Todd Lieberman: From the Midwest Stage to Hollywood Screens
Wed Dec 17 2025
Before the credits, the awards, and the studio deals, Todd Lieberman was a kid in the Midwest stepping onto a stage for the first time, holding his script in his hand and hoping he wouldn’t forget his lines. That early moment of storytelling lit something that never left him.
Todd didn’t set out to build a Hollywood empire. He followed instinct. From community theater to Los Angeles, from acting auditions to producing, he learned that his real strength wasn’t being in front of the camera, but recognizing talent, bringing the right people together, and creating stories that leave a lasting emotional mark.
Along the way, Todd became the producer behind some of the most memorable films of the last two decades, including The Fighter, Wonder, The Proposal, Beauty and the Beast, and his latest project, The Housemaid, hitting theaters December 19. Each chapter of his career reflects reinvention, curiosity, and a commitment to making audiences feel something when the lights come back on.
In this episode, Todd shares how instinct shaped his path, why producing is more jazz than rulebook, and how evolving with the industry has been just as important as early success.
In this episode, we talk about:
The childhood moment that sparked a lifelong obsession with storytelling Why instinct matters more than titles or long term plans How reinvention kept him relevant long after Oscars and Emmys What it means to build films around people, not ego Why the best stories leave a residual feeling long after they end🎧 Listen to learn how trusting your instincts, staying curious, and putting people first can turn a Midwest stage into Hollywood screens.
#TheHustleByHanna
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Before the credits, the awards, and the studio deals, Todd Lieberman was a kid in the Midwest stepping onto a stage for the first time, holding his script in his hand and hoping he wouldn’t forget his lines. That early moment of storytelling lit something that never left him. Todd didn’t set out to build a Hollywood empire. He followed instinct. From community theater to Los Angeles, from acting auditions to producing, he learned that his real strength wasn’t being in front of the camera, but recognizing talent, bringing the right people together, and creating stories that leave a lasting emotional mark. Along the way, Todd became the producer behind some of the most memorable films of the last two decades, including The Fighter, Wonder, The Proposal, Beauty and the Beast, and his latest project, The Housemaid, hitting theaters December 19. Each chapter of his career reflects reinvention, curiosity, and a commitment to making audiences feel something when the lights come back on. In this episode, Todd shares how instinct shaped his path, why producing is more jazz than rulebook, and how evolving with the industry has been just as important as early success. In this episode, we talk about: The childhood moment that sparked a lifelong obsession with storytelling Why instinct matters more than titles or long term plans How reinvention kept him relevant long after Oscars and Emmys What it means to build films around people, not ego Why the best stories leave a residual feeling long after they end🎧 Listen to learn how trusting your instincts, staying curious, and putting people first can turn a Midwest stage into Hollywood screens. #TheHustleByHanna