Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How does a 3-time Emmy winner create the most psychologically complex characters in TV history? Join me and legendary showrunner Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street) as we deconstruct the creative process, storytelling, and the human psyche.
In this episode, we dive deep into the "Origin Story" of a master storyteller. Tom shares his unique 3-part framework for building three-dimensional characters and explains why everyone has a story they are dying to tell—if only someone would ask.
If you’ve ever felt "stuck" in your creative journey or want to understand the moral complexity behind groundbreaking dramas like Netflix’s Borgia or Saint Elsewhere, this conversation is for you. We explore:
✨The psychology of "messy" human behavior.
✨How to stay inspired in a 24-hour bad news cycle.
✨Why vulnerability and research are the keys to authentic storytelling.
Find Tom at:
tomfontana.substack.com
📚 Too Much Book: hfcbook.com
📩 Newsletter: terricole.com/newsletter
🔑 Ready to build healthier relationships? Join: terricole.com/tcm
Time Stamps
00:00 - Introducing Emmy-winning writer Tom Fontana
02:45 - Tom’s "Origin Story": From a Sicilian family to Hollywood
04:55 - Why we are drawn to the "messy" side of human nature
06:40 - Can television hold morally gray stories?
09:15 - The 3 Questions Tom asks to create a character
12:10 - Researching Oz: Talking to prisoners and guards
14:30 - The power of asking: "Everyone has a story"
16:15 - Does storytelling help us understand ourselves?
19:10 - How the TV industry has changed since the 90s
25:30 - The collaborative process on a TV set
28:15 - Why Tom Fontana started a Substack
32:00 - A special tribute to Anne Sexton’s poetry
If You Enjoyed This, Watch These Videos
youtu.be/0dTvWrmOhd8 - Adult Friendships | The Truth About Making Friends After 40 (A Therapist Explains)
youtu.be/zU2cQkItN0g - Why Empaths and HSP Highly Sensitive People Are Constantly Exhausted
youtu.be/0mGQ0j6wh8c - Simple, Grounded Responses That Stop Invasive Questions Instantly
youtu.be/ARwE_fRkmJk - Instead of Getting Defensive Say This | Effective Communication
🪔 Meditate with me: insighttimer.com/terricole
📸 Instagram: terricole.com/ig
About Terri Cole
Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, global relationship and empowerment expert, and the author of Boundary Boss-The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen and (Finally) Live Free, The Boundary Boss Workbook, and Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency.
For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs.
She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. For more, see terricole.com
BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/terricole
I’m not currently taking any new one-on-one therapy or coaching clients, but highly recommend using BetterHelp to find a therapist that fits your needs. As a team, we have fully vetted BetterHelp's resources.
terricole.com/gethelp -- If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger, the resources on this page can provide you with immediate help.
Please note: If you choose to sign up for BetterHelp or Insight Timer or buy through my Amazon links, I will receive a commission. Please know that I only recommend services and products that I know & trust.
#creativeprocess #storytellingtips #storytelling #writingtips #characterdevelopment
How does a 3-time Emmy winner create the most psychologically complex characters in TV history? Join me and legendary showrunner Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street) as we deconstruct the creative process, storytelling, and the human psyche.
In this episode, we dive deep into the "Origin Story" of a master storyteller. Tom shares his unique 3-part framework for building three-dimensional characters and explains why everyone has a story they are dying to tell—if only someone would ask.
If you’ve ever felt "stuck" in your creative journey or want to understand the moral complexity behind groundbreaking dramas like Netflix’s Borgia or Saint Elsewhere, this conversation is for you. We explore:
✨The psychology of "messy" human behavior.
✨How to stay inspired in a 24-hour bad news cycle.
✨Why vulnerability and research are the keys to authentic storytelling.
Find Tom at:
tomfontana.substack.com
📚 Too Much Book: hfcbook.com
📩 Newsletter: terricole.com/newsletter
🔑 Ready to build healthier relationships? Join: terricole.com/tcm
Time Stamps
00:00 - Introducing Emmy-winning writer Tom Fontana
02:45 - Tom’s "Origin Story": From a Sicilian family to Hollywood
04:55 - Why we are drawn to the "messy" side of human nature
06:40 - Can television hold morally gray stories?
09:15 - The 3 Questions Tom asks to create a character
12:10 - Researching Oz: Talking to prisoners and guards
14:30 - The power of asking: "Everyone has a story"
16:15 - Does storytelling help us understand ourselves?
19:10 - How the TV industry has changed since the 90s
25:30 - The collaborative process on a TV set
28:15 - Why Tom Fontana started a Substack
32:00 - A special tribute to Anne Sexton’s poetry
If You Enjoyed This, Watch These Videos
youtu.be/0dTvWrmOhd8 - Adult Friendships | The Truth About Making Friends After 40 (A Therapist Explains)
youtu.be/zU2cQkItN0g - Why Empaths and HSP Highly Sensitive People Are Constantly Exhausted
youtu.be/0mGQ0j6wh8c - Simple, Grounded Responses That Stop Invasive Questions Instantly
youtu.be/ARwE_fRkmJk - Instead of Getting Defensive Say This | Effective Communication
🪔 Meditate with me: insighttimer.com/terricole
📸 Instagram: terricole.com/ig
About Terri Cole
Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, global relationship and empowerment expert, and the author of Boundary Boss-The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen and (Finally) Live Free, The Boundary Boss Workbook, and Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency.
For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs.
She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. For more, see terricole.com
BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/terricole
I’m not currently taking any new one-on-one therapy or coaching clients, but highly recommend using BetterHelp to find a therapist that fits your needs. As a team, we have fully vetted BetterHelp's resources.
terricole.com/gethelp -- If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger, the resources on this page can provide you with immediate help.
Please note: If you choose to sign up for BetterHelp or Insight Timer or buy through my Amazon links, I will receive a commission. Please know that I only recommend services and products that I know & trust.
#creativeprocess #storytellingtips #storytelling #writingtips #characterdevelopment
