The One Weird Job... A Screenwriting Podcast

Alyssa Feller
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

It seems like 99% (note: estimate possibly entirely made up) of working film and TV writers in the entertainment industry didn’t get a screenwriting degree. In fact, many started out in entirely different careers before transitioning over to the world of screenwriting. And many more writers worked several odd jobs before they sold their first script or got staffed on their first show. Almost every writer has a weird, crazy, or just utterly insane backstory. But along the way, these odd jobs shaped who the writers were as people, the content they write, and the random jokes and references they would later know way too much about In this podcast, TV writer Alyssa Feller interviews television, feature, comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, animation, children’s, and late night writers to ask… what was that one weird job you had before you “made it”?

  1. 6D AGO

    Lynn Maleh Worked at a Marketing Company Run By A Crazy Boss

    Writer and stand up comedian LYNN MALEH (Universal Basic Guys, Act Your Age) joins Alyssa to talk about working as a copywriter at a company run by an absolutely crazy boss. Lynn talks about applying for the job based on the company’s dog mascot, her boss’s obsession with blender drinks, and what happens when a sociopathic boss is also dating the company’s HR manager. Lynn also talks about being accepted into and participating in writing fellowships like the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Writers Program and how those programs and some great mentors jump started her career.  Music Credits: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    53 min

  2. FEB 10

    Charlie Price Was a Proposition Player For Casinos

    Showrunner and animation writer CHARLIE PRICE (Me & Winnie the Pooh, Me & Mickey, Minnie’s Bow Toons) joins Alyssa to talk about his time as a third party proposition player at Los Angeles area casinos. Charlie talks about how he got paid to play games like blackjack and pai gow, the easiest but sketchiest job interview ever, the regulars he would meet playing the casino tables, and what it’s like to now write for some of the world’s most iconic animated characters. Music Credits: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    44 min

  3. 06/24/2025

    Martin Castillo was an Entomologist

    Writer MARTIN CASTILLO (Spirit & Friends, Donkey Hodie) joins Alyssa to talk about his time as a entomology research technician, aka a bug scientist. Martin tells us about going from a psychology major to an entomologist to a Fred Rogers Productions Writers' Neighborhood fellow, his field research which involved saving California’s avocado and citrus crops from invasive insect species, and the three scariest words Alyssa has ever heard: microscopic parasitic wasps.  Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    34 min

  4. 06/10/2025

    Stan Berkowitz was a Film Restorer

    Two-time Emmy winning writer STAN BERKOWITZ (Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, The Justice League) joins Alyssa to talk about his time working for a lab that restored old films. Stan talks about working with explosive nitrate film stock, being laid off three weeks into his first writing job, and what he learned from being forced to watch bad movies. His book, Beyond The Bat: Secrets of a Superhero Scribe, is now out with many more stories of his time working throughout Hollywood and specially writing for some of the most well known superhero television shows.  Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    38 min
  5. FLIPPED INTERVIEW: Alyssa Feller Was A Summer Camp Counselor At SeaWorld Orlando (Part 2)

    04/01/2025

    FLIPPED INTERVIEW: Alyssa Feller Was A Summer Camp Counselor At SeaWorld Orlando (Part 2)

    In this special “flipped interview,” previous guest Dave Cain interviews host Alyssa Feller about her own weird job - working as an Education Camp Intern aka a summer camp counselor at SeaWorld Orlando. In part 2, Alyssa talks about learning an entire summer’s worth of marine biology facts in a week, her favorite SeaWorld animal fun facts, and how her writing career started by writing a comedy pilot in one week. Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    45 min
  6. FLIPPED INTERVIEW: Alyssa Feller Was A Summer Camp Counselor At SeaWorld Orlando (Part 1)

    03/18/2025

    FLIPPED INTERVIEW: Alyssa Feller Was A Summer Camp Counselor At SeaWorld Orlando (Part 1)

    In this special “flipped interview,” previous guest Dave Cain interviews host Alyssa Feller about her own weird job - working as an Education Camp Intern aka a summer camp counselor at SeaWorld Orlando. Alyssa talks about SeaWorld Camp’s intense minute-to-minute schedule, how she dealt with kids literally melting down in the Florida heat, and how a little documentary called Blackfish and the controversy surrounding “The Incident” affected her job and her view of animals in zoos and aquariums. Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  7. 03/04/2025

    Jordan Morris Was A Cheesemonger

    Writer JORDAN MORRIS (@Midnight, Good Mythical Morning, Jellystone!) joins Alyssa to talk about his time as a cheesemonger and a barista at a cheese shop. Jordan tells us about working with very fancy cheeses, almost getting fired for forgetting he had to work, and the paths he took to write everything from late night comedy to children’s animation to graphic novels. He also talks about an important project he is working on to raise money for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    42 min

  8. 02/18/2025

    David Levy Was A Shift Manager at McDonalds

    Animation executive DAVID LEVY (Pinkfong, Disney, Viacom) joins Alyssa to talk about his time working at McDonalds. Dave talks about his first days sweeping up every cigarette butt in the McDonald’s parking lot, making McDonald’s themed parody songs with his friends, working his way up to shift manager while still in high school, and how he and his friends almost unleashed live crickets in the store out of revenge. He also talks about how he worked his way up in animation to developing shows and becoming a head of a studio. Music: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html Vibing over venus "Vibing Over Venus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    45 min
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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

It seems like 99% (note: estimate possibly entirely made up) of working film and TV writers in the entertainment industry didn’t get a screenwriting degree. In fact, many started out in entirely different careers before transitioning over to the world of screenwriting. And many more writers worked several odd jobs before they sold their first script or got staffed on their first show. Almost every writer has a weird, crazy, or just utterly insane backstory. But along the way, these odd jobs shaped who the writers were as people, the content they write, and the random jokes and references they would later know way too much about In this podcast, TV writer Alyssa Feller interviews television, feature, comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, animation, children’s, and late night writers to ask… what was that one weird job you had before you “made it”?

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