What it Takes to Tell Award Winning Stories with Amy Chozick
July 24, 2026 · 43 min
Why listen
Amy Chozick went from the NYT campaign trail to HBO and fiction, and explains exactly how she did it.
Enjoy the episode?
Subscribe to 10 Seconds To Air
In this episode
- How political reporting trained her eye for complex, human storytelling
- What she learned from time with Clinton, Holmes, Daniels, and Sanchez
- Why she left journalism to write fiction and adapt her own work for TV
- How curiosity and empathy shape stories that go beyond the headline
About this episode
What does it take to tell stories that capture both the truth and the humanity behind the headlines?
In this episode of 10 Seconds to Air, Alita Guillen sits down with award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and screenwriter Amy Chozick to discuss her journey from covering presidential campaigns for The New York Times to creating HBO Max's The Girls on the Bus and writing her debut fiction novel, With Friends Like You.
Amy shares how years of political reporting shaped her approach to storytelling, why she was drawn to writing about complicated women, and what she learned from spending time with public figures including Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Holmes, Stormy Daniels, and Lauren Sánchez. She also reflects on making the leap from journalism to fiction, adapting her own work for television, and why curiosity and empathy are essential to telling meaningful stories.
From campaign buses and newsroom deadlines to Hollywood writers' rooms and bestselling novels, this conversation explores the power of storytelling, the value of looking beyond the headline, and how the best stories often live in the gray areas.
Whether you're a writer, journalist, or simply fascinated by the people behind the stories, this episode offers an insightful look at creativity, resilience, and finding your own voice.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amychozick/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/10secondstoair/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alitaguillen/
Web: https://www.alitaguillen.com/
Web: https://www.10secondstoair.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About 10 Seconds To Air
We are constantly communicating. How well we do it has a significant impact on our success and happiness. From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, we are sending emails and texts, giving presentations, talking to loved ones and co-workers, and interacting with our surroundings.
See all episodes →
