The Holly Hughes Podcast: Inside the Lives of Writers, Musicians, Filmmakers & More

The Man Behind Mad Men Tells All: Emmys, Streaming, and How Hollywood Really Works | Dwayne Shattuck

What does it actually take to go from fire department paramedic to Emmy-winning studio head, with zero plan, zero roadmap, and zero interest in the spotlight?  In this episode, Holly sits down with veteran Hollywood producer and ITV Studios executive Dwayne Shattuck, a man with multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, DGA, and PGA awards, 20+ television series under his belt, and a record of never once going over budget.  Dwayne's career started with a back injury, a bored colleague, and an offer to get paid to sit around on a movie set. What followed was four decades of climbing the industry ladder, from set medic to PA, first AD to UPM, line producer to studio head, including a pivotal role building the infrastructure behind the iconic series Mad Men.  This conversation is a rare inside look at how Hollywood actually works: the budgets, the crew dynamics, the streaming wars, and what it really takes to lead at the highest levels of the industry without burning out or blowing up.  If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the camera, or what it looks like to build a career out of calm, consistency, and simply not quitting, this episode is for you. What you’ll learn in this episode: * How Dwayne went from fire department paramedic to Emmy-winning studio head * Why the best careers in Hollywood are rarely planned, and what that means for yours * The one mentor conversation that changed his entire trajectory * How Mad Men was made on $2.2 million per episode and why constraint created the show's magic * What it actually means to never go over budget across 20+ series * The leadership philosophy that kept him respected on every set he ever ran * Why the film industry doesn't let you retire, it just lets you fade We talk about: * 00:00 Meet Dwayne Shattuck and the career that was never supposed to happen  * 01:30 How a back injury on the fire department launched a Hollywood career  * 03:00 Bronco Lustig, Schindler's List, and the mentor who opened the door  * 05:00 Why paramedic skills translate directly to producing, stress tests, scenarios, and calm under fire  * 07:00 What a first AD actually does and why nothing gets shot without one  * 09:00 Early career collisions with Reese Witherspoon, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon  * 11:00 Traveling the world as a first AD and why the industry made it impossible to leave  * 13:00 Moving from set life to studio life and going in-house for the first time  * 15:00 The Mad Men origin story: $2.2M per episode, seven-day shoots, and a crew built on loyalty  * 18:00 Watching 22 Emmys get announced from a hotel suite during the writers' strike  * 20:00 The dark side of success: security cameras, conspiracy theories, and choosing privacy  * 22:00 Leadership, culture, and why respect travels faster than fear on a set  * 25:00 How to run a budget with full transparency and why it builds better teams  * 27:00 The state of LA production right now and where the industry actually went  * 29:00 Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and the end of the streaming wars  * 31:00 Why episode counts dropped from 22 to 8 and what that really costs  * 33:00 How streaming platforms decide when and how to release episodes  * 35:00 What production management is really like (boredom means everything is working)  * 37:00 Family, marriage, and raising kids while running a TV show across the country  * 39:00 Leading ITV Studios and what makes a company culture actually work  * 41:00 How to say no without destroying the relationship  * 43:00 The F1 series at Amazon and what's on the horizon  * 45:00 The warning label that says it all Connect with Dwayne  * IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789443/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789443/]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-shattuck-50bb03b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-shattuck-50bb03b/]  Connect with Holly  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive [https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive] * Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/] * Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/]  #MadMen #HollywoodInsider #TheHollyHughesShow

When the Plan Falls Apart… Follow the Path Instead | Michael Cain

What do you do when the life you built… disappears? In this episode, Holly sits down with award-winning film producer and creative changemaker Michael Cain to unpack what it really looks like to rebuild your life when the plan falls apart. Because this isn’t a story about success.It’s a story about redirection. After losing everything in his twenties, Michael found himself at a crossroads with no roadmap, no certainty, and no clear way forward. What came next wasn’t a perfectly executed comeback. It was a series of decisions, risks, and moments of trust that slowly revealed a completely different life than the one he originally planned. From breaking into film, to producing dozens of projects, to creating film festivals that give other storytellers a platform, Michael’s journey is a masterclass in what happens when you stop forcing the outcome… and start following the path. This conversation is about resilience, reinvention, creative purpose, and the courage it takes to keep moving when nothing feels guaranteed. If you’ve ever felt like you’re off track, behind, or starting over… this episode will shift how you see it. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why losing everything can become the moment your real life begins * The difference between forcing a plan and following a path * How to rebuild your life without a clear roadmap * Why resilience is less about strength and more about willingness * The role of trust, intuition, and timing in a creative career * How setbacks create clarity you wouldn’t find any other way * Why relationships and collaboration shape long-term success * The truth about creative careers that no one talks about * How to create impact through storytelling and community * Why not quitting is often the most important decision you’ll make We talk about: * 00:00 Meet Michael Cain and the story behind his creative path * 01:10 Early love of film and the unexpected start to his career * 02:30 Losing everything in his twenties and what it revealed * 05:30 Starting over with no clear plan or safety net * 06:30 What loss teaches you about resilience and identity * 07:30 Following the path instead of forcing a fixed outcome * 09:00 Why producing became his role in storytelling * 10:30 Building relationships and creating opportunities from nothing * 12:00 Leadership, collaboration, and creative environments * 13:30 The importance of respect and culture on set * 15:00 Transitioning from low-budget work to larger opportunities * 16:30 Supporting emerging talent and recognizing potential early * 18:00 Creating a film festival in the middle of personal loss * 19:30 Turning pain into purpose through cancer support initiatives * 21:00 Building community through storytelling and shared experiences * 22:30 How film festivals actually work and why they matter * 24:00 Why most ideas never happen and what makes execution different * 25:30 Finding support, funding, and momentum when resources are limited * 27:00 Scaling impact from grassroots beginnings to major platforms * 28:30 The power of storytelling to create real change * 30:00 How media consumption is shifting and what it means for creators * 31:30 Why community experiences still matter more than ever * 33:00 The future of film festivals and collaboration in creative industries * 35:00 Balancing ambition, family, and personal priorities * 36:30 Choosing projects that align with purpose and impact * 38:00 The long-term ripple effect of creative work * 40:00 Redefining success and building a meaningful life * 42:00 The warning label that says it all Connect with Michael  * IG: https://www.instagram.com/mcaindallasfilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/mcaindallasfilm/]  * IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128937/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128937/]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldcain/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldcain/]  * Website: http://letsgom3.com/ [http://letsgom3.com/]  Connect with Holly  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive [https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive] * Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/] * Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/]  #CreativeCareer #Resilience #FindYourPath

How to Get Rich for Being Funny Without Being Famous | Judy Carter, Comedy Bible Author

This week Holly sits down with Judy Carter, comedian, comedy coach, and author of The Comedy Bible, to talk about how to build a creative career, make money being funny, and turn your biggest problems into your most bankable material. Because here is the thing: your problems are not your problem. They are your material. Judy has coached Seth Rogen, Taylor Tomlinson, and Lisa Lampanelli. Her book has sold over 200,000 copies and been published in nine languages. She got rejected by 59 literary agents. Then Oprah called. She has been broke, she has been brilliant, and she has figured out the exact formula for turning your mess into your most bankable asset. We talk about the psychological tricks she uses to dominate any room, why the richest comedians are people you have never heard of, and why everything you think is wrong with you is actually your ticket. Oh and we also completely destroyed The Giving Tree. You are welcome. What you’ll learn in this episode: * The trick Judy uses to own a room in the first 30 seconds * Why your anxiety, your dyslexia, and your people-pleasing are not holding you back. They are your content. * The four words that make anything funnier instantly: hard, weird, scary, stupid * Why the comedians making the most money are literally people you have never heard of * How Judy made 50 times more self-publishing than she ever did with Random House * The $2 billion comedian who only performs in churches and what that tells you about niching down * Why chasing fame is the worst business plan a creative person can have * How she turned her direct competition into her biggest collaborators using one counterintuitive move * The real reason imposter syndrome might actually be your biggest competitive advantage * What a comedy career, a nursing niche, and passive income have in common and why it matters for you We talk about: * 00:00 Meet Judy Carter: comedian, coach, and the woman who will rewrite your life  * 01:00 Is AI funny? Hard no. Here is why.  * 03:00 Why influencers can do five minutes but not an hour  * 05:00 Planning versus presence: why your carefully rehearsed set might be killing you  * 07:00 Ride your talent like a wild horse or get thrown off * 09:00 The subliminal psychological trick that makes any corporate crowd yours  * 11:00 Making them applaud twice and why it changes everything  * 13:00 Why she touches the MC every single time and what it transfers  * 15:00 Growing up with a disabled sister and a drunk dad: the real origin of her humor  * 17:00 Imposter syndrome is not your enemy. Here is the reframe.  * 19:00 Hard, weird, scary, stupid: the four words that unlock comedy in any context  * 21:00 Getting a laugh every 15 seconds: how corporate speaking actually works  * 29:00 The New Comedy Bible: turning your worst moments into punchlines  * 31:00 Making Money Being Funny: the book the industry did not want her to write  * 33:00 Why self-publishing made her 50 times more than Random House ever did  * 35:00 Famous in a niche versus famous to everyone: which one actually pays  * 36:00 The $12 million nurse comedian and the $2 billion Christian comic you do not know  * 38:00 59 rejections, one Oprah call, and what she learned from all of it  * 39:00 Royalties, intellectual property, and making money while you sleep  * 42:00 Empathy over jealousy: the move that built her entire career  * 43:00 Calling your competition and making them your collaborator  * 47:00 Her warning label: caution, time with Judy Carter has been known to cause unexpected career changes Connect with Judy * IG: https://www.instagram.com/judycartercomedy [https://www.instagram.com/judycartercomedy]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/judycarter [https://www.youtube.com/c/judycarter] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@judycartercomedy [https://www.tiktok.com/@judycartercomedy]  * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudyCarterComedy [https://www.facebook.com/JudyCarterComedy]  * Website: https://www.judycarter.com/ [https://www.judycarter.com/]  Connect with Holly  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive [https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive] * Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/] * Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/]

What Happens When You Tell the Truth Through Art | Akira Tsuboi

What if art wasn’t just expression… but responsibility? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with artist Akira Tsuboi and interpreter Woo-Hee Choi to explore the intersection of art, history, and truth, and what it means to create work that confronts what others avoid. Akira’s work doesn’t look away. It dives into the realities of war, cultural trauma, and systemic silence, using stark black, white, and red imagery to challenge narratives that have been softened, rewritten, or ignored entirely. From the Fukushima nuclear disaster to the history of comfort women and forced labor systems, this conversation reveals how art can uncover patterns that repeat across time, often under different names, but with the same consequences. Together, they explore what it means to belong across cultures, how truth gets buried in both education and nationalism, and why confronting the past is not about blame, but about awareness, responsibility, and preventing repetition. If you’ve ever wondered how art can shape perspective, challenge systems, or reveal deeper truths about humanity, this episode will stay with you. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why art can reveal truths that history books often avoid * How storytelling through visuals can challenge cultural narratives * The connection between Fukushima, forced labor systems, and historical patterns * Why confronting uncomfortable history is essential for growth * How nationalism shapes what we are taught, and what we’re not * The emotional responsibility of creating art rooted in truth * What it means to live and create between cultures (Japan and Korea) * How identity, history, and place influence creative expression * Why many artists struggle to show controversial work in their own countries * The role of curiosity in understanding complex global issues We talk about: * 00:00 Introduction to Akira Tsuboi and Woo-Hee Choi * 02:00 The unexpected meeting that started it all * 04:00 Why Akira’s art challenges the “beautiful” narrative of Japan * 06:00 From emotion to research, evolving as an artist * 08:00 Using wood, texture, and color to represent time and truth * 10:00 Why black, white, and red became his visual language * 12:00 Fukushima as a turning point in his work * 14:00 The hidden systems behind disaster response and labor exploitation * 16:00 The connection between modern systems and wartime history * 18:00 Comfort women, language, and confronting reality * 20:00 National identity and selective storytelling * 22:00 Busan, culture, and the reality of economic decline * 25:00 Art, place, and untapped creative potential * 27:00 Why younger generations are leaving, and what’s being lost * 29:00 Creating art across cultures, Japan and Korea * 31:00 What people don’t know about their own history * 33:00 Art as a way to spark curiosity, not just emotion * 35:00 Why truth-telling through art is often rejected * 37:00 Global recognition vs. local resistance * 39:00 The cost of creating controversial work * 41:00 Faith, creativity, and finding purpose * 45:00 What comes next for Akira’s work Connect with Akira * Akira’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/akiratsuboi19761013/ [https://www.instagram.com/akiratsuboi19761013/] * Woo-Hee’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/j.r.wroh/ [https://www.instagram.com/j.r.wroh/] Connect with Holly  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive [https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive] * Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/] * Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/]  #CulturalIdentity #GenerationalTrauma #CreativeExpression

How to Write About Family Without Repeating the Past | Monica Macansantos

What if writing about your past didn’t mean reliving it? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with author Monica Macansantos, writer of Returning to My Father’s Kitchen and Love and Other Rituals, to explore how we tell the truth about family, identity, and the stories that shape us, without getting stuck inside them. Monica shares how her father’s openness transformed pain into connection, and how writing became a way to process generational trauma without passing it forward. Through food, memory, and lived experience across the Philippines, the United States, and New Zealand, she reflects on what it means to belong, even when you feel like an outsider. This conversation moves between the deeply personal and the universal. From complicated family dynamics and cultural identity, to the quiet ways we carry home with us, wherever we go. It’s about learning how to hold your past with honesty, without letting it define your future. If you’ve ever struggled with where you come from, how to tell your story, or how to make peace with your past, this episode will meet you there. What you’ll learn in this episode: * How to write about family without reinforcing generational patterns * Why storytelling can transform, not just revisit, trauma * The role of food and memory in shaping identity * What it means to feel like an outsider, even when you belong * How cultural identity evolves across countries and experiences * Why you don’t need labels to understand who you are * The connection between creativity, grief, and healing * How to process the past without letting it control your future * What “home” really means when you’ve lived in many places We talk about: * 00:00 Introduction to Monica Macansantos and her work * 02:10 Writing about family, trauma, and healing * 05:00 Tango, trust, and understanding complex relationships * 07:20 Food, memory, and connection to home * 10:00 Growing up between cultures and identities * 13:00 Leaving the Philippines and expanding opportunities * 16:00 Travel, belonging, and building a life across countries * 19:00 Toxic environments and creative communities * 22:00 Feeling like an outsider and finding your voice * 25:00 Ghosts, memory, and being haunted by the past * 28:00 Cultural trauma and historical silence * 32:00 The “landlady” story and learning boundaries * 36:00 Writing process, discipline, and current projects * 39:00 Female friendships and power dynamics * 42:00 Identity, labels, and being human first * 45:00 Connection, understanding, and shared experience * 49:00 Monica’s warning label and closing thoughts Connect with Monica * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madamebutchay/ [https://www.instagram.com/madamebutchay/]  * Website: https://www.monicamacansantos.com/ [https://www.monicamacansantos.com/]  Connect with Holly  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive [https://www.youtube.com/@hollyhughesintuitive] * Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/] * Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/ [https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/]  #WritingAboutFamily #GenerationalTrauma #CulturalIdentity