The Unscripted Files with Madelyn Cunningham

Nicky Huggett shares her journey in the documentary and media industry, discussing her transition to freelance work, the evolution of development practices, and the challenges faced in the current documentary landscape. She emphasizes the importance of female perspectives in storytelling and the impact of celebrity in production. Nicky also compares UK and US development practices, offering insigh...

AI is dominating conversations across Hollywood — but what does it actually mean for the unscripted television industry? In this season-opening episode of The Unscripted Files, host Madelyn Cunningham sits down with former unscripted producer turned AI executive Simone Buteau to break down the realities, myths, and gray areas surrounding artificial intelligence in development, production, casting,...

Welcome to The Unscripted Files—a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the world of unscripted entertainment. Hosted by development producer Madelyn Cunningham, this series celebrates the talent and ingenuity behind some of your favorite reality TV and unscripted shows. From early industry breakthroughs to behind-the-scenes challenges, we explore the untold stories of the creators, producers, an...

In this reflective episode, Madelyn Cunningham reviews the key insights and lessons learned from her podcast over the past year. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity over judgment, the power of asking for what you want, and the significance of embracing failure. Madelyn shares memorable moments from her guests, discusses the art of pitching, and highlights the value of saying yes and focusin...

This Monday minisode of unscripted industry news with Emily Wilson discusses the latest developments in the bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, AMC's new all-reality streaming service and the revival of Bridezilla, as well as Bravo's upcoming spinoffs and reboots. A new board game IP has entered the chat with Shark Bite and Apple announces a culinary docuseries with Awkwafina. Special Guest: Emily...

Diana Nolan shares her journey from a high school student producer to an executive producer in the true crime genre. She discusses her early experiences in storytelling, the challenges and rewards of working in reality TV, and the importance of empathy and sensitivity in true crime productions. Diana emphasizes the value of mentorship, team building, and creative problem-solving within budget cons...

In this Monday minisode, Madelyn and Emily Wilson discuss the latest trends in the entertainment industry, including new competition formats like 'Win The Mall' from Netflix, the rise of celebrity sports shows, and the growing influence of YouTube creators. They also touch on significant industry changes, including executive resignations at the BBC and recent award wins for documentaries, highligh...

Sebastien Basset, a seasoned associate producer, talks about the challenges of working on large culinary competition formats like 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, Holiday Baking Championship, Spring Baking Championship and more. He describes how his role supports pre-production, production and post - and how he manages to keep notes on up to 24 contestants at a time on high intensity shows. Sebatien...

Cyle Zezo discusses his journey from working at the CW to founding Reality of Change, an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in unscripted television. He shares insights on the industry's response to sustainability, the importance of integrating eco-friendly practices into programming, and the challenges faced in production. Cyle emphasizes the need for collective action and the role of s...

Hosts Madelyn Cunningham and Emily Wilson discuss the latest trends and news in the unscripted industry. They cover the upcoming adaptation of the board game Catan into unscripted and scripted series, the significant mergers and acquisitions happening in the media landscape, including Disney's acquisition of FuboTV, and the unfortunate layoffs affecting major companies like Paramount and Amazon St...

Jessica Arzate shares her journey in the film industry, highlighting her experiences in cinematography, the importance of mentorship, and her work on various reality TV shows, including 'Are You My First.' She discusses the challenges and creative opportunities in unscripted television, the cultural insights gained from working internationally, and the personal growth that comes from capturing vul...

In this conversation, Adam Neuhaus discusses the complexities of development, the importance of understanding market trends, and the challenges of pitching projects. He emphasizes the need for access and community building in the current media landscape, as well as the launch of the Nonfiction Hot List, which aims to highlight and support underrepresented projects in the industry. Adam shares insi...

In this episode of The Unscripted Files, Madelyn and Emily Wilson discuss the latest trends in the TV industry, including the rise of board game adaptations like Clue and Monopoly, a renovation series featuring the Bachelor Mansion, Instagram's plans for a dedicated TV app, and exciting new international formats emerging from MIPCOM. Special Guest: Emily Wilson.

In this engaging conversation, Elisa Tarrago shares her unexpected journey from a pre-med student to a successful segment producer in reality television. She discusses the intricacies of working in unscripted TV, the unique challenges of filming in Miami, and the importance of building relationships in the industry. Elisa highlights her experiences on shows like 'The Ultimatum: Queer Love' and 'Lo...

In this conversation, editor Stefanie Maridueña shares her unconventional journey into the world of editing, discussing her transition from a background in ecology to becoming a prominent editor in the unscripted industry. She highlights the importance of storytelling, character-driven narratives, and the role of music in editing. Stefanie reflects on her experiences working on impactful shows lik...

In this Unscripted Industry news minisode, Emily Wilson delves into the top headlines in the industry. From the battle over the Monopoly IP for Netflix to the Laguna Beach reunion on Roku, Emily and host Madelyn Cunningham discuss the implications of the moves, mergers and moguls that define the unscripted landscape. Special Guest: Emily Wilson.

In this conversation, director Skye Borgman discusses her journey in filmmaking, focusing on her notable works such as 'Abducted in Plain Sight' and 'Unknown Number.' She emphasizes the importance of curiosity over judgment in storytelling, the challenges of navigating uncomfortable conversations, and the evolution of her creative approach. Skye also reflects on the impact of digital communication...

In this engaging conversation, Chris Decima shares his journey from a sandwich shop worker to a supervising producer in unscripted television. He discusses his experiences on shows like X Factor and Amazing Race, emphasizing the importance of logistics, creativity, and purpose in challenge design. Chris also reflects on the evolving landscape of reality TV and offers valuable advice for aspiring p...

In this Monday minisode, Madelyn Cunningham and Emily Wilson discuss the latest headlines in unscripted entertainment, including the Emmy winners, the dynamics of late night talk shows, industry consolidation, Paramount's new sports entertainment division, the innovative direction of The Bachelorette with social media influencers, and Spotify's expansion into video content. Special Guest: Emily Wi...

In this episode of The Unscripted Files, we dive into the 2025 fall reality TV slate with television producer and entertainment expert Brian Balthazar. From his start in news to becoming a key voice in unscripted television, Brian shares insights on the evolution of reality formats, audience behavior, and the shows everyone will be talking about this season. We cover the hottest upcoming premieres...

In this episode, creator and writer Cole Brown takes us inside the making of Magic City, the documentary series that dives deep into the legendary Atlanta strip club that shaped the sound, style, and swagger of modern hip hop. Brown opens up about how the project evolved from his work on Jermaine Dupri’s memoir to a full-scale series that unpacks the cultural significance of Magic City and its inf...

In this episode of the Unscripted Files, host Madelyn Cunningham and industry expert Emily Wilson discuss the latest headlines in the unscripted entertainment sector. They cover Netflix's ongoing partnership with Archwell, the introduction of a civilian edition of The Traders on NBC, the rising trend of sports documentaries, and significant mergers and acquisitions within the industry. The convers...

In this episode, Matt Dissinger, Senior Producer at NFL Films, takes us inside the world of sports documentaries and the storytelling power behind football’s biggest moments. From his start as an intern to producing and directing series like Hard Knocks and Quarterback, Dissinger shares how sports media has evolved and why authentic storytelling is critical to humanizing athletes. He breaks down t...

Madelyn Cunningham interviews showrunner, director and media generalist Keith Thomas, who shares his journey through the world of storytelling in television. Keith discusses his experiences in development at Scripps and Magnolia, the importance of failure in the creative process, and the significance of diverse voices in media. He highlights his work on Design My Space Atlanta, the challenges of h...

Richard Jensen, the lead production designer for Love Island USA, shares insights into the complexities of designing for reality television. He discusses the scale of production, the challenges of creating immersive environments for contestants, and the importance of collaboration and communication within the production team. Richard also reflects on the evolution of design in the Love Island fran...