I have zero doubt that I consume more minutes of podcasts than any other form of media. I am always on the lookout for the best podcasts I can find. There are a lot of podcasts out there, and some crafts aren't well-covered, but screenwriting certainly isn't one of them. In fact, the caliber of screenwriting podcasts is so high that lists like this are becoming a necessity for new screenwriters looking to stick in the earbuds and learn more about this craft.

Best screenwriting podcasts

Here are the best podcasts around, written by a self-confessed podcast addict. ‍

Scriptnotes

Chances are, if you have heard about any screenwriting podcasts, it'll be Scriptnotes. Hosted by professional screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin, the weekly show covers the week's news for screenwriters and dives deep into every aspect of the screenwriting life in great depth. 

The insights provided are immense and have made up a library of knowledge near unrivaled in the screenwriting world. Many have said that listening to all 400+ episodes of Scriptnotes is better than going to film school. I'd say those folks have a strong argument. 

How I Write: A Podcast About Screenwriting

Created by Arc Studio Pro and hosted by Al Horner, How I Write: A Podcast about Screenwriting interviews professional screenwriters about their process and how they get the job done. 

The variety of the guests means that almost every listener will find an episode that they'll enjoy listening to. There's no doubt in my mind that the best way to learn in this craft is to listen to intelligent working writers talking enthusiastically about their craft.

‍The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

‍The Screenwriting Life is like Scriptnotes in many ways and is hosted by two professional screenwriters Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, who discuss, well… the screenwriting life!

However, unlike Scriptnotes, The Screenwriting Life places quite a high premium on the emotional turbulence of what it means to be a screenwriter. For example, in their weekly section called "Adventures in Screenwriting," Meg and Lorien rundown what they've done in screenwriting in the past week and how they're feeling. That means if they've had a bad week, they'll say it. This section alone lends significant insight into what it feels like to be a professional screenwriter.

Write-Along with David and Cargill

Now seemingly defunct, but no less informative, Write Along with David and Cargill is hosted by podcaster David Chen and professional screenwriter C. Robert Cargill. They tackle a single craft topic in depth.

Unlike most other podcasts on this list, Write Along is a relatively bitesize show. If you're anything like me, you can binge a bunch of the episodes in a single day. The dynamic of David being an enthusiast asking fundamental questions about the craft helps bring the whole endeavor back to reality. 

It's always good to revise the fundamentals, no matter what screenwriting stage you're currently at.

The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith

Speaking of which, The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith takes a similar approach. This podcast has been running for nearly a decade and features in-depth interviews with screenwriters, asking them questions that get to the core of their process.

The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith is particularly renowned for its so-called "Oscars Episodes," where Jeff wrangles every single Oscar-nominated screenwriter for that year and gets them on the same panel to compare and contrast their process and style. The episode always holds immense amounts of helpful info for any screenwriter.

On Story

The Austin Film Festival is a famous festival held in the beautiful city of Austin in October every year. It's exceptionally well renowned in the screenwriting community for its yearly contest to find the best screenplays from emerging writers. It is beaten out only by the Nicholl Fellowship for the "most prestigious screenwriting award." 

During the festival, the staff interviews professional writers who come and extract wonderful nuggets of wisdom that they put out as the On Story podcast. Though this podcast isn't very regular and the episodes aren't long, the advice and info on display are worth every screenwriter's attention.

‍Honorable mentions

While the six listed are my top picks, here are few other screenwriting podcasts that deserve a mention.

3rd & Fairfax

Draft Zero 

On the Page

Sam & Jim Go to Hollywood

The Treatment‍

Inspired? Start writing today

Now that all these podcasts have sufficiently inspired you, it may be time for you to leap into writing! Try out Arc Studio Pro for free (no credit card required) and take your idea to the page.