John and Craig wring their hands and ask, how do you make sure the person you’re hiring isn’t a monster? They look at best practices for vetting colleagues, sussing out problematic people, and managing your own emotions when you’re the person with power.

We also discuss writing for non-native English speakers, using three examples to illustrate the importance of syntax, musicality and authenticity. But first, we answer listener questions on giving notes and kids playing D&D.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we spill the kool-aid on our fears and fascinations with cults.

Links:

• Strands from the New York Times
• Anatomy of a Fall – Clip
• Past Lives by Celine Song
• Irma Vep – Clip
• Is This Hollywood’s #MeanToo Moment? by David Mack for Slate
• How to play Dungeons and Dragons for kids
• RuPaul Doesn’t See How That’s Any of Your Business by Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker
• Recursion – Glitch Games
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
• John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter
• John on Mastodon
• Outro by Eric Pearson (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.