Too Much with Denise Love Hewett

What does it actually take to break into a Hollywood writer's room — and how do you build a career when there's no clear roadmap? In this episode, host Denise sits down with Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Cynthia Adarkwa (HBO Max's The Pit, Legacies, Saint X, Emperor of Ocean Park) to pull back the curtain on one of entertainment's most opaque career paths: screenwriting. Cynthia shares th...

What does it mean to truly be present? In your body, in a space, in a story? In this episode of Too Much, Denise sits down with Vance Garrett, award-winning creative director, immersive experience pioneer, and founding team member behind Sleep No More, Museum of Ice Cream, and 29 Rooms — to explore how immersive storytelling, tactile design, and embodied experience are reshaping the way we connect...

 What if chasing work-life balance is actually setting you up to fail? In this solo episode, Denise breaks down why the traditional 50/50 framework is outdated — and introduces a more sustainable alternative: seasonal thinking. Drawing on the concepts of the harvest season (when opportunity is abundant and you go all in) and the fallow season (when rest and reinvention fuel your next big leap), De...

Ever wonder why some people execute effortlessly while others struggle with procrastination? In this episode, Denise sits down with neuroplasticity expert Amina Zamani to decode the brain of a non-procrastinator through neurological modeling. Discover how childhood experiences create neural pathways for execution, why motivation isn't about willpower or habits, and how to overcome limbic friction,...

What happens when getting fired transforms from a painful but growth-inducing experience into a tool of systemic oppression? Denise shares her personal journey through multiple job losses and firings, revealing how she initially viewed these experiences as a "female rite of passage" that ultimately pushed her toward entrepreneurship. But 2025 changed everything. In this solo episode, Denise unpack...

Ever wonder why millennials seem to be aging better than Gen Z? In this eye-opening episode, Denise explores the science of longevity with LA-based intuitive wellness expert Lynette Astaire, who specializes in nutrition, mindset, and metabolic health. With over 20 years of fasting experience, Lynette has worked with Grammy-winning musicians, visionary CEOs, and elite athletes to support sustainabl...

What happens when the story you built your life around no longer holds? This week, we sit down with Dr. Tasha Golden behavioral scientist, former touring musician, published poet, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of creativity, mental health, and systems change to explore what it means to outgrow an identity, confront burnout, and imagine new ways of being well in a world that oft...

What happens when you stop waiting to be “ready” and start trusting your curiosity? Denise sits down with podcast host, editor, and creative strategist Anna Howard, the creator of Wild Geese, a podcast inspired by Mary Oliver’s iconic poem and the liberating idea that you do not have to be good to begin. Anna’s work centers on curiosity as a creative force. After years working behind the scenes pr...

What does it really mean to be a working creative in today’s world? In this solo career episode of Too Much, Denise Love Hewett breaks down the realities of building a creative life without burning out, going broke, or forcing yourself into someone else’s timeline. Drawing from her own experience starting over at 33 after her company shut down, Denise shares what it actually takes to sustain creat...

What if rage isn’t something to suppress but something sacred trying to guide you home? In this powerful episode, Denise sits down with writer, poet, and cultural thinker Joy Donnell to explore sacred rage, devotion over discipline, and how discomfort can become the blueprint for a more honest, liberated life. This conversation explores how anger can be informational rather than destructive, how g...

In this solo episode, I’m diving deep into two things: How to confidently advocate for yourself in interviews, pitches, and career transitions Why being a beginner is actually your greatest superpower After changing industries four times, taking big swings, failing publicly, and starting again, I’ve learned a lot about identity, reinvention, intuition, and believing you’re allowed to take up space...

In this powerful episode, Denise sits down with trauma specialist and educator Jimanekia Eborn to discuss healing from sexual assault, navigating complex trauma, and finding safety in uncertain times. Jimanekia, founder of Tending the Garden nonprofit and host of the Trauma Queen Podcast, shares her personal journey as a survivor and expert with over 17 years of experience in mental health and sex...

 In this solo episode, Denise explores the critical difference between wounded ambition and healthy ambition and how understanding this distinction can transform your entire approach to work and success. In this episode, you'll discover: What wounded ambition is and how to recognize it in your own life The psychological concept of the hedonic treadmill and why external achievements never satisfy H...

On this week’s episode of Too Much, we sit down with Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and creative director CJ Baran to explore his unconventional path in music, theater, and immersive experiences. From producing hits for Panic! At The Disco, Melanie Martinez, and Marina, to co-creating the visionary musical Cages, CJ shares the lessons, failures, and triumphs of a truly diversified creativ...

What if the secret to a more connected, meaningful, and joyful life is simple? What if it’s curiosity? In this episode of Too Much with Denise Love Hewett, internationally recognized curiosity expert and TED speaker Scott Shigeoka joins to explore how curiosity can transform not just our relationships, but the way we see the world. Scott is the award-winning author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Trans...

Struggling with your job search? In this episode, I share career advice that changed my life: don't say no before they say no. Learn how to stop self-rejecting and limiting your opportunities during tough job markets. I share personal stories about landing jobs I was "underqualified" for, moving across the country for unexpected opportunities, and how believing in yourself can open doors you never...

In this episode of Too Much, host Denise Love Hewett talks with award-winning actor, producer, director, singer, and writer Hailie Sahar. From making history on Ryan Murphy’s Pose as Lulu, Mother of the House of Ferocity, to starring on Freeform’s Good Trouble, Hailie shares her journey as a trailblazing trans woman in entertainment. They discuss: Discovering her calling in grade school and pursui...

What if we could reimagine our economy to prioritize wellbeing over endless growth? In this episode, Jess Rimington, author of "Beloved Economies: Transforming How We Work," joins us to explore how businesses can break free from extractive capitalism and create workplaces that actually support human flourishing. After both experiencing severe burnout from traditional workplace structures, Jess and...

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Jane Chen, co-founder of Embrace Global and author of Like a Wave We Break, shares her transformative journey from celebrated social entrepreneur to burned-out founder, and ultimately to healed leader. After 10 years building Embrace, a revolutionary infant incubator that has saved nearly 1 million babies, Jane faced the collapse of an acquisition deal and h...

Join host Denise Love Hewett for an inspiring conversation with Jayce Baron, a screenwriter, director, Emmy-winning documentary producer, and former elected official who's making waves in entertainment, advocacy, and policy. In this episode, discover: How Jayce built a successful PR company at 23 with no New York experience The power of rejection as redirection in creative careers Why timing matte...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Farber, co-founder and CEO of Breakout, a platform creating immersive, place-based experiences that connect people, communities, and purpose. From fostering long-lasting connections across 45+ cities to supporting grassroots leaders with grants and resources, Michael shares his insights on building authentic communities, the power of curiosity, and the imp...

Independent artist VÉRITÉ joins host Denise Love Hewett to share the raw truth about building a sustainable music career outside traditional industry structures. With over 350 million streams and complete creative autonomy, VÉRITÉ reveals how she went from working at Applebee's in Times Square to becoming a successful independent artist. In this conversation, discover: Why VÉRITÉ believes digital...

In this episode of Too Much with Denise Love Hewett, we explore the transformative power of rituals with Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of Brightland, the category-defining olive oil brand featured by The New York Times, Vogue, Food & Wine, and Fast Company. What You'll Learn: How modern rituals differ from traditional religious ceremonies and why they're essential for mental health The neuro...

Are you feeling stuck, burnt out, or questioning if there's more to life than the traditional career ladder? You're not alone. In this powerful mission statement episode, Denise shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to purposeful entrepreneurship, revealing why she created Too Much and why society's blueprint for success is fundamentally broken. After building and shutting down a tech...

Denise and Brooke discuss stepping into your truth, following your intuition and no longer staying small.  On this episode of Too Much with Denise Love Hewett, actress and writer Brooke Lyons (The Affair, Two Broke Girls, Lincoln Rhyme, Life Sentence) shares her journey of reinvention, resilience, and redefining success in Hollywood. From her ballet dreams at Yale to navigating scoliosis, starting...