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.
