Welcome to Second lifea podcast that highlights successful women who have made big career changes – and mastered the transition fearlessly. In each episode, hosted by Hillary Kerr, co-founder and chief content officer at Who What Wear, you have a direct line to women who are making groundbreaking changes in their field. Subscribe Second life To Apple Podcasts, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts to stay up to date.
Emmy-nominated showrunner and critically acclaimed comedy writer Meredith Scardino has always had a love for storytelling. As the youngest child in her family, Scardino had a vivid imagination, nurtured by drawing lessons and a deep passion for comedy. In fact, she saw Saturday Night Live She grew up with religious ideas and ultimately inspired her later career.
Scardino attended Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, then moved to New York City to pursue an MFA in painting at the Parsons School of Design. Immersing herself in New York’s vibrant cultural scene, Scardino expanded her creative horizons. She explored the world of animation, which became a turning point when she discovered her true passion lay in writing rather than visual storytelling.
Scardino shifted her focus from the artistic side of the industry to comedy writing, where she landed coveted positions at VH1. Best week ever, Late Show with David Lettermanand finally The Colbert Report for six years. Each of these experiences deepened her understanding of the intricacies of comedic timing, sharp wit and the nuances of writing for different formats. In 2014, Scardino took a bold step into narrative television, working with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock on the popular – and incredibly funny – Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. While working on the show during its four seasons, she began to imagine what her own show would look like, which led her to Girl5evaa comedy series that combines her comedic skills with her personal experiences as a woman in her 40s. Inspired by her love of early 2000s pop groups, the show was a perfect outlet for her unique comedic voice.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Scardino)
Over the last four years, Scardino Girl5eva through numerous challenges, including the platform change to Netflix for season three. Through it all, she has maintained the show’s rapid-fire witty pace and its distinctive, lovable characters. Her dedication and talent culminated this summer in a nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, a testament to her remarkable journey in the world of television comedy. Listen to the latest episode of Second life to find out how Scardino continues to develop her career in the industry while staying inspired to create.
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