Shu and Sherm finish what they started! Part Two of the Screenwriter Commandments. Finally! Listen now! Website Instagram Facebook TwitterDoor Shukree Hassan Tilghman, Sherman Payne

Shu and Sherm are setting truth in stone. Part One of the Screenwriter Commandments. Thou shalt write, write, write every day! and more... Listen now! Website Instagram Facebook TwitterDoor Shukree Tilghman, Sherman Payne

A picture is worth a thousand words, but what is an idea worth? Shu and Sherm break down what makes an idea worth pursuing in your writing, they discuss the difference between high concept and low concept ideas, and they discuss a slap that somehow we all felt. You know the one. Listen now! Website Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhiresp…

Hello and welcome to episode 59. This is our last interview for a while, and we decided to talk to our friend Camille Bromley, who is one of our favorite magazine editors. We talked about why magazines still matter, even when working at them is incredibly painful. We think you guys will really like this conversation and have so enjoyed all the conv…

Today, Kevin & Arjun talk about nihilistic tendencies with regards to Ben Simmons, 1 on 1 hangouts, The Believer, and our own podcast. We’ll have a guest next week! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit diversityhire.substack.com…

Hello and welcome to episode 57 of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Ian F. Blair, the editor of the LA Times’ weekend magazine Image. Our conversation covered: keeping a low profile online, why the fuck do we keep making magazines, how not to make a bland milquetoast publication, telling the story of a community, Laker fandom, and much more. Kevi…

Hello and welcome! We are back from the hiatus. We talked to journalist and editor Tristan Ahtone about how badly the mainstream media covers Native issues and what can be done to make it better, how the edit a magazine like a painter, the vast and weird world of the Southwest, getting to know a community rather parachuting in for one-off reports, …

In this week’s episode, Shu and Sherm talk all about adaptations. They give you pointers on how to write a screenplay from existing source material and share their views on film and TV adaptations. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.comDoor Sherman Payne, Shukree Hassan Tilghman

This week, Shu and Sherm talk to a Development Executive. Anil Kurian, Head of Development for G-Unit Film & Television, joins The Diversity Hires to discuss the development process from the perspective of an executive and gives new writers tips for getting their work recognized. Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodc…

Shu and Sherm discuss the craft of screenwriting in this week’s episode about scenes. They give you practical advice on how to improve your writing and craft great scenes. They also weigh in on a Twitter debate about nepotism and whether or not Hollywood is a meritocracy. Listen! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodc…

This week, Shu and Sherm talk about genre. They define the term and share their thoughts on how the use of genre affects storytelling. They also address the demand for livable wages by writers’ assistants. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.comDoor Sherman Payne, Shukree Hassan Tilghman

Hello and welcome to episode 55 of Diversity Hire. We are proud to present our state of the pod with a podcast reporting legend and small business owner Nick Quah. We talked about the past, present, and future of the medium we all participate in, vibes vs audio fidelity, why narrative podcasts are annoying, why we keep listening to podcasts we know…

Tracey Scott Wilson, writer of the new Aretha Franklin Biopic, Respect, joins The Diversity Hires to discuss her career. From novels and plays to television and film, Tracey has conquered it all. She shares her journey and drops some knowledge for aspiring writers. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast…

Hello and welcome to Diversity Hire. Today is a special episode, a pilot for a potential pay-walled project we are thinking of calling The Minority Report. Our inaugural guest is art world maven Dean Kissick. Lots of tea was spilled about the origins of current hot neighborhoods, E-flux talks, autofiction, the SCENE, working out and staying healthy…

This week, Shu and Sherm are joined by two of the creators of the Hollywood Inclusion Rider: Fanshen Cox and Kalpana Kotagal. They discuss what The Inclusion Rider is, why it’s necessary, and how it can improve diversity across the entertainment industry. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to episode 53 of Diversity Hire. Today’s guest is Wesley Lowery, who is a journalist at CBS News for 60 Minutes and a contributing editor at the Marshall Project. We talked about the ways public humiliation can be used to create change inside newsrooms, the publishing power afforded to journalists via social media, the myth of obj…

We're back and better than ever! In this episode, Shu and Sherm reflect on a Wall Street Journal article criticizing the elite Master’s programs that leave its students with crippling debt-- including the film program at their alma mater, Columbia University. Plus, they answer some fan questions. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitt…

Hello and welcome to episode 52 of Diversity Hire. Longtime listeners will be glad to know this is the episode with the BEST AUDIO QUALITY we’ve ever achieved. That’s because we got a professional podcast producer to talk to us: B.A. Parker of the Cut. We had a really fun and wide-ranging conversation about Columbia grad programs, having NO JOURNAL…

Hello and welcome to an old episode of the Diversity Hire. It’s our podcast’s first birthday and we’re tired. We are busy at work on our collaboration with Montez Press Radio, so we decided to revisit an episode we released on July 1, 2020: Our conversation with Jay Caspian Kang. Pretty much everything Jay has said about the cynical way the media i…

(Sorry if you’re receiving this for a second time, there were technical difficulties) Hello and welcome to Episode 50 of Diversity Hire. Thanks for making it this far with us. We have a special guest for you guys this week: Max Tani of The Daily Beast. WE 👏GOT👏 MESSY👏 A few of the topics include: Who invented the concept of Dimes Square, going to p…

Hello and welcome to episode 49 of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Arit John, who is a lifestyle reporter for the LA Times. We talked about the surprising similarities between politicians and Tik Tok stars, covering the 2016 campaign, how awful the three media capitals - NYC, LA, DC - truly are, appearing on C-SPAN, and much more. Kevin and Arju…

Hello and welcome to episode 48 of Diversity Hire Kevin and Arjun dished on: boat parties, roof parties, gallery parties, the Deans list (Baquet, Blunt, & Kissick), the NBA playoffs, friends leaving NYC for LA, giving up on veganism, the A**a W*nt*ur picket, Bugbee/Sicha Freaky Friday, the future of the Styles desk, dating, practicing ad reads for …

Hello and welcome to episode 47 of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Tyler Tynes who is the staff sports writer at GQ. Our conversation covered annihilating objectivity in order to cover athletes and the politics of sports more honestly, Tyler’s stint as a local beat reporter in Atlantic City, the commodification of protest, why sports reporting a…

Hello and welcome to episode 46 of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Julia Carrie Wong, who is a reporter at the Guardian US. Much of our conversation focuses on Julia’s incredible reporting on Facebook’s abuses of power and oversight all around the world. If you wanted to hear about just how evil Facebook is—from its colonial disposition to its t…

Hello and welcome to episode 45 of Diversity Hire. Today’s guest was New York Times sports reporter Andrew Keh. We talked about the meaning of sports and competition in our times, how bad the food in Berlin is, what it’s like to travel around the world to cover every kind of sport imaginable, how Andrew practices a kind of reporting that looks beyo…

Is this the last episode of The Diversity Hires?! Shu and Sherm talk about endings. What makes a good ending, why they are so hard to write, and why this will be the last episode of the podcast... at least for a little while. LISTEN NOW! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to our 44th episode. Today we talked to Terry Nguyen, who is a reporter at the Goods by Vox. Our conversation covered generational politics and why they are rooted in whiteness, the feeling of being caught between generations (AKA cusp-fucked), talking to our Asian American elders, memes, crushes, and much more. Arjun and Kevin ta…

Shu and Sherm are back with another craft episode! This week, it’s all about Antagonists: what they are, why they’re necessary, and how to make them interesting. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.comDoor Shukree Hassan Tilghman, Sherman Payne

Hello and welcome to 43 of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Justin Ellis, who is the special projects editor at Defector and is also at work on a book about Black life in Minneapolis. We talked about reporting from his hometown in the last year, what it was like to be at the courthouse when the decision from the Chauvin trial was made public, the…

In this check-in episode, Shu and Sherm fill you in on what’s happening in their lives and careers as well as discuss the balance between work and home life. They answer some questions from listeners and give tips on how to manage your time. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com Show Less…

Hello and welcome to episode 42 of Diversity Hire. (This episode is rated M for Mature. Listener discretion is advised.) Today we talked to New York Magazine’s Allison P. Davis, America’s greatest commentator on sex, love, dating, and the myriad ways those forces intersect with power and celebrity. Our conversation covered Allison’s incredible skil…

Shu and Sherm delve into the craft of screenwriting in this episode all about crafting your First Act. They talk inciting incidents, character choice, and everything else you need to know to make your first act bussin'. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to the 41st episode of Diversity Hire. Today we talked to Joshua Hunt, a globe-trotting freelance reporter, who originally hails from Petersburg, Alaska. We talked about Josh’s winding path to journalism, the consequences of the personal essay economy, writing from an Indigenous perspective, how and why first-person experience can…

This week, Shu and Sherm break down when and why rewrites happen in addition to how they differ between television and movies. They share their experiences and dole out some advice on how to navigate both being rewritten and rewriting someone else's script. Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to episode 40 of Diversity Hire. We had planned to release a wonderful interview (which will come out next week), but instead, we decided to give ourselves some breathing room and talked about media, perception, and being seen/scene. No guest this week, just vibes, mostly bad ones! Twitter sucks (Kevin just deactivated!!) Work suc…

In this week's episode, Shu and Sherm go through the ScreenCraft article “23 Reasons Why Your Script Was Rejected”. They give their opinion on this list and offer up some of their own advice about how to make your screenplay better. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to Episode 39. To all the new listeners who found our podcast from Camille Bromley’s CJR profile, welcome. To our Day Ones, welcome back. Today we talked to Siddhartha Mahanta, who is an editor at the New York Times Opinion section. We talked about the oft-ignored humanity of journalism, the journalist’s commitment to be humane, w…

Melinda Hsu Taylor (Nancy Drew, Lost) joins Shu and Sherm as they continue to reflect on the tragic violence against Asian Americans. Melinda shares what drew her to writing and discusses her experience as a showrunner. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.com…

Hello and welcome to episode 38! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Today we talked to Delia Cai, who is the proprietor of the wonderful Substack Deez Links and a growth and trends editor at Buzzfeed. We talked about go-to orders at Dimes, content strategy, why she’s optimistic about the future of the media, the pernicious feeling of needin…

This week, Phil Buiser (Shameless, Bates Motel) joins The Diversity Hires to discuss his career as a screenwriter and producer. Phil, Shu, and Sherm reflect on the recent uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans and talk about the experiences that led Phil to pursue a career in the industry. Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: d…

Hello and welcome to episode 37 of Diversity Hire. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Today’s guest is Doreen St. Felix, who is the New Yorker’s television critic. We have been looking forward to this conversation since we first started the pod, and we think you guys will enjoy everything we talked about, which ran the gamut from the art of…

In this episode, Shu and Sherm take a deep dive into the McKinsey report on Black representation in film and television. They discuss everything from the barriers to entry for Black talent to the actionable steps that Hollywood can take to remedy the problem. Listen now! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail…

Hello and welcome to P̶o̶p̶u̶l̶i̶s̶t̶ ̶T̶i̶p̶s̶ Episode 36 of Diversity Hire. It has been a tough and trying week and we weren’t sure if we should even do an episode this week. But we’re so happy that our guest, Chris Gayomali, was down to talk with us. Chris is an articles editor at GQ. Fifty weeks ago, Chris wrote an article for GQ titled “The Ne…

Shu and Sherm vibe out with Vanessa Baden-Kelly (Animal Kingdom, Giants)! She talks about her transition from an actor to a screenwriter, her Nickelodeon days, her Emmy and so much more! Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.comDoor Sherman Payne, Shukree Hassan Tilghman, Vanessa Baden-Kelly

Hello and welcome to episode 35 of Diversity Hire. Today’s guest was Tommy Craggs, and we had a rollicking conversation about an era of media we are still trying to understand: the reign of Gawker. We dove into Tommy’s time as the editor Deadspin and later the executive editor of Gakwer and what both of those sites contributed to what we now call T…

In this episode, Shu and Sherm flip the writers' room inside out and show you how it works. From "blue-skying" to "breaking the script", all things writers' room will be made clear. Website Patreon Instagram Facebook Twitter E-mail: diversityhirespodcast@gmail.comDoor Shukree Hassan Tilghman, Sherman Payne, Tia Wren

Hello and welcome to Episode 34 of Diversity Hire. Today’s guest was Emmanuel Felton, who is an investigative reporter at Buzzfeed. We talked about his experiences covering education and segregation in the South and in Boston, why the identity and biases of journalists matter, especially when covering race and education, what it was like to talk to…

In week two of our Best Of series, we take the choice cuts of your favorite interviews and stuff them all into one episode! This episode has Kay Oyegun, Zahir McGhee, Rodney Barnes and more! Jump into this jambalaya now! FEATURED GUESTS (in Alphabetical Order): Alan B. McElroy (Star Trek Discovery) - TDH 014 Gina Atwater (Westworld) - TDH 002 Jamun…

Hello and welcome to episode 33 of Diversity Hire. No guest this week, so go ahead and 30-second-fast-forward through this entire episode. Kevin and Arjun ramble incessantly about how you can’t mourn the loss of something that was already dead (Dimes Square), the problem with “diversity” in the New York Times Diversity Report, how white people need…

As the first part of our Best Of series, this episode is chock-full of cherrypicked advice from past chapters of TDH history on the basic craft of screenwriting. Learn how to write your first script (TDH 021), create compelling characters (TDH 015), craft dialogue (TDH 025) and revise your first draft (TDH 007) all in one episode! It's a one-stop-s…