Jul 14, 2026

How do you keep doing creative work when the world is falling apart around you? To sift through the despair and doubt, John welcomes back legendary Scriptnotes guest, writer-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. They discuss the many feelings that catastrophic events can bring up in artists, the personal narratives...

Jul 7, 2026

John and Craig sit down with Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, just as its third season airs.

They dive into Ryan’s late start in Hollywood, spec scripts, the anatomy of a writers room, and thinking as a product of movement. They also answer a listener question about the mechanics of writing a sequel.

In...

Jun 30, 2026

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

We discuss Curry’s roots, his writing process, learning from YouTube, as well as the pressure to follow up a hit.

In our bonus...

Jun 23, 2026

This week, Craig answers listener questions about rewriting on set, AI coverage, when and how to kill off characters, sizing up producers, and more.

There’s also an extra-special guest appearance for this week’s One Cool Thing.

In the bonus segment for premium subscribers, Craig discusses how to be wrong—something...

Jun 16, 2026

Why is it so satisfying to watch a highly-skilled character complete their goals? And why can it be equally hilarious to watch an incompetent character bumble through a slew of screw-ups? In this episode, John and Craig discuss how to play with competence in your characters.

We also say goodbye to our producer Drew...