Side Track 7 - The Force Awakens

If you've ever listened to Derailed Trains of Thought, you know that Tim and Nick mention Star Wars almost every episode.  If you're not living in a cave, you know that a new Star Wars movie just came out.

I'll give you three guesses what this Side Track discussion is about. The first two guesses don't count.

Joining Nick and Tim is Weekly Hijack contributor and fellow Star Wars fan Zach Hayden.

SPOILER WARNING! Do NOT listen to this if you haven't seen the movie.

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Episode 62 - 'Tis the Setting

It's that time of year, the time we've been waiting for for months. Yep, that's right, it's finally Christmas! (Also: Star Wars opening!)

As you settle down to watch your favorite Christmas movie (also: space opera), one thing you'll notice right away--the setting. You know, the lights and carols and snow and roast beast. (Also: the cool spaceships and laser-swords and aliens and mysterious masked villains.) This episode Tim and Nick examine the various ways setting affects story, both consciously and unconsciously.

They follow up with a lightning round review of recent movies and TV shows, and finally end with some observations on how a certain science-fiction pop culture touchstone has infected everything in the entire world. Except our podcast, obviously.

Merry Christmas! (Also: May the Force be with you!)

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Episode 61 - Shut Up and Buy My Book

There are many ways to promote yourself and your work in this modern connection economy. The first step is to NOT do what the title of this podcast says. Don't be that guy. Seriously.

The next step is to listen in as Tim and Nick stumble into author Nathan Marchand in this week's podcast. Because, miracle of miracles, we discuss exactly this topic!

Then we give Nathan a chance to talk about his new book, Ninjas and Talking Trees, a comedy fantasy. I mean, what would a podcast about promotion be without a little promotion?

Tell your friends! Re-tweet us! Give us five-star reviews and purchase our stock! This is your premier podcast on storytelling--Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 60 - The Story Goes Ever On And On

You may have noticed, if you're especially perceptive, that there are a lot of story franchises and long-running shows around. For instance, there's some sort of space opera coming out with its seventh episode this December. Seven episodes? Seriously? Isn't it time to end the thing already?

Thankfully, we have Nick and Tim here to give us the answers we need. When is it time to end a long series or franchise? They ponder this question in their fifth anniversary episode.

Then, because they know no bounds in their efforts to inform and entertain, they share yet another Bit of Story and resurrect Crackpot's Corner.

And the answer is--no. Keep making Star Wars. Forever.

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Episode 59 - Creativity is Nine-Tenths of the Law

Once upon a time, a young man found a story in the woods. He fed it and raised it and, when it had grown, he let it out into the wild. Later, a band of merchants tamed the story and took it with them on their tour of the world. Boys and girls everywhere loved the story and dreamed of the story and began, in their own way, to look after the story, until it grew into a legend. Two intrepid podcasters then heard of the story and asked each other, "Okay, but who owns it?"

And that, dear listeners, is how Tim and Nick came upon this episode's Story School. Scout's honor.

Afterwards they tackle their annual "Take on Tales: Summer Movie Edition," so you can bathe in the last remembrances of summer days before fall. So whether your enjoying an early pumpkin spice latte or still desperately trying to sunbathe, this is our podcast, and you'd best listen to it.

© 2015 Loco-Notion Productions

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Episode 58 - The End of the World as You Know It

Everyone loves zombies. Why? Because they're the disgusting, shuffling, brain-eating, undying corpses of your friends and family.

Wait--what? Let's start again.

Everyone loves an apocalypse. Why? Because the foundations of society crumple and instead of working at a ho-hum but decent job and raising a nice, mostly put-together family, you're forced to survive hostile terrain, insane machines, cataclysmic weather, incurable diseases, and unfathomably repulsive aliens.

Wait--again? Seriously, guys. Zombies? Invasions? Disaster? Why do we enjoy this stuff?

Let Nick and Tim help answer your questions as they analyze the appeal of post-apocalyptic stories in this episode of Derailed Trains of Thought. Then, because the world can't get enough death and destruction, they decide to brainstorm a few of their own "end of the world" scenarios for your enjoyment.

But don't be afraid. As long as you can jury-rig a car battery to operate your iPod so you can listen to your favorite podcast on storytelling, who cares if the world burns. Am I right?

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Episode 57 - And the Moral of the Story Is...

Art communicates truth. That's a given. But we all know stories *cough* FernGully *cough* that shove the meaning down our throats. They have an agenda--and you shall comply! Or at least feel angry and/or guilty when you leave the theater.

But where is that line? When does the message of the story overtake the story itself? When does the agenda destroy the art? Into the deep jungles of such questions dive our intrepid explorers Tim and Nick.

Then in "Our Take on Takes" we emerge from the last rain forest to journey to The Sound and the Fury and Big Trouble in Little China as well as a few places in between.

Once upon a time there was a little boy who didn't listen to Derailed Trains of Thought. And his brain turned to mush and he spent his entire life licking postage stamps for a faceless megacorp in post-alien invasion L.A. Moral of the story--listen in to your premier podcast about storytelling. Now. Before it's too late.

It's almost too late all ready....

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Epsiode 56 - I Will Not Watch It, Sam-I-Am!

Can you believe people actually watch bonnet movies? You know, those semi-romantic historical dramas with female protagonists? Blech! Don't they know their artistic sensibilities are morally inferior and seriously stunted? I mean, if you're not watching Orange Is The New Black, who are you really?

Or...perhaps, we all have different tastes in what stories we enjoy. Is that possible? And if so, what does it mean? This episode, Tim and Nick discuss the role of tastes in how we interact with stories and how being aware of our own tastes can broaden our view of art.

Then we dive into the strange world that is Homestuck as part of It Came From the Intrawebs! We may or may make sense of it.

Listen in! No matter your tastes, I'm sure you'll find something enjoyable in episode 56 of Derailed Trains of Thought. If not, you're obviously an uneducated lout.

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Episode 55 - Why Don't You Just Write Already?

Writer's Block. You've had it. I've had it. Everyone's had it, except possibly Isaac Asimov. The solution, of course, is to just start writing, but that's like saying the best way to find patience is to wait for it. So, can podcast hosts Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden help out? Who knows? But, gosh darn it, they'll try.

Then for the second half of the show they delve into the weird and wonderful world of What If? This episode they smash together movie titles to see if the resulting mess is a viable product on its own. Unfortunately, the podcast was recorded just a bit too early to tackle Avengers: Unfriended.

So, whether you're hoping to procrastinate on your latest project or are just horribly bored, why don't you listen in to your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought!

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Episode 54 - The MetaCast

To: Timothy Deal
From: Nick Hayden

Subject: Regarding Episode 54's Write-up

Tim, we gotta get this podcast posted, but my knack for inventing a clever hook for the write-up is failing me. I just need that and we're set to go. After the hook, I just mention that this week's topic is the use of meta in fiction and that in the second half we do some Take of Tales stuff.

Seriously, though, if we're really going to be everyone's premier podcast on storytelling, we need a intriguing hook. Otherwise they won't listen to episode 54 of Derailed Trains of Thought, and they really, really should.

Thanks!

Nick

P.S. Brain died for the title, too, but it's better than "Three-Dimensional Pun," which was my other option.

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Episode 53 - You Gotta Kiss the Girl

It doesn't matter if you're all bloody. It doesn't matter if a mad scientist is about to complete his nefarious plot. It doesn't matter if you don't know if you really love her or if you love that girl back home instead. Tensions are high. Lives are at stake. You know what you have to do--you gotta kiss the girl!

Romance is a great spice to all sorts of stories, and in this episode your hosts Nick and Tim talk romantic subplots, action hero damsels in distress, love triangles, and all manner of relational drama.

Then, in the resurrection of Crackpot's Corner, Tim shares some plot ideas he received from dreams, including an intriguing political thriller filled with presidential doubles and, somehow, Neil Patrick Harris.

Join us for Episode 53! Come on. You know you love us.

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Episode 52 - "...And I'll Tell You Exactly How He Did It!"

"Show, don't tell." It's a rule pounded into storytellers...but are there times when telling is better? After all, you can't show everything, can you? Exposition is an essential part of storytelling, and your hosts Tim and Nick examine the good, the bad, and the ugly of explanation, narration, and good old-fashioned info-dumps.

Afterward, they try their hand at flipping "showing" and "telling" in famous scenes from movies and books in their newest installment of "What If?" So, to get to the point: Hit play and listen to the newest episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, your premiere podcast on storytelling.

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