Eleven Podcasts Filmmakers Should Be Listening To
You stare at your blank computer, watching the blue-lit screen as the minutes fall away to a looming deadline. Your brain turns to mush. Your eyes cross. You turn to your search browser. The darker corners of Reddit? Pinterest? Inspirational Beyoncé quotes? You need something equally distracting and inspiring, but in the great void that is the internet, where do we look to reignite the spark? Enter the podcast: the modern-day medium for the thinking creative person (and beyond). Think of it like getting a pep talk from a mentor, or real talk from a friend. Whether you suffer from writer’s block, self-doubt or just plain old procrastination, we’ve compiled a list of podcasts for filmmakers to help you get back on track.
Think of a podcast like getting a pep talk from a mentor, or real talk from a friend.
1. Creative Pep Talk
Up first on our list of essential podcasts for filmmakers is Creative Pep Talk. As the name implies, the titular show is literally just that: a pep talk for creatives who are trying to making a living out of what they do. Host Andy J. Pizza covers everything from what’s blocking your creative magic, burnout, and the seasons of creativity (yes, apparently this is a thing).
Check out: Episode 129 – How To Remedy Creative Burnout
2. Ted Radio Hour
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned Ted Talk to spark up your spirit. Ted Radio Hour covers a variety of topics, including Ted’s go-to’s like self-improvement, innovation, and technology.
Check out: Episode 100: A Better You
3. Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
We all know Elizabeth Gilbert as the woman behind the seminal me-generation classic Eat Pray Love, but did you know she’s also somewhat of a creative guru? Over the years she has nurtured the likes of you and me through her books, Ted Talks, and now podcast, in which she shares lessons learned through interviews with working creatives.
Check out: Episode 209 – “Show Up Before You’re Ready” featuring Glennon Doyle Melton
Like all great podcasts, host Ted Forbes’ advice goes beyond niche and offers useful insight into getting your best work, regardless of whether you’re a photographer or not.
4. The Art of Photography
A fascinating video podcast dedicated to the craft of, you guessed it, photography. Like all great podcasts, host Ted Forbes’ advice goes beyond niche and offers useful insight into getting your best work, regardless of whether you’re a photographer or not. A must-listen on our list of podcasts for filmmakers.
Check out: Fear and Creativity
5. Hidden Brain by NPR
More often than not, human connection is a key ingredient when making art. Naturally, the more you understand humans, the better you become at connecting with our strange species. Hidden Brain is another excellent podcast from NPR that does just that by diving into the many mysteries of the human brain. To tame the beast, we must first understand it…
Check out: Episode 71 – The Fox and the Hedgehog
6. The Moment with Brian Koppelman
This is an interview style podcast featuring artists, musicians, actors, etc. talking about the turning points in their careers. Inspiring, fascinating, and non-conventional.
Check out: The Moment featuring El-P (Run the Jewels)
7. The Moth/This American Life/Serial/any classic storytelling podcast
Storytelling is a powerful tool. The most effective commercials, movies, songs, etc. bring you on a journey. Our point? Get good at telling stories, and make your work more effective!
Check out: The Moth, This American Life, Serial
The most effective commercials, movies, songs, etc. bring you on a journey. Our point? Get good at telling stories.
8. The Treatment
This podcast is all about filmmaking, and host Elvis Mitchell goes deep in his interviews with the likes of Guy Ritchie, Sofia Coppola, and Damien Chazelle. Fascinating for filmmakers, movie lovers and anyone interested in how movies like Wonder Woman, The Beguiled, and La La Land (to name a few) get made.
Check out: Anna Biller: The Love Witch
9. Song Exploder
What music nerd doesn’t love a detailed breakdown of how their favorite songs are made? Hrishikesh Hirway brings an eclectic array of guests including Slowdive, Solange, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Iggy Pop to break down how their music was written, produced and recorded.
Check out: Episode 60 – Bjork “Stonemilker”
10. WTF with Marc Maron
This interview-centric podcast makes you feel like you’re a fly on the wall of some elite Hollywood club where only the coolest and most successful people hang out. Pop on an episode, think about your life, then get to work (said in Maron’s voice).
Check out: Episode 403 with Nick Cave
11. Respect the Process
We just discovered this podcast at the last minute and have listened to three episodes in a row and we’re hooked! Host (and filmmaker) Jordan Brady digs deep into the process of filmmakers, cinematographers and crew, including guests like Judd Apatow and Morgan Spurlock.
Check out: Respect the Process Episode with Judd Apatow
Like our list of Top Eleven Podcasts for Filmmakers? For more filmmaking inspiration, check out our articles on Location Scouting 101 and Music Licensing in Film.
