Prose Society with Eli Rallo

Zoe Kazan on Adapting East of Eden, Family Legacy, and the Art of Letting Go

October 7, 2026·40 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Actress, screenwriter, and playwright Zoe Kazan joins this episode of Prose Society to discuss her Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden — a project six years in the making. Zoe shares her approach to adaptation, why she centered the anti-hero Cathy Ames (played by Florence Pugh), and what it meant to carry forward a story her own grandfather adapted for the screen in 1955. She also opens up about the personal identities — mother, sister, daughter — that shaped her writing, the casting process behind the series' star-studded ensemble, and why she believes adaptation is an advanced form of reading. Plus, rapid-fire recommendations spanning Toni Morrison to Stephen King. Follow Zoe! @Zoe.Kazan New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now to join the group chat. See you between the pages!  Keep up to date! Follow our socials: @Eli.Rallo | @ProseSocietyPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Prose Society with Eli Rallo and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.