The Holly Hughes Podcast: Inside the Lives of Writers, Musicians, Filmmakers & More

What does it really take to become a confident creative? In this episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast , Holly sits down with award-winning Irish fiddle player, educator, and podcast host Tara Connaghan to explore the connection between creativity, confidence, community, and personal growth. Tara shares how one challenging lesson from her music teacher completely changed the trajectory of her life,...

Hollywood burnout and spiritual awakening don't happen overnight, and no one knows that better than Bob Degus.  After more than a decade producing Oscar-nominated films and overseeing blockbusters at New Line Cinema, Bob hit a wall that no amount of money or credits could fix. If you've ever wondered whether the life you built is actually the life you want, this episode will shake something loose...

What happens when you walk away from a successful corporate career with no real plan, follow your curiosity across continents, and accidentally build an entirely new life? In this episode, Holly sits down with Soraya Ho, multilingual tour guide, podcaster, former software developer, and one of Jeju Island's most passionate cultural ambassadors. After years of intense corporate work in South Ko...

What does it actually take to go from fire department paramedic to Emmy-winning studio head, with zero plan, zero roadmap, and zero interest in the spotlight?  In this episode, Holly sits down with veteran Hollywood producer and ITV Studios executive Dwayne Shattuck, a man with multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, DGA, and PGA awards, 20+ television series under his belt, and a record of never once going...

What do you do when the life you built… disappears? In this episode, Holly sits down with award-winning film producer and creative changemaker Michael Cain to unpack what it really looks like to rebuild your life when the plan falls apart. Because this isn’t a story about success. It’s a story about redirection . After losing everything in his twenties, Michael found himself at a crossroads with n...

This week Holly sits down with Judy Carter, comedian, comedy coach, and author of The Comedy Bible, to talk about how to build a creative career, make money being funny, and turn your biggest problems into your most bankable material. Because here is the thing: your problems are not your problem. They are your material. Judy has coached Seth Rogen, Taylor Tomlinson, and Lisa Lampanelli. Her book h...

What if art wasn’t just expression… but responsibility? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with artist Akira Tsuboi and interpreter Woo-Hee Choi to explore the intersection of art, history, and truth, and what it means to create work that confronts what others avoid. Akira’s work doesn’t look away. It dives into the realities of war, cultural trauma, and systemic silence,...

What if writing about your past didn’t mean reliving it? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with author Monica Macansantos, writer of Returning to My Father’s Kitchen and Love and Other Rituals , to explore how we tell the truth about family, identity, and the stories that shape us, without getting stuck inside them. Monica shares how her father’s openness transformed pai...

What happens when someone who feels completely lost decides to leave everything behind and travel the world? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with Jae Choi , founder of Goodmate Travel, to explore the unexpected journey that led him from uncertainty in South Korea to building a travel company that connects strangers from across the world through shared experiences. What...

What does it actually take to become a published author? In this conversation, Holly sits down with award-winning author Eugene Myers to talk about writing under pressure, creative discipline, publishing realities, and how to build a sustainable writing career while balancing a full-time job and family life. Eugene built his career the long way. Querying agents. Surviving years on submission. Atte...

What kind of makeup actually works for mature skin? In this conversation, Holly sits down with pro makeup artist and mature beauty educator Michelle Spieler to talk about makeup over 40, skincare shifts, aging confidently, and why heavy foundation might be doing you more harm than good. Michelle built her career in 1990s Los Angeles working at MAC before transitioning into television, where her la...

Crafting words from a vision that only you as the author can see is one the oldest and most tried forms of creativity. The best authors throughout history have all shown a gift for sparking the imagination through the written word. That vision and those words need to come from somewhere, however. And one’s own lived experiences often shape both. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author...

Art is often inspired by the experiences we cultivate through our lives. Whether it’s through our interactions with others or our experiences in the world, our art is a reflection of the lives we’ve lived. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is fantasy author and editor Ellen McGinty. Ellen has just published her latest fantasy adventure novel, Saints and Monsters , while also serving other...

The best art often challenges our comfort zones and makes us reexamine commonly held beliefs. The work of today’s guest does that with one of history’s most challenging figures, while adding a dash of humor to the mix. Playwright and director Michelle Kholos Brooks joins host Holly Hughes for a delightful conversation about her creative playwriting process and challenging people’s perceptions abou...

Few things in this world embody grace, finesse, and beauty as ballet. Dancers train almost obsessively to refine their performances to the most minute detail. Dance can therefore become an all encompassing venture, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is professional ballet dancer Remi Okamoto. Remi is originally from Kyoto, Japan, but has trained and studied all ar...

For those lucky enough to reach old age, the process of aging can be an ongoing adaptation, a warm reflection, and a bold step in a new direction - all in one.  Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author Judy Goldman, an author of eight books — four memoirs, two novels, and two collections of poetry. Judy has recently released a book called The Rest of Our Lives, a reflection on the aging...

The world we live in is full or different cultures, each of which has its own distinct traditions and heritage that help weave the massively diverse quilt that is humanity. It’s not uncommon for some of us to identify with more than one culture, which can both enrich our lives, as well as shroud our real identities in mystery. Canadian-Korean author Jinwoo Park joins host Holly Hughes on today’s e...

So many of us listening and watching this podcast have something to say, and we bet that most of you have thought about publishing a book at one time or another. But what goes into writing and publishing at that level? How do you turn an idea into it’s finished form? And how do you ask for help along the way? Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is a literary professional who helps countless...

The stories of living the Hollywood lifestyle full of glitz and glamor are as old as the Oscars themselves, but for many in the industry, it’s a job just like anything else. For today’s guest, that has meant everything from being a stunt man falling off buildings to shooting some of the most poignant films about the Holocaust. Filmmaker Rob Moniot joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The...

Constantly throughout the day, our brains are filtering out all sorts of stimuli, visual, auditory, etc. One of the few things your brain is tuned into and prioritizing is the sound of the human voice. That makes the ability to speak well publicly such a valuable tool. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast has spent his entire professional career using his voice to tell stories, communicate id...

Making music involves vulnerability, a sense of self, and an ability to be comfortable with one’s own identity. When the foundation feels fabricated, the music is sure to reflect that. Therefore, making music requires a heavy dose of introspection.  Indie musician Francis Doom joins The Holly Hughes Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about music and the identity behind the beats. Born in the...

The essence of creativity is both intangible and undeniable. Today’s guests on The Holly Hughes Podcast specialize in channeling your creativity energy and letting go of needless veneers. Sam Howarth is the founder of The Way She Was Made, where she is a “brand alchemist, Business doula, embodiment guide, and soul-led business strategist.” Phoenyx (Vanessa Giorgio) is a visual artist based in Toro...

The essence of creativity is both intangible and undeniable. Today’s guests on The Holly Hughes Podcast specialize in channeling your creativity energy and letting go of needless veneers. Sam Howarth is the founder of The Way She Was Made, where she is a “brand alchemist, Business doula, embodiment guide, and soul-led business strategist.” Phoenyx (Vanessa Giorgio) is a visual artist based in Toro...

Behind every great novel is hundreds of hours of writing, editing and business-oriented decisions. Not to mention the lifetime of experiences and workshopping it takes for one’s words to breathe a life of their own. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is writer, editor and publisher Lorin Oberweger. Lorin is a teacher of the art of writing in both one-on-one formats and workshops. Her studen...

How is playing drums to 60,000 people at a music festival easier than playing to ten people in a dive bar? How does a musician make it in the cut throat music industry, especially in Hollywood? Why is physical fitness key to longevity in music? Our guest on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast gives answers to all three questions and many more. Rob Noxious is the drummer of Killcode, but ha...