Women in Entertainment

She’s the Emmy-winning scene-stealer behind CBS’s hit Elsbeth , fan-favorite Polly on Claws , and Arlene from HBO’s True Blood - Carrie Preston is here to deliver a master class in character-building, career stamina, and fearless storytelling. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a Georgia community-theater kid became “the queen of quirk” (NYT) and Juilliard-trained powerhouse The Columbo-inspired s...

Lisa Filipelli is an Emmy-nominated entertainment executive and Partner at Select Management Group, where she leads strategy across a roster that reaches over one billion people worldwide. A trailblazer in the creator economy, Lisa has redefined modern talent representation—bridging traditional and digital media, producing award-winning content, and launching headline-making brand partnerships. Fr...

We’re diving deep with Natasha Rothwell—Emmy‑nominated scene‑stealer Belinda from The White Lotus, creator‑star of Hulu’s How  to  Die  Alone, and founder of Big Hattie Productions. In this episode: Crafting magnetic characters: how Belinda was born and why humor + heartbreak is her secret sauce From Insecure writer’s room to executive producer: lessons Issa Rae taught her about fearless storytell...

Get cozy as we chat with Nita Prose, the brilliant author behind the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Maid, and its highly anticipated sequel, The Maid’s Secret. Nita invites us into the intriguing world of Molly Gray, everyone's favorite quirky hotel maid turned amateur detective, as she discusses crafting characters, building suspense, and the art of writing cozy mysteries with clever twist...

Melissa Fumero, star of “Brooklyn 99” and “Grosse Pointe Garden Society”, joins us for this warm, funny, and insightful conversation where shares candid stories from her journey—from her Cuban-American roots to becoming one of TV's most beloved Latina actresses. We go behind the scenes of her roles on shows like “One Life to Live”, “Blockbuster”, and her directing work on “Primo”. Melissa open...

Marina Adair has sold over a million books, topped Amazon’s Kindle chart at #1, and has been named a Best of TikTok author. Now, she’s giving us a master class in modern rom‑com storytelling as we unpack her sizzling new enemies‑to‑lovers novel Love to Hate You—a You’ve Got Mail–inspired showdown where sparks (and snark) fly in Mystic, CT—while diving deep into the business and craft of contempora...

“Lopez vs. Lopez” showrunner Debby Wolfe—one of network TV’s few Latine showrunners—pulls back the curtain on transforming real‑life chaos into laugh‑out‑loud television. From Miami roots to being a Hollywood trailblazer, she shows how generational trauma, mental health, and family reconciliation can spark universally resonant laughs. Inside the episode: Insider craft tips from writers’ room to sh...

Nancy Thayer is a New York Times bestselling author of 38 novels—including Summer Light on Nantucket, The Summer We Started Over, and The Hot Flash Club—whose work has been translated into fifteen languages.  In this episode of In Her Words, Nancy takes us on a literary escape to Nantucket, where she’s lived for 40 years in a historic captain’s house alongside her husband, cat, and thousands of bo...

Join us for a conversation with NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent and anchor Vicky Nguyen as she discusses her powerful new memoir, Boat Baby , chronicling her family’s escape from Vietnam and her rise in journalism. Vicky opens up about her transition to investigative reporting, the emotional impact of covering consumer health stories, and the evolving media landscape—including...

Bestselling author Katy Hays ( The Cloisters ) joins Gretchen McCourt to dive into her new novel Saltwater . They explore the power of setting, complex female characters, and the role of book clubs in today’s literary world. Katy also shares how social media is reshaping the way we read and connect with books. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, this episode unpacks themes of family, ambit...

Carrie Coon continually balances both prestige and mainstream projects and chooses standout roles across film and television. She is wrapping the wildly successful HBO’s  The White Lotus   Season 3, as Laurie, a corporate lawyer navigating a tense vacation with her two childhood friends. She starred in the critically acclaimed  His Three Daughters  last fall, playing a complex sister alongside Nat...

Judy Greer has been called one of the most prolific and versatile actors of her generation—and with nearly 200 roles across film and television, it’s easy to see why. In this episode, Judy reflects on what it really means to put in your 10,000 hours, how she’s carved out a unique space in Hollywood, and why longevity requires both resilience and reinvention. Best known for her standout performance...

Katie O’Brien, the powerhouse writer, actor, producer, and showrunner behind Teachers and The Santa Clauses, joins In Her Words to talk about leading Tubi’s first original scripted series, The Z-Suite. She dives into the creative process of building a workplace comedy about generational clashes, working with a multi-generational cast, and making the leap from acting to showrunning. Plus, she share...

Once celebrated for her athletic prowess and known as the ‘fastest woman on the planet’, Marion quickly became a household name in the early 2000s, appearing on the covers of Time Magazine, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated and securing millions in endorsement deals from major brands including Nike, Gatorade, and “Got Milk”. Though she never tested positive in any drug test, in 2007 Marion eventually...

Bestselling author Jill Santopolo has spent her career exploring the complexities of love, fate, and the choices that shape our lives. From her Reese’s Book Club pick The Light We Lost to her critically acclaimed novels Stars in an Italian Sky, More Than Words, and Everything After, Jill’s writing has resonated with readers across the world, translated into more than 35 languages and topping bests...

Gretchen Mol is a versatile actress known for her powerful performances on stage and screen. She gained critical acclaim as Gillian Darmody in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, winning multiple SAG Awards with the ensemble cast. Her career spans major film and television projects, including American Gigolo, Perry Mason, Manchester by the Sea, and The Notorious Bettie Page. In this episode of In Her Words, M...

In this special spotlight episode, we sit down with Nikki Toscano, the powerhouse writer, showrunner, and executive producer behind some of TV’s most gripping dramas. From the upcoming LONG BRIGHT RIVER—a suspense thriller starring Amanda Seyfried—to her work on THE OFFER, HUNTERS, and BATES MOTEL, Toscano’s storytelling is bold, layered, and deeply compelling. With years of experience across majo...

Fresh off the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of ‘The Last Showgirl’, writer Kate Gersten joins In Her Words to share how her deeply personal play evolved into a feature film starring Pamela Anderson, Dave Bautista, and Jamie Lee Curtis. From her roots in theater to writing for hit shows like Mozart in the Jungle and The Good Place, Kate discusses the challenges of transitioning betwe...

We’re thrilled to welcome back Georgia Hunter as she takes us inside One Good Thing, her latest novel exploring resilience, friendship, and motherhood against the backdrop of history. From the success of We Were the Lucky Ones to her deep connection with storytelling, Georgia shares the journey behind her new book, the personal threads woven into its pages, and the power of holding onto that one g...

From scene-stealing performances in Paradise, ‘Mare of Easttown and I, Tonya to leading roles in A24’s Dream Scenario and Janet Planet, Julianne Nicholson has built a career defined by depth, versatility, and fearless choices. In this episode of In Her Words, she shares the secrets behind her transformative performances, her journey through indie film and prestige TV, and what it takes to thrive i...

On In Her Words: From Across the Table, we sit down with Will Packer, the powerhouse producer behind Girls Trip, Straight Outta Compton, and Stomp the Yard, to talk about risk-taking, breaking barriers, and why betting on yourself is the key to success. From his early days as an engineering student to becoming one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, Packer shares insights on mentorship, na...

This week on In Her Words, Gretchen Schreiber, Head of Books at Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, shares her journey from Kansas to curating some of today’s most talked-about book picks. She opens up about writing her debut, Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal, navigating the publishing world, and chasing the magic of transformative reads. Whether she’s balancing author life or devouring books for t...

Leslie Koch is senior vice president of creators and social strategy for TelevisaUnivision, where she founded and leads the social advertising team. Prior to TelevisaUnivision, Leslie established HBO’s social insights practice and led the international rollout of CNN’s social ad products.  Leslie possesses extensive knowledge of marketing trends and techniques for engaging US Hispanic consumers ac...

This Thanksgiving, join In Her Words hosts Renee Rossi and Gretchen McCourt for a special episode filled with gratitude and reflection on the amazing year Women in Entertainment has had! 🎙️ Renee and Gretchen share their favorite moments from the podcast, celebrate the inspiring women they've had the honor to feature, and explore what gratitude means in the world of entertainment and storytelling....

Step into the extraordinary journey of Tim Matheson in the newest episode of In Her Words from Across the Table. Known for his iconic roles as ‘Eric "Otter" Stratton’ in National Lampoon’s Animal House and ‘Vice President John Hoynes’ in The West Wing, Matheson joins us for an engaging discussion that spans over seven decades in Hollywood. From voicing ‘Jonny Quest’ in the beloved cartoon series t...