I met Diana Dru Botsford at Space City Con in Houston, Texas back in 2014. I invited her on Gratitude Geek for what I thought would be a quick interview about science fiction, and we walked away as fast friends.
Originally aired: April 14, 2014
This post has been updated and republished as part of rebuilding the Gratitude Geek podcast archive.
What started as a conversation about writing turned into something much deeper—we talked about evolution, education, and the power of stories to change how we see ourselves and each other.
Ten years later, we both live in Michigan. And when I was planning my 300th episode—a panel discussion on doing hard things—Diana was one of the first people I knew had to be part of it.
Because if there’s one thing this woman knows, it’s how to push forward when the industry, the world, or life itself pushes back.
And oh eh, here we are at Space City Con in 2014:
Revisiting this conversation reminds me that I started podcasting to learn from people who’ve walked difficult paths and come out the other side with wisdom worth sharing.
Meet Diana Dru Botsford
Diana Dru Botsford is a story consultant and writer/producer whose work includes creating and producing the critically acclaimed sci-fi web series “Epilogue” and serving as consulting producer on the comedy series “A Little Help.” She’s written for Star Trek: The Next Generation (the episode “Rascals”) and authored Stargate SG-1 novels “Four Dragons” and “The Drift.”
Diana founded the award-winning screenwriting program at Missouri State University, and her pursuit of great stories has taken her from Japan to Africa to Antarctica.
Connect with Diana Dru Botsford: dianabotsford.com
What This Episode Is About
Diana shares her journey from writing her first story at age five to navigating the glass ceiling in Hollywood and working in South Africa during the end of apartheid. She talks about the evolution of storytelling, the importance of deep point-of-view experiences, and why honesty matters more than politeness when giving creative feedback.
If you’re a writer, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to tell stories that matter, this conversation offers insight into what it takes to push forward when the industry pushes back.
🎧 Listen Now:
Key Takeaways
Stories help us make sense of our own journeys. Diana believes in deep point-of-view experiences because we follow protagonists to better understand ourselves.
Honest feedback is an act of respect. As a story consultant, Diana doesn’t sugarcoat. If your story needs work, she’ll tell you, because that’s what she’d want as a fellow writer.
Push forward despite the ISMs. Diana has hit the glass ceiling multiple times and witnessed horrific racism while producing in South Africa during apartheid. Her response? Write stories that perpetuate the belief that we’re all people first, gender or race second.
Your biggest challenge reveals your purpose. Diana’s hardest moment was losing her father, her mentor and best friend. It forced her to find her own voice and move forward anyway.
Episode Highlights
Choosing to write: “I’ve always gravitated toward anything having to do with storytelling. Wrote my first story when I was five.”
Overcoming obstacles: “Writing stories that help perpetuate the belief that we are all people first, and our gender or race second.”
Moving forward after loss: Diana describes losing her father as the hardest thing she’s ever done, yet she continues to honor his legacy through her work.
Networking and persistence: Her three tips for anyone starting in the industry? Push forward. Believe in yourself. Network like mad.
Resources Mentioned
- Diana’s writing workshops
- Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Rascals“
- Stargate SG-1 novels by Diana Botsford
- The sci-fi web series “Epilogue“
Your Turn
What story are you trying to tell that feels too hard, too personal, or too risky? Diana’s journey proves that the stories we’re most afraid to tell are often the ones that matter most.
Drop a comment below or share your thoughts on Instagram or LinkedIn. I’d love to hear from you.
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Stay Groovy!
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