Best Eric Scott and Jason Johnson Podcasts (2025)

1
Ezra Klein: The Case Against Writing With AI | How I Write 55:06

22h ago55:06

55:06

Ezra Klein is one of the internet’s most influential journalists. He co-founded Vox in 2014, and it was there he really pioneered this new era of online journalism. Remember those Vox explainer videos that were so popular? As I’ve recorded this, he’s got the #1 book on the New York Times bestseller list. We talked about the state of media, why piec…

1
Eric Roth: The Screenwriter Behind Forrest Gump and Dune | How I Write 1:35:00

8d ago1:35:00

1:35:00

Dune. Forrest Gump. Benjamin Button. Eric Roth wrote all of them. He’s been nominated for seven Oscars and won Best Adapted Screenplay for Forrest Gump. I got the chance to ask him about how you find a deeper theme in a story, what a writer can do to really move people, and what it’s actually like working with people like David Fincher, Steven Spie…

1
Michael Jamin: The Hollywood Sitcom Writer | How I Write 1:23:40

15d ago1:23:40

1:23:40

Michael Jamin has been writing Hollywood sitcoms for 28 years on shows like King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head. Unlike most comedy writers, he’s not focused on punchlines, he’s more focused on building rich characters, developing deep storylines, and layering the comedy on top.But how do you do that? That’s what this episode is all about. En…

1
Occasional Randomness #37 - The Confusion Continues (Andor S2E1-3) 56:57

19d ago56:57

56:57

Eric and Jason move on from Marvel shows (see the last few podcasts) and on to Star Wars as Disney+ has started their epic flood of episodes for the second, and last, season of Star Wars: Andor. It's a good thing Disney+ released a recap of season one as it's been three years since that came out. Although that didn't help us remember most of the su…

1
Dean Koontz: 120 novels published. 500 million copies sold. | How I Write 1:47:18

22d ago1:47:18

1:47:18

Dean Koontz has written over 100 books and sold more than 500 million copies, making him one of the best-selling authors of all time. I visited Dean at his home and personal library to understand what truly sets him apart. Unlike most mass-market writers, Dean is obsessed with the craft. He doesn’t just write stories, he truly lives for the beauty …

1
Johann Hari: The Obsessive Research Method | How I Write 1:14:11

29d ago1:14:11

1:14:11

The world isn’t made of atoms, it’s made of stories. I’ve never heard anyone speak so deeply about interviewing. Johann Hari has written four books, and for each one he travels the globe to record hundreds of conversations. In this episode, he’ll explain exactly how he does it, sharing stories of getting up close and personal with homeless people i…

1
Occasional Randomness #36 - No More Vigilantes (Daredevil: Born Again S1E7-9) 1:03:06

1M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

This time around we wrap up season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again with episodes 7 - 9. We absolutely loved this series, as you can probably tell from our prior podcasts, and the ending of season 1 doesn't disappoint us. Anytime you combine two of the characters we love, Daredevil and The Punisher, what's not to love? We were a little sad that Muse didn…

1
Will Storr: The Science of Storytelling | How I Write 1:07:30

1M ago1:07:30

1:07:30

Will Storr has written 7 books and he’s basically a scientist for storytelling. Now you might be thinking: Do we really need another storytelling guy? But Will is different. That's because he doesn’t just talk about plot or the hero’s journey, he focuses on character. Great stories don’t start with plot… they start with people. The best part? By th…

1
Occasional Randomness #35 - Secret Lairs All The Way Down (Daredevil: Born Again S1E4-6) 45:20

1M ago45:20

45:20

We continue through the amazing season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again with episodes 4 - 6. We're obviously still enjoying it as you might guess. And it only took almost 5 more episodes before we got to see Matt suit up in costume again. We guess you can only keep a hero down for so long before they have to finally take action. We discuss Fisk's ultimat…

1
Michael Dean: The 27 Patterns To Fix Bad Writing | How I Write 1:51:30

2M ago1:51:30

1:51:30

Architect Michael Dean breaks down the hidden patterns behind the great essays of our time. In this video, we go over his 27-point framework that makes up every world class piece of writing and how he uses the same system to analyze the Guggenheim and Apple Store. We also talk about what skills will still matter as AI continues to improve and why l…

1
Lulu Cheng Meservey: Meet Silicon Valley’s Top PR Master | How I Write 1:20:13

2M ago1:20:13

1:20:13

The old communications playbook is dead: Political and company narratives used to be controlled by publicists and journalists. But now, founders can Go Direct. The question is… how? How do you spread a message in this new world? Lulu Cheng Meservey has worked with companies like Substack, Anduril, and Activision Blizzard, and this is her tell-all a…

1
Occasional Randomness #34 - Mystic Amulets Get No Respect (Daredevil: Born Again S1E1-3) 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

This time around we talk about the first third of the new Marvel Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again, episodes 1 - 3. We both thought Daredevil was the best of the old Netflix Marvel shows and are very excited about ol' Hornhead being back for "season 4" on Disney+. Although we have some strong words to say about those opening scenes. And then we…

1
The Ultimate Guide to Writing with AI | How I Write 1:29:31

2M ago1:29:31

1:29:31

Get my free PDF on using LLM's for writer's + my in-depth prompts: https://perell.com/ai AI has triggered an existential crisis for me. In this episode, I share my thoughts on standing out as a writer with AI and how I use it everyday. This is one of the most in-depth looks at what it means to be a writer in 2025. Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a wr…

1
Johnny Harris: Master Storytelling on YouTube | How I Write 1:26:39

3M ago1:26:39

1:26:39

In this episode, I sit down with YouTube storytelling master Johnny Harris to discover how he creates his videos. Johnny Harris has proven he can make pretty much anything go viral, from breakfast and lottery tickets to bread-making and extra virgin olive oil. We look at his entire creative process, breaking down exactly what makes his storytelling…

1
Tyler Cowen: The Most Practical Conversation on AI Writing | How I Write 1:09:02

3M ago1:09:02

1:09:02

Tyler Cowen, an economist and writer, talks with me about how AI is changing writing and research. He explains a practical approach to using AI tools while maintaining your own voice. He explains the ways he incorporates LLMs into his daily work. We talk about how people will be writing fewer books in the future and how he believes truly human writ…

1
Dana Gioia: Why Poetry Matters | How I Write 3:10:57

3M ago3:10:57

3:10:57

Dana Gioia is a poet, former Chairman of the NEA, and one of America's most insightful writers on the craft of poetry and prose. This is the deepest conversation I've ever had about writing. Dana breaks down the writing process from his first drafts to revision, and shares practical wisdom about finding your voice and creating work that lasts. His …

1
Occasional Randomness #33 - Timey Wimey Stuff And Pirates (Farscape S4E11, Skeleton Crew S1E5-8) 1:12:29

3M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

First up in our ongoing watch of Farscape -- season 4, episode 11 - Unrealized Reality. Crichton gets sucked down a wormhole and meets another of the mysterious Ancients. This one explains everything you ever wanted to know about wormholes, and some stuff we bet Crichton didn't want to know. We loved all the alternate realities Crichton gets thrown…

1
Ward Farnsworth: How To Say Things That Last Forever | How I Write 1:01:41

4M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Ward Farnsworth is a law professor and former dean at the University of Texas School of Law who has written popular books about clear thinking, language, and philosophy. His books include Classical English Style and works on rhetoric and legal writing. He’s a genius at making complex ideas simple and useful for everyday life. Enjoy! Get 60 days fre…

1
Occasional Randomness - Farscape Flashback #22 - Chekhov's Halitosis (Farscape S2E21-22) 1:05:50

4M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

While Jason and I deal with colds, work and other IRL stuff, enjoy our final episode of Farscape Flashbacks! Our reposting of our Farscape season one and two podcasts that we did on another podcasting network so you can more easily listen to them here. Here's our "original" show notes for this episode. Enjoy and we'll see you soon with new episodes…

1
Alex Hormozi: Copywriting Masterclass | How I Write 1:09:04

4M ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Alex Hormozi has written two killer business books that have sold more than 1M copies. His writing has gotten him to 9M followers across social media. This is the first interview where he breaks down his writing system. Get 60 days free Readwise Reader at https://readwise.io/davidperell/ I also made a website that helps you learn from the best writ…

1
171 Years of Writing Advice in 90 Minutes | How I Write 1:29:39

5M ago1:29:39

1:29:39

In this episode, I share my very favorite clips from world-class experts I interviewed last year. Their combined 171 years of writing experience is tightly packed into this 90-minute video. Enjoy! I also made a website that helps you learn from the best writing of all-time: https://writingexamples.com/ Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teache…

1
Occasional Randomness #32 - Witches and Pirates and Kids, Oh My! (Agatha All Along S1E4-6, Skeleton Crew S1E1-4) 58:12

5M ago58:12

58:12

We're staying inside the Disney+ ecosystem this week. We wrap up season 1 of Agatha All Along, with episodes 7 - 9. Did we think they brought the season home on a good note, ready for whatever comes next? Mostly. Did Jason ever come to like any of the characters? Well... But overall, we did like it and we'll see if anything comes after it to contin…

1
Occasional Randomness #31 - Girl Power! (Farscape S4E10, Agatha All Along S1E4-6) 1:13:11

6M ago1:13:11

1:13:11

Next up through the final season of Farscape, we cover season 4, episode 10 - Coup by Clam. And yes, it is about a coup and by using clams. So, good on ya Farscape writer for making a very descriptive episode title. While orbiting a planet where they found some tech to help Moya survive Tormeted Space, the crew eat the aforementioned clams and beco…

1
Occasional Randomness #30 - Bribing and Vibing (Farscape S4E09, Agatha All Along S1E1-3) 58:36

7M ago58:36

58:36

This time around Eric and Jason discuss Farscape season 4, episode 9 - A Prefect Murder. We both didn't think the different points of view story method worked on this one. We thought it would have been better off directed like a normal episode. But we did agree on the strongest plotline and the great John and Aeryn scenes. Then we discuss the first…

1
Occasional Randomness - Farscape Flashback #21-Relax, It's All Part of the Plan (Farscape S2E19-20) 54:46

7M ago54:46

54:46

Welcome to the next episode of Farscape Flashbacks! Our reposting of our Farscape season one and two podcasts that we did on another podcasting network so you can more easily listen to them here. Here's our "original" show notes for this episode. Enjoy! Eric and Jason review the first two parts of Farscape’s second ever three part storyline, "Liars…

1
Tucker Max: The King of Memoir Writing | How I Write 1:35:34

8M ago1:35:34

1:35:34

How do you know the difference between a banger journal entry and the foundation of a memoir? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, then this conversation is for you.Tucker is a memoir guru, having sold 5 million copies of his own memoir (“I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell”) and millions more of ghostwritten memoirs (for names like Tiffany Hadd…

1
Richard Powers: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Stanford Professor | How I Write 1:24:46

8M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

Richard is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory, one of the most praised novels of the decade. His writing absolutely explodes with life. But perhaps Richard’s most impressive skill is his character development. And we’re not talking about the stodgy character arc you learned in English class. Richard shares 40+ years and 14 novels wo…

1
Occasional Randomness - Farscape Flashback #20 - I'm Nobody's Puppet! (Farscape S2E17-18) 1:01:34

8M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Welcome to the next episode of Farscape Flashbacks! Our reposting of our Farscape season one and two podcasts that we did on another podcasting network so you can more easily listen to them here. Here's our "original" show notes for this episode. Enjoy! Eric and Jason have been gone for a little while due to real life, but we’re back with two above…

1
Sam Altman: OpenAI Founder Reveals His Writing System | How I Write 48:38

8M ago48:38

48:38

You know him as the CEO of OpenAI — but did you know that Sam Altman is an avid writer? As one of today’s most successful entrepreneurs, Sam champions the tremendous value of writing: how it clarifies your thinking, expands your ideas, and levels-up your life in every sense, both personally and professionally. Plus, he has a love for the creative. …

1
Occasional Randomness #29 - It's a Small World After All (Farscape S4E08) 54:22

8M ago54:22

54:22

We're more than a third of the way through Farscape season 4. In this one, season 4, episode 8 - I Shrink, Therefore I Am, most of the crew have been captured by bounty hunters in really cool armor. And it's up to Crichton, with some assistance by our newly helpful crewmate Scorpius, to rescue them. To make things worse, the hunters shrink all the …

1
Robert Greene: The Blueprint for a Killer Story | How I Write 1:22:16

8M ago1:22:16

1:22:16

Robert went from being “a drunk, failed screenwriter” to writing seven bestsellers with millions of copies sold. Entrepreneurs, politicians, and hip-hop artists like 50 Cent all love his work. His secret ingredient? Storytelling. In Robert’s eyes, story is a form of seduction. So, welcome to 76-minutes of seductive storytelling advice. You’ll learn…

1
Nick Bilton: The Art of Storytelling in Films, Journalism, and Murder Mysteries | How I Write 1:19:46

9M ago1:19:46

1:19:46

Welcome to 74-minutes of storytelling strategy that’s better than all of your English classes combined. Nick is a journalist who has written for The New York Times and Vanity Fair. He’s a screenwriter, an author, a murder mystery enthusiast. In other words, he knows how to push a story through a brick wall. And he’s going to show you how you can, t…

1
Occasional Randomness #28 - Stark Trek (Farscape S4E07) 49:03

9M ago49:03

49:03

This time around, we review Farscape season 4, episode 7 - John Quixote. Not that you would think of Don Quixote from practically anything in this episode... Anyway... Chiana pulls Crichton into a VR game that quickly goes off the rails. Apparently Stark has it out for Crichton because of Zhaan's death last season and has made up a VR game to trap …

1
How Peter Attia Wrote His First Book 1:15:59

9M ago1:15:59

1:15:59

“I’ll never forget the first patient whom I ever saw die.” Sheesh, what an opening line, right? Peter has an outstanding resume: he’s a medical surgeon, a Stanford grad, and a longevity expert with 25+ years of industry experience — not to mention, a published author who has sold over two million copies of his book, Outlive. In a nutshell, Peter is…

1
How Ben Thompson Built a Writing Empire 1:33:01

9M ago1:33:01

1:33:01

What if writing a newsletter could pay your rent? Well, it can. And today, you’re going to learn how. Ben Thompson makes millions of dollars a year with his writing. He’s the OG of subscription-based newsletter writers. Maybe that’s your dream, too, but you’re plagued by questions like: “What should I write about?” “What’s my business model?” “How …

1
Occasional Randomness #27 - Feed Me Seymour! (Farscape S4E06) 45:10

10M ago45:10

45:10

Only the one episode of Farscape this time around as we're waiting for the next Marvel or Star Wars shows to premiere. This time, Farscape season 4, episode 6 - Natural Election. Aeryn and Crichton are about to have "the talk" about Aeryn's baby but just as they start Moya is rocked by a collision and explosions. Seems she's covered in some kind of…

1
Rob Henderson: How To Write A Memoir 1:34:48

10M ago1:34:48

1:34:48

Ever thought to yourself, “I would love to write a memoir someday”? Then you’re in the right place. Rob has an exceptional story — from foster care to Yale, from a troubled childhood to a best-selling memoir called Troubled — and in this episode, he demystifies the memoir-writing process just for you. We cover questions like: Which stories are wort…

1
The Cultural Tutor: Two Kinds of Writing (Which One Are You?) 1:16:24

10M ago1:16:24

1:16:24

Your success as a writer boils down to your style. And today, you’re going to learn how to master the two different types of style — minimalism vs. maximalism — from the style-king himself: The Cultural Tutor. Minimalism is clear, concise, and direct. It distills an idea. Maximalism captures the texture, the nuance, the beauty of life. It creates a…

1
Occasional Randomness #26 - Promises Made / Promises Broken (Farscape S4E05 - The Acolyte S1E5-8) 1:16:59

10M ago1:16:59

1:16:59

We continue our trip through the final season of Farscape with season 4, episode 5 - Promises. The crew finally are reunited (and it feels so good) with Moya, Pilot and Aeryn. And a not-so-welcome new addition to our crew. But Aeryn's not feeling all that well and the person who made her that way drops by for some revenge. Then we finish our review…

1
Mark Forsyth: How to Make Your Writing Memorable | How I Write Podcast 56:39

10M ago56:39

56:39

What do Katy Perry, Charles Dickens, and the Bible all have in common? They’re responsible for some of the most famous lines in history. And in this episode, you’ll find out why. Mark, an author and mad scientist of language, reveals the secret sauce to memorable writing: rhetorical devices. Chiasmus. Anaphora. Antithesis. Synecdoche. Writing today…

1
Learn Great Copywriting in 76 Minutes | Harry Dry 1:16:05

11M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

Harry is a master copywriter — and that’s not hyperbole. With Marketing Examples, he’s taught over 100,000 people how to write copy that rips. And guess what? You’re next. Copywriting is the wrapper of success for every company. It’s the difference between Snickers, the bestselling chocolate bar in the world (“You’re not you when you’re hungry”) an…

1
How to Write Fearlessly (like Scott Galloway) 1:24:36

11M ago1:24:36

1:24:36

Scott is a cocktail of crass humor, brutal honesty, and millionaire advice. He spent ten years wanting to write a book, and when he finally did, everything he learned could be summed up into two words: Be fearless. So buckle up — because today, you’re going to learn how to write fearlessly. In this episode, we break down the nitty-gritty mechanics …

1
Everything Nat Eliason Learned Writing His First Book 1:39:16

11M ago1:39:16

1:39:16

Two words: Storytelling. Masterclass. Yeah, yeah, we know — “become a better storyteller” is probably the most basic writing advice out there. But this episode is far from basic. It’s all about the storytelling advice you actually need that you didn’t get in school. Once upon a time, Nat wrote online SEO blogs: simple, generic, and kind of boring. …

1
Occasional Randomness #25 - Will the Real Tarkans Please Stand Up? (Farscape S4E04- The Acolyte S1E1-4) 1:17:11

11M ago1:17:11

1:17:11

Episode #25! Not that we planned anything for this milestone, but we do have a larger than normal sized episode this time around. First up, Farscape season 4, episode 4 - Lava's a Many Splendored Thing. Still no sign of Aeryn (maybe next time). The crew lands on a barren planet covered in, you guessed it, lava, in search of food. Unfortunately thin…

1
How to Write a Book Like Ryan Holiday 1:14:46

11M ago1:14:46

1:14:46

Sign Up for "Writing Examples" and Learn From The Best Writing of All Time: https://www.writingexamples.com Ryan Holiday is one of the world’s most prolific writers. He’s published sixteen books, written a daily email newsletter every day for the past eight years, has 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, and runs his own creative agency. (Reciting that…

1
Jerry Seinfeld’s Rules for Writing | How I Write Podcast 41:35

12M ago41:35

41:35

Jerry Seinfeld taught me more about writing than all my English teachers combined. People forget that comedians aren’t just jokesters — they’re writers. And with 10 Emmy Awards, 3 Golden Globes, and a TV show that’s generated over three billion in revenue, it’s safe to say that Jerry Seinfeld is a dang good one. In this episode, I share the top ten…

1
Occasional Randomness #24 - Is That How Magnetics Really Works? (Farscape S4E03 - Tales of the Empire) 48:32

12M ago48:32

48:32

We wrap up the first multipart story of season 4 of Farscape - episode 3, What Was Lost (Part 2): Resurrection. We were not entirely impressed with part one, so see if we think they bring it home in part two and come to a satisfying conclusion. We do get to continue learning more about our new villain, Commandant Grayza. And they do give us some cl…

1
Occasional Randomness - Farscape Flashback #19 - Boogie or Die! (Farscape S2E15-16) 59:06

12M ago59:06

59:06

Welcome to the next episode of Farscape Flashbacks! Our reposting of our Farscape season one and two podcasts that we did on another podcasting network so you can more easily listen to them here. Here's our "original" show notes for this episode. Enjoy! This time we review two really amazing episodes. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, they di…

1
Addicted to Distraction | Ted Gioia | How I Write Podcast 1:55:01

1y ago1:55:01

1:55:01

You may know Ted as a music historian, and the go-to expert on jazz. Or, you may know him as The Honest Broker on Substack. Either way, he’s the most erudite guest this show has ever seen. Ted gives a masterclass on the state of our culture at large. What’s up with our obsession with minimalism? Why do we value speed over beauty? Do we even realize…

1
How Writing Helped Jason Fried Build an 8-Figure Business 1:31:20

1y ago1:31:20

1:31:20

Get ready to swap everything you know about business-writing for an unconventional approach that actually works. Basecamp CEO Jason Fried is one of the world’s most successful software entrepreneurs. And he’s unique for the way he challenges the tenets of Silicon Valley startups. He’s bold like Bezos, but relaxed like Buffett. He cares less about “…

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