We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tanisha Quilter-williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanisha, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do?
I started learning to write by reading books in the library. While in college, I picked up books about writing and screenwriting, which sparked my passion for the craft. Eventually, I connected with other screenwriters, like Takashi Bufford, who wrote Set It Off. He became a mentor and provided invaluable guidance and tools for honing my skills.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
Looking back, I’m not sure if there was a way to significantly speed up my learning process. Most of my growth came from actively seeking out information, doing research, and consistently writing. I believe the journey of putting pen to paper was essential for me, and each step was part of that learning curve.

What skills do you think were most essential?
The most essential skill was learning how to tell a story. In the beginning, it all came down to outlining. While I was often eager to dive straight into writing, I eventually realized that starting with a solid, complete outline made the process smoother and more effective.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
One major obstacle was the challenge of survival. Moving to a new city, especially Hollywood, brought its own set of difficulties. Navigating relationships and figuring out who truly had genuine intentions was tough. Additionally, I often found myself influenced by others’ opinions about what I should be doing, which led me in different directions. Ultimately, I always returned to writing, and it taught me the importance of staying focused on my goals and trusting my instincts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell readers about yourself, how you got into podcasting, and what type of creative works you provide?

When I moved to California, writing was my main focus. I wanted to get my foot in the door, but it was a challenge. Over the years, I experienced small successes in writing, but eventually transitioned into journalism. I became a Senior Entertainment Reporter for US Weekly magazine and worked with Inside Edition, E! Entertainment, and other outlets. However, despite those achievements, I didn’t feel fully satisfied with what I was doing, and I always found myself coming back to writing.

Ironically, one afternoon I attended a seminar and bumped into a gentleman named Jorg, who introduced me to podcasting. At the time, I had never even listened to a podcast. Two years later, I was reflecting on how I could get my work seen or heard and remembered that conversation. I began researching podcasting and decided to create my own. I had written a television pilot about three women in their 40s, navigating their lives and picking up the pieces their thirties left behind, and decided to turn it into a podcast in 2020. It became a proof of concept for my writing and storytelling and I recieved the feedback I was hoping for.

Forties AF was chosen to participate in Gotham Pitch Week in 2021, was nominated for Best Fiction Podcast by the Podcast Awards People’s Choice, and has gained more than 180,000 downloads—all without any marketing or ad dollars behind it. Seeing the loyal and engaged audience we’ve built, I launched Tangible Films Presents, my podcast production company, to give listeners premium narrative storytelling in the world of podcasts and podcast films.

My goal is to offer introspective, entertaining, and thought-provoking content across every genre. With Season 3 of Forties AF, we’ll be expanding into new genres. In addition to our podcast series, I’m excited to introduce “pod films”—podcast versions of films I’ve written. These will be structured like movies, but delivered in audio format.

I’m proud to share my talents and stories with an audience that truly embraces them. It’s a great feeling to make people laugh, reflect, and simply enjoy a moment of escape. The support from my Forties AF family is incredible—they’re always emailing me, asking about new seasons, following up on characters, and wanting more. It’s a wonderful sign that they’re excited and engaged. I’m thrilled to have them along for this journey as Tangible Films Presents continues to grow. I can’t wait to bring Season 3 to them in Winter 2025!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve always believed in the importance of reinventing yourself every decade. The world around us changes so quickly, and sometimes you have to reevaluate what you’re working on and how you’re approaching it. My latest pivot has been the launch of Tangible Films Presents. I’ve been writing consistently and have an arsenal of screenplays, television scripts, ideas, and outlines, but the entertainment industry has shifted so much that the traditional way of doing things no longer works.

I’ve never had the luxury of focusing solely on writing. I’ve always balanced other careers, which made some of my pivots more challenging. But this time, pivoting into podcasting feels right. With podcasting at its height, it’s the perfect opportunity to get my work out there. I’m excited to share my writing with a broader audience, and who knows? Maybe the right producer, director, or executive will notice it—someone I couldn’t previously get in front of. As a creative, or in any industry, knowing when to pivot and embracing that change is essential.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’m a big advocate for continuous learning. I’ve always loved libraries, and now with the internet, we have a massive digital library at our fingertips. I believe that if there’s something you don’t know, you can find the answer. Some books that have significantly influenced me are Think and Grow Rich, The Alchemist, Power, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I’m also a fan of documentaries of all kinds; they inspire and provide a wealth of knowledge in unexpected ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tangiblefilmspresents.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangiblefilmspresents/?hl=en#
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortiesafpodcast
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClYd_XCPXtD3S87Q3tsPUxw/featured
• Other: Pae

Image Credits

Tangible Films Presents