S16:E19: Scene Structure and Transitions in B...

When we talk about story structure, we usually jump straight to acts, beats, and turning points. But beneath all of that is a deeper question: what is the shape of story itself? In this episode, I explore why I've always taught structure in four quarters—long before I ever called ...  Show more

What does it mean to think of story as cosmology? In this episode, I explore story not as entertainment or belief, but as a deeper framework for meaning—one that helps humans understand change, transformation, and lived experience. When I talk about story as cosmology, I'm pointi ...  Show more

Ashaya and Aziz delve into the humor and background of Stannis Baratheon, our pick for the funniest character in the series. Listening to this episode will not cause the loss of any fingertips, and we will swear to that, but we cannot be held responsible for any shadow-baby re ...

I recently came across a clip on YouTube where author Brandon Sanderson and his podcast guest Dan Well were discussing Voldemort’s character. Aaand things got pretty controversial pretty quickly, as shortly after posing the question, “Is he a good character?”—they both came to th ...  Show more

I. Me. My. You. He. She. They. It. To. Of. For. These are all words we use without a second thought. But psychologist James Pennebaker says if we pay close attention to the patterns in speech and writing, ...

In this episode, Hilde Lynn Helphenstein and Magnus Resch discuss the beautiful nebulous of what it feels like to truly love and connect with artists which in turn can amalgamate into a real, meaningful art collection.