Story Matters with Curt Mega
108 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 113 ratingsA podcast with Curt Mega about stories and the artists who tell them. Special guests and in-depth conversations about the creative process and the art of storytelling.
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Episodes
Starkid's 'VHS Christmas Carols' with Janaya Mahealani Jones
December 23, 2023 09:26 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBJanaya Mahealani Jones, star of the newest Starkid musical 'VHS Christmas Carols', joins me to chat about the show! Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch.TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega
VHS Christmas Carols with James Tolbert
December 20, 2023 07:45 - 1 hour - 101 MBDirector James Tolbert joins me to chat about directing the newest Starkid musical, VHS Christmas Carols! Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch.TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega
Oscars 2021 with Joey Richter!
April 24, 2021 09:50 - 1 hour - 30.8 MBJoey Richter joins me for our annual Oscars roundtable as we talk about the films that marked the surreal, bizarre and crazy year that was 2020.
Project Create: Back on Track Pt. 1
November 16, 2020 02:50 - 27 minutes - 27.6 MBEvery few months I host an interactive art collaboration called Project Create where Patrons from my Patreon create artwork based on a prompt that I share. This most recent prompt was Back on Track. As we attempt to figure out a new normal in the uncertain world of 2020, I felt compelled and inspired by the idea of getting my life back on track despite the difficulties in the way. I invited my Patrons to create as they were inspired and these are some of the amazing written submissions I rec...
It's a Warbler Reunion! OH YEAH!
May 29, 2020 01:31 - 1 hour - 65 MBIn this special installment of the podcast, my Warbler bros, Riker Lynch, Dominic Tracy, Jon Hall, Telly Leung, Eddy Martin, Brock Baker and Tim Davis join me to reflect on our time working on Glee, how the experience has impacted out lives and what we've been up to since then! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected]
Continuing to Cope
April 09, 2020 02:01 - 39 minutes - 29.8 MBThis week on the podcast, we discuss strategies to cope during this crazy and uncertain time. From baking, to watching dystopian films, to setting small, realistic and achievable goals, we have all been finding different ways to stay mentally sharp and emotionally stable. How do you battle the impulse to be constantly productive when you are stuck at home? Is there a healthy balance of goal setting without pushing yourself to an unrealistic and unhealthy level of expectation? Find all epis...
Advice Corner: Overcoming Creative Roadblocks!
March 31, 2020 00:58 - 43 minutes - 42.8 MBIn this Advice Corner episode, we tackle the obstacle of CREATIVE ROADBLOCKS! How do you navigate around them before they become insurmountable? Then, a bonus radio-play sketch from my January Writer's Room... MURDER PLANE! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected]
Coping in the Midst of Chaos
March 20, 2020 00:16 - 37 minutes - 28.8 MBIt's a strange, scary and chaotic time right now. This week, in the wake of the coronavirus that has engulfed every aspect of society and culture as we know it, we discuss strategies for coping as artists and storytellers to maximize creativity, stay motivated, and find the silver lining in the midst of chaos. You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com
Advice Corner: How to stay creatively focused when life gets crazy!
February 14, 2020 21:54 - 45 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this month's ADVICE CORNER, we tackle the question: "How are you able to keep yourself focused on current projects and see them all the way through?". How do we overcome creative roadblocks while maintaining healthy life habits at the same time?! Join us as we share our insight into this question and more! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing storymattersp...
The 2020 Academy Awards Spectacular with Joey Richter!
February 03, 2020 23:24 - 2 hours - 135 MBJoey Richter (from Tin Can Brothers, Team Starkid, Jesse on Disney Channel and more) joins us for the 4th year in a row for our 2020 ACADEMY AWARDS OSCAR SPECTACULAR! We dive into each of the nominated films along with the main categories. So put on your best tux or gown, hop in a limo and join us on the RED CARPET for this year's STORY MATTERS OSCARS PODCAST! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email you...
The Future of Theatre with Vijay Nazareth from Pixel Playhouse!
January 26, 2020 04:03 - 1 hour - 63.7 MBVijay Nazareth, creator of Pixel Playhouse and AVbyte , joins us on this week's episode to talk about the FUTURE OF THEATRE! How does theatre adapt for the digital age in a way that's both accessible and relevant? Vijay's mission is to bring theatre TO THE INTERNET, to make it more accessible and break down the barrier between creator and audience. LINK: Check out Pixel Playhouse on Twitch! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follo...
The Future of Filmmaking
January 13, 2020 00:30 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBWhere will the next decade of filmmaking take us? How will technology and A.I. affect the creative process and what will its impact be on storytellers and creators? In this episode, we take a look ahead at the next decade of filmmaking and storytelling and try to imagine what the future of storytelling will look like and how we can be prepared for it. Article link: Warner Bros. Signs Deal for AI-Driven Film Management System Article link: How Will the Movies (As We Know Them) Survive th...
Advice Corner: Dealing with CRITICISM & The Wedding from Hell!
January 08, 2020 22:14 - 39 minutes - 39.3 MBIn this month's ADVICE CORNER episode, we tackle the question; How do you deal with feedback and criticism, both positive and negative, in a way that is useful to your own creative process? Then in part two of the episode, a special GROUP COLLAB radio-play titled The Wedding from Hell!
The Decade in Retrospect - Pt. 2
December 30, 2019 16:56 - 49 minutes - 48.5 MBWe discuss the media, stories and events that defined the decade, both for us on a personal level and on a cultural and global level. From The Social Network, to Game of Thrones, to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, to the the impact of Netflix changing the streaming game with House of Cards, to the rise of the Disney Empire, to the Me Too Movement, the past decade has had a profound impact on the stories we tell and how we tell them. Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspo...
Bonus Episode - The Rise of Skywalker!
December 23, 2019 20:17 - 34 minutes - 33.3 MBCurt and Kim react to the most recent Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, and share their thoughts and perspective on whether or not the film is a worthy end to the Skywalker Saga. They also discuss the cultural discourse around the film and what it means for the future of Star Wars. NON-SPOILER section is 0:00-13:47! SPOILERS SECTION begins at 13:48! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your ...
The Decade in Retrospect - Pt. 1
December 16, 2019 10:04 - 54 minutes - 52.3 MBWe talk candidly about what lessons we've learned along the way as artists and storytellers over the past ten years in Los Angeles. For all three of us, the beginning of this decade marked a huge transition, leaving behind our lives in Texas for the glitz, the glamor and the rude awakening that is Hollywood. We've experienced a lot of ups and downs along the way and in this episode, we share our perspectives as we look back at this last chapter of our creative lives. Link: Mike Tobias's p...
A Decade in Retrospect - Pt. 1
December 16, 2019 10:04 - 54 minutes - 52.3 MBWe talk candidly about what lessons we've learned along the way as artists and storytellers over the past ten years in Los Angeles. For all three of us, the beginning of this decade marked a huge transition, leaving behind our lives in Texas for the glitz, the glamor and the rude awakening that is Hollywood. We've experienced a lot of ups and downs along the way and in this episode, we share our perspectives as we look back at this last chapter of our creative lives. Link: Mike Tobias's p...
Revisionist Storytelling: Writer's Room - Finding the Story
September 19, 2019 18:41 - 56 minutes - 41.5 MBIn this episode, we discuss the importance that group dynamic plays in the creative process of crafting and creating stories. Then, we step into the writer’s room to pitch each other our potential REVISIONIST HISTORY stories! Mike is tackling the mysterious death of three famous poets, Kim is pondering how our world might look today if Nikola Tesla had been allowed to share his free energy, and Curt is exploring the golden era of Hollywood and how different the film industry might have looke...
Revisionist Storytelling: The Bigger Idea
August 27, 2019 22:35 - 50 minutes - 37.7 MBIn this episode, we explore the definition of poetry, duality in storytelling and examine four different approaches to revisionism in creating historical fiction. Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected]
Revisionist Storytelling: What is the moral responsibility of "getting it right"?
August 18, 2019 20:50 - 59 minutes - 43.6 MBCurt, Mike and Kim dive into the world of revisionist storytelling, starting with Quentin Tarantino's newest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. What is the moral responsibility of the storyteller to get the facts right when dealing with an actual historical event in their story? Can they play fast and loose with history? What sort of impact can this have on not only the audience but also the memory of the historical figures in question? Join them for this new, in-depth exploration of this f...
Ty Simpkins from Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 3, Jurassic World and more!
May 07, 2019 23:16 - 1 hour - 50.8 MBTy Simpkins (Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 3, Jurassic World, Insidious, The Nice Guys and more) joins us to talk about his experience as a young actor working in a slew of major franchises and creating characters that are part of a global phenomenon. We also talk spoiler culture, water-cooler conversations, and what it's like to know the end of a story years before the world gets a chance to see it. You can listen to all episodes of Story Matters at www.storymatterspodcast.com!
How do you make a character's death really count? (non-spoiler reaction to Avengers: Endgame and Game of Thrones: The Long Night followed by spoiler conversation!)
May 01, 2019 09:26 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBHow do you make a character death really count? In the wake of Avengers: Endgame and Game of Thrones: The Long Night, we break down the question of how to go about sticking the landing of a character's final chapter and fate with a NON-spoiler conversation reacting to Marvel's epic conclusion to their 22 film Infinity Saga and the much anticipated Fire vs. Ice battle for Winterfell! Then, at the 31:15 minute mark, we move into an IN-DEPTH SPOILER-FILLED discussion about both the film and the...
Are spoilers ruining stories or actually making them better?
April 22, 2019 09:46 - 1 hour - 52 MBIn the wake of spoiler leaks surrounding Avengers: End Game, Game of Thrones and even Star Wars, does science actually prove that spoilers are a good thing in helping the audience better appreciate the story?! In this episode of the podcast, Curt, Mike and Kim dive into the world of spoilers to examine their impact on the viewing experience and the weight of responsibility storytellers have in creating suspense while also sticking the landing of a dramatic and shocking ending. How do YOU fee...
Does water cooler conversation end with Game of Thrones?
April 15, 2019 19:43 - 57 minutes - 42.4 MBAs the final season of Game of Thrones begins to roll, we ask the question; Does the show mark the end of the water cooler conversation as we know it? Has the binge-watching model changed the way we engage with stories? We'd love to hear from you! Email us your thoughts at [email protected]. You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com!
Should creators change the way they tell stories based on the Internet? (GUEST: Corey Lubowich from Tin Can Brothers & Starkid)
April 04, 2019 00:42 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBCorey Lubowich (Tin Can Brothers, Starkid) joins us to talk about how internet criticism affects the creative process and shares some personal insights on how fandom and audience interaction has impacted the way he creates and collaborates with other artists and storytellers. You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and you can email us your questions, comments and feedback to [email protected]!
Are expectations ruining the way we watch movies? / Jordan Peele's "Us" spoiler discussion!
March 27, 2019 09:57 - 1 hour - 71.8 MBAre expectations ruining the way we watch movies? In this episode of the podcast, we explore what sort of films were impacted by negative reviews but have come to be fan favorites in hindsight, despite an initially poor critical reception. Then we take a deep dive into Jordan Peel's newest nightmare with a spoiler-filled roundtable discussion about the meaning, symbolism and interpretations of Us! You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and you can email us...
Is the Internet spoiling the way we talk about... everything? / J.K. Rowling backlash
March 20, 2019 06:08 - 57 minutes - 55.4 MBWe wade into the controversial waters of the recent J.K. Rowling backlash and examine what sort of authority creators have over their own work once it’s released out into the world. Should they be allowed to explain their intentions with a character or story when those elements are seemingly missing from the text? Does the demand for a creator to stay relevant put them in a position of baiting an audience without really paying it off in the material they create? What sort of authority or wei...
Introducing Imagined Life
March 16, 2019 08:59 - 8 minutes - 14.1 MBEach episode of Imagined Life takes you on an immersive journey into the life of a world-famous person. It’ll be someone you may think you know, or even admire. You’ll get clues to your identity along the way. But only in the final moments will you find out who “you” really are. So sit back, let go, and -- imagine your life. Subscribe now at wondery.fm/storymatters.
Is Rotten Tomatoes spoiling the way we talk about movies?
March 12, 2019 06:45 - 43 minutes - 62.1 MBCurt, Kim and Mike brave the sea of internet trolls to examine the function of movie review sites like Rotten Tomatoes and explore their impact on the filmgoing experience. We also explore the validity of "hot takes" for the sake of clickbait and the nature of toxic criticism.
Oscars 2019 with Joey Richter!
February 27, 2019 01:33 - 1 hour - 91.6 MBStory Matters alum Joey Richter returns for the 3rd year to take a deep dive into THE ACADEMY AWARDS! We break down the wins and losses, the snubs and successes, and we ask the question... what sort of impact will this year's awards have on future generation of filmmakers and artists? You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!
Are the Oscars still culturally relevant?
February 19, 2019 09:36 - 40 minutes - 41.3 MBWe break down the ups and downs of the 2019 Academy Awards as we ask the question... In the age of the streaming video and niche fandom, do the Academy Awards still hold the power and relevance they once did? You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!
What is the impact of winning an Oscar?
February 04, 2019 10:33 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBIn this episode of the podcast, we react to the 2019 SAG Awards and explore what it could mean for the current Oscar race. Then we continue our exploration of awards season by asking the question... what is the IMPACT of winning The Oscar? We continue our film retrospectives on recent Best Picture winners Spotlight, Moonlight and The Shape of Water and examine what sort of impact the awards they received have had on the artists who created them, the creative process and culture at large. ...
What Makes a Best Picture Anyways?
January 29, 2019 04:17 - 1 hour - 73.3 MBIn this episode of the podcast, we react to the 2019 Oscar nominations and then take a deep dive into recent Best-Picture winners with film retrospectives on Spotlight, Moonlight, and The Shape of Water as we ask the question… what makes for a best-picture winning film? You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!
Do Awards Even Matter?
January 21, 2019 21:40 - 1 hour - 65 MBIn this episode of the podcast, Curt, Kim and Mike tackle the age-old question of... DO AWARDS EVEN MATTER?! We break down the differences between some of the major awards shows and begin our exploration of how awards season impact storytelling, the creative process and culture as a whole. You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!
2018 Favorite Films & Disney December Recap!
January 15, 2019 09:05 - 1 hour - 99.1 MBIn this first episode of 2019, we talk resolutions, setting creative intentions for the new year, the films that most impacted us in 2018 and we finish off our exploration of the Disney Remake with a double feature retrospective on 1977 Pete’s Dragon and the 2016 remake directed by David Lowery! Curt’s favorite films of 2018: You Were Never Really Here Hereditary Eighth Grade Mission Impossible: Fallout Annihilation Bad Times at the El Royale Game Night Searching Private Life Can...
Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Returns!
December 27, 2018 07:57 - 58 minutes - 57.2 MBIn our third entry of our Disney December, we take a look at the 1964 classic Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and compare it to 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda in a spoiler filled roundtable discussion on the film! Where does this film fall on the sequel/remake spectrum? Does the newest entry into this universe continue the legacy created by Disney and company in the 1960’s? What are the essential benchmarks that captures the spir...
Cinderella & The Jungle Book
December 17, 2018 08:19 - 1 hour - 99.1 MBWe continue Disney December on the podcast with a Disney double feature, exploring the 1950 animated classic Cinderella compared to the 2015 live action remake directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Lily James and the 1967 classic film The Jungle Book up against the 2016 live action remake directed by Jon Favreau. You can find all episodes of Story Matters at www.storymatterspodcast.com!
Beauty and the Beast
December 11, 2018 06:33 - 1 hour - 79.7 MBWe kick off DISNEY DECEMBER with an in depth exploration of the 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast and compare and contrast it to the 2017 live action remake starring Emma Watson. Along the way we ask the question of what defines a good remake? What does this trend of Disney remaking all of its animated classics add to the conversation? Does it tarnish the legacy of the originals or does it revamp and reinvent these classic stories for a new age? You can find all episodes of Story Ma...
Amadeus (GUEST: Jon Cozart)
November 27, 2018 21:14 - 1 hour - 76.6 MBJon Cozart joins the show to take a deep dive with us into the world of Amadeus, the 1984 Academy Award winning musical biopic directed by Milos Forman about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as we cap off our exploration of the musical biopic genre with what is considered by many as the greatest biopic of all time! We also examine how this film speaks directly to our culture today (specifically us as artists), our own personal struggle with jealousy, ego, the fear of not being good enough...
Thanksgiving Throwback - 'Twas The Day of Black Friday!
November 22, 2018 19:33 - 3 minutes - 3.55 MBWe've all been there. The crowds. The grabbing hands. The pushing. The shoving. It's the most American of all the holidays... yep, it's BLACK FRIDAY!
Ray / The Cinematic Legacy of Ray Charles
November 19, 2018 18:48 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBIn episode 48 of the podcast, we have an honest and candid conversation about the struggle to prioritize creativity when life and work seem to constantly to get in the way. Then, we continue our exploration of the musical biopic with a retrospective on the 2004 film Ray starring Jamie Foxx in an Oscar winning performance. How does the film hold up 14 years later? What similarities and tropes does it use from the biopic genre and how do these compare to our two previous entries of Bohemian Rh...
Walk the Line / The Cinematic Legacy of Johnny Cash (+ bonus film Walk Hard)
November 12, 2018 11:55 - 1 hour - 103 MBCurt, Kim, and Mike, along with special guest Eric Carroll, continue their exploration of the MUSICAL BIOPIC with an in-depth retrospective on the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. We compare and contrast this 2005 biopic classic alongside last week’s film focus of Bohemian Rhapsody and examine the similarities and tropes that both films share. We also take a look at the 2007 comedy masterpiece Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and examine how it d...
Bohemian Rhapsody / The Cinematic Legacy of Freddie Mercury
November 05, 2018 10:51 - 1 hour - 63.3 MBWe launch our November exploration of the MUSICAL BIOPIC genre by taking a deep dive into Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic from 20th Century Fox. We also ask the question of what makes a good biopic? What is the moral responsibility the storyteller has to tell the story exactly as it happened versus creating under the banner of “based on a true story”? When does artistic license cross the line into assassination of character? You can email us your feedback, questions an...
Story Matters OVERHAUL and Halloween 2018 Watch Recommendations!
October 29, 2018 09:29 - 48 minutes - 48.1 MBWe are OVERHAULING THE SHOW in a major way and are very excited to share the details about this new format with you in this episode. We also discuss our ongoing creative projects, examine the the value of reprioritizing and simplifying your life to better achieve your creative goals and talk about the power and freedom that comes from learning to FINISH PROJECTS. In our WHAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING SEGMENT, we talk about The Amazon original series Forever, the new Drew Goddard film Bad Times at ...
Summer of Sequels and the Demise of MoviePass!
September 21, 2018 20:15 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBIn this episode of the podcast, we take a look back on the summer movies of 2018 and the films that most impacted us, disappointed us, excited us and made us fall in love with the cinema all over again. We also take a hard look at the trend of sequels and prequels and the fact that the top 10 grossing films of 2018 are ALL tied directly to a previously existing franchise. Then for our deep dive, we explore the rise and fall of MoviePass and its impact on the movie-going experience as a whole...
What I Did For Love (GUEST: Wesam Keesh)
September 10, 2018 08:31 - 1 hour - 92 MBIn this episode, Curt, Mike and Kim sit down with actor Wesam Keesh (MTV's Awkward, ABC's For the People and more) to tackle the recent headline news of The Cosby Show's Geoffrey Owens' candid discussions on the realities of the jobs we take to pay our bills while trying to pursue a career in the arts. In this roundtable episode, we talk openly about the craziest side-hustles we've all had to work to pay the bills, the societal stigma and shame that seems to be applied to people working regu...
The Dark Knight 10 Year Anniversary!
July 24, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 62 MBIt's the 10 year anniversary of Christopher Nolan's genre changing super hero crime drama The Dark Knight! In this episode, Curt, Kim, Mike and Eric take a deep dive into the 2nd installment of Nolan's Batman trilogy and examine the influence the film has had on the super hero genre as an art form, explore Heath Ledger's brilliant performance as The Joker and examine how the film holds up 10 years after its release.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
July 11, 2018 10:03 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBWe take a look at the life and legacy of Fred Rogers and break down our reactions and thoughts to Morgan Neville's latest documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor, an in depth look at the the life, philosophy and heart of Fred Rogers. We also talk about Mister Roger's Neighborhood and the impact it had on our lives as both children and adults and its call to action for our modern age. In our What We've Been Watching segment, we dive into HBO's brilliant documentary Spielberg, Season 2 of the har...
The Incredibles and Incredibles 2!
June 16, 2018 09:40 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIn this SUPER episode of the podcast, we take a look back at Pixar's groundbreaking 2004 film The Incredibles to discuss what influences it's had on the superhero genre as a whole and examine how it holds up 14 years later upon a rewatch. Then, we then delve into an in-depth, spoiler-filled roundtable conversation on Incredibles 2 to discuss our reactions, thoughts and takeaways on the super-sized super sequel 14 years in the making! You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymat...
Toxic Tribalism in Fandom, The Last Jedi backlash, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Hereditary and remembering Anthony Bourdain
June 11, 2018 08:32 - 1 hour - 107 MBIn this SUPER-SIZED episode of the podcast, Eric Carroll joins Curt and Mike to remember the amazing storytelling that Anthony Bourdain brought to the world. We also talk about the incredible new horror/drama film Hereditary. Then we delve into the delicate and controversial waters of toxic tribalism, specifically in reference to the backlash of The Last Jedi and the fallout of bullying on social media. Is the pop culture we consume a substitute for virtue and what is the right way to approa...