Piece of Work

Brandi chats with Monsoon Leadership CEO Shannon Bowen about all things email newsletter: the intersection of professional, personal, and creative writing styles; finding the tools to get started; building an authentic relationship with the reader; and having the confidence to let your project evolve over time. You can find Shannon (and subscribe to her excellent newsletter!) at Monsoon Leadership...

Brandi welcomes actors Gina Su and Dan Hwang to the show to discuss their experience playing siblings Lizzie Wong & Wes Wong in the new thriller Trapped in the Rocky Mountains, on which Brandi was the screenwriter! They discuss the process of making an ensemble film full of tense group scenes, the joys and challenges of set life in Montana, and the landscape of opportunities for Asian actors i...

Brandi welcomes back writer-director-producer Henry Darrow McComas to discuss his narrative feature debut, horror gem The Camp Host , which debuted in March 2024 on Tubi. They talk about how the project landed at the streamer, the collaborative efforts that helped it punch above its budget, and pursuing career milestones like making a feature without the help of an agent or manager. Follow Henry o...

Brandi chats with TV writer Myles Warden about his experience co-writing two episodes of the sitcom Act Your Age, collaborating within a writing team as well as with everyone on set, and the possibilities for innovation within the multi-cam comedy format. You can find Myles on Twitter at @ReallyMighty .

Brandi sits down with TV writer Jelena Woehr to discuss her pilot script Reconstruction, the dreaded question of the difficult female protagonist, and the joys and pains of revising with a focus on what could actually get the project made. You can find Jelena on Twitter at @jelenawoehr , as well as at jelenawoehr.com .

Brandi chats with novelist Ryan D. Matthews about his current project, how he seeks to explore various themes that relate to his rural upbringing, and the challenges of storytelling in novel format. **Content warning: this episode includes discussions of gun violence. You can find links to Ryan's work at his website, ryandmatthews.com.

Brandi does a deep dive with documentary filmmaker Therese Shechter on the years-long process of making her film "My So-Called Selfish Life," how she tackles covering an expansive social issue in the form of a film, and whether she'll ever take on such a big project again. Find more about Therese's work at trixiefilms.com.

Brandi's guest this episode is the talented filmmaker Andy Compton. They discuss the making of his short film Captcha , the filmmaking community in St. Louis, and the mix of delusion and determination needed to chase the Hollywood dream.

Brandi’s guest this episode is the insightful and hilarious Ceda Xiong. They discuss staying persistent and flexible while trying to get something made in Hollywood, as Ceda describes the journey of her project Road Dick , which started as a podcast pitch before shifting into a half-hour TV pilot script, and may still be evolving to a new form.

Brandi chats with the writer Sutton Strother about their brilliant and creepy short story "Passage," some works that have inspired them, and what creating in the medium of short stories can teach a writer. Read "Passage" at Uncharted Mag . Find more of Sutton's fantastic work on their website .

Brandi chats with multi-hyphenate filmmaker Henry Darrow McComas about directing the horror short film Off Track , the joys of collaborating on a set, and lessons learned from the moments that could have gone better. Off Track is available to view on YouTube . Follow Henry on Twitter .

Brandi is joined by the talented TV writer Lynn Sternberger to discuss her pilot script Shelter, from its unusual beginnings to continued hopes for its future. An excerpt from Shelter is available on the podcast website. While you don't need to read before listening, it might enhance the experience! Follow Lynn on Twitter . Follow Brandi on Twitter .

In the very first episode of Piece of Work, host Brandi Sperry welcomes poet, essayist, Victorianist, and all-around fascinating person Bryn Gribben to discuss a piece from her recent essay collection Amplified Heart: An Emotional Discography . Amplified Heart is available for purchase at many fine retailers, including Barnes and Noble , as well as directly from the publisher Otherwords Press .