The Unscripted Files with Madelyn Cunningham
The Unscripted Files with Madelyn Cunningham
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Unscripted Files—a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the world of unscripted entertainment. Hosted by development producer Madelyn Cunningham, this series celebrates the talent and ingenuity behind some of your favorite reality TV and unscripted shows. From early industry breakthroughs to behind-the-scenes challenges, we explore the untold stories of the creators, producers, and talent shaping pop culture. It’s a rare, insider look designed to inspire aspiring professionals, entertain curious fans, and reveal the human side of television’s most dynamic genre. Whether you're in the industry or simply love great stories, tune in for conversations that are as candid and compelling as the shows themselves.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes of reality television production, including behind-the-scenes stories, casting challenges, and the creative process. Episodes feature discussions on iconic shows like Chopped, Southern Charm, and America's Next Top Model, exploring topics such as the importance of storytelling, character chemistry, and the evolving landscape of unscripted content.

Welcome to The Unscripted Files—a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the world of unscripted entertainment. Hosted by development producer Madelyn Cunningham, this series celebrates the talent and ingenuity behind some of your favorite reality TV and unscripted shows. From early industry breakthroughs to behind-the-scenes challenges, we explore the untold stories of the creators, producers, and talent shaping pop culture. It’s a rare, insider look designed to inspire aspiring professionals, entertain curious fans, and reveal the human side of television’s most dynamic genre. Whether you’re in the industry or simply love great stories, tune in for conversations that are as candid and compelling as the shows themselves.
Cyle Zezo discusses his journey from working at the CW to founding Reality of Change, an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in unscripted television. He shares insights on the industry's response to sustainability, the importance of integrating eco-friendly practices into programming, and the challenges faced in production. Cyle emphasizes the need for collective action and the role of storytelling in engaging audiences on climate issues. He outlines the three pillars of the pledge that production companies can adopt and highlights the significance of collaboration and innovation in creating a sustainable future for the entertainment industry.
Special Guest: Cyle Zezo .
Links:
- Reality of Change — Reality of Change works to support sustainability efforts across the entertainment industry.
Our English-language work is focused on unscripted entertainment, and our team is made up entirely of individuals from the business.
We provide tools, resources and services to help surface environmental sustainability on-screen, and work with partners to sharpen and adapt tools for making production practices more sustainable.
- Take The Pledge! — Our mission is to lead the unscripted industry in addressing climate change by incorporating sustainability into our content, promoting environmentally responsible production practices, and inspiring collaboration across the industry to build a more informed and engaged global audience.
- Follow Cyle on LinkedIn

Disclaimer
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