Topic Guide
What Is Showrunning?
Showrunning is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Showrunning
Self-hating actor
Amanda Peet coined this term to describe her early career phase where she couldn't fully admit her desire to pursue acting beyond a hobby. This internal conflict stemmed from her parents' skepticism about the entertainment business and her own stage fright, leading her to undervalue her aspirations [33:47, 15:24].
Dense and busy breasts
This medical condition, which Amanda Peet has, makes it difficult to detect cancer on screens like mammograms due to the tissue's density and complexity. It necessitates more frequent and varied screenings, such as ultrasounds in addition to mammograms, for early detection [47:04].
Popcorn meeting (quaker)
This term refers to a Quaker meeting house practice where anyone, regardless of religion, is allowed to stand up and speak, as the denomination believes 'nobody is closer to God than anybody else.' It fosters an environment of open, shared vocal ministry [42:57].
Second sleep
This concept refers to a historical sleep pattern, centuries ago, where people would sleep for 3-4 hours, wake up for a period of activity or reflection, and then go back for a 'second sleep.' It's presented as a potential explanation for modern sleep fragmentation [60:16].
What Experts Say About Showrunning
- 1.Amanda Peet experienced severe stage fright for "highbrow" roles early in her career, making it easier to book "lowbrow" commercials and soap operas [16:27].
- 2.She found a different kind of satisfaction and control as a writer and showrunner for Netflix's "The Chair," remarking, "This is [__] great. What have I been doing this whole time?" [40:54].
- 3.Peet's recent New Yorker essay reveals her simultaneous breast cancer diagnosis and her parents both being in hospice care, a period she describes as "the weekend from hell" [48:05, 50:06].
- 4.Her approach to acting involves avoiding "orchestrating a result" and instead performing for a trusted "microscopic lens" like David Benioff or Sarah Paulson, to achieve authenticity [25:36].
- 5.Amanda Peet started psychoanalysis at age 13, attending sessions four days a week, a process she connects to the narrative creation of storytelling [20:31].
- 6.Mira Sorvino once offered Amanda Peet the profound advice regarding performance: "As soon as you want to be good, you're dead" [13:19].