Women in Entertainment

What happens when a beloved book gets a second life and finally finds its way to the screen?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, E. Lockhart opens up about the extraordinary journey behind We Were Liars, from years of stalled development and reclaimed rights to the BookTok wave that reignited the novel’s cultural momentum. She shares why Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie’s creative vision felt like the right home for the adaptation, and how preserving the emotional experience of the book mattered just as much as translating the plot.

Lockhart also gives listeners a glimpse into what’s next, including Family of Liars, Genuine Fraud, and her upcoming novel, The Pools, a paranormal tragedy set in a hot spring town. Along the way, she reflects on the themes that continue to shape her work: family, institutions, identity, first love, and the complicated process of deciding what to keep, question, or set fire to as we grow up.

Listen to learn:
- How We Were Liars found its way to television after multiple false starts
- Why BookTok helped bring the novel back to bestseller lists years after publication
- What E. Lockhart learned about visual storytelling on the We Were Liars set
- How writing screenplays changed the way she thinks about adaptation
- Why creative growth often begins with humility, research, and the word “yet”

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..

#ELockhart #WeWereLiars #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #BookTok #BookToScreen #YAFiction #FamilyOfLiars #GenuineFraud #ThePools #WomenWriters #Adaptation #Storytelling

What does it really take to build a career that lasts in entertainment?

In this candid and deeply grounded episode, Julianne Nicholson reflects on the long game of working in film and television, how persistence, patience, and trusting your instincts can shape a career with real staying power. From her early days modeling and waitressing in New York to becoming one of the industry’s most respected performers, she shares what it meant to keep going before the momentum arrived, and why longevity often looks more like endurance than overnight success.

Nicholson opens up about resisting the pressure of a linear path, giving herself time to grow, and learning to measure success beyond immediacy. She talks about the value of choosing roles with depth, returning to collaborators she trusts, and building a body of work defined by authenticity, from Mare of Easttown to Janet Planet to Paradise. She also reflects on balancing family life with an international career, staying open to reinvention, and what it means to keep evolving while protecting what matters most.

Listen to learn:
- How Julianne Nicholson built a career through consistency, not shortcuts
- Why longevity in entertainment requires patience, flexibility, and self-trust
- How she chooses projects that feel meaningful over time
- What it takes to balance ambition, family, and a sustainable creative life
- Why reinvention is essential to staying inspired across decades in the industry

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..

#JulianneNicholson #WomenInEntertainment #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast #CareerLongevity #WomenInFilm #EntertainmentIndustry #ActingCareer #MareOfEasttown #JanetPlanet #Paradise #CreativeCareers #WomenInTV

What does it take to make a computer feel unforgettable?

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, Priya Kansara shares the unexpected story behind voicing Mary in Project Hail Mary, a role that began as an on-set improv experiment and evolved into a character with humor, rhythm, and emotional impact. Priya opens up about stepping into a world of voice work without prior experience, creating her own “directory” of responses for Mary, and learning how to play logic over empathy while still helping build the emotional universe of the film.

She also reflects on the generosity and collaboration she experienced on set, including what it was like to work opposite Ryan Gosling and alongside filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Beyond the film, Priya talks about her unconventional journey from studying molecular biology and working in healthcare to landing roles in Bridgerton, Polite Society, and Star City. It’s a conversation about trusting your instincts, advocating for your character, and embracing the qualities that make you distinct.

Listen to learn:
- How Priya landed the role of Mary in Project Hail Mary
- What it takes to improvise as an AI opposite a live performance
- Why her science background shaped her connection to the story
- The career pivot that took her from healthcare to acting
- How she hopes to create safer, more inclusive spaces in entertainment

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..

#PriyaKansara #ProjectHailMary #WomenInEntertainment #RyanGosling #PhilLord #ChrisMiller #DrewGoddard #StarCity #ForAllMankind #Bridgerton #PoliteSociety #ActingCareer #VoiceActing #WomenInEntertainmentPodcast

What happens when a director sets out to make a rom-com that feels joyful, cinematic, and genuinely hopeful again?

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, Kat Coiro sits down with Renee Rossi and Jocelyn Westerhold to talk about directing You, Me & Tuscany and why she was drawn to a love story that puts joy front and center. She shares how the film channels the spirit of classic romantic comedies, why Anna’s messy, heartfelt journey felt so important to bring to life, and why Halle Bailey was the only person she ever imagined in the role.

Kat also opens up about the creative energy behind her wider career, from collaborating with Will Packer to directing standout projects like Girls5Eva and Matlock. Along the way, she reflects on working with powerhouse talents including Tina Fey and Kathy Bates, the importance of creating space for actors to play, and the through line that connects her work across genres: complex, surprising characters, especially for women.

Most of all, this is a conversation about making art with courage. Kat shares honest advice for emerging filmmakers on learning every corner of the craft, making mistakes, and staying open to the fear that often signals meaningful creative growth.

Listen to learn:
- Why Kat wanted You, Me & Tuscany to feel like a return to classic rom-com joy
- What made Halle Bailey essential to the role of Anna
- How Kat balances meticulous preparation with improvisation on set
- What she learned from collaborating with Tina Fey, Will Packer, and Kathy Bates
- Her best advice for aspiring directors, producers, and storytellers

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..

#KatCoiro #YouMeAndTuscany #WomenInEntertainment #HalleBailey #WillPacker #Girls5Eva #Matlock #KathyBates #TinaFey #RomCom #Directing #Filmmaking #WomenDirectors #Podcast #EntertainmentIndustry

Kate Clayborn writes romance with heart, depth, and the kind of emotional intelligence that makes every love story feel lived-in.

In this episode of Women in Entertainment, Kate joins Renee Rossi for a conversation about The Paris Match, her newest novel set against the romantic mythology and real-world complexity of Paris. Kate opens up about writing “grown-up” characters, why she is drawn to romance that explores love beyond the central couple, and how family, friendship, history, and heartbreak all shape the way her characters move through the world.

Kate also reflects on her path from lifelong reader and full-time educator to published author, sharing how she learned to adapt her writing process around work, deadlines, and the changing demands of each book. She discusses the optioning of Georgie, All Along, the freedom of handing a story to filmmakers, and the importance of trusting each creative medium. For aspiring writers, her advice is simple and powerful: get to know yourself, and keep writing.

Listen to learn:
- How Kate approaches character-driven romance
- Why The Paris Match had to be set in Paris
- How her writing process has changed over time
- What it feels like to have a book optioned for film
- Why romance can explore love in every form

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..

Shop The Paris Match here: https://amzn.to/3RdJFLe

#KateClayborn #ParisMatch #WomenInEntertainment #RomanceBooks #RomanceAuthor #WritingProcess #GeorgieAllAlong #WomenWriters #BookPodcast #CreativeCareers