Side Track 5 - Interview with Donald Merriman

Hello, all! A brief, unexpected Side Track here. I had the pleasure to sit down with Donald Merriman for a short interview. If you've never heard of him, he's a self-proclaimed "Christmas Crusader" and quite an interesting fellow. I'm sure you'll enjoy what he has to say. Have a listen.

And Merry Christmas!

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Episode 24 - Lest Other Old Stories Be Forgot

Merry Christmas! It's that time of year again when Tim and Nick spend time looking back, this time at stories that affect us differently now than previously. Listen as we wax nostalgic and consider how time changes tastes.

Then join us for discussion of a Christmas movie you've probably not seen, introduced by the world-traveling Brian Scherschel.

After all, you can't welcome a new year without at least one more episode of Derailed Trains of Thought!

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Psst...if you like Mazedude as much as I do, check this out. - Nick

Episode 23 - Lilliputian Plots

To be brief, this episode features Nick and Tim pondering the task of telling a short story. How do you break a story down to essentials?

They also perform live brainstorming. Listen in.

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Episode 22 - Fear As a Fun Factor

Ah, Halloween. This is that festive time of year when such cuddly, creepy, heart-warming, bone-chilling creatures as evil witches, blood-slurping vampires, rotting zombies, and gory chainsaw-wielding psychopaths grace the forefront of our popular culture. Why do people enjoy being scared? And what role does fear have in storytelling?

Nick and Tim are joined by frequent-contributor Brian Scherschel to tackle these questions and more. In this topsy-turvy episode, we begin with a Cinema Selections look at a classic 1955 thriller, and then move to discuss the appeal of the horror genre, the merits of suspense over surprise, and try to figure out what's the deal with this zombie craze anyway.

Whether you're a horror addict or someone who hides behind the couch at the appearance of a menacing trash can, you're sure to find today's discussion intriguing. Take a listen!

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Episode 21 - The Art of Fog

Having recovered from their EPIC anniversary episode, Tim and Nick set out to discover new realms of exploration. Along the way they realize, "Hey, it's pretty cool to keep finding new lands and creatures and characters and stuff." So they decided to discuss the art of discovery in fiction.

Joined by scholar and writer John Bahler, they delve into mysteries, gaze into unattainable vistas, and ponder the combining of two of their favorite subjects.

It's a new era for your favorite storytelling podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 20 - Everything But the Kitchen Sink

In honor of the podcast's first anniversary, we've sent our previous episode descriptions through the blender and come up with this:

Hello, there! Have we got an original for you! The perfect cure to your
sterotypical, connect-the-dots podcast!

This episode we turn to the always faithful supplier of conversation--Derailed Trains of Thought, which, coincidentally, is exactly the topic of this episode’s Story School.

Join us for a meaty discussion for the both creator and the audience that the San Francisco Herald-Tribune-Gazette calls, "Relentless. Ruthless. And all that brouhaha. Your intrepid and intriguing hosts, Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden, spawn their own subculture.”

Along the way, fanfiction writer Laura Fischer, resident YA book expert Natasha Hayden, Nathan Marchand, author of Pandora's Box, and Brian Scherschel jump in. Don't miss it!

We promised, we delivered this extra-long, wide-ranging episode of Derailed Trains of Thought!

It's not just a podcast, it's Podcast 20!

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Episode 19 - It's a Wocka, Wocka, Wocka World!

Everyone's a comedian...or are they? In the latest episode of Derailed Trains of Thought (your one and only (please?) storytelling podcast), Tim and Nick tackle the hard work of dissecting what makes the audience laugh. (It's a function of the lungs and/or stomach in 86.15% of cases.)

In the second half, we examine the science fiction German silent film "Metropolis" in Cinema Selections, proving that 80-year-old movies are still cool.

So take a listen and learn that the mediator between the head and the hands is the funny bone!*

*Obtuse joke to be found funny only after listening to the entire podcast. Maybe.


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Episode 18 - Epic Fail Like the Greats!

Ever had one of those days? Your father's been murdered by your uncle and you just don't know what to do. Your best friend's fallen down the stairs, broken his leg, gotten bone marrow in his blood, and died. And your crazy neighbor's crazy girlfriend just plummeted to her death because she saw a nun. (That's right, a nun.) Life's a tragedy, isn't it?

Death, disasters, and hollow victories focus this episode's discussion of the art of the tragedy. What makes a good "bad ending"? Is it more literary to make the audience depressed? What's the meaning of it all? Listen as Tim and Nick wrangle with these intriguing questions, as well as review the summer blockbusters, in the latest episode of Derailed Trains of Thought.


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Episode 17 - Magic, Muggles, and Morals

Witches, wizards, and warlocks--oh my! This episode Tim and Nick discuss whether the use of magic in fiction is the downfall of modern society. Join us for a meaty discussion of the pitfalls and potential of spells, enchantments, and Turkish Delight for the both creator and the audience.

Also, stay tuned for the premiere reading of Destroyer, a novella written by Nathan Marchand, Timothy Deal, and Natasha Hayden, all Derailed Trains contributors! It's another sensational hour of the podcast devoted to conversations on the art of storytelling.

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Episode 16 - Come, Let's Play a Story Together!

Admit it. Sometimes when you're reading a book, you wish you could jump in and spend some time in that world. This episode, Tim and Nick discuss formats in which you ARE the main character of a story—Choose Your Own Adventures, video games, and other forms of interactive fiction!

Also this episode, a very special Cinema Selections. Let's just say this: '80s fantasy meets German expressionism in a film Tim has been long overdue in experiencing. Was it worth the wait?

Find out in this extra-long, wide-ranging episode of Derailed Trains of Thought!


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Episode 15 - Nothing New Beneath the Sun

Have we got an original for you! What do you get when you mix 20+ minutes of philosophical merry-go-round on the need for creativity; some regular dashes of Star Wars and Jim Henson; a healthy dose of dead French author, serial killer-obsessed writer, and caped crusader; a teaspoon of environmentally conscious alien; a drop of Heineken for flavor; and some guy named Gorō? The perfect cure to your sterotypical, connect-the-dots podcast!

Or, at least, the 15th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, your favorite podcast about storytelling. Have a listen!

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Episode 14 - The Frolics and Freak-outs of Fandom

Trekkies, MSTies, Browncoats, Twi-hards, Gleeks, Whovians, Deleteheads.... How does a story spawn its own subculture? Fanfiction writer Laura Fischer joins us to discuss what drives fans to create new fiction, art, and communities about their favorite story universes.

Then stay tuned for a sample of Laura's fanfiction, Nick and Tim pitching one of their nerdiest ideas yet, and some sweet fandom-related music, of both the rocking and poignant variety. It's all here in the latest episode of Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 13 - How to Read a Story

Dr. Suess says you can read with your eyes shut, but we're not so sure. This episode we take a reader's viewpoint to discover what it takes to fully engage a story. Along the way, Tim shows off his film school terminology, Nick pulls out his "I've read Russian novels" card, and we attempt a defense of much-maligned movies.

Also, Brian Scherschel joins us again to introduce us to director John Ford and his western The Searchers. So, come on, give us a chance. Maybe you'll give that crazy foreign film a second look as well.

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Episode 12 - YA! A New Episode!

YA! Why are we so excited? Because everyone loves YA (young adult) books, and we have resident YA book expert Natasha Hayden with us this episode to discuss YA trends, explain why she enjoys YA books more than regular adult fiction, and give us her reading recommendations.

We're also excited because after MUCH DELAY, we're back! Take a break from your work-a-day world and listen in on discussions of movies foreign and domestic, listener responses on book/movie differences, and much more!


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Episode 11- Hate the Sin, Love the Villain

Relentless. Ruthless. Witty retorts. A rockin' theme song. Villains often captivate us with their acts of savagery and urbane smiles. Why do we love a good villain?

In this episode, Tim and Nick explore the lure of villainy, the idea of justice for antagonists, and what it means to have compassion for those characters we love to hate.

Time to ambush the villain's hideout. Sneak in and take a listen to a new (and long delayed) installment of Derailed Trains of Thought.


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Side Track 4 - Hitchcock!

We promised, we delivered! Here it is, the full Hitchcock interview with Brian Scherschel. We cut A LOT from the initial interview to fit into the regular podcast, so here's all 50 minutes of our discussion on Hitchcock, his methods, and his films, Notorious in particular. (Which, if you haven't watched yet, shame on you!)

So, delve into film history and get to know the one and only Hitchcock!

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Episode 10 - I Need a Hero!

Strong. Noble. Honest. The hero grips sword in hand, righteous and determined, and sets upon his quest to right the wrongs of the world. Will he succeed? And why do we care?

In our milestone 10th podcast, Tim and Nick discuss what makes a hero heroic, compare "perfect" and "flawed" heroes, allude numerous times to comic books and The Lord of the Rings, and discover some possible heroic pitfalls.

So, sheath your sword, grab some mead, and settle in for a new foray into Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Side Track 3 - Man

Hello, there! No new podcast this week, but we have A Bit of Story for you. This is a recording of one of Nick's flash fictions, "Man," read by the author. Tim gives a nice introduction so have a listen. Hopefully it'll tide over our legions of fans until the new podcast, which is coming soon.

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The Love-Life of Wallace P. Fitzgerald

Hi-ho, Timothy Deal here. Well, I missed my goal of posting this in time for Valentine's Day, but hopefully people are still in the mood for romantic comedy. As we've mentioned in the podcast, The Love-Life of Wallace P. Fitzgerald is a short film that Nick wrote and I directed, produced, and acted in during my senior year at Taylor University. It's similar in tone and spirit to Nick's earlier cinematic excursion, The Taylor Trilogy, but I hadn't gotten around to putting it on YouTube.

Until now.



Actually, I was a little hesitant about putting it online since, as a graduate film student, I knew there were a number of problems with the film due to my relative inexperience at the time it was made. Still, we've talked about it often enough on the podcast and a lot of people worked on it who deserve to have their work available online. Plus, it is a fun story; it just needed a bit of polish.

So before posting, I did some digital restoration (color correction on certain scenes) and added some music in places that desperately needed it. (Thankfully, I now have more resources for finding music.) As a result, while the picture is far from perfect, I honestly believe it's better now than it ever has been before.

So, with all that said, I hope you'll enjoy this piece of our storytelling history. Also, be on the lookout for future releases of vintage collaborative productions from Nick and Tim! We've got more to unleash on you...when we get around to it. Stay tuned!

Timothy Deal

Episode 9 - Once Upon A Time, Again

Are you buried under a mountain of continuity? Are you lost among a crowd of extraneous characters? Does your story stink to high heaven with the concerns of yesteryear? Don't worry! Just REBOOT!

This episode, THRILL as Nick and Tim discuss the reasons why writers find rebooting a series attractive! GASP as they enter into the realm of comicdom in hopes of answers! SHUDDER as they encounter just a few modern Reboot examples! SOAR with an extended Take on Tales!

It's not just a podcast, it's Podcast 2.0! 

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Episode 8 - Based on the Best-Selling Podcast!

Starring Daniel Radcliffe as Timothy Deal and Michael Cera as Nick Hayden, this investigative thriller follows the hard-hitting investigation of two heretofore unknown podcasters as they delve into the intricacies of movie adaptations, stumbling deep down the rabbit hole of Hollywood business decisions and fan demands to discover, once and for all, whether there is truth behind that universal declaration, "The book was better."

With a rip-roaring Soundtrack, commentary by Listener Feedback, newly expanded Project Updates, and a behind-the-scenes Cinema Selections, this is one experience that the San Francisco Herald-Tribune-Gazette calls, "heart-stoppingly wonderful...cruelly sophisticated...hopelessly naive...the best hour of pure entertainment since that one time!" Don't miss it! (3D glasses not included.) 

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