Side Track 8 - Star Wars and Other Stories

Sneaking in at the end of 2016, here's a two-part Side Track. The first half consists of a discussion on some of our favorite stories of the year, cut from Episode 72, after we discussed "Five Strangers in Search of an Exit" with the Children of the Wells crew.

The second half includes Tim and Nick's thoughts on Rogue One--because we like to talk Star Wars from time to time.

Enjoy and Happy New Year!

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Episode 72 - Come Together, Right Now, With Story

It's Christmastime, the time when families gather to celebrate the holidays, watch their favorite Christmas movies together, and read the Nativity story out loud to the kids. What better time to examine how we experience stories together! So that's just what Tim and Nick do.

Then, to put theory into action, we invite our Children of the Wells co-authors to watch and respond to a Christmas episode of The Twilight Zone. Strange? Yes, but completely in line with this podcast.

So, round up your loved ones, cue up your premiere podcast on storytelling, and enjoy a festive listen to episode 72 of Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 71 - Get Lost Already!

We read all sorts of things everyday--tweets, emails, menus, Cracked articles, etc. But not all reading is equal. This episode Nick and Tim discuss "deep reading," the act of engaging in a text (or, similarly, in a visual story) in a real and immersive way. They ponder the why's and how's of such in-depth interaction. And, despite this episode's title, they do not once mention LOST.

Then, in the second half, they "read" the experimental interactive fiction "Aisle" and its far less serious cousin, "Pick Up the Phone Booth and Aisle." So, unplug from distraction, put on your headphones, and zone in to your premier podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 70 - Invaders, Neighbors, and Gods

"You probably thought you saw something up in the sky other than Venus, but I assure you, it was Venus." -"Jose Chung's From Outer Space," The X-Files

Perhaps you aren't a true believer like Mulder, but even you must admit that aliens of all shapes and sizes have invaded our books, living rooms, and movie screens for decades. This episode, Tim and Nick examine how the idea of the alien works itself out in the stories around us.

Then, because it's EPISODE 70, and the SIXTH ANNIVERSARY of your premier podcast on storytelling, we have a special segment--Our Take on a Bit of Live Crackpot Pun Project Brainstorming from the Intrawebs If It Was Selected For Cinema! It's just as awesome as it sounds. And it involves werewolves.

So, seriously, it's Halloween, it's a new episode, we discuss aliens and werewolves...why haven't you listened yet?

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Episode 69 - Do You Hear the Story Sing?

Books and movies are not merely entertainment. At their best (and too rarely), they draw us out of ourselves and touch us in deep places, sometimes in a way almost spiritual. Your faithful hosts, Tim and Nick, have decided to take some time to examine this special work that stories can do.

Then they have an end-of-big-projects Project Update and their annual summer movie recap in Our Take on Tales. Add a bit of Beethoven and their regular wit, and you have the makings of a truly extraordinary episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Episode 68 - Talking Creativity and American Pixels with Mazedude

Today we're excited to bring you a special interview with Christopher Getman, also known as Mazedude, a musician and remixer (and creator of many of Nick's favorite OCRemix songs). We talk the creative process and his new Kickstarter album American Pixels, a tribute to American video game composers.

Then--because how do you follow up an interview with Mazedude?--we play Name That Tune, Mazedude Edition. Then, to cap it all off, Nick finally gets to play his long-requested- but always-denied seven-minute Soundtrack, "Glow Worm Jim."

So, basically, here's the TL:DR version -- Listen to the podcast, support American Pixels!

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Episode 67 - The Once and Future Podcast

Foretold by prophecy and brought forth from its pleasant village in the Woods of Tranquility to liberate the Intrawebs from the forces of evil memes, Episode 67 is here! To guide it upon its hero's journey, guides Nick and Tim train it in the ways of the Chosen One, so that through their wise instruction it might prevail and not fall prey to bad storytelling.

Then, since the journey is long, Tim and Nick spend the evenings regaling it with their Take on Tales from the world of video games, including a Kingdom Hearts game and two classics, Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, which result in a rant so intricate, Episode 67 could scarce comprehend. But that is why he has been granted wise sages from the Fates.

Long live Episode 67!

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Episode 66 - Gentlemen, Start Your Story Engines!

People say there are only nine basic plots. They say stories can be broken down into tropes and stereotypes and MacGuffins. Well, Tim and Nick say, "That sounds like a good episode topic!" So listen in as they discuss the skeleton of a story, the primal pieces that shock a story to life.

In the second half, they debut a new segment that should be pun times for all, and revisit Live Brainstorming! It's episode 66 of your premiere podcast on storytelling, full of the silliness, sidetracks, LOST references, and occasional wisdom that are the foundation of a hour you'll enjoy for long after you listen (and never get back). Enjoy!

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Episode 65 - Of the World and Everything in It

Worldview. It's one of those terms thrown around by people who like to talk about big ideas. So, of course, Tim and Nick have decided to talk about it. Every story presents a way of looking at the world. How can a reader/viewer navigate these different points of view? How can a writer use an awareness of worldview to sharpen his own work? Listen in and see if Tim and Nick can help you out.

Then, in a new What If? section, our fearless hosts imagine what kind of stories famous philosophers, politicians, and scientists would write as an expression of their worldview. (It's a lot more fun than it sounds.)

So, come listen in on this 65th episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling. Assuming you find podcasts morally acceptable, of course.

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Episode 64 - Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink

"Show, don't tell." It's a rule pounded into storytellers, and for good reason. Many great stories are marked by the raised eyebrow and the evocative phrase, the shimmer of recognition in the hero's eyes and the tantalizing hint of a dark past. In other words, what a character (or creator) implies can speak volumes. And that, not to put too fine a point on it, is Tim and Nick's topic this episode.

In the second half they review some of their recent reads, including books from well-known franchises/series.

So, if you happen to find yourself with a bit of extra time, perhaps you'd enjoy tuning your auditory organs to the sound of locomotive synaptic process violently running off its tracks. (Wink, wink, know what I mean?)

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Episode 63 - Orchestrating a Plot

Music is called the universal language; therefore, it would be remiss to discuss storytelling without discussing the way music undergirds so much of modern multimedia art. And Nick and Tim would never dare be remiss.

SO! This is an episode about how music guides, lifts, and imbues story with meaning and power. Because we like music. And so do you.

But after so much music, we head into "It Came from the Interwebs!" for a break. For, surely, there's no music on the Internet...or is there?

Settle in, tune your eardrums, and enjoy episode 63 of your premier podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought.

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