Women in Entertainment

Jackie Tohn knows that building a lasting career in Hollywood takes more than talent. It takes persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to create your own opportunities.

The actress, comedian, singer, and producer joins the Women in Entertainment Podcast to discuss her role as Esther on Netflix's Nobody Wants This, including how she landed the part, the show's overwhelming success, and what audiences can expect from Season 3. She also explores Esther's journey of self-discovery, the complicated dynamics between Esther, Sasha, and Morgan, and her longtime friendship and creative collaborations with Kristen Bell.

Jackie reflects on a career that began with childhood appearances on The Nanny and Sesame Street and evolved through American Idol, stand-up comedy, and Netflix's GLOW. She opens up about navigating rejection, returning to commercials between major projects, and finding greater creative freedom by pursuing music, comedy, writing, and producing. Now, she's also setting her sights on directing.

Listen to learn:

How Jackie landed the role of Esther on Nobody Wants This
Her thoughts on Esther and Sasha's relationship and Season 3
How rejection and career uncertainty shaped her approach to Hollywood
Why stand-up comedy and creating original projects changed her career
Her advice for aspiring performers and ambitions to direct
The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment, from film and television to media and gaming, and everything in between, as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...
Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Listen on Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85...

#JackieTohn #NobodyWantsThis #KristenBell #GLOW #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Netflix #Acting #Hollywood

What does it take to turn 98 rejections into one of publishing's biggest success stories?Bestselling author Bonnie Garmus joins the podcast to reflect on her remarkable journey from advertising professional to acclaimed novelist. After facing nearly 100 rejections for her first manuscript, Bonnie found unexpected success with Lessons in Chemistry, receiving 12 publishing offers and dozens of Hollywood inquiries before the book even hit shelves.

Now, Bonnie is back with Peck & Peck, a new novel that explores the wonderfully chaotic world of publishing. She shares how the story first took shape, why she chose to pursue it instead of writing a Lessons in Chemistry sequel, and how her characters often guide the narrative in unexpected directions.

Throughout the conversation, Bonnie opens up about her disciplined early-morning writing routine, overcoming creative blocks, and the importance of persistence. She also explores her newfound appreciation for poetry, the intelligence and emotional depth of dogs, and why staying grounded matters even after extraordinary success.

Listen to learn:
How Bonnie overcame 98 rejections before finding literary success.
The surprising journey from Lessons in Chemistry manuscript to screen adaptation.
The inspiration behind Peck and Peck and its eccentric characters.
Bonnie's writing process, daily routine, and strategies for overcoming writer's block.
Why poetry, imagination, and resilience remain central to her storytelling.
From creative breakthroughs to career-defining setbacks, Bonnie's story is a reminder that success rarely follows a predictable path, and sometimes the most powerful stories come from simply refusing to give up.

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment, from film and television to media and gaming, and everything in between, as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...
Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Listen on Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85...

#WomenInEntertainment #BonnieGarmus #PeckAndPeck #LessonsInChemistry #WomenWriters #CreativeWriting #AuthorInterview #Storytelling #Podcast

For Ming-Na Wen, storytelling has always been about connection, whether she’s bringing a groundbreaking character to life onscreen or sharing the recipes that have fed her family for generations.

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, the celebrated actor and Disney Legend opens up about creating her cookbook, a project inspired by fans who spent years asking for the recipes behind the food she shared online. Ming-Na reflects on growing up as the daughter of restaurateurs, carefully testing and measuring every recipe herself, and overcoming the doubts that made her wonder whether she had the credentials to write a cookbook at all.

She also looks back on the extraordinary impact of The Joy Luck Club, the experience of finally entering a room filled with other Asian actors, and the lifelong friendships that followed. From ER and Mulan to Agent May and Fennec Shand, Ming-Na shares how her childhood love of science fiction eventually led to a career filled with heroes, action, and “nerd dreams” come true. Plus, she reveals the genre she still hopes to conquer: the romantic comedy.

Listen to learn:
Why Ming-Na initially doubted she could write a cookbook
How food became a way to preserve family history and connection
What The Joy Luck Club meant to her as a Chinese American actor
Why playing action heroes became unexpectedly addictive
The kind of role she would still love to take on next

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment, from film and television to media and gaming, and everything in between, as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...
Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..
Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#MingNaWen #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #TheJoyLuckClub #Mulan #DisneyLegend #StarWars #Marvel #AgentsOfSHIELD #FennecShand #AsianAmericanRepresentation #ChineseAmerican #Cookbook #FoodAndFamily #WomenInHollywood

Tiffani Thiessen has spent more than 40 years growing up, evolving, and reinventing herself in front of audiences around the world.

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment podcast, Tiffani looks back on a career that began when she was just eight years old and led to culture-defining roles on Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills, 90210, White Collar, and beyond. She shares what it was like navigating fame before social media, breaking away from the expectations surrounding Kelly Kapowski, and embracing the very different Valerie Malone.

Tiffani also opens up about the life behind the roles: raising two children, protecting family boundaries online, balancing work with motherhood, and staying grounded through gratitude, empathy, and the support of the women who shaped her life. She also takes us inside Coven Academy, where she plays the head of a school for witches and warlocks in a story centered on sisterhood, found family, and discovering the strength that comes from finding your people.

Listen to learn:
How Tiffani navigated more than four decades in Hollywood
Why Valerie Malone was an important career shift after Kelly Kapowski
How she approaches social media and protects her children’s privacy
The family values and mentors that have kept her grounded
Why Coven Academy’s message of sisterhood and found family resonates with her

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment, from film and television to media and gaming, and everything in between, as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ..
Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast.
Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85.

#TiffaniThiessen #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #SavedByTheBell #BeverlyHills90210 #WhiteCollar #CovenAcademy #WomenSupportingWomen #Sisterhood #Hollywood #Acting #WorkingMoms #EntertainmentIndustry

For Kelli Giddish, a lasting career is built by continuing to do the work.

On this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Kelli joins us to reflect on her remarkable journey as Amanda Rollins on Law & Order: SVU, where she is entering her 16th season. She shares why the series continues to connect across generations, how she handles the emotional weight of its most difficult storylines, and what it means to be working under the show’s first female showrunner.

Kelli also looks back at the unexpected path that brought her to acting, from nearly studying physics or astronomy to training in theater, appearing on All My Children, and learning firsthand that there is no single instruction manual for building a creative career.

She also shares what she has learned simply by watching Mariska Hargitay lead, why age can be approached as possibility rather than limitation, her hopes to create more stories families can experience together, and what audiences can look forward to as SVU approaches its milestone 600th episode.

Listen to learn:
Why Kelli believes SVU has become a multigenerational “comfort show”
How she decompresses after emotionally difficult storylines
What soap operas taught her about discipline and preparation
The career lesson behind her mantra, “work begets work”
What Mariska Hargitay has taught her about longevity, leadership, and embracing what comes next
The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment, from film and television to media and gaming, and everything in between, as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...
Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast..
Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85..

#KelliGiddish #LawAndOrderSVU #SVU #AmandaRollins #MariskaHargitay #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #Acting #WomenInTelevision #CareerAdvice #EntertainmentIndustry #NBC