Episode 132: Protecting Free Speech in Public Broadcasting with June Thiele, Peter Miller, Jill Cozza-Turner, and Rupeshi Shah Bhat
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
Release Date: 11/27/2025
Episode 135: Protecting Free Speech in Journalism with Susan Rinkunas, Sammie Smylie, Nitish Pahwa and Matt Shuham
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
In the final part of OnWriting’s series on protecting free speech, journalists Sammie Smylie, Nitish Pahwa, Matt Shuham and join moderator and journalist Susan Rinkunas to discuss the escalating threats faced by journalists in the US, why it's so critical to fight back to protect journalism that informs the public and holds power accountable, and more. Sammie Smylie is a state education reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, a leader in the Civic News Guild with the WGAE, and a WGAE Council Member for Online Media. Nitish Pahwa is a business and technology journalist at Slate, and a member of the...
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Episode 134: Screenwriter Roundtable with David Koepp, Craig Brewer and Kirt Gunn
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
We're wrapping up 2025 with an OnWriting Screenwriter Roundtable, featuring David Koepp, Craig Brewer and Kirt Gunn. The three writers joined us to discuss the origins and process behind their latest projects, how they develop their ideas over time, and much more. David Koepp is a writer and director known for writing the screenplays for films like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man, among many others. His most recent project is Black Bag, a mystery-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh released in Spring 2025. Craig Brewer is the writer and director of...
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Episode 133: Protecting Free Speech in Late Night with Josh Gondelman, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski and Sasha Stewart
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
In part 2 of our series on protecting free speech, veteran late night television writers Josh Gondelman, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski and Sasha Stewart join us to discuss the eventful past few months in the world of late night, the current state of the genre, and how they think late night comedy might shift throughout the ongoing fight to protect free speech. Josh Gondelman is a former late night writer for shows like Desus & Mero and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, a stand-up comedian and former WGAE Council Member. Liz Hynes is a writer on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, a former...
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Episode 132: Protecting Free Speech in Public Broadcasting with June Thiele, Peter Miller, Jill Cozza-Turner, and Rupeshi Shah Bhat
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
In the first of a multi-part series on protecting free speech in media, public television writers Rupeshi Shah Bhat, June Thiele, Peter Miller and Jill Cozza-Turner discuss the state of public broadcasting in the face of ongoing threats like the loss of federal funding, and why it's so critical to fight back to protect both public broadcasting specifically and free speech overall. Rupeshi Shah Bhat is a preschool TV writer who has written for PBS KIDS programs like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and is a member of the WGAE Animation Caucus. Peter Miller is a Emmy and Peabody Award-winning...
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Episode 131: WGAE AI Task Force Roundtable with Larry J. Cohen, Sarah Montana and A.M. Homes
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
This week, WGAE AI Taskforce co-chairs Larry J. Cohen and Sarah Montana, and taskforce member A.M. Homes sit down for an OnWriting roundtable conversation about all things artificial intelligence: how we got to where we are today, the risks AI poses to workers, what the WGAE is doing to protect members from this technology, and more. A.M. Homes is a writer whose credits include television series like Mr. Mercedes and The L Word. She is a former member of the WGAE Council and currently a member of the WGAE AI Taskforce. Larry J. Cohen is a writer on the television series Berlin Station and...
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Episode 130: Screenwriter Roundtable with Nia DaCosta, Benny Safdie and Will Tracy
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
We're kicking off the Fall/Winter 2025 season of OnWriting with a roundtable conversation between screenwriters Nia DaCosta, Benny Safdie and Will Tracy, who sat down to discuss their latest projects, the writing process, and more. Nia DaCosta is the writer and director of Hedda, a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's classic play in which the titular Hedda Gabler finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Benny Safdie is the writer and director of The Smashing Machine, the true story of mixed martial arts and UFC...
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Episode 129: How to Organize a Union with Rez Nemorin, Jessica Schulberg and Leah Gotcsik
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
WGAE member organizers Rez Nemorin, Jessica Schulberg and Leah Gotcsik sit down to discuss what the organizing, bargaining and enforcement process looks like at each of their workplaces, how being in a union builds a stronger and more supportive community, the importance and responsibility of being an active union member – especially right now – and much more. Rez Nemorin is a producer in the world of nonfiction television, where she is currently involved in bargaining the first contract at Lucky8. Jessica Schulberg is a senior reporter at HuffPost who helped bargain their second and...
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Episode 128: Lang Fisher & Tracey Wigfield, "The Four Seasons"
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
Co-showrunners Tracey Wigfield and Lang Fisher discuss running their latest writers' room, how the pitching process has changed for them throughout their careers, why figuring out the story is like being good at math, and much more. Tracey Wigfield is a TV writer and showrunner. She created the NBC series Great News and the Saved by the Bell revival on Peacock. Before that, she was a writer on 30 Rock as well as The Mindy Project. Lang Fisher is a TV writer, showrunner and director. She co-created the Netflix series Never Have I Ever and was a writer on 30 Rock, The Mindy...
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Episode 127: On Saturday Night Live with head writers Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell and Kent Sublette
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
Saturday Night Live head writers Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell and Kent Sublette join Greg Iwinski to talk about the process of writing for a different host every week, how giving notes to writers differs from giving notes to the cast, what writing for SNL teaches you about rejection, and much more. Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell and Kent Sublette are the current head writers of Saturday Night Live. Kent has been a head writer for the show since 2016, and Alison and Streeter have been head writers since 2022. Greg Iwinski is an Emmy-winning comedy writer whose credits include Last Week...
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Episode 126: All About the WGAE Film & TV Captains Network with Suzanne Weber, Sarah Montana and Devin Delliquanti
OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
Three intrepid WGAE member Captains – Sarah Montana, Devin Delliquanti and Suzanne Weber – kick off the summer season OnWriting with a roundtable discussion of our Film and Television Captains Network: what a Captain is, how Captains further the Guild’s ability to provide effective union representation for each and every member, the all-important WGA Captain hat and more. The WGAE Captains Network is a group of dedicated and engaged WGAE members in the Guild’s Film/TV/Streaming sector who connect other members in their workplace and networks to the union. They work to build...
info_outlineIn the first of a multi-part series on protecting free speech in media, public television writers Rupeshi Shah Bhat, June Thiele, Peter Miller and Jill Cozza-Turner discuss the state of public broadcasting in the face of ongoing threats like the loss of federal funding, and why it's so critical to fight back to protect both public broadcasting specifically and free speech overall.
Rupeshi Shah Bhat is a preschool TV writer who has written for PBS KIDS programs like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and is a member of the WGAE Animation Caucus.
Peter Miller is a Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has been working in the public television documentary industry for over 30 years, including for programs like American Experience.
June Thiele is a writer and actor known for their Emmy-nominated writing on the PBS KIDS program Molly of Denali.
Jill Cozza-Turner is a children's television writer who has spent over 20 years working in children's media. She is currently the head writer of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and has also written for Donkey Hodie.
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OnWriting is a production of the Writers Guild of America East. The show is produced by WGA East staff members Jason Gordon, Tiana Timmerberg, and Molly Beer. Production, editing, and mix by Giulia Hjort. Original music is by Taylor Bradshaw. Artwork is designed by Molly Beer.