OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

About OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

OnWriting is podcast from the Writers Guild of America East. In each episode, you'll hear from the union members who create the film, TV series, podcasts and news stories that define our culture. We'll discuss everything from inspirations and creative process to what it takes to build a successful career in media and entertainment.

Publisher

Writers Guild of America East

Category

tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Sept 2018

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 139 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Episode 136: Writing Late-Night Comedy with Alison Gates, Jon Glaser, Jenny Hagel, Liz Hynes, Zhubin Parang & Jill Twiss

   WGA East host Kathryn VanArendonk interviews late-night comedy writers Alison Gates, Jon Glaser, Jenny Hagel, Liz Hynes, Zhubin Parang, and Jill Twiss about crafting humor from current events.

2. 

   8 Jan 2026

   Episode 135: Protecting Free Speech in Journalism with Susan Rinkunas, Sammie Smylie, Nitish Pahwa and Matt Shuham

   In the final part of OnWriting's series on protecting free speech, journalists Sammie Smylie, Nitish Pahwa, Matt Shuham and join moderator and journalist Susan Rinkunas to discuss the escalating threats faced by journalists in the US, why it's so critical to fight back to protect journalism that informs the public and holds power accountable, and more. Sammie Smylie is a state education reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, a leader in the Civic News Guild with the WGAE, and a WGAE Council Member for Online Media. Nitish Pahwa is a business and technology journalist at Slate, and a member of the WGAE Council representing Online Media. Matt Shuham is a senior reporter at the HuffPost National Desk, helped organize the Talking Points Memo staff union with the WGAE, and currently a member of the HuffPost Union's bargaining committee. Susan Rinkunas is co-founder of Autonomy News, a contributing writer at Jezebel, and an independent journalist covering politics, reproductive health, and abortion access. She is also a member of the WGAE Council, representing Online Media. --- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: wgaeast.org/onwriting Follow the Guild on social media: @WGAEast OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.

3. 

   24 Dec 2025

   Episode 134: Screenwriter Roundtable with David Koepp, Craig Brewer and Kirt Gunn

   We're wrapping up 2025 with an OnWriting Screenwriter Roundtable, featuring David Koepp, Craig Brewer and Kirt Gunn. The three writers joined us to discuss the origins and process behind their latest projects, how they develop their ideas over time, and much more. David Koepp is a writer and director known for writing the screenplays for films like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man, among many others. His most recent project is Black Bag, a mystery-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh released in Spring 2025. Craig Brewer is the writer and director of Song Sung Blue, a musical biopic about a Neil Diamond tribute band, based on the documentary of the same name. Before Song Sung Blue, he wrote and directed films like Hustle & Flow and wrote on seasons 4 & 5 of the hit television series Empire. Kirt Gunn is a writer and director whose latest project is Roofman, co-written and directed by frequent collaborator Derek Cianfrance. --- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: wgaeast.org/onwriting Follow the Guild on social media: @WGAEast OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.

Inside a recent episode

Episode 136: Writing Late-Night Comedy with Alison Gates, Jon Glaser, Jenny Hagel, Liz Hynes, Zhubin Parang & Jill Twiss

Published 21 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] That's what I was going to say. I saw that packet. It was so well articulated. It was lovely. I wept. And I'm not looking to weep when I am watching a late night comedy show. Can I offer another perspective that will not be as passionate? I don't know how you feel about this, but I think another thing with packets is I think when I was writing them, I thought that the job was to copy the host's voice as closely as possible. And then I think I almost was like mimicking. And I think that that was a mistake. And I went to a panel one time and I heard Seth and the producer of our show, the EP of our show, talk about packets. […]

Who has been a guest on OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Alison Gates
• Jon Glaser
• Jenny Hagel
• Liz Hynes
• Zhubin Parang

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

62 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

18 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

92

Contact OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East