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Live from campus — pre quarantine — Sophie tells Aaron about the unique way she got her first staff job, what happens when Tim Cook walks into a table read of your script, and how she’s navigated the beginnings of an acting resume that already includes gems like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Other Two, … Continue reading Sophie Zucker — Writer/Actress (Dickinson on Apple TV) →

Live on campus!…before the quarantine…Aaron and Ben sit down in front of a packed audience to discuss Ben’s successful career as the star of three consecutive broadcast dramas. From The O.C., to Southland, to Gotham, Ben is on a remarkable run, recently adding writer/director/producer to his resume. Ben goes deep on his early days in … Continue reading Ben McKenzie — Actor, Director, Producer, Writer →

Hollywood legend Michael Douglas walks Aaron through highlights of his era-defining career. They pay particular attention to Michael’s working relationship with screenwriters, including those behind Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, The American President, and many others. Follow Aaron on Twitter @aarondtracy for show updates.

Dan Pink’s TED Talk on the science of motivation is one of the 10 most-watched TED Talks of all time, with more than 20 million views. Dan’s research and writing has a lot to say about how to navigate the creative life, which made Aaron jump at the chance to get him on the show. … Continue reading Daniel Pink — Bestselling Author →

Dr. Laurie Santos joins Aaron in the studio for a fascinating conversation about happiness research, and how it pertains to the creative life. Laurie is a professor of psychology and cognitive science here at Yale. She’s also the Creator/Host of the #1 trending podcast in the nation right now, The Happiness Lab. https://www.happinesslab.fm/ Laurie’s show … Continue reading Laurie Santos — Creator/Host of megahit podcast, The Happiness Lab. Yale Professor →

Aaron sits down with one of the great screenwriters of charming romantic comedies. Wait, no qualifier necessary. Aaron sits down with THE greatest screenwriter of charming romantic comedies. From Four Weddings and a Funeral…to Notting Hill…to Love Actually…to Bridget Jones’s Diary…Richard in a class by himself. Aaron asks Richard about various pieces of writing advice … Continue reading Richard Curtis — Screenwriter, Director (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually) →

Aaron welcomes the biggest name in books to the pod for a rare, career-spanning interview. Patterson is the best selling writer of the past several decades. He’s sold more than 300 million copies of his books, including 114 New York Times bestsellers. 67 of those have hit #1, which is a Guinness World Record for … Continue reading James Patterson — The World’s Best Selling Author →

Welcome to a new season of To Live & Dialogue! Aaron sits down with one of his filmmaking heroes, Ron Howard, for a wide ranging conversation about Ron’s legendary career, focusing on the extraordinary screenwriters and TV creators he’s worked with since Happy Days. Hear the origin stories of some of Ron’s most beloved films. … Continue reading Ron Howard — Director, Producer, Writer, Actor →

With Toy Story 4 just released, we’re reposting our great conversation with screenwriter Stephany Folsom. Stephany explains the multi year process of screenwriting at Pixar, working with animators, what it’s like on the Pixar campus, and the responsibility she feels to the billion dollar franchise.

Today we’re posting the most recent episode of Classic Movie Musts, which Aaron guested on. Aaron does a deep dive on one of his favorite movies, 12 Angry Men, with the show’s host, Max Baril. Follow Classic Movie Musts at: https://twitter.com/MovieMustsPod And find Aaron at https://twitter.com/aarondtracy

Join Aaron on stage at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, NY for a remarkable evening with legendary, Pulitzer-winning screenwriter and cartoonist, Jules Feiffer. Recorded on Jules’s 90th birthday, after a screening of his 1970s masterpiece, Carnal Knowledge (starring Jack Nicholson, Dir. Mike Nichols), Jules walks us through this extraordinary film, his collaboration with … Continue reading Jules Feiffer – Screenwriter, Cartoonist, Playwright →

In honor of the 20th anniversary of one of the greatest TV shows ever made, we’re replaying our very first episode of the podcast with a new introduction. Terry Winter worked his way up The Sopranos writing staff to become one of the three key contributors to the series. Terry went on to a 20 … Continue reading Terence Winter Redux! – The Sopranos 20th anniversary →

Dale has written some of the most memorable and enjoyable comedies of the last few decades, including two of the WGA’s 101 Funniest Screenplays Of All Time. From My Cousin Vinny to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to Ruthless People, Dale’s scripts poke fun at the class system, and champion the underdog against whatever ruling system is … Continue reading Dale Launer – Screenwriter (My Cousin Vinny, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Ruthless People) →

To Live & Dialogue’s first-ever returning guest! Join Aaron and Michael in front of a packed crowd in New Haven to discuss Michael’s prolific career. A successful TV Creator and Showrunner, Michael’s current series is the CBS drama “Instinct,” starring Alan Cumming, which returns for its second season next month. Michael speaks about the nuts … Continue reading Michael Rauch is back! – TV Creator, Showrunner →

Emily is one of the sharpest, most innovative, most influential TV critics working today. She’s the TV critic at The New Yorker, and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Emily was kind enough to shlep up to New Haven where she spoke to Aaron’s class, then did a larger Q&A on stage, answering questions … Continue reading Emily Nussbaum – Pulitzer Prize Winning TV Critic at The New Yorker →

One of the biggest names in animated movies, Cinco Paul has co-written the screenplays for Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2 and 3, Horton Hears A Who, Hop, The Lorax, and The Secret Life of Pets, among many others. Cinco and his writing partner, Ken Daurio, are giants in the field, who have now turned their … Continue reading Cinco Paul – Screenwriter (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets) →

Nell Scovell has written on some of the most iconic TV comedies of the past few decades, including The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, Murphy Brown, Coach, The Muppets, Monk, and she’s Creator and Executive Producer of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. In books, Nell collaborated with Sheryl Sandberg on Lean In, which resulted in … Continue reading Nell Scovell – TV Creator/Writer (The Simpsons, Late Night, Sabrina) →

Gavin is an incredibly talented non-fiction writer.  Prolific on music and movies, he’s written entire books on Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, and River Phoenix.  This last one brought Gavin’s well-researched and insightful work to Aaron’s attention. Gavin’s writing has been published in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Wired, among other outlets. Aaron is … Continue reading Gavin Edwards – Writer, Journalist, Biographer →

Live on campus, Paul Attanasio, one of the most respected and successful TV/screenwriters of our time. Paul has created four TV series that have gone to air…and counting. One of ’em is Homicide: Life on the Street, a forebear of our current golden age. Paul was also behind House MD, one the most popular shows … Continue reading Paul Attanasio – Oscar-nominated Screenwriter, TV Creator →

One of the most brilliant writers, reporters, and commentators on film, Mark Harris joins Aaron for the hour. Mark’s book, Pictures at a Revolution, about the Best Picture nominees of 1968 as a lens through which to view a cultural revolution and shift in filmmaking, is one of Aaron’s all-time favorites. Mark’s follow-up, Five Came … Continue reading Mark Harris — Film Journalist, Writer, Biographer →