In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Sandhya Hermon — an award-winning screenwriter and former research psychologist — to explore how a second career in storytelling can emerge from lived experience, global identity, and persistence.

Sandhya shares her journey from earning a doctorate in psychology to pursuing an MFA in screenwriting at UT Austin, and how her scripts have gone on to place at top competitions including Austin Film Festival, PAGE Awards, BlueCat, Nichols Fellowship, and more.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🧠 Transitioning from psychology to screenwriting later in life
• ✍️ How life experience strengthens character and theme
• 🏆 Navigating screenwriting fellowships, contests, and labs
• 📚 The difference between fellowships, competitions, and coverage
• 🌍 Writing culturally specific stories with universal appeal
• 🎬 Why global and diaspora stories are gaining traction
• 🐕 Turning personal memory into an animated short
• 🧩 Developing a sustainable writing process and slate
• 🎥 Breaking into the industry without traditional connections
• 💡 Why community and mentorship matter for emerging writers

Sandhya also discusses her feature scripts set in India, her latest project Once Upon a Time in Bombay, the realities of today’s screenwriting market, and why streaming platforms have opened new doors for diverse voices and international stories.

In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Arden Theresa Lewis — Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker, playwright, and former educator — for a powerful conversation about creative reinvention, historical storytelling, and why it’s never too late to make meaningful work.

Arden shares the eight-year journey behind her Daytime Emmy Award–winning documentary Leveling Lincoln, a film that explores school integration in the North and the hidden history of systemic inequality. What began as a learning experience became her film school — proving that passion, persistence, and purpose can outperform traditional industry paths.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🏆 How Leveling Lincoln won a Daytime Emmy after an eight-year production
• 🎓 Transitioning from teaching to professional filmmaking later in life
• 📱 Why story matters more than gear — and how a phone can start a film career
• 🎥 Learning documentary filmmaking while making the documentary
• 🧠 Using history to humanize modern social issues
• 🌍 Her next documentary on WWII civilian prison camps in the Philippines
• 🎭 Blending documentary, theater, and narrative storytelling
• 🎬 Turning stage work into potential film and TV projects
• 💡 Advice for creatives afraid to start because they feel “too late”
• ❤️ Why creativity is rooted in reconnecting with the inner child

Arden also discusses her current stage production Cassatt at Theater West in Hollywood, her upcoming documentary currently filming overseas, and how hybrid creators can build sustainable creative lives across multiple mediums.

In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Linda Arroz — lifestyle writer, speaker, advisor, former plus-size spokesmodel, and media strategist — for a wide-ranging conversation on reinvention, branding, and storytelling in today’s entertainment landscape.

Linda shares her unconventional journey from working at General Motors to becoming a nationally recognized fashion and media authority, styling hundreds of TV shows and commercials, appearing on major networks, publishing books, and now developing podcasts and documentaries at the intersection of media, technology, and culture.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🎥 How to break into media and entertainment without a traditional path
• 🧠 Why storytelling and communication skills matter more than credentials
• 👗 Branding yourself like an influencer — lessons filmmakers can apply
• 📣 Why filmmakers must market themselves, not just their films
• 📚 Turning expertise into books, speaking, and multi-platform projects
• 🎙️ Developing podcasts as IP for future documentaries and films
• 🤖 Technology, blockchain, and AI as tools for modern creators
• 🎬 Building visibility through Q&As, public appearances, and media
• 🌱 The power of mentorship, adaptability, and lifelong reinvention

Linda also discusses her current work developing narrative-driven podcasts, including true crime and documentary projects, and why creators must evolve their skill sets to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry.

This episode is essential listening for filmmakers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and women in media looking to build sustainable careers by combining storytelling, branding, and strategic visibility.