This week we have AJA GABEL on the show!

Aja is the author of the novels Lightbreakers (coming in November 2025) and The Ensemble, both from Riverhead Books. Her prose can be found in The Cut, LA Times, Buzzfeed, BOMB, and elsewhere. Her TV credits include: the max original mini series The Staircase starring Colin Firth, Toni Colette and Michael Stuhlbarg, Sunny featuring Rashida Jones and the upcoming Five Star Weekend, starring Jennifer Garner. Aja's short story “Little Fish” was adapted into a feature film, and her survivor thriller film Devil's Mouth is currently in production with Lionsgate and Amazon MGM Studios.

PREORDER Lightbreakers

Aja's website

Erin's website

Today we have MADHURI SHEKAR on the show. Madhuri is a playwright and screenwriter. She wrote the Amazon/Blumhouse feature EVIL EYE produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas based on her Audible original audio drama. Her TV credits include THREE BODY PROBLEM on Netflix, the HBO fantasy epic THE NEVERS and she, along with John Wells is currently co-showrunning UNACCUSTOMED EARTH for Netflix, based on Juhmpa Lahiri's Collection of Short Stories. Her play A NICE INDIAN BOY was adapted into a film starring Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni and is available on streaming services now.

Evil Eye (Audioplay)

Madhuri's Website

Madurai's Instagram

Erin's Website

Erin's Instagram

This week we're happy to have ELEANOR BURGESS on the show. Eleanor is a playwright and screenwriter. Her work has been produced at theaters across the United States, including Manhattan Theatre Club, South Coast Rep, Geffen Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center, Huntington Theatre Company, Writers Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center and so many more. Her work in film and television includes Perry Mason for HBO, WeCrashed for Apple TV+, Interview With The Vampire for AMC, and the upcoming Little House on the Prairie for Netflix, plus screenplays for Bad Robot, Amblin, and Anonymous Content. In this conversation we dive deep into the power history has on the work we create today, the influence of AI on the industry and so much more. I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as I did.

Eleanor's website: http://www.eleanorburgess.com/

Erin's website: https://www.erinmallon.com/