Defending Anna w/ Todd Spodek + Matt Byrne

For the last episode of the podcast, Stacey discusses Anna’s trial with her real life defense attorney, Todd Spodek. She also meets with Matt Byrne, who wrote the series finale, and who attended Anna’s trial as a representative from Shondaland and Netflix. 

Anna’s defense attorney, Todd Spodek weighs in on the portrayal of his complex and ever evolving relationship with Anna, and on what the case meant to him personally. Anna was a difficult client at times, but she could also be profoundly charming and sweet. Todd reflects on the side of Anna he saw that he says no one else did. No one else except perhaps his good friend Jessica Pressler (Vivian’s character is based on Jessica). He talks about their friendship, his thought process behind Anna’s defense, what he thinks of his portrayal by Arian Moayed, and more. 

Later in the episode, Matt Byrnes takes us inside the courtroom from his perspective, and reveals how the trial impacted the show’s ending. The trial was still ongoing as he and the rest of the writers were scripting the series. He gets into why they chose to make it a true story, “except for all the parts that are entirely made up,” and explains what his and Shonda’s intentions were behind the most crucial moments in the series and the finale.

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow Todd @ToddSpodek on Twitter, and host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor and podcaster Katie Lowes shares her unique casting experience and who she modeled the Rachel DeLoache Williams character off of. Katie tells behind the scenes stories from their time filming in Morocco, and the moment she believes everything changed between Rachel and Anna… it’s probably not what you’d expect. Stacey and Katie also discuss what it would be like owing tens of thousands of dollars, an experience with which Katie IRL is not entirely unfamiliar. 

Katie has been with Shondaland for years, most notably in the role of Quinn Perkins on Scandal. She gives a glimpse inside the legendary storymaking machine and offers some insights into what makes up the Shondaland special sauce, along with her own takeaways from Inventing Anna.

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Stacey talks fashion, character arcs, and process with critically acclaimed costume designer, Lyn Paolo. 

Much of Anna’s mystique comes from her ability to shapeshift, an ability intimately tied to her apparel. Lyn was in charge of recreating all of Anna’s many outfits for the screen. From baby-doll dress to business-chic to trial style, Lyn traces the evolution of Anna’s looks, and explains the unique challenges behind recreating the appearance of a modern day fashionista who Lyn calls a “chameleon.” 

Anna isn’t the only character whose story is reflected in what they wear. The people who get close to Anna in the series are affected by her elevated taste as well. Stacey and Lyn discuss the interaction between character arcs and fashion for Vivian, Rachel, and Alan Reed. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow Lyn @lynpaolo and host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stacey hangs out in Scriberia with Anna Deveare Smith (Maud), Jeff Perry (Lou), and Terry Kinney (Barry). 

These three legends of the theater world share about their experience working together on screen for the first time, an experience Anna compares to a jazz trio improvising. They certainly have amazing chemistry and have been warmly received by fans, many of whom claim Scriberia as their favorite part of the show.

We’ll delve deep into how they constructed their characters, key Scriberia moments from the show, the importance of journalism and the written word, and their feelings about Anna Delvey and the impact of the series. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna’s former trainer and life coach Kacy Duke divulges what was really behind her hesitation to be in Jessica Pressler’s article, which episode was hardest to watch, and what her entanglement with Anna inspired in her own work as a life coach. She gives the scoop on what the Morocco trip and Anna’s intervention were really like and how her lived experience compares to the show. Expect lots of laughs as Kacy lives up to her “effervescent” reputation (according to Laverne Cox) and delivers some delightfully on-brand inspirational mantras. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow Kacy Duke @KacyDuke and host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode, Laverne shares how she stepped into the (tennis) shoes of Anna Delvey’s trainer and life coach, Kacy Duke. Laverne has all kinds of fun stories to tell about how she prepared for the role, like how she had to digitize Kacy’s old fitness workout VHS tapes, and her four hour lunch with Kacy in New York. During that lunch, Kacy told Laverne her entire life story and Laverne found out that they actually have a surprising amount in common, primarily that they are both bad b*****s!! But also that they both have a strong connection to something larger than themselves.  

Stacey and Laverne dig into key Kacy-moments from the show and explore Kacy’s relationship with Anna, Rachel, and Neff. Centered around the series, Laverne explores themes of feminism and solidarity among women. She reflects on Kacy’s life and shares how this role has changed her. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow Laverne Cox @lavernecox and host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features a conversation with the real Neff Davis, the hotel concierge who befriended Anna Delvey.  

Neff was loyal to Anna throughout the turmoil of her arrest and trial, going so far as to create an Instagram account for Anna’s “trial style.” In this interview, she shares what her thought process was behind creating that account, what it’s been like being a part of the Shondaland production, and so much more. 

Neff and Stacey discuss Neff’s experiences with the fake heiress by reflecting on specific scenes from the show. Neff is still in touch with Anna and she sets the record straight about the nature of their friendship. Finally, Neff shares about her own aspirations as an aspiring filmmaker and where her life is headed now. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creator Shonda Rhimes and journalist Jessica Pressler chat about their collaboration and deep investment in Anna’s story. Jessica shares her perspective on Shonda’s adaptation and the depiction of the fictionalized version of herself as “Vivian Kent.” They both recount memorable moments of discovery and how each connects to key story points in the show.

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Check out Jessica’s new book, Bad Influence (money, lies, power, and the world that created Anna Delvey), out now. 

Follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexis Floyd shares the unique bond and parallels she shared with the real-life Neff, the kind of sisterhood displayed between Neff and Anna on screen, and the importance of being an archaeologist when you are listening to the story of others. She and Stacey dig into specific scenes, especially from episode 5 (Neff’s episode), and offer unique takes on the role of race and class in the series. 

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow Alexis Floyd @alexisgfloyd on Instagram and Twitter, and follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Series star and Emmy-nominee Anna Chlumsky chats about what attracted her to this story, embodying journalist “Vivian Kent,” and her character’s evolution through the series. 

Stacy and Anna break down key moments from the show and Anna shares why she’s always admired and been intimidated by the profession of journalism. Anna offers some powerful takeaways from the series from the perspective of her character, Vivian.  

To catch up before you listen, make sure you binge Inventing Anna the series on Netflix now. 

Please rate, review, subscribe and share Inventing Anna: The Official Podcast with everyone you know. 

Follow host Stacey Wilson Hunt @galinhollywood on Instagram and Twitter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.