrive Market today to get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift worth over $50 at THRIVEMARKET.COM/CHATTY  ***FRAMEBRDIGE: Go to FRAMEBRIDGE.COM and use promo code CHATTYBROADS to save an additional 15% off your first order! ***FIRST PERSON: Get 15% off your first order at GETFIRSTPERSON.COM with code CHATTY ***AWAY: Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials at AWAYTRAVEL.COM/CHATTY    ADVICE EPISODE INVOLVING #BROADSQUAD UPDATE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/377-someones-man-is-sus-someone-needs-to-make-a-move/id1441571050?i=1000556282662 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Senate failed to pass a bill on Wednesday that would effectively codify the right to an abortion. The bill, called, “The Women's Health Protection Act,” was expected to fail because Democrats didn't have enough votes to pass it and beat a filibuster. Democratic New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins us to discuss what comes next.And in headlines: Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed in the West Bank, over 107,000 people died from a drug overdose last year in the U.S., and someone leaked footage of actor Jesse Williams naked in a Broadway show.Show Notes:Ban Off Our Bodies Rally on May 14th – https://bit.ly/3P1KxgNDonate to abortion funds, take action and more via Vote Save America – votesaveamerica.com/roeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Luenell talks about a deleted scene we never saw in ‘Borat' where she and Sacha Baron Cohen parodied ‘Baywatch'. Adam and Luenell swap stories about getting their starts in stand-up and their experiences performing in ‘Netflix is a Joke'. Gina reports on today's news including: Mario Batali being cleared of all charges, a guy landing a plane when his pilot fell ill, James Cromwell supergluing his hand to a Starbucks counter, a Dolly Parton Mexican Pizza musical, and the leaked nudes of Jesse Williams. THANKS FOR SUPPORTING TODAY'S SPONSORS: BlindsGalore.com HyundaiUSA.com BonnerPrivateWines.com/Adam