Best Spec Script Podcasts (2025)

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From Contest Quarterfinalist to Industry Meetings: A Screenwriter's Real Path Forward, Jack Cusick 34:36

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2d ago34:36

34:36

What does it mean to "level up" as a screenwriter? Grounded sci-fi writer Jack Cusick breaks down the realities of building a screenwriting career, from mastering craft, to finding community, to finally stepping into real industry conversations. Jack shares how he fell in love with storytelling, why the structure of screenwriting sharpened his writ…

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ISA Presents: How to Hook Agents & Producers, a roundtable with ISA Leadership 1:57:04

4d ago1:57:04

1:57:04

Join the ISA for an honest conversation about what agents & producers want & what you need to do to become the writer they're searching for. They're not just looking for potential. They're looking for proof. In this roundtable, we'll cover: What makes agents say yes (& what makes them pass immediately) The truth about what your script needs to be r…

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Keeping the Fun in Filmmaking: Molly Ratermann's Creative Mindset | Emerging Screenwriter Interview 33:28

6d ago33:28

33:28

Writer–director–actor Molly Ratermann shares the wild, deeply personal, and inspiring story behind her debut feature film, "Making a Bridesmaid."By scott markus

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Moving Towards Spec-Driven Development 1:01:54

6d ago1:01:54

1:01:54

What are the advantages of spec-driven development compared to vibe coding with an LLM? Are these recent trends a move toward declarative programming? This week on the show, Marc Brooker, VP and Distinguished Engineer at AWS, joins us to discuss specification-driven development and Kiro. Marc describes the process of developing an application by wr…

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Take 10 with Craig - General Meetings: Stop Trying to Sell. Start Building Relationships. 13:39

18d ago13:39

13:39

A general meeting isn't about pitching your project. It's about building relationships, establishing trust, and showing executives, producers, and collaborators who you are as a person and storyteller.By Craig James

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"How to be a Screenwriter" with Phil Stark (South Park, That '70s Show, Dude, Where's My Car?) 44:23

20d ago44:23

44:23

Screenwriter and therapist Phil Stark joins the ISA for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about creativity, impostor syndrome, and breaking into the industry.By scott markus

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Exploring Quantum Computing & Python Frameworks 50:24

20d ago50:24

50:24

What are the recent advances in the field of quantum computing and high-performance computing? And what Python tools can you use to develop programs that run on quantum computers? This week on the show, Real Python author Negar Vahid discusses her tutorial, “Quantum Computing Basics With Qiskit.” Negar digs into the fundamentals of quantum computer…

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Building a FastAPI Application & Exploring Python Concurrency 35:07

1M ago35:07

35:07

What are the steps to get started building a FastAPI application? What are the different types of concurrency available in Python? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We discuss a recent Real Python step-by-step tutorial about programming a FastAPI example application.…

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Preparing Data Science Projects for Production 59:12

1M ago59:12

59:12

How do you prepare your Python data science projects for production? What are the essential tools and techniques to make your code reproducible, organized, and testable? This week on the show, Khuyen Tran from CodeCut discusses her new book, “Production Ready Data Science.” Khuyen shares how she got into blogging and what motivated her to write a b…

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Advice for Writing Maintainable Python Code 54:53

2M ago54:53

54:53

What are techniques for writing maintainable Python code? How do you make your Python more readable and easier to refactor? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We discuss a recent article about writing code that is easy to maintain. We cover writing comments, creating …

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Michael Kennedy: Managing Your Own Python Infrastructure 1:20:25

2M ago1:20:25

1:20:25

How do you deploy your Python application without getting locked into an expensive cloud-based service? This week on the show, Michael Kennedy from the Talk Python podcast returns to discuss his new book, “Talk Python in Production.” Michael runs multiple Python applications online, including a training site, blog, and two podcasts. While searching…

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From Dream to Debut: Alex Sarrigeorgiou's First Feature Film Story, making "In Transit" 35:34

2M ago35:34

35:34

Writer, actor, and poet Alex Sarrigeorgiou talks about her creative journey and her debut feature film, "In Transit," a tender, intimate queer drama about connection, identity, and the courage to change direction in life.By Shayna Weber

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Making Back to Back Viral Short Films w/Luke Barnett (THE CROSSING OVER EXPRESS & OVATION) 1:21:43

2M ago1:21:43

1:21:43

VIDEO PODCAST AVAILABLE at YouTube.com/@AndyCompton! Please watch and subscribe to the channel for more video episodes! Hey there, everybody! Welcome to Episode 50! What an achievement! Very stoked to have screenwriter, director, producer, and actor, Luke Barnett back on the show. In this episode, we talk about his two most recent short films, THE …

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Benchmarking Python 3.14 & Enabling Asyncio to Scale 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

How does Python 3.14 perform under a few hand-crafted benchmarks? Does the performance of asyncio scale on the free-threaded build? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. At the top of the show, we have a mountain of release news and Python Enhancement Proposals to cover.…

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Evolving Teaching Python in the Classroom 1:04:59

2M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

How is teaching young students Python changing with the advent of LLMs? This week on the show, Kelly Schuster-Paredes from the Teaching Python podcast joins us to discuss coding and AI in the classroom. Kelly shares her current thoughts on teaching Python to young students. She stresses that the earliest classes still need to cover the fundamentals…

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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome as a Writer | Trusting the Process of Storytelling 6:46

2M ago6:46

6:46

"The idea of impostor syndrome is something I think we all struggle with — and I'm no exception." In this heartfelt reflection, Craig James opens up about creative self-doubt, trusting your work, and learning to let go once you've done your part.By Craig James

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Just Your Typical Award-winning Screenwriter-slash-Zookeeper | Alli Kiko Masloske's Inspiring Story 37:02

2M ago37:02

37:02

In this inspiring conversation, Alli Kiko Masloske shares her creative journey from working with animals to writing screenplays that connect deeply with audiences. From navigating chronic illness to finding her voice in a competitive industry, Alli opens up about how humor, honesty, and community have shaped her work and outlook on life.…

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Python 3.14: Exploring the New Features 56:13

3M ago56:13

56:13

Python 3.14 is here! Christopher Trudeau returns to discuss the new version with Real Python team member Bartosz Zaczyński. This year, Bartosz coordinated the series of preview articles with members of the Real Python team and wrote the showcase tutorial, “Python 3.14: Cool New Features for You to Try.” Christopher’s video course, “What’s New in Py…

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Advice on Beginning to Learn Python 52:11

3M ago52:11

52:11

What’s changed about learning Python over the last few years? What new techniques and updated advice should beginners have as they start their journey? This week on the show, Stephen Gruppetta and Martin Breuss return to discuss beginning to learn Python. We share techniques for finding motivation, building projects, and learning the fundamentals. …

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Dani Hanks on Writing with Authentic Voice & Building a TV Career, Emerging Screenwriter Interview 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

Writer, director, and creative powerhouse Dani Hanks joins Shaya Weber for an in-depth conversation about her journey from actor to award-winning writer, how chronic illness shaped their perspective, and their process for writing powerful, character-driven stories. Learn how Dani approaches outlining, keeps momentum through rejection, and balances …

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Managing Feature Flags & Comparing Python Visualization Libraries 42:17

3M ago42:17

42:17

What’s a good way to enable or disable code paths without redeploying the software? How can you use feature flags to toggle functionality for specific users of your application? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher shares an article exploring the use of feat…

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Finding Your True Writing Voice | Stop Writing for the Audience, Start Writing for YOURSELF 9:35

3M ago9:35

9:35

Every writer needs to find their true voice, that unique perspective that makes their work authentic and unforgettable. We dive into what "voice" really means and how to write from a place of honesty.By Craig James

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From Making the 2022 and 2023 Annual Blacklist to Having His Script Directed by Peter Landesman w/Kevin Sheridan (ELEVEN DAYS) 1:16:11

3M ago1:16:11

1:16:11

Hey there, everybody! Today on the show, we have actor turned screenwriter, Kevin Sheridan. I've known of Kevin for awhile from Twitter but we hadn't interacted much until now. Just friends and fans from afar. It was great getting to talk to him and learn about his history as an actor, working on some huge shows of the 2000s, and then his more rece…

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Dangers of Automatically Converting a REST API to MCP 1:24:25

3M ago1:24:25

1:24:25

When converting an existing REST API to the Model Context Protocol, what should you consider? What anti-patterns should you avoid to keep an AI agent’s context clean? This week on the show, Kyle Stratis returns to discuss his upcoming book, “AI Agents with MCP”. Kyle has been busy since he last appeared on the show in 2020. He’s taken his experienc…

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Improve Your Writing by Reading, Take 10 with Craig 5:15

3M ago5:15

5:15

Take advantage of ISA's free screenplay library to improve your own craft.By Craig James

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Python App Hosting Choices & Documenting Python's History 43:50

3M ago43:50

43:50

What are your options for hosting your Python application or scripts? What are the advantages of a platform as a service, container-based hosts, or setting up a virtual machine? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We discuss a recent article about hosting Python applic…

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Large Language Models on the Edge of the Scaling Laws 1:28:34

4M ago1:28:34

1:28:34

What’s happening with the latest releases of large language models? Is the industry hitting the edge of the scaling laws, and do the current benchmarks provide reliable performance assessments? This week on the show, Jodie Burchell returns to discuss the current state of LLM releases. The most recent release of GPT-5 has been a wake-up call for the…

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Exploring Mixin Classes in Python 50:15

4M ago50:15

50:15

What is a good way to add isolated, reusable functionality to Python classes? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher covers a recent Real Python tutorial about developing mixin classes to reuse code across multiple Python classes. He describes how mixins rely …

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Travis Oliphant: SciPy, NumPy, and Fostering Scientific Python 1:11:20

4M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

What went into developing the open-source Python tools data scientists use every day? This week on the show, we talk with Travis Oliphant about his work on SciPy, NumPy, Numba, and many other contributions to the Python scientific community. Travis discusses his initial involvement in the open-source community and how he discovered Python while wor…

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Devin Jane Febbroriello: To be a Filmmaker You Need to Understand Feedback & Collaboration 44:20

4M ago44:20

44:20

Devin Jane Febbroriello is a North American screenwriter/director + producer that specializes in the creation of thought-provoking stories centered on lovable dysfunctional families, surreal multi-genre plots, women, and dark humor. Evocative characters blaze bold paths through thematically rich circumstances to cultivate her emotive works. Devin's…

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Selecting Inheritance or Composition in Python 46:02

4M ago46:02

46:02

When considering an object-oriented programming problem, should you prefer inheritance or composition? Why wouldn’t it just be simpler to use functions? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher shares an article about structuring code using inheritance, composit…

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Harnessing the Power of Python Polars 1:14:59

5M ago1:14:59

1:14:59

What are the advantages of using Polars for your Python data projects? When should you use the lazy or eager APIs, and what are the benefits of each? This week on the show, we speak with Jeroen Janssens and Thijs Nieuwdorp about their new book, Python Polars: The Definitive Guide. Jeroen and Thijs describe how they were introduced to Polars while w…

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Design Patterns That Don't Translate to Python 49:12

5M ago49:12

49:12

Do the design patterns learned in other programming languages translate to coding in Python? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher dives into an article that tackles popular object-oriented design patterns from the famous Gang of Four book. These patterns off…

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Conor Dowling on Breaking into Screenwriting & Filmmaking in Ireland (Emerging Screenwriter) 47:53

5M ago47:53

47:53

Conor spent most of his youth in Ireland gigging in rock bands, working in a video store and reading too many Stephen King novels. Eventually, he knew he had to course correct and follow his dreams. Conor is a writer, filmmaker and award winning podcaster from Dublin with a masters in film production from Staffordshire University. Conor writes abou…

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Supporting the Python Package Index 49:49

5M ago49:49

49:49

What goes into supporting more than 650,000 projects and nearly a million users of the Python Package Index? This week on the show, we speak with Maria Ashna about her first year as the inaugural PyPI Support Specialist. Maria has a varied background in creative arts and neuroscience. She decided to apply for the PyPI support position, defying comm…

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Author/Showrunner DJ MacHale on Unlocking Stories & Taking Control of Your Writing Career 1:20:55

5M ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Join us for a captivating evening with D.J. MacHale, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pendragon series and creator of the cult-favorite TV show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" From bestselling books to iconic screen moments, D.J. has spent his career crafting stories that resonate across generations. In this exclusive event, he'll shar…

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Yazmin Monet Watkins: Poetry, Roller Skates & Speaking Truth 41:14

5M ago41:14

41:14

Yazmin Monet Watkins is a poet, comedian, screenwriter, actress, organizer, avid roller skater and adventurer. She can be seen on season two of Grand Crew on NBC, Comedy Central and has co-developed and written pilots for Netflix & Comedy Central.By Shayna Weber

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Comparing Real-World Python Performance Against Big O 45:01

6M ago45:01

45:01

How does the performance of an algorithm hold up when you put it into a realistic context? Where might Python code defy Big O notation expectations when using a profiler? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher shares an article about why real-world performance…

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From Acting in MAJOR PAYNE to Writing, Directing, Composing, AND Acting in BITTERSWEET (Apple TV) w/Steven Martini 1:05:26

6M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

Hey there, everybody! Today on the show, we have writer, actor, director, composer, editor, and singer/songwriter Steven Martini. I met Steven on Twitter and quickly realized, "OH MY GOD, THAT'S CADET ALEX STONE FROM MAJOR PAYNE!" I was a big fan in my childhood, so it was a thrill to meet Steven now, 30 years later. And it's been an interesting th…

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Solving Problems and Saving Time in Chemistry With Python 1:13:10

6M ago1:13:10

1:13:10

What motivates someone to learn how to code as a scientist? How do you harness the excitement of solving problems quickly and make the connection to the benefits of coding in your scientific work? This week on the show, we speak with Ben Lear and Christopher Johnson about their book “Coding For Chemists.” Christopher is an associate professor of ch…

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Structuring Python Scripts & Exciting Non-LLM Software Trends 54:07

6M ago54:07

54:07

What goes into crafting an effective Python script? How do you organize your code, manage dependencies with PEP 723, and handle command-line arguments for the best results? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We dig into a recent Real Python article about how to struct…

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Scaling Python Web Applications With Kubernetes and Karpenter 1:04:47

6M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

What goes into scaling a web application today? What are resources for learning and practicing DevOps skills? This week on the show, Calvin Hendryx-Parker is back to discuss the tools and infrastructure for autoscaling web applications with Kubernetes and Karpenter. Calvin is the co-founder and CTO of Six Feet Up, a Python and AI consultancy. He sh…

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The Truth About Agents 10:54

6M ago10:54

10:54

How Writers Really Get Repped (The 90/10 Rule You Need to Know), Take 10 with ISA Founder Craig JamesBy Craig James

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Starting With marimo Notebooks & Python App Config Management 51:41

7M ago51:41

51:41

Looking for a guide on getting started with marimo notebooks? How do you build a reproducible notebook for sharing or create a dashboard with interactive UI elements? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We cover a recent Real Python article by Ian Eyre about using nari…

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Allegra Oxborough, Table Read My Screenplay Grand Prize Winner & Director Paul Lindsay 16:52

7M ago16:52

16:52

The most recent Table Read My Screenplay contest brought the grand prize winner to the South of France during the Cannes Film Festival. Hear from screenwriter Allegra Oxborough & director Paul Lindsay.By Scott Markus

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Rodrigo Girão Serrão: Python Training, itertools, and Idioms 1:02:49

7M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Once you’ve learned the vocabulary and syntax of the Python language, how do you progress into learning the right combinations to put into your code? How can Python’s built-in itertools library enhance your skills? This week on the show, we speak with Rodrigo Girão Serrão about teaching Python through his blog and his passion for the itertools libr…

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Jen Butler, Emerging Screenwriter Interview Series 1:04:02

7M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Jen Butler is a comedian and storyteller who specializes in writing feature-length, multi-layered dark comedy screenplays focusing on the complex nature of humans as they navigate spiritual and emotional awakenings. When not writing screenplays, Jen tells comedic real-talk stories to her 275,000 online followers (@jenbutlersays IG, TikTok, & Thread…

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Screenwriter Update! AJ Bermudez, author & co-writer of "My Dead Friend Zoe" 22:59

7M ago22:59

22:59

A. J. BERMUDEZ is an award-winning author and filmmaker based in Los Angeles and New York. Her first book, Stories No One Hopes Are About Them, won the 2022 Iowa Short Fiction Award and was a 2023 Lambda Award Finalist. Her most recent feature film project, My Dead Friend Zoe (co-written with director Kyle-Hausmann Stokes, starring Sonequa Martin-G…

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Python Thread Safety & Managing Projects With uv 34:48

7M ago34:48

34:48

What are the ways you can manage multithreaded code in Python? What synchronization techniques are available within Python’s threading module? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. Christopher discusses his recent Real Python video course about thread safety. The course …

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DjangoCon Europe 2025: Live Recording From Dublin 57:19

7M ago57:19

57:19

What goes into making video courses at Real Python? How should you build an installable Django application? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week, bringing another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. This week, the Real Python Podcast is experiencing several firsts. We recorded a show in front of a live audience for the ver…