For the season finale of Rough Draft, we’re welcoming poet Robin Coste Lewis. Robin’s blazing intellect and pitch-perfect way with words are no shocker. Her debut poetry collection Voyage of the Sable Venus won the National Book Award in poetry in 2015, the first time a debut collection by an African-American had won the prize (and the first time a debut had won since 1974). She brings it all in this conversation that touches on growing up in Compton and New Orleans, removing the “I” from her writing, and pursuing beauty. Featuring guest poetry performances from Marquesha Babers and Monique Mitchell! Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Robin Coste Lewis @robincostelewis Follow Marquesha Babers @LADI3LYRIX Follow Monique Mitchell @mnqmtchll Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikel Jollett’s memoir Hollywood Park isn’t your typical rock star memoir. The frontman for The Airborne Toxic Event joins Reza for a socially-distanced chat about his genre-defying, rule-breaking book. They discuss Mikel’s childhood in the infamous Synanon cult, the difference between writing a book and writing a song, and Mikel’s love for boundary-pushing memoirs. There’s also a special acoustic performance of his song “Come On Out”! Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. This talk was originally presented by the 92nd Street Y. Follow Mikel Jollett @Mikel_Jollett Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melissa Rosenberg has written some of the most successful, resonant scripts of the last two decades, from Dexter to Twilight to Jessica Jones. She and Reza chat about finding her own perspective on the Twilight saga, wrapping up Jessica Jones, and navigating harassment in Hollywood. They also play “Team Bella or Team Jessica”! Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Melissa Rosenberg @tallgirlmel Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Canals, the creator of FX’s award-winning show Pose, speaks with Reza about his journey to get the show made. They touch on finding community in Paris Is Burning, framing Pose as a family drama, and writing a show that is fantastical but not a fantasy.Featuring a special guest performance from the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles! Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Steven Canals @StevenCanals Follow the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles @TransChorusLA Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, screenwriter, and all-around awesome person Bess Kalb joins Reza for a socially-distanced chat about her book Nobody Will Tell You This But Me. They talk about diversifying late-night comedy, the similarities between Jewish grandmothers and Persian mothers, and how writing in her grandmother’s voice gave Bess a new understanding of her mom and grandma. Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. This talk was originally presented by the 92nd Street Y. Follow Bess @bessbell Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sensational Vic Mensa sits down with Reza this week. The two talk Vic’s politically aware childhood, the search for freedom, and the power of mythology. Then, Johan Lenox joins the chat to talk collaborating with Vic on their album 93PUNX. Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Vic Mensa @vicmensa Follow Johan Lenox @johanlenox Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incredible writers and showrunners Gloria Calderón Kellett (One Day at a Time) and Tanya Saracho (Vida) join Reza for a lively discussion about their careers and ethos. They discuss starting out in theatre, remaking a writer’s room from scratch, the importance of representation on and off camera, and the utter perfection of When Harry Met Sally. Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Gloria Calderón Kellett @everythingloria Follow Tanya Saracho @TanyaSaracho Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawrence Wright, the author of Going Clear and The Looming Tower, joins Reza for the first ever socially-distanced episode of Rough Draft. They talk about his eerily accurate prediction of the COVID-19 crisis in his new book The End of October, swap Church of Scientology stories, and explore Lawrence’s focus on the “donkey character.” Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. This talk was originally presented by the 92nd Street Y. Follow Lawrence Wright @lawrence_wright Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.comFor transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the writing team behind the mega-blockbuster Marvel Avengers movies, drop by to talk about writing the Biggest Movie of All Time (adjusted for inflation). They share their experience writing meta Baywatch spec scripts and balancing 20+ protagonists in The Avengers. Reza quizzes them in “God or Superhero,” and they debate the religious resonance of modern superhero movies. Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan. Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viet Thanh Nguyen, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Sympathizer talks with Reza about growing up in San Jose, identifying as a refugee writer, and learning to write for himself. Thao Nguyen (from Thao and the Get Down Stay Down) joins them to talk about the internal Orient/Occident divide, and then she plays her song “Age of Ice.” Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Viet Thanh Nguyen @viet_t_nguyen Follow Thao Nguyen @thaogetstaydown Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series. Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg. Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V. Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reza and Ramy Youssef, the Golden-Globe-winning actor/creator of Hulu’s Ramy, chat about being the representative for all muslims on TV and swap immigrant mother stories. Later, they’re joined by Ramy staff writer Sahar Jahani to discuss diverse perspectives within the Muslim community. With special musical guest El Ten Eleven!Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial. Follow Ramy Youssef @ramyFollow Sahar Jahani @sahar_jahani_Follow El Ten Eleven @ElTenElevenRough Draft is a Topic Original Series.  Hosted by Reza Aslan Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg.  Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V.  Twitter | @roughdraftreza Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan Follow Reza @rezaaslan Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have that friend - the one you stay up with all night, drinks in hand, dissecting the latest book or album you just can’t get enough of. Reza Aslan is that friend. Each week on Rough Draft, Reza sits down for drinks with the most influential writers working today. These irreverent, insightful conversations will have you feeling like you’re at the best cocktail party ever. Film, poetry, music - who knows where the conversation may end up?Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series hosted by Reza Aslan and produced by David Andreone and Topic Studios.Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on Apple TV at apple.co/topic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.