In Her Words

Actress, producer and now director JoAnna Garcia Swisher joins In Her Words to talk about leveling-up her career—and why she wants other women in entertainment to do the same. From helming her first episode of Netflix’s hit Sweet Magnolias (after a whirlwind location shoot in New York City) to launching her own production banner Rolling Clover and lifestyle brand The Happy Place, JoAnna breaks down the skills, mentors and mindset s...

Bestselling author and Under the Influence podcast host Jo Piazza joins In Her Words to discuss her latest novel Everyone Is Lying to You - a sharp, satirical thriller set inside the wild world of mom influencers and tradwives. Jo dives into what inspired her to write about the illusion of "slow living," the rise of AI babies, and how influencer culture is blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Plus, she shares her journey fr...

Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Kathy Bates speaks at the 2025 WIE Summit - reflecting on her legendary career - from her iconic role in Misery to her critically acclaimed performance and producing role in CBS’s Matlock. She opens up about the evolution of women in entertainment, the importance of creative control, and her advocacy work with the Lymphatic Education & Research Network. With nearly five decades of groundbrea...

Join bestselling author and Fated Mates podcast co-host Sarah MacLean as she dives into the power of romance storytelling, how she crafted her newest novel Summer Storms, and why the genre continues to inspire millions. From pandemic reflections and island-set inheritance games to her writing process, evolving industry insights, and the sisterhood of romance readers—this episode is packed with heart, humor, and wisdom for creatives...

Two-time Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Noma Dumezweni joins the Women in Entertainment podcast to discuss her wide-ranging career—from originating the role of Hermione in Harry Potter & The Cursed Child to starring in The Undoing, The Watcher, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Noma opens up about her latest roles in Murderbot and The Friend, navigating emotionally rich storytelling, and why vulnerability is a superpower ...

Step inside the world of 11:11 Media, the next-gen content powerhouse co-founded by Paris Hilton. In this episode, we sit down with President & COO Bruce Gersh and Chief Commercial & Brand Officer Rachel Webber to explore how they’ve redefined modern storytelling - blending content, commerce, and community across platforms. From launching viral campaigns to driving cultural impact and advocacy, they share the strategic visi...

Actress, musician, and podcaster Candice King (best known as Caroline Forbes on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals) opens up about her journey from teenage musician to beloved TV star. In this candid and heartfelt conversation, Candice reflects on embracing life’s pivots, the power of her fanbase, and the personal growth that inspired her new podcast, A Superbloom. Tune in for an honest, empowering discussion filled with inspira...

In this candid master-class, six-time Emmy-winner Amy Sherman-Palladino—creator of Gilmore Girls, Bunheads, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the new ballet-drama Étoile—joins In Her Words to trace the roller-coaster career that took her from dancer to Roseanne staff writer to record-breaking show-runner. Amy reveals:

• The “crazy six-month” leap from improv classes to her first TV staff job and how Roseanne shaped her storytellin...

In this episode of In Her Words, we sit down with Kristen L. Berry - author of the powerful debut novel We Don’t Talk About Carol to explore the inspiration behind her gripping blend of family drama, social justice, and suspense. Kristen shares how pandemic walks and true crime podcasts sparked her storytelling, the realities behind missing Black women in America, and her journey from a career in PR to a two-book deal with Penguin ...

Actor-writer Justine Lupe joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to unpack the craft that powers her scene-stealing turns—from Morgan in Netflix’s breakout comedy Nobody Wants This to Willa Ferreyra on HBO’s Succession and Astrid on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. A Juilliard graduate who debuted in Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha, Lupe reveals:

• How auditioning for a “three-episode arc” on Succession turned into a series-regular...

Actor-writer Sheila Carrasco—fan-favorite Flower on CBS’s hit comedy Ghosts—joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to unpack a journey that spans the South Side of Chicago, NYU Tisch, Harvard, the Groundlings & UCB, and finally a breakout series-regular role at age 38. Carrasco explains:

• Turning strict theater training into improv superpowers that landed auditions on Jane the Virgin, Life in Pieces, and more

• Why yea...

Emmy-nominated writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner Yahlin Chang joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to break down the craft of creating must-watch drama for today’s streaming world. Chang traces her path from culture critic at Newsweek to writers’ rooms on ER, Dirty Sexy Money, and, ultimately, Hulu’s global phenomenon The Handmaid’s Tale—where she’s earned HUMANITAS and Writers Guild honors for centering complex...

In this episode of In Her Words by Women in Entertainment, Emmy- and Tony-winning producer Jenifer Westphal—Founder & CEO of indie studio Wavelength—pulls back the curtain on making bold, “human-first” stories that stick. Westphal explains:

• How she launched Wavelength at age 52 and quickly backed hits like Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Athlete A and the new feature On Swift Horses

• Why diversifying into Broadway (The Outsider...

Emmy-winning comedy powerhouses Tracey Wigfield (30 Rock, Saved by the Bell) and Lang Fisher (Never Have I Ever, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) sit down with In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to talk all things funny and fearless. The co-creators and showrunners of Netflix’s upcoming series The Four Seasons share:

• their personal journeys from writing rooms to showrunner chairs

• insider tips on writing and producing hit TV comedy

• how ...

Award-winning playwright and show-runner Molly Smith Metzler (Juilliard, two-time Lecomte du Nouy Prize winner) joins In Her Words by Women in Entertainment to share the creative secrets behind her breakout Netflix drama Maid—a series that racked up 469 million hours viewed and 15 award nominations. Metzler digs into:

Developing SIRENS for Netflix and why it’s her boldest project yet. Her step-by-step creative process for crafti...

How do you film a story the industry would rather ignore—and keep everyone safe along the way? Hosts Gretchen McCourt and Renee Rossi sit down with award-winning directors Yoruba Richen and Emma Schwartz to unpack the making of The Fall of Diddy (Max/ID). They walk us through:

• The emotional tightrope of interviewing survivors of abuse

• The concrete safety steps taken to protect sources and crew

• Why cultural context matters when wea...

She’s the Emmy-winning scene-stealer behind CBS’s hit Elsbeth, fan-favorite Polly on Claws, and Arlene from HBO’s True Blood - Carrie Preston is here to deliver a master class in character-building, career stamina, and fearless storytelling.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a Georgia community-theater kid became “the queen of quirk” (NYT) and Juilliard-trained powerhouse

• The Columbo-inspired secrets to playing Elsbeth Tascio...

Lisa Filipelli is an Emmy-nominated entertainment executive and Partner at Select Management Group, where she leads strategy across a roster that reaches over one billion people worldwide. A trailblazer in the creator economy, Lisa has redefined modern talent representation—bridging traditional and digital media, producing award-winning content, and launching headline-making brand partnerships. From Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormo...

We’re diving deep with Natasha Rothwell—Emmy‑nominated scene‑stealer Belinda from The White Lotus, creator‑star of Hulu’s How  to  Die  Alone, and founder of Big Hattie Productions.

In this episode:

Crafting magnetic characters: how Belinda was born and why humor + heartbreak is her secret sauce

From Insecure writer’s room to executive producer: lessons Issa Rae taught her about fearless storytelling

Building a production c...