Episode 7 - Lest Old Stories Be Forgot

As we celebrate the Christmas season and look forward to a new year, we decide to look back on our old works and see what we've learned. Then, in a special holiday Take on Tales, we rate our favorite Christmas movies.

Find a comfy chair, some hot cocoa, and join us for a shorter "unplugged" episode of Derailed Trains of Thought.

Have a Merry Christmas!

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Episode 6 - Forecast: Atmospheric Story Conditions to Continue

This episode we turn to the always faithful supplier of conversation--the weather. But instead of hearing us drone on about meterologists and people who can't drive in snow, enjoy as we highlight the ways weather can accentuate emotions and deepen the layers in a scene.

Then join us as we introduce yet another new segment, discuss high-risk game shows, and chill to some lovely music. (Get it? Chill? Cold?)

Get your coats on, we're going outside.

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Episode 5 - A Time and A Pace for Everything

Is this really it? The fifth episode of Derailed Trains of Thought? Yes, it is!

We apologize for the delay, but we were thrown off our posting rhythm, which, coincidentally, is exactly the topic of this episode’s Story School. We discuss plot pacing, dramatic rhythm, forward momentum, and all those things that accentuate the story’s individual moments.

We also introduce two new segments called Listener Feedback and A Bit of Story; Muppet-obsessed Timothy Deal educates us on long-lost Henson products; and Nick Hayden peeks into China’s underground church.

It’s all in a day’s podcast for Derailed Trains of Thought.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This episode does not include a single reference to Star Wars. It does, however, manage to talk about Lost, so Nick and Tim are vindicated.

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Episode 4 - Whether 'Tis Nobler, and Other Choices

Shakespeare! Harry Belafonte! Nazis! Anne with an E! Muy Tai! Outtakes! What connects these things? Are you willing to find out? And you ready to accept the consequences?

Find all this out and more in our fourth podcast as we delve into the Moral Universe: what it is, what it means, why it matters, and all that brouhaha. Then stick around for discussion of ABC's No Ordinary Family, a Hitchcock-inspired episode of The X-Files, and CYOA cinema. It's all here, and much, much more, at Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Side Track 2 - Peeking in the Box

For this week's Side Track, we follow up on our interview with Nathan Marchand, author of the newly released Pandora's Box by presenting an audio version of the book's prologue. Thanks to Natasha, my wife, for performing the narration. Enjoy!

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Episode 3 - From Boredom to Book

Two days late and a little long, but we finally have Episode 3 up and running!

It's a packed episode, too. We start with a discussion of time management (see how that worked out with our late podcast), and end up somewhere in Jim Henson and Pixar territory. We also bemoan the lost art of boredom, reminisce about numerous projects, and reference "On Fairie-Stories."

In the second half we interview Nathan Marchand, author of the newly published "Pandora's Box" and good friend, about the writing process. It's like a DVD featurette for the book. So come on, settle into a comfy chair, and join us for the newest installment of Derailed Trains of Thought.

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Side Track 1 - The Minicast Event!

Here's a little surprise for our faithful listeners! In editing our last episode, we had to cut out a couple of sections of discussion for time restraints. But they're interesting enough that we thought we'd share them with you in our week-between-episodes. So sit back and enjoy these lost snippets of discussion about The Event, movie dialogue, and more, presented primarily in their original, unedited format.

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Episode 2 - The Pen and the Pocketbook

What do Reese's Pieces, talking animals, and believing in yourself have in common? They mean you've sold your artistic vision to the corporate man. Or do they? We explore Commercial vs. Artistic Vision, plus much more in the second episode of Derailed Trains of Thought.

We're now on iTunes! Subscribe to us!

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Episode 1 - Beginning at the End

This is it – the first official Derailed Trains of Thought podcast!

Featuring your intrepid and intriguing hosts Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden, we delve into the end of all things, or at least, the end of a few things.

Along the way, we touch upon a long unfinished novel; LOST; The Jazz Singer; why Aang is Luke Skywalker; a guy named Wallace P. Fitzgerald; town-wide “Movie Sign!”; intergalactic, trans-dimensional car races; alternate endings for films; and various other sundry topics.

You probably see why we call it Derailed Trains of Thought.

We’re glad you’re with us at the bitter end. Welcome to a new beginning!

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Welcome!

This is the official website for the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast, hosted by Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden. We'll discuss the art of storytelling, critique a few movies, ramble on about ideas that excite us, follow intriguing bunny trails of theory and practicality, and generally entertain you every two weeks or so.

So stick around, watch the site grow, and listen in.

Tim & Nick