Every week, we see new stories of how capable the frontier AI models are becoming. They’re not just generating text and images. They’re making breakthroughs on mathematical conjectures and acing exams. Models like Mythos and Fable can work autonomously for hours to diagnose (and potentially exploit) cybersecurity flaws. But as of July 2026, they’re surprisingly […]
Thinking on Your Feet with Ryan Condal
Episode - 743
John and Craig sit down with Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, just as its third season airs. They dive into Ryan’s late start in Hollywood, spec scripts, the anatomy of a writers room, and thinking as a product of movement. They also answer a listener question about the mechanics of writing a […]
Obsession with Curry Barker
John and Craig welcome Curry Barker, the writer-director behind this summer’s surprise blockbuster, Obsession. It’s a rom-com, a horror film and a great example of trusting your audience. We discuss Curry’s roots, his writing process, learning from YouTube, as well as the pressure to follow up a hit. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, […]
On Competence
Why is it so satisfying to watch a highly-skilled character complete their goals? And why can it be equally hilarious to watch an incompetent character bumble through a slew of screw-ups? In this episode, John and Craig discuss how to play with competence in your characters. We also say goodbye to our producer Drew Marquardt […]