General Meeting with Becky Sloviter

Becky Sloviter
  • 5.0 (42)
  • Film Interviews
  • Weekly

Hollywood, but make it real. Warm, authentic conversations with the people who make the stuff we love — and the friends I’ve been lucky enough to make along the way. I’ve spent the past 20 years as a Hollywood producer having what’s known as “general meetings” — one-on-one sit-downs with actors, writers, and filmmakers. These personal and creative conversations have always been my favorite part of the job — the moments when the glossy version of Hollywood drops away and you connect with the real person across from you. So now, I’m bringing that to life as a podcast. Each week on General Meeting with Becky Sloviter, I sit down with smart, funny, and talented friends — actors and writers who have made us laugh and cry, and filmmakers who inspire us — for real conversations about creativity, connection, and everything in between. My hope is that these chats will help us all feel a little more connected — and a little less alone. Because we’re all going through it these days — but as the iconic Penny Lane says in my third favorite movie of all time: “Famous people are just more interesting.” Welcome to General Meeting with Becky Sloviter.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Adam Sztykiel: On Let's Have Kids!, First-Time Directing, and the Magic of Kyle Chandler

    It's a very special episode this week as Becky welcomes filmmaker Adam Sztykiel, the director of Let's Have Kids! (the movie Becky produced and will never stop talking about), which is now streaming on Amazon Prime!  Adam and Becky reminisce about the wonderful time they had making the movie in Portland with the incredible cast — led by Karen Gillan, Zoë Chao, Sam Richardson, Max Greenfield and Mary Steenburgen — and the insanely talented crew of their dreams, before they get candid about the challenges they faced on the film's road to release.  But before Adam and Becky dive into the movie, Adam shares his path to becoming a director after more than two decades as a wildly successful screenwriter, how meaningful it was to collaborate with his wife Ellie Knaus to co-write the screenplay for Let's Have Kids!, and shares behind-the-scenes stories of working with some of the greats: Todd Phillips, Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis on Due Date, and Bill Lawrence on Undateable, their NBC sitcom which aired for three seasons.  And finally, in a Last Looks segment that will go down as an all-timer, Adam shows off his Gen X stripes as he celebrates being a kid in the '80s and a teen in the '90s (this is what I'm saying!), before diving into Nirvana Unplugged, Spielberg, Zemeckis, Pulp Fiction, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Major League and Dazed and Confused — just to name a few.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Adam Sztykiel - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1186373/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Adam Sztykiel: On Let's Have Kids!, First-Time Directing, and the Magic of Kyle Chandler

  2. Oct 27 ·  Video

    Kevin Arnovitz: On LeBron, ESPN, a Career Pivot to Screenwriting, and the Holy Trinity of Sports Movies

    This week, Becky welcomes her pal, screenwriter Kevin Arnovitz, who had a long and illustrious career as a renowned NBA reporter and contributor at ESPN as well as a producer for NPR before pivoting to a flourishing screenwriting career — during the pandemic, no less. Kevin details his circuitous path to screenwriting, including ESPN hiring him in what he jokingly calls a "clerical error" after passionately (and borderline anonymously) blogging about the Los Angeles Clippers. Trying his hand at screenwriting also didn't initially come with career ambitions: it was simply Kevin's version of a "sourdough starter" pandemic hobby — something to keep his mind occupied while allowing him to express his creativity. Thus, a screenwriting career was born and, after over a decade at ESPN, he made the jump to screenwriting full-time. The conversation (obviously) also included some LeBron/Sixers talk and an extended "Last Looks" section where Kevin shares his holy trinity of sports movies, and makes a compelling case that Jerry Maguire is not a romantic comedy. Discuss amongst yourselves. For those paying attention, this podcast is, broadly speaking, as Gen X/elder millennial-coded as a podcast can be — and this episode is no exception. Lots of Jerry Maguire, Bull Durham, a debrief of Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney's The Flannel and The Fury Tour — and finally someone brought up thirtysomething! If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Kevin Arnovitz - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1330038/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Kevin Arnovitz: On LeBron, ESPN, a Career Pivot to Screenwriting, and the Holy Trinity of Sports Movies

  3. Oct 20 ·  Video

    Emily Arlook: On Nobody Wants This, A Swim Lesson, & What a Career in Hollywood Teaches You

    This week's episode is like the most fun, casual therapy hang with your coolest friend as Becky welcomes actor, producer and writer Emily Arlook (Nobody Wants This, Grown-ish) to the pod. Before diving into anything and everything, they go behind-the-scenes of Emily's pivotal role on Netflix's Nobody Wants This, the joy of starring in Grown-ish alongside Yara Shahidi for Freeform, and the inspiration behind the short film Emily produced for PBS and the Los Angeles Times, A Swim Lesson, which focused on legendary swim instructor Bill Marsh and was directed by Emily's husband, Will McCormack, and his frequent creative collaborator, Rashida Jones.  And as if Becky hadn't made it clear enough that this podcast is bullseye for Gen X and millennials, she and Emily barely took a breath as they chatted about ALL THE THINGS — from the life lessons Emily has gleaned from working in Hollywood, to talking about bravery and making parenting "repairs" with her kids, how helpful the acronym R.A.I.N. has proven to be (and why it came up so many times in this episode!) and, of course, the great River Phoenix. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Emily Arlook - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1354288/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Emily Arlook: On Nobody Wants This, A Swim Lesson, & What a Career in Hollywood Teaches You

  4. Oct 13 ·  Video

    LET'S HAVE KIDS! Behind-the-Scenes: A Special Movie Release Day Episode

    If you can't use your podcast to celebrate the much-anticipated launch of your movie, what's the point? Today, October 13, 2026, is a VERY special day because the movie I've talked about (nonstop) since Episode 1 of this podcast is finally out in the world! LET'S HAVE KIDS! is the story of lifelong best friends Emma (Karen Gillan) and Phoebe (Zoë Chao), who decide to try to have their first babies at the same time so they can navigate the journey into motherhood together — much like they've done everything else in their lives — but their friendship is tested when only one of them conceives. This episode of the pod is a compilation of clips from the LET'S HAVE KIDS! cast members who have already been guests — Zoë Chao, Sam Richardson, Lilly Singh, Amanda Crew, Taylor Misiak and Jana Schmieding — accompanied by A LOT of behind the scenes photos and videos from the most wonderful production of our lives. You can buy or rent the movie wherever one does that — iTunes Store, Amazon, Fandango, you know the drill. I hope you love the movie even a fraction as much as we loved making it! LET'S HAVE KIDS! - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9174288/ Link to buy or rent LET'S HAVE KIDS!: https://vupulse.com/c/8222 Host: Becky Sloviter Guests: Zoë Chao, Sam Richardson, Lilly Singh, Amanda Crew, Taylor Misiak, Jana Schmieding See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    LET'S HAVE KIDS! Behind-the-Scenes: A Special Movie Release Day Episode

  5. Oct 6 ·  Video

    Seth Grahame-Smith: On Lego Batman, It, and How Big Hollywood Success Can Still Feel Like Failure

    This week's episode was a reminder of exactly why I wanted to start this podcast: a vulnerable, deep, honest, and funny conversation that of course culminated in a chat about Twin Peaks — what a dream (pun intended). Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie, It) is an incredibly accomplished screenwriter, New York Times best-selling author, successful producer, and (not for nothing) all-around great dude — and yet he still grapples with deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and failure. In our candid, wide-ranging conversation, Seth traced his path from growing up in Connecticut — where photos of Scorsese, Coppola, and Spielberg covered his bedroom wall and his lifelong worship of James Cameron began — to film school at Emerson College, and then to Los Angeles the week he graduated. He was still deciding whether to pursue writing, directing, or cinematography when a serendipitous offer to write a book led to bestsellers 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' and 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', which were both quickly adapted into movies as Seth found himself shot out of a cannon. Seth and I both got very real about why so many of us are drawn to Hollywood (spoiler alert: processing trauma), and how the nature of being an artist makes it all the more challenging to navigate the "dagger in your heart 95% of the time" that describes even the most successful Hollywood careers. We also dug into Seth's desire to reinvent himself, why directing a movie soon feels so vital to him, his collaborations with producing partner David Katzenberg, and the invaluable support he's received from David's father, Jeffrey — and why the moments he's spent working with some of his childhood idols, including Tim Burton and Steven Spielberg, are what he cherishes most, family aside. I personally got so much out of our conversation, and Seth's willingness to be vulnerable inspired me to share more than I normally would. But most importantly: it's a blue rose. Twin Peaks FOREVER. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Seth Grahame-Smith - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0334381/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Seth Grahame-Smith: On Lego Batman, It, and How Big Hollywood Success Can Still Feel Like Failure

  6. Sep 29 ·  Video

    Jasmine Pierce: On Saturday Night Live, Big Mouth, and the Importance of Authenticity in Hollywood

    This week, Becky welcomes Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, and Cincinnati Bengals superfan Jasmine Pierce (Saturday Night Live, Big Mouth) to the pod for a chat about the importance of finding your voice, remaining authentic (even and especially in Hollywood), and their queen, Oprah. Acting since elementary school, Jasmine traces her path from an incredible performing arts school in Cincinnati to her time as an undergrad at NYU, where she ultimately pivoted from acting to stand-up comedy and writing, and found her passion and purpose. Becky and Jasmine dive into mentorship and the remarkable difference unsolicited words of encouragement can make — especially when they come from SNL Head Writer Anna Drezen (and General Meeting Episode 5 guest, just saying) when you're just starting out. Jasmine talks about her early years writing for the satirical website Reductress, landing her first gig at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and then, after a brief stop at Crank Yankers, finding her way back to 30 Rockefeller Plaza as a writer for Saturday Night Live. She and Becky discuss what it was like to start at SNL a few months before a global pandemic hit, and how she and frequent collaborator Chloe Fineman leaned on each other through the wild experience of making the remote shows in the spring of 2020. And finally, Jasmine shares what it was like to write on the final season of Netflix's Big Mouth, what she learned from brilliant showrunners Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin, and how the show is truly a source of sex education alongside the comedy and heart. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Jasmine Pierce - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5276392/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Jasmine Pierce: On Saturday Night Live, Big Mouth, and the Importance of Authenticity in Hollywood

  7. Sep 22 ·  Video

    Jason Orley: On Collaborations with Pete Davidson, His Mentor Nancy Meyers, & That Meghan Markle Cameo

    This week, Becky welcomes a filmmaker she truly adores: writer/director Jason Orley (Big Time Adolescence, I Want You Back), whose upcoming film, Close Personal Friends, stars Jack Quaid, Lily Collins, Brie Larson and Henry Golding, and will be a 2027 release from Amazon. Jason traces his path from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to NYU film school, which led to amazingly formative years learning from our queen Nancy Meyers before writing what would become his directorial debut, Big Time Adolescence — starring Pete Davidson and a newly-discovered Sydney Sweeney, a screenplay he wrote at Jon Lovett's house just as Lovett was starting Pod Save America. He then shares stories of his continued collaborations with Pete Davidson: on his Peacock show, Bupkis — and how Pete's appeal brought together incredible actors like Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Joe Pesci, Bobby Cannavale, and even former Vice President Al Gore — as well as his yet-to-be-made (but someday - we're manifesting!) Ramones biopic with Pete at the center. Jason also recalls what it was like to have his debut film open in theaters the weekend the world shut down, and how he made I Want You Back — his rom-com starring Jenny Slate and Charlie Day — masked up during the pandemic (yet still a fantastic experience). Plus: some behind-the-scenes scoop on Close Personal Friends, including the Meghan Markle cameo — which finally gave Becky the opportunity to share a heartwarming personal insight about the famous Montecito resident. Jason and Becky also dive into the imposter syndrome that often accompanies first-time directing, and why the fact that it took a while to get his first movie made actually had some upsides. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RsxRaefiegM4RBODS36Xc?si=8f28c55191ad43ce Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-meeting-with-becky-sloviter/id1836044182 Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Jason Orley - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3753276/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Jason Orley: On Collaborations with Pete Davidson, His Mentor Nancy Meyers, & That Meghan Markle Cameo

  8. Sep 15 ·  Video

    Lena Khan: On Her New Netflix Movie 'Best of the Best' and What It Really Takes to Make a Dance Movie

    This week, Becky welcomes director Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter, Flora & Ulysses) to talk about her new Netflix film, Best of the Best — a raucous comedy set in the cutthroat world of collegiate Bollywood dance competitions. It stars once-in-a-generation talent Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), is co-written and produced by the brilliant Hasan Minhaj, and hits Netflix this Friday, September 18th. Lena takes Becky back to what actually inspired her to become a filmmaker — after starting at UCLA as an engineering major, before Don Cheadle's unwitting influence convinced her to pivot to film. They chat about Lena's first movie, The Tiger Hunter, starring Danny Pudi and inspired by her own family's story, a path she ultimately pursued with encouragement from her colleagues at Participant Films. Then it's on to Best of the Best: what it actually takes to make a dance movie, and how she told Maitreyi Ramakrishnan that all she had to do was "become Channing Tatum" — which led to seven hours of dance lessons a day for her star. Finally, during the "Last Looks" segment, Lena and Becky bond over their shared love of many things, but especially the Steve Martin/Nora Ephron classic My Blue Heaven, and the perfection that is Friday Night Lights. Check out our episodes on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/@generalmeetingpod If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow, share, like, comment, all the things - thank you for your support! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalmeetingpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalmeetingpod Website: https://www.generalmeetingpod.com Host: Becky Sloviter Guest: Lena Khan - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3414572/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Lena Khan: On Her New Netflix Movie 'Best of the Best' and What It Really Takes to Make a Dance Movie
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About

Hollywood, but make it real. Warm, authentic conversations with the people who make the stuff we love — and the friends I’ve been lucky enough to make along the way. I’ve spent the past 20 years as a Hollywood producer having what’s known as “general meetings” — one-on-one sit-downs with actors, writers, and filmmakers. These personal and creative conversations have always been my favorite part of the job — the moments when the glossy version of Hollywood drops away and you connect with the real person across from you. So now, I’m bringing that to life as a podcast. Each week on General Meeting with Becky Sloviter, I sit down with smart, funny, and talented friends — actors and writers who have made us laugh and cry, and filmmakers who inspire us — for real conversations about creativity, connection, and everything in between. My hope is that these chats will help us all feel a little more connected — and a little less alone. Because we’re all going through it these days — but as the iconic Penny Lane says in my third favorite movie of all time: “Famous people are just more interesting.” Welcome to General Meeting with Becky Sloviter.

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