As Told To

I’ve been listening to As Told To for the better part of two years, and it’s become one of my favorite podcasts—not just about ghostwriting, but about the writing life in general. What makes the show special is that host Daniel Paisner approaches every conversation as a master craftsman. His decades of experience as a writer and collaborator shine through in every episode. While the podcast certainly offers fascinating glimpses into the business of ghostwriting, at its core it’s a craft podcast. Paisner consistently steers conversations toward the art of storytelling, interviewing, collaboration, and the hard-earned lessons that come from a lifetime spent writing professionally. The quality of the guests is exceptional. Paisner comes from an era when professional ghostwriters were a relatively small community, and many of them worked with A-list clients on high-profile projects. As a result, listeners get access to stories, insights, and personalities that simply aren’t available anywhere else. At the same time, the podcast does a wonderful job exploring how the profession has evolved and expanded, and how ghostwriting intersects with journalism, fiction, memoir, and other forms of professional writing. Beyond the content itself, the production quality is excellent. Paisner is a thoughtful, engaging host, and his calm baritone voice has the reassuring quality of an old-school radio broadcaster. Whether you’re commuting, exercising, or sitting down to write, he’s easy to listen to while delivering consistently valuable conversations. If you’re a ghostwriter, journalist, author, editor, or simply someone interested in the craft and business of writing, As Told To is an absolute gem.

A wonderful show. Paisner is a wise and sympathetic interviewer and I love hearing how different writers approach their work. A favorite pod.

Until I found this podcast a few years ago, I felt pretty isolated in my career as a ghostwriter - I knew so few people working in this field at the time. Through Dan Paisner’s insightful interviews with experienced ghosts, I felt privy to insider industry knowledge that has helped me better advocate for myself and gain confidence in my skillset and worth. My business and network have grown significantly as a result of what I’ve learned by listening. Thank you, Dan, for holding space for these conversations!

As a working ghostwriter, I’ve found As Told To to be the closest thing we have to an MFA for the invisible class — those of us who live behind the curtain. Dan’s combination of deep experience, curiosity, and easygoing social grace makes every episode feel like a conversation you wish you’d been invited to years ago. What I love most is the range of guests — from marquee names to quiet craftsmen — and the honesty that runs through it all. There’s a shared, unspoken truth that many of us in this trade are misfits by nature: we don’t fit neatly into one genre, or one lane, or one idea of what a “writer’s career” is supposed to look like. Dan gets that. He draws it out in ways that are funny, wise, and quietly subversive. If you care about the art and heart of storytelling — not the hype, not the hustle — this show is essential.