7: Plotting with Winnie Holzman - Creating Wicked, Embracing Insecurity & The Power of Kindness

This week I'm joined by the legendary Winnie Holzman, the brilliant mind behind Wicked (The Screenplay and Movies) and My So-Called Life. She's not only one of the most talented writers, but genuinely one of the kindest people you'll ever meet. We dive deep into the creative process, why insecurity is actually your friend as an artist, and how embracing that feeling of "I don't know if I can do this" leads to the most powerful work. Winnie shares her journey from performing in comedy groups to Broadway, the life changing power of mentorship (hello, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim), and why giving everything to the process matters more than the outcome. We talk about love, marriage, 41 years together and why humor is everything in a relationship. Plus, the green elephant in the room: Wicked. Winnie opens up about the 10 year pregnancy of creating the movies, the perfect casting chemistry between Ariana and Cynthia, and why they never wanted it to just be "the play on film." We also get into My So-Called Life, capturing teenage angst without social media, and her next project reuniting with Claire Danes. In these darker times, we discuss holding onto kindness and humanity, and why small acts of kindess and love matter more than ever. This conversation was so special to me. If you've ever felt like an imposter, struggled with creative doubt, or just need a reminder that kindness is everything, this one's for you. 🎧 Come find me on socials 🎥 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCholAkQxEUI4McSu0sYF0NA) 📸 Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/losingtheplot.pod/) 🎵 TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@losingtheplotpodcastxx)