Podcasts about dragons

Large, serpentine legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures around the world

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    Divided Argument
    Ice by Magneto

    Divided Argument

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 64:01 Transcription Available


    We're back — maybe getting a little too scheduled — with one opinion on the docket: West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, where the Court held that states may limit girls' and women's sports teams to biological sex without violation Equal Protection or Title IX. First, though, Will collects on a two-year-old prediction when the Court grants Jouppi v. Alaska, an Institute for Justice case about a five-figure airplane forfeited over a six-pack of beer. On the main event, we work through how the opinions are written (no pronouns, no "Lindsay"), what the litigants' Title IX concession did to the case, and whether there is any such thing as an as-applied equal protection challenge. Will makes a big-swing prediction about transgender status and heightened scrutiny, and we ask whether the Court's reasoning can be squared with VMI and the anti-stereotyping cases. Along the way: fencepost problems, Magneto's powers, Magic: The Gathering's crossover-IP wars, scrawny men, and Justice Kavanaugh's ode to the championship trophy.Highlights[00:00:21] Opening: continuing the roll, "starting to get a little scheduled," and record-setting season ambitions[00:02:05] Summer interim-docket check-in: a new SG filing on mail-in voting; still no rehearing petition in the birthright-citizenship case[00:03:23] Filing-day counting and the classic fencepost problem[00:04:50] Will doesn't condone violence, Dan; UFC, violent video games, and Dungeons & Dragons[00:07:46] The prediction workflow pays off: Will called the IJ excessive-fines cert push back in May 2024 (Culley)[00:08:05] Cert granted in Jouppi v. Alaska: a 5-figure aircraft forfeited over a 6-pack of beer[00:09:58] Scorecard methodology: easy predictions, Magneto clauses, and a slugging-percentage proposal[00:12:51] Dan's good news: Constitutional Rights in General Private Law, accepted at Harvard Law Review[00:13:32] The main event: West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox — states can keep transgender athletes off girls' and women's teams[00:15:25] How the opinions are written: no pronouns, and the majority never says "Lindsay"[00:18:44] The Thomas concurrence: suspect class, "biological men and boys who identify as girls," and the Josef Pieper abuse-of-language quote[00:21:49] Title IX: the statutory text, the litigants' concession, and what the dissents are trying to preserve[00:29:39] The Equal Protection Clause: Skrmetti, two kinds of anti-trans laws, and Will's big-swing prediction on heightened scrutiny[00:35:29] VMI's inherent differences, bathrooms, and the anti-stereotyping mainstays (Craig v. Boren)[00:43:33] Is there such a thing as an as-applied equal protection challenge? Footnotes 7 and 9, scrawny men, and Nguyen[00:52:35] The Ninth Circuit's dropped thread: Idaho's invasive verification testing and the cis-woman plaintiff[00:54:41] Justice Kavanaugh, the sports justice: the championship-trophy passage and Flood v. Kuhn lore[00:56:52] The flip side: does Title IX sometimes require excluding transgender athletes? Dueling predictions[01:00:30] Why this isn't Bostock: Gorsuch, formalism, and a contested Indian-law analogy[01:02:49] Sign-off — and a preemptive accusation that Will will game the scorecard by refusing to recordRelevant linksCasesWest Virginia v. B.P.J. / Little v. Hecox — slip opinionJouppi v. Alaska — Institute for Justice case pageCulley v. MarshallUnited States v. SkrmettiUnited States v. Virginia (VMI)Nguyen v. INSFlood v. KuhnCommentary & articlesD'Onfro & Epps, "The Fourth Amendment and General Law" — the Yale Law Journal predecessor to the new Harvard Law Review piece announced on the showOtherDivided Argument, "Originalism Hulk" — the back-catalogue episode whose new custom cover art comes up in the Marvel tangent

    We Was Dragons: A HBO House Of The Dragon Podcast
    House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 - Whose Your Friend Aemond

    We Was Dragons: A HBO House Of The Dragon Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 83:30


    Gamereactor TV - English
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - English

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    RogueWatson - D&D Live Play
    My thoughts on D&D Vision Keynote 2027 (from GenCon 2026)

    RogueWatson - D&D Live Play

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 19:01


    My rambling thoughts on the big Dungeons & Dragons presentation from GenCon 2026.Shop for tabletop games, CCGs, miniatures, RPG supplies and more at our sponsor, Noble Knight Games: https://www.nobleknight.com?awid=1553Chat with us in the Official Discord Server: https://discord.gg/AjvtemjSupport the channel at https://www.patreon.com/Roguewatson

    NRL Boom Rookies
    Round 22 Review - Disappointing Sequel

    NRL Boom Rookies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 89:19


    Operation 'Not In The Face' was a resounding success! Dragons v Dolphins (04:22) Storm v Bulldogs (12:33) Titans v Warriors (24:40) Panthers v Raiders (29:04) Broncos v Knights (37:55) Sharks v Rabbitohs (45:16) Tigers v Eels (57:45) NRLW (01:12:30) Laurie Daley steps down (01:17:33) Hot Take Hotline (01:23:02) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Daily Shower Thoughts
    Dragons which breathe fire cant have cavities | + 28 more...

    Daily Shower Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 6:49


    The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: buggaby, cptstubing16, BatOk2014, NoNamePerson008, Lancerinmud, MenInBlerg, sd51223, Captain_Excellence, SuspiciousPillow, IlovePetrichor, False_Mud_1837, DadIsMadAtMe, GarlicsPepper, pavilionaire2022, sackafackaboomboom, Kappybara_reddit, Baxtaxs, randomusername69696, the_last_peanut, , ILikeGames22, Protoblade20, CryoWreck, Bob_the_blacksmith, valahara, Neoslayer, Omega_Lynx, , how_lee_phuc, noopibean Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    spotify social dragons stitcher shower amazon music iheart shower thoughts cavities breathe fire promo check klassic studios daily dad jokes
    The Reel Rejects
    HOUSE OF THE DRAGON 3X7 REVIEW – THE FINALE IS GOING TO BE INSANE!

    The Reel Rejects

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 28:38


    THE DANCE OF THE DRAGONS IS RACING TOWARD A FIERY SEASON FINALE! Join the Rejects & Media Knights at the “con with a cause” charity event MultiCon on August 8th at 11am at the Skirball in Los Angeles. Get your tickets now at https://www.MultiConLA.com Get a special discount with code REJECTS10 Greg Alba, John Humphrey & Michael Tessler react to House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 in this House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 full reaction, review, and breakdown of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel! As Rhaenyra Targaryen struggles to maintain control and Aemond Targaryen's time at Harrenhal grows increasingly dangerous, the war between Team Black and Team Green enters its penultimate chapter. Greg, John & Michael discuss the episode's tense confrontations, political maneuvering, shifting alliances, dragon strategy, and major setup for the House of the Dragon Season 3 finale—all spoiler-free right here! Limited Time Offer – Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code REJECTS at https://www.huel.com/REJECTS. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 Full-Length Reaction:   / thereelrejects   Based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Wanderlust), Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen (The Crown), Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen (The Last Kingdom), Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower (Ready Player One), Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole (The Serpent), Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen (Dunkirk), Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers (GLOW), Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen (The Last Kingdom), Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon (Dolittle), and Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria (Ex Machina). Greg, John & Michael break down the standout performances, competing claims to the Iron Throne, escalating Dance of the Dragons, and where every major player stands heading into the finale. Follow Greg Alba:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ Twitter:  https://x.com/thegregalba Follow Michael Tessler: https://www.instagram.com/mjtessler/Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    La Cueva del Nerd
    Marvel en Crisis: Blade pierde a Mahershala Ali, Emma Frost llega al MCU y cancelan "Wonder Man"

    La Cueva del Nerd

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 98:04


    Marvel Studios protagoniza una semana llena de cambios y sorpresas. En este episodio de Nerd News analizamos la salida de Mahershala Ali del proyecto de "Blade", la llegada de Samara Weaving como Emma Frost en la nueva película de "X-Men" y la inesperada cancelación de "Wonder Man" pese a haber sido renovada para una segunda temporada. Además, hablamos del impresionante desempeño de "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" en taquilla, el lanzamiento de su soundtrack en vinilo de colección, el nuevo acuerdo entre Marvel y Kadokawa para expandir su presencia en el manga, y el primer vistazo a "Carrie", la nueva adaptación de Mike Flanagan para Prime Video. También revisamos las novedades de Dungeons & Dragons, Batman, Hasbro y la batalla legal que podría definir el futuro de la fusión entre Paramount y Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Gamereactor TV - Italiano
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Italiano

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - Norge
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Norge

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - Español
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Español

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - Inglês
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Inglês

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - Sverige
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Sverige

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Rugby League Guru Podcast
    Deep Review: Dolphins Hold off the Dragons in Wollongong

    Rugby League Guru Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 30:17


    Our deep review of the Dolphins round 22 victory over the Dragons.Join the Ru Crew today: https://www.patreon.com/c/RugbyLeagueGuruSmash out a same game multi in seconds and track it live as the action plays out. Use the Punter's Toolbox for extra value & protection. Get amongst it on the neds app. T&Cs apply see website for details https://www.neds.com.au/. You Win Some You Lose More.Prices and odds subject to change.

    Gamereactor TV - Germany
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Germany

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - France
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - France

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Gamereactor TV - Suomi
    Dungeons & Dragons - Forgotten Realms Books 'The Realms Will Know Your Name' Trailer

    Gamereactor TV - Suomi

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 0:56


    Puttin' On Airs
    Little House Of The Dragon S3E6: Faceless Men

    Puttin' On Airs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 78:02


    Hey, Airheads, How be ye? This week's episode of Little House Of The Dragon is actually coming to ya on time, how bout that! And oh what a banger of an episode it was! The HBO one with Dragons in it that is, though Lady Kirby and I sure did have a blast talking about it! We sure hope you enjoy our recap as much as you enjoyed the episode, and hope you are loving this season so far! let us know in the comments if you have any theories or takes and what not, we'd love to share them on air! or of course you can always email us at PuttinOnAirs@gmail.com Btw, this episode came out early and ad free at CoreyWritesForYou.com Oh, and at the request of Lady Kirby, if you have a Tik Tok, please follow her at kirbyaskew523 TraeCrowder.com for tickets to see Trae on the road

    Super Hero Homies!
    House of the Dragon Season 3 Review | FINALLY Back on Track? (Episodes 1-4)

    Super Hero Homies!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 75:18


    House of the Dragon is back... and after a divisive second season, Season 3 is finally bringing the fire! In this episode of SuperHero Homies, we break down the first four episodes of House of the Dragon Season 3, discussing the biggest battles, character arcs, political intrigue, dragon action, pacing, theories, and everything that has us excited for the rest of the season. While we had plenty of criticisms of Season 2, these opening episodes feel like a major step in the right direction. The story is moving, the battles are spectacular, and the Dance of the Dragons finally feels like it's building toward the epic conclusion we've been waiting for. FULL SPOILER DISCUSSION This episode contains full spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episodes 1-4. In This Episode We Discuss: Our full House of the Dragon Season 3 review Why Season 3 feels much stronger than Season 2 The incredible pacing of the opening episodes Massive battle sequences and dragon action The political maneuvering between rival factions Character motivations and shifting alliances Which characters impressed us the most Why some of the cast feels less complex than previous seasons Our favorite scenes and biggest surprises The strongest action set pieces so far What still isn't working Predictions and theories for the rest of Season 3 Who we think survives... and who probably won't One of our biggest takeaways is that House of the Dragon has recaptured much of the excitement that made us fall in love with this world. The first two episodes feature phenomenal pacing, outstanding action, and some of the biggest moments we've seen since the series began. That said, we don't think everything is perfect. While the spectacle has reached new heights, some of the characters don't feel quite as layered or emotionally compelling as they did in previous seasons. They're far from one-dimensional, but many of the personal conflicts and relationships haven't resonated with us as strongly as they once did. Even with those criticisms, we're having a fantastic time watching this season unfold. These first four episodes have us genuinely excited to see how the Dance of the Dragons reaches its conclusion, and we can't wait to see where the remaining episodes take Rhaenyra, Alicent, Daemon, Aegon, Aemond, Corlys, and the rest of Westeros. Whether you're a longtime Game of Thrones fan, a reader of Fire & Blood, or simply following HBO's biggest fantasy series, this episode is packed with in-depth analysis, theories, predictions, and spoiler-filled discussion. Grab Official SuperHero Homies Merchandise! Support the podcast with t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and more! https://superherohomies.printify.me/ Subscribe for Weekly Discussions Covering: House of the Dragon Game of Thrones HBO Series Fantasy TV Reviews Movie Reviews Superhero Movies Marvel DC Comics Star Wars Comic Books Video Games Pop Culture News Nerd Culture Podcasts If you enjoy House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, fantasy television, dragons, HBO series, superhero movies, comic books, and passionate pop culture discussions, subscribe to SuperHero Homies for new episodes every week! #HouseOfTheDragon #HOTD #GameOfThrones #HouseOfTheDragonSeason3 #HouseOfTheDragonReview #HBO #FireAndBlood #DanceOfTheDragons #Fantasy #TVReview #GeorgeRRMartin #PopCulture #SuperHeroHomies

    Legend of the Bones
    Season 1 Episode 76

    Legend of the Bones

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 30:09


    Legend of the Bones is a hybrid of dark fantasy audio drama and old school solo Dungeons & Dragons.  A story where the roll of the bones determines all.  None shall escape the destiny of bone. Ambush!   Audio credits: Intro & Main Theme: Cold Northern Stars by imaginerum https://tunetank.com/tracks/2290-cold-northern-stars   Part 1: The Encounter by Scott Buckley https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/library/the-encounter Released under CC-BY 4.0   Combat: Goliath by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au/library/goliath Released under CC-BY 4.0   Behind the Screen: Moving Picture Atmosphere 014 https://soundcloud.com/royaltyfreebackgroundmusic/creative-commons-music-4099/sets   Incidental sound effects sourced from www.freesound.org & www.freesfx.co.uk & www.zapsplat.com & https://tabletopaudio.com/   Voice Actors Canute was voiced by Jon Cohen | Tale of the Manticore  Einar was voice by J.Brandon Payne | https://soundcloud.com/joshua-paine-319025843 Medrawt was voiced by Steve Brute | Cup of Solo Post Roll Promo Solo Roleplayers Network Resources https://legendofthebones.blogspot.com Transcript  Solo Roleplayers Network

    The Potter Discussion: Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and the Wizarding World Fandom
    FIGHTING DRAGONS in the TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT is one of Harry's best performances ever! | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Tea Leaves S4 E5+6)

    The Potter Discussion: Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and the Wizarding World Fandom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 57:00 Transcription Available


    Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we discuss episodes five and six of Tea Leaves, our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Harry has more strange encounters with Mad-Eye Moody, and is continuing to confront his identity as the fourth champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:56 Harry goes up to the Owlery, and jumps on a table for Moody. He wants to confide in Sirius the dreams of Voldemort he's been having and the pains in his scar that have come along with them. He wonders if there's something greater stirring. Then, he goes off to class and learns all too well about the imperious curse.·      18:38 Viktor Krum drops his name into the Goblet of Fire and the four champions are chosen. This moment should show us why we should care about Krum, and what makes him ticks. He respects competition but doesn't seek fame. That evening, Dumbledore chooses the name at the evening feast. In a startling change of events, Harry's name also flies forth and he becomes the fourth champion.·      41:13 Episode six begins with Harry walking down to the champion's room. The staircase he walks down is huge and the camera is still in an unbroken shot to show just how small Harry is. Over the next few days, he learns about the dragons, tells Cedric, is coached by Moody, and finally competes in the First Task. He emerges victorious and the episode comes to an end. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

    Arcade Cozy
    234. Fogpiercer, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Sleeping Dogs, & more!

    Arcade Cozy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 80:43


    Episode Notes: Welcome back to Arcade Cozy! This week, we're back with mostly what we've been playing since *checks notes* thank God there's not much news (there is though is lengthy-ish Game of Thrones/House of the Dragons discussion at the start though you don't want to miss.On the docket for what we've been playing: Chris finished Sleeping Dogs, Corey's been playing a new roguelike, Fogpiercer, and Chris played a good bit of the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls open beta, so we talk about that. Oh, and Corey saw The Odyssey so there's a little mini-review there too.It's a great one, so grab your favorite beverage, cozy up, and enjoy!Games discussed include Sleeping Dogs, Denshattack, Splatoon Raiders, Marvel Tokon, Fogpiercer, and more!Do you have thoughts on what we talked about today? Are there things that we missed? Or do you have a few games you'd like us to check out? Hit us up on one of the avenues below—we would love to connect with you.Email us at arcadecozy@gmail.comFollow us on IG (@arcadecozy)Intro & outro music by Johnnybgood89 (@johnnybgood89 on IG)

    Gaslit Nation
    Beware the Congressional Staffers in the Shadows

    Gaslit Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 32:42


    Wear your Sunday best and hang out at the U.S. Capitol building for your chance to chat with a member of Congress. It's a realistic way to meet the people who owe their jobs to our tax dollars, as Andrea explains–based on her own experience–in this week's bonus show. But beware of the sociopathically ambitious, dead-inside Congressional staffers enabling Mitch McConnell, and, before him, Dianne Feinstein, to cling to power long after it was time to step down.  The rest of this week's bonus show, available in full to our Patreon, Substack, and YouTube members who power Gaslit Nation, is the recording of Monday's salon. The discussion includes Andrea meeting up with Tori Amos after her show on her tour for her new powerful album In Times of Dragons, with songs like "Shush" about MeToo thanking Courtney Love for being early warning the world about Harvey Weinstein; why the DNC may be running out of money and going into debt–even though blue wave elections have ripped through the country since Trump returned to power. And we also discuss how to tell fact from fiction in the disinformation war driven by Russia in its war on Ukraine and all democracies.  We look forward to bringing you important discussions in the coming weeks, including Casey Michel, a kleptocracy expert sanctioned by Russia and author of the new book the United States of Oligarchy: How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy and Maya Wiley, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the largest civil rights coalition in America, on how we expand the power of the vote–before it's too late.  Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation–we could not make this show without you. To join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, invites to exclusive events like our Monday salons, and more, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com–discounted annual memberships are available and you can give the gift of membership. See you at Monday's salon over zoom at 4pm ET.  Show Notes: Want a plan to build a dream project from scratch in a world of chaos? Get Andrea's new book A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/ Watch this clip of Mr. Jones featuring two journalists in Stalin's Moscow debating–what is truth? https://www.instagram.com/p/DbdQlUrSvZ-/

    Chronicles of Dragonlance
    Dragons of Spring Dawning, Book 3, Chapters 5 & 6

    Chronicles of Dragonlance

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 53:42


    The remaining Companions make their way to Neraka, an ugly city surrounding the hideous Temple of Takhisis, and where the dark goddess resides. They attempt to sneak into Neraka with disastrous results. Being led to the dungeons below the city they cross, once again, Kitiara's path. Tanis, in a desperate attempt to save them all from the dungeons, pleads with Kit while attempting to hide the rest of his party. He succeeds? Tanis bargains with Kitiara for Laurana's life and his soul. Kit's plans for him and Laurana are revealed. Her servant realizes that the Everman is in Neraka.  Content warning - minor swears One More Thing: Jonathon: Resident Evil 6 | Wikipedia Shivam: Anthony Horowitz mysteries | Bookshop.org You can find us at: Jonathon - https://bsky.app/profile/falselogic.bsky.social Shivam - https://bsky.app/profile/shivambhatt.bsky.social Casual Magic w/ Shivam Bhatt - https://casualmagic.libsyn.com/ Shivam & Wheeler Love Magic - https://sites.libsyn.com/460224 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147877956611082 Discord - https://discord.gg/MM7nEwgmZv  Support the podcast at our patreon! Benefits include getting the episodes early,  seeing the show notes, and getting a shout out. Details @ https://www.patreon.com/ChroniclesofDragonlancePodcast  Our cover art by Josiah Cameron. Find more of his work here: https://josiahcameronart.com/  Intro/Outro music: Shadow Whispers by Alexander Nakarada/Spirits of the Greenwood by Alexander Nakarada

    Puppet Masters of None
    Episode 109: Puppet History: Opera Dei Pupi

    Puppet Masters of None

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 22:56


    This week, your favorite former puppeteers trade foam and fleece for wood, steel, and centuries of tradition as they journey into the spectacular world of Opera dei Pupi—Sicily's legendary marionette theater where every performance is packed with clashing swords, heroic knights, treacherous villains, and enough melodrama to make Miss Piggy seem subtle.Long before superheroes dominated the box office, Sicilian audiences flocked to see the adventures of Charlemagne's paladins, inspired by medieval epics like The Song of Roland and tales of Orlando. These weren't dainty nursery puppets—they were beautifully carved warriors weighing up to 35 pounds, capable of spectacular sword fights that left audiences cheering night after night.We'll explore how Opera dei Pupi evolved from 19th-century street entertainment into one of the world's most celebrated puppet traditions, the ingenious mechanics that allow these armored marionettes to duel with surprising grace, and why Sicilian puppeteers are equal parts actor, engineer, historian, and blacksmith.It's history, heroics, and handcrafted artistry—a reminder that while puppets may come in every shape and size, they've always had the power to tell epic stories.Send us Fan MailJoin the discussion on our discord! https://discord.gg/JDtWJrhPF6Follow us on twitter @PMoNPodcast and on Instagram and Threads @puppetmastersofnoneFind out more about the puppet masters on our website: https://puppetmastersofnone.wixsite.com/puppetmastersofnoneOriginal Music Composed by Taetro. @Taetro  https://www.taetro.com/

    The Sunday Triple M NRL Catch Up - Paul Kent, Gorden Tallis, Ryan Girdler, Anthony Maroon
    Dragons Major Signings, The Dogs Dare To Dream & Where Will Dearden End Up? | Saturday Scrum

    The Sunday Triple M NRL Catch Up - Paul Kent, Gorden Tallis, Ryan Girdler, Anthony Maroon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 119:25


    Tony Squires is joined by Nathan Hindmarsh, Wade Graham & Danny Weidler to talk the Dogs big win, Dearden’s Cowboys future, the Dragons major signings push & who will actually make the top 8? Check out Triple M NRL's Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Continuous Call Team
    Dragons aim straight for finals after massive recruitment drive

    The Continuous Call Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 9:56


    Dragons recruitment manager Daniel Anderson says the club will not be aiming low next season, declaring their target is an immediate return to finals football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Triple M Rocks Footy NRL
    Dragons Major Signings, The Dogs Dare To Dream & Where Will Dearden End Up? | Saturday Scrum

    The Triple M Rocks Footy NRL

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 119:25


    Tony Squires is joined by Nathan Hindmarsh, Wade Graham & Danny Weidler to talk the Dogs big win, Dearden’s Cowboys future, the Dragons major signings push & who will actually make the top 8? Check out Triple M NRL's Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Not Another D&D Podcast
    Gangs of Neo Galaderon - Ep. 13: The Prototype

    Not Another D&D Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 88:13


    SEASON FINALE! The Kill Screens face Mothership's scariest cyborg! Aux sees stars, Slug skitches the airship, and Atom does robot drugs. Support us at Patreon.com/Naddpod to get access to the after-show and a bunch of other Naddpod content!Music / Sound Effects Include: "Neo Galaderon" by Emily Axford"The Prototype" by Emily Axford"Cyberskitch" by Emily Axford"Aux" by Emily Axford"Slug" by Emily Axford"Ilsed's Secret" by Emily Axford"The Purge" by Emily Axford"Into the Fire" by Emily Axford"The Valiant Ol' Cobb" by Emily Axford"The Gunslinger's Girl" by Emily Axford"A Fate Refused" by Emily Axford"The Posse" by Emily Axford"Kingshammer" by Emily Axford"The Arcade" by Emily AxfordSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    The Infamous Podcast
    Episode 528 – Shot To the Heart, And Stomach, and Face RIP Criston Cole

    The Infamous Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026


    A dragon war turns brutally personal, mutants keep raising the stakes, and Aang returns to theaters with a fresh adventure. This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl discuss the emotional and action-packed seventh episode of X-Men ’97 Season 2, the shocking and bloody sixth episode of House of the Dragon Season 3, and preview Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, the next animated feature set in the beloved Avatar universe. Episode Index Intro: 0:07 X-Men ’97 Season 2, Episode 7: 11: 44 House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6: 23:53 Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender: 36:32 X-Men ’97 Season 2, Episode 7 Series: X-Men ’97 Episode: Season 2, Episode 7 Platform: Disney+ Genre: Animated | Action | Superhero | Science Fiction Episode Air Date: July 2026 Synopsis: With the conflict escalating on multiple fronts, the X-Men are forced to confront powerful new threats while old alliances are tested. As the season races toward its finale, Episode 7 delivers major character developments, emotional payoffs, and increasingly high stakes for mutantkind. Starring: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Holly Chou, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Adrian Hough Created By: Beau DeMayo Rating out of 5, Savage Mutants in a Savage Land Doing Savage Things Brian: 4.2/5 Darryl: 4/5 House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6 Release Date: July 2026 Episode: Season 3, Episode 6 Platform: HBO / Max Genre: Fantasy | Drama | Action Episode Air Date: July 2026 Synopsis: The Dance of the Dragons reaches another devastating turning point as rival factions suffer enormous losses on and off the battlefield. Long-standing rivalries erupt into brutal violence, political alliances continue to fracture, and one of the war’s most memorable moments reshapes the balance of power. Starring: Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Rhys Ifans Created By: Ryan Condal Rating out of 5, The Old Wolf and Young Pup Are Out for Blood Brian: 4.01/5 Darryl: 3.3/5 Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender Type: Feature Film Studio: Paramount Pictures / Nickelodeon Movies / Avatar Studios Release Date: January 30, 2026 Genre: Animated | Fantasy | Adventure Synopsis: Years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang and his friends have grown into adulthood and face a new threat to the balance of the world. The film explores the next chapter in Team Avatar’s journey while expanding the mythology of the Avatar universe. Starring: Eric Nam (Aang), Jessica Matten (Katara), Román Zaragoza (Sokka), Dionne Quan (Toph) Directed By: Lauren Montgomery & William Mata Written By: Kenneth Lin Release Date: January 30, 2026 Studio: Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies Genre: Animated Fantasy Adventure Synopsis: Set years after the original animated series, the film follows an adult Aang and his friends as they face a new threat while balancing the responsibilities of rebuilding the world after the Hundred Year War. The movie expands the Avatar universe with an all-new theatrical adventure while honoring the original series. Rating Out of 10, The Name is Sokka and I’m Gonna Rock Ya Brian: 9/10 Darryl: 8.88/10 Contact Us The Infamous Podcast can be found wherever podcasts are found on the Interwebs, feel free to subscribe and follow along on social media. And don't be shy about helping out the show with a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help us move up in the ratings. @infamouspodcast facebook/infamouspodcast instagram/infamouspodcast stitcher Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play iHeart Radio contact@infamouspodcast.com Our theme music is ‘Skate Beat’ provided by Michael Henry, with additional music provided by Michael Henry. Find more at MeetMichaelHenry.com. The Infamous Podcast is hosted by Brian Tudor and Darryl Jasper, is recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show is produced and edited by Brian Tudor. Subscribe today!

    It's A Mimic!
    Paladins: Auran't You Glad They're Here? - Classes (E341)

    It's A Mimic!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 56:48


    This episode covers all the things about the base Paladin class from the 2024 Player's Handbook that you might need to know! Cold Open 0:00 Opening Theme and Intro 1:20 Themes and Lore 3:17 Core Traits 20:55 Tier 1 & 2 23:06 Tier 3 & 4 38:04 Inspirations 44:13 Outro & Closing Theme 52:58 DON'T FORGET TO LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84724626 Website: https://www.itsamimic.com Email at info@itsamimic.com Social: Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/itsamimic/?hl=en Threads at https://www.threads.net/@itsamimicpodcast Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/itsamimic/ Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/ItsaMimic/ Find Us On: Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3Y19VxSxLKyfg0gY0yUeU1 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-a-mimic/id1450770037 Podbean at https://itsamimic.podbean.com/ YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQmvEufzxPHWrFSZbB8uuw Dungeon Master 1: Tyler Gibson Dungeon Master 2: Brad McMann Dungeon Master 3: Adam Nason Narrator: Megan Lengle Written by: Adam Nason, Brad McMann, and Tyler Gibson Produced by: Brad McMann Directed by: Tyler Gibson Editor:  Adam Nason Executive Producer:  Adam Nason Main Theme:  Cory Wiebe Musical Scores:  Tyler Gibson Logo by:  Megan Lengle Other Artwork is owned by Wizards of the Coast. This episode is meant to be used as an inspirational supplement for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and tabletop roleplaying games in general.  It's A Mimic! does not own the rights to any Wizards of the Coasts products.

    The Watch That Jawn Podcast
    57 House of The Dragon S3 E6: Faceless Men

    The Watch That Jawn Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 58:19


    Episode SummaryThe battle for the Iron Throne grows even more complex as we break down the latest episodes of House of the Dragon. From shifting alliances and shocking character deaths to the deeper symbolism behind dragons, blood magic, and political deception, we explore the moments that matter most. We also examine the evolving relationships between Rhaenyra and Alicent, discuss the motivations driving Westeros' biggest players, and share our predictions for what's coming next. Whether you're a longtime Game of Thrones fan or new to the world of Westeros, this episode is packed with analysis, theories, and discussion.KeywordsHouse of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon podcast, House of the Dragon review, House of the Dragon recap, TV podcast, fantasy TV, HBO, Westeros, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, dragons, political intrigue, episode analysis, fan theoriesKey TopicsRhaenyra and Alicent's evolving relationshipPower struggles and shifting alliances across WesterosThe symbolism of dragons, blood magic, and prophecyMajor battle sequences and the impact of key character deathsDeception, disguises, and political strategyThe influence of the Faceless Men and other secret organizationsPredictions and theories for future episodesMemorable Quotes"He wanted his shot at glory.""The most dangerous foe is the one you can't see.""Blood magic is the key to their power."Chapters00:00 – Introduction and episode overview01:59 – Breaking down the major battle scenes and character deaths05:07 – Political intrigue, alliances, and betrayals08:00 – Dragons, blood magic, and hidden symbolism11:59 – Deception, disguises, and strategic manipulation16:01 – Character relationships and emotional arcs19:57 – The Faceless Men and secret societies explained24:56 – Predictions, fan theories, and what's nextResourcesHouse of the Dragon (HBO): https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragonGame of Thrones Official Site: https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thronesFollow Watch That Jawn

    Dancing with Dragons
    "Faceless Men" HOTD S3 | EP6

    Dancing with Dragons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 52:23 Transcription Available


    For the 91st episode of the podcast, Minwa & Tony react to “Faceless Men” with a mix of relief and frustration as the show delivers a major death early, then keeps juggling a ton of storylines across the realm. We break down why some moments hit hard, why others feel rushed or forced, and what the episode sets up with only two chapters left in the season.Send us Fan MailSupport the showFollow Dancing with Dragons on Instagram Follow Tony on IG: Sirtone_Reviews  Follow Minwa on IG: TheArabKhaleesihttps://dancingwithdragons.buzzsprout.comEmail us @DancewithDragons62@gmail.com

    Gamereactor TV - English
    GRTV News - Everything Dungeons & Dragons revealed at GenCon 2026

    Gamereactor TV - English

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 4:55


    The Continuous Call Team
    The Daily: Roosters' records, Walker's worth and wildcard round

    The Continuous Call Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 13:45


    Sam Walker's record performance against the Cowboys only boosts his worth. So what will his next contract look like? The Australian's Andrew Webster joins Adam Hawse to examine the Roosters' thrashing of the Cowboys and the ramifications for the competition. It's a funny old game when the wooden spoon Dragons are expected to make the top eight next year off the back of their recruitment. And with the AFL running a wildcard round, the NRL may follow suit once the competition expands to 20 teams. For all your NRL news, follow the Continuous Call Team wherever you watch or listen to your podcasts. It’s your one stop shop for the latest in rugby league. You can find us on YouTube and on Instagram - just search ‘Continuous Call Team’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Continuous Call Team
    Piggy touts young Reed for Dragons halves succession

    The Continuous Call Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 6:21


    All signs suggest that the Red V revival is underway! Mark Levy, Mark Riddell and Josh Morris break down the Dragons' huge recruitment wins for 2027, the positive signs on the field, and why young gun Kade Reed is locked in as the club's long-term halfback succession plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Perdidos En El Eter
    La Nerdoteca #16 - Power Man and Iron Fist V1 #74-75 (1981)

    Perdidos En El Eter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 53:33


    Este mes nos unimos a los Héroes de Alquiler para surtir a bifes algunos matones en New York, jugar a la escondida con un ninja de nombre poco imaginativo, y conocer un poco el pueblo de donde viene Danny Rand, K'un-Lun. Leímos Power Man and Iron Fist #74-75 de 1981, escrito por Jo Duffy, con lápices de Kerry Gammil, tintas de Ricardo Villamonte, colores de Christie Scheele, y rotulado de Jim Novak. Además, Eze nos enseña a pronunciar chino. Mirá el video (por favor, es lindo), o escuchá el audio donde sigas nuestro podcast: https://youtu.be/mtHci8dGJP4 Si te gusta, tiranos un mango por Cafecito desde Argentina o Ko-Fi desde Uruguay y el resto del mundo, los links están en http://bit.ly/perdidoseter. En agosto leemos Los Cuentos del Hipocampo (2024), de El Santa. #comics #superheroes #Marvel #IronFist #LukeCage #artesmarciales

    Gamereactor TV - Italiano
    GRTV News - Everything Dungeons & Dragons revealed at GenCon 2026

    Gamereactor TV - Italiano

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 4:55


    Gamereactor TV - Norge
    GRTV News - Everything Dungeons & Dragons revealed at GenCon 2026

    Gamereactor TV - Norge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 4:55


    Story time with Philip and Mommy!
    Do Not Take Your Dragon to Dinner

    Story time with Philip and Mommy!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 8:02


    We learn that Dragons do not have great etiquette at restaurants! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Of the Publishing Persuasion
    When Dealing with Dragons; Writing Journey with Dana Swift

    Of the Publishing Persuasion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 63:36


    We had the best chat with the author queen that is THE Dana Swift!! We can't wait for you all to tune in! But first here's more about Dana:DANA SWIFT started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn't stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and goldendoodle, Kala, who's antics inspired the dragons in When Dealing With Dragons. Her debut, Cast in Firelight, and its sequel, Bound by Firelight, were published with Delacorte Press.https://www.danaswiftbooks.com/https://www.instagram.com/danaswiftbooks/

    You still going on about that?
    YSGOAT News: July 30, 2026

    You still going on about that?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 124:26


    It's the 400th Episode of You Still Going On About That! We're back and talking about the White House correspondents' dinner with Trump's boring & unfunny performance, Lindsey Graham's funeral and the nice nap Trump took there, grocery prices being at a 50-year high, the Iran war spreading, and E Jean Carroll finally getting paid. We're also talking about data centers becoming an election issue, and Elon Musk suing Minnesota because he wants to let AI make nude photos of kids! All this plus a new Spider Man movie this Friday, the new Blade Runner 2099 trailer, and the latest episodes of X-Men 97 and House of Dragons. We're in the middle of summer, and we're still going on about that. Recorded on July 30, 2026.   Tip jar! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ysgoat   Get your YSGOAT tees, totes, mugs, and more in our store HERE.   Check out Rob's Etsy shop to buy his prints, stickers, original artwork, and more HERE.  

    NRL Boom Rookies
    Round 22 Preview - The Cowboys Incident

    NRL Boom Rookies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 91:43


    What on earth just happened Cowboys v Roosters recap (00:35) 'What About This Bloke?' (20:08) Dragons v Dolphins (30:54) Storm v Bulldogs (39:11) Titans v Warriors (44:03) Panthers v Raiders (50:14) Broncos v Knights (01:02:35) Sharks v Rabbitohs (01:08:03) Tigers v Eels (01:12:23) NRLW (01:19:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Boards & Swords
    Because We Needed An Excuse To Be Lazy with Mike Shea - Boards & Swords #289

    Boards & Swords

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026


    Remember last episode when we talked about the new Lazy Gamemaster Kickstarter campaign? Well, now you can hear it from the man himself! Mike Shea joins us to talk about the campaign ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slyflourish/rise-of-the-lazy-game-master ), how Paizo is ending long term licensing deals, and CMON continues long term terrible decision making.

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
    How To Prove The Demand For Your Stories And Get The Attention Of Hollywood With Brooks Elms

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 65:46


    How can building an audience in advance help your stories reach the people who make movies? And how can you prove there's demand for your book or screenplay before you've written it? Brooks Elms shares his advice after more than 20 years as a WGA screenwriter. In the intro, what doesn't work for book marketing and what does [Amy Chan SubStack; Unsingle; Rephonic]; Goodreads giveaway for Bones of the Deep; FutureVision XPrize. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Brooks Elms is a WGA screenwriter with over 45 scripts, over a dozen sales, and he has directed two indie features. He is the creator of the Answer the Call system and has trained over 1,000 writers. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How to see the opportunity in AI when others only see the threat How to test a story with samples, and what a 16-second movie can do Building the trailer before you write the screenplay Letting your audience finance the film once they have validated the idea Why Hollywood still wants existing IP, and what makes them pay attention Feeling safe enough to write the truth, and finding a concrete path forward You can find Brooks on LinkedIn or email him at brooks@brookselms.com. Transcript of the interview with Brooks Elms Jo: Brooks Elms is a WGA screenwriter with over 45 scripts, over a dozen sales, and he has directed two indie features. He is the creator of the Answer the Call system and has trained over 1,000 writers. So welcome to the show, Brooks. Brooks: Thank you. It's awesome to be here. Jo: Fantastic. So first up— Tell us a bit more about you and how you got into screenwriting. Brooks: I started filmmaking first. A buddy came up to me in high school and said, “Hey, we're making a karate movie, do you want to help us?” I was like, “Oh my God, yes, that sounds amazing.” So next thing I know, I had this karate outfit on, and we were just making this completely ridiculous and totally fun movie, and it was amazing. It was so fun. Then it went to a whole other level when we shared it with a friend, this guy Jay Sharon, and he watched the movie and he laughed so hard he literally fell out of his chair. I was like, “Oh my God,” the fun I had making it could actually transfer to somebody else. I was hooked. So from there I went to NYU film school, and then made a few independent feature films which were good but not great in terms of how they were received. They were great for me in terms of enjoyment, but I knew I needed to iterate faster at that point. So then I was like, “Well, it's expensive and it takes a long time to make a movie,” at least back then. So I pivoted to screenwriting, and pumped out two, three scripts a year, got signed at UTA, got writing assignments, and basically launched a screenwriting career. Then I still tried to get some stuff going, but it's hard when movies are so expensive. It's not hard, it's just that it takes a lot of precision in the marketing, and a lot of conversations to find the right matches to finance something, and you're either interested in doing that or you're not. I just was like, “Well, I'll just mostly write screenplays.” Then I started teaching at UCLA Extension and then coaching after that, along with writing. Then all the way up to the future. What's great about moving forward is that with AI, shot-making is becoming very close to cinematic quality. You can actually match cinematic quality in moments in some genres, but probably by next year. Right now you could actually do a really good horror movie all AI for 10, 20,000 bucks, depending on how much you're doing yourself or getting other people to do. So the economics are going to absolutely explode. So I'm sitting on dozens of scripts that didn't get through the Hollywood packaging bottleneck because they're too expensive, and I now have this giant slate that's ready to go, and I'm just absolutely thrilled. It's been a lifelong dream for me. Jo: Oh, so much to come back on there. Where to start? I do want to talk about what you just said there, sitting on dozens of scripts and now seeing the opportunity. I actually wrote down in my journal about a year ago, I see what's coming with AI, and I think that the best thing I can do is create as much original IP as possible, so that I can make the most of the opportunity ahead. So let's just get into the AI, because a lot of people feel it's a super bad thing. Talk about the opportunities and the attitude that you've got [around AI], and that you've seen others have around this, for what is ahead in a positive way. Brooks: It's fascinating to see how people respond to AI. I wonder, when the printing press rolled around, if there was some sort of backlash. Books must be handwritten. They can't be mass-produced. Here's one of my theories. At a deep psychological level, it's so profoundly powerful that I think the default setting is, “Oh, crap.” When I was a kid, some things were hard, and that power imbalance, when something big, new and powerful comes along: I'm going to get screwed, and so this is somehow a bad thing. I think that's the base psychological thing going on with most of the noise. Obviously there are some legit problems, in terms of copyright infringement from learning models, or from some of the environmental situation. So I'm not saying it's all rainbows and butterflies, but I think 90% of the noise around it comes from a fear of change. Here's the other one—a fear of, “Oh, yikes, I'm going to get taken advantage of somehow by either robots, or the corporations are going to use the robots against me,” or something like that. I have real empathy for me when I feel that way a little bit, but I don't feel it much, and for other people that do feel it. The other thing is, you know what it is? I think they fear their own empowerment even more. I had a therapist who was really good. He said, people aren't so much afraid of failing as they are afraid of succeeding. Because if we fail, we're stuck in act one and we don't go anywhere. The fear is answering the call and going to act two, when everything effing changes in the new world. So I think people are afraid of how goddamn powerful they're going to be when they can have a team of AI agents helping them do everything they want in business or life or whatever. I think it's the same thing with the internet. People are like, “Oh, I don't like social media, blah, blah, blah.” And I get it. There's a lot of noise and a lot of crap. Yet we have access to billions of people, and the algorithms in social media right now I think are level three out of 10. They're just going to get better and better. Even as it is now, if I do a post about something and it gets ignored, that's on me. The algorithms are trying to match me to my people. So if I'm not unique enough and authentic enough and aware enough of how virality works, that's on me, and it's a learnable skill that I can embrace and then change and then get better at. So I think people then resist that change. They resist the empowerment of learning the art of virality, or learning the art of some sort of social media stuff or whatever. The last thing I'll say about this rant is, I don't want to act like I'm the guru on the hill that has all the answers. I refuse calls all the time. I'm scared about all sorts of things. I'm certainly not perfect. I feel frustrated when I'm trying to put my big ideas into action and I can't get this technology thing to work or that one, and I throw tantrums. I'm trying to come at it from a real human perspective, but by and large, I've got stars in my eyes. I'm like, “This is amazing. This is going to be so powerful.” For so many people, you just have to be ready to embrace it and just go along for the ride, because there's going to be some big-ass changes. There already are, and that's going to accelerate. Jo: You mentioned there learning the art of whatever it is. One of the things is, I've spent 20 years, and so have you, learning our craft and our art, and now it can be done very easily. I'm generating video, as you mentioned, which is a craft I haven't spent 20 years on, but now I can generate. So things have definitely changed in that way. Just coming to the screenwriting side. Probably about a decade ago now, I did my first screenwriting course. I've written screenplays. Then I looked at the game you have to play and, like you said, the conversations you have to have, the events you have to go and network at, all the things that you have to do to put a screenplay in front of the right person at the right time. I was like, “I cannot do that. It's just not going to happen. I can't do that along with everything else.” So I put it aside, but now I feel maybe it's time to bring it back because things are changing. So can you maybe talk about, if someone has a screenplay now that they've written, or some IP like a book that they have now— What would you recommend people do in terms of wanting to get that [IP] in front of somebody, or doing something with it themselves? Brooks: It's such a good question. By the way, not even a screenplay—you could do the same things with a novel. Let me try to be succinct here, which is a good challenge for me. A simple way to look at it is, you're giving samples. Let's say it's a lemonade stand, and you give out a little shot of your… maybe you have cayenne pepper lemonade, some sort of fun lemonade. If you give out a sample and people are into it, they're going to come back and they're going to tell friends. If you give a sample of the lemonade and they're not into it, then you go back to the kitchen and you mix up a different flavour. So that's some basic business, but the internet allows us to do that at scale. So what I like to encourage people to do when I coach them is come up with the minimum viable material. It can be a 10-second clip. There's a writer in my community who made a really beautiful 16-second movie. It's one shot. I love it so much. It's two wine glasses. There's a lipstick smudge on one of the wine glasses. They're half full, and it's just that shot. It's sitting there, and all of a sudden you hear this thundering, thumping down these stairs, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. Then you see out of the corner of the frame one person runs by, and then the other person behind her runs by and goes, “Wait.” That's it. That's the whole movie. It's 16 seconds. He did that with his phone. So there's so much going on. There's a couple of basic elements, but he just did it with his phone, and you can evoke enormous emotional impact on people through social media, whether it's just words. You guys have a big advantage as novelists because you're so good with words. Whether it's a little bit longer, like sudden fiction, that's a couple of pages or whatever. Even just copywriters are really in a good position for the future because they're super potent with two words or three words or 10 words. Then novelists are probably really advantageous because it doesn't cost anything to just put some words out on the internet. The point is, if you put something out, it's a signal, and you're talking about billions of people who could find that signal. If you do it and then you look at the response, and then you try again, you look at the response, we can do this iteration infinitely for free. So you can do it already. You've been able to do it for 10, 15, 20 years, just with words. But now you're going to basically be able to do that with movies or clips or trailers. So the thing that I'm leading in my community of writers is having people build trailers in advance, or clips. When a book or a movie is done, how the heck do we get people to see it? One way is a trailer or some sort of behind-the-scenes material. You can just do that stuff now before even writing the screenplay. I saw that you were doing this project, a trailer for this competition. And then you mentioned, “Oh, I've got to write the screenplay.” Not really. You have to develop the story enough to know what you're referring to, and then it's about studying the craft of either trailer construction, or whatever the clips are, or viral clips. They all have a structure, and then you just test it. If you enjoy that testing process, which I find absolutely thrilling, it feels like the filmmaking version of a stand-up comedian. If I did stand-up, I say a joke, they laugh or they don't laugh. It's really beautiful feedback from the universe. Nerve-wracking, right? But we can do that now as storytellers. We put a story out there in any format, and the audience responds. Just like you have to read any room, you have to learn how to read the engagement on social media. What do likes mean? What do shares mean? What do comments mean? How do you deal with trolls? All that is just part of the new art. Once you get good at it, holy smokes, that's the key to the kingdom. You can build audiences in advance, and for movies you could even have them finance your movie in advance, if you've built an email list of 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 people because you kept putting out all these viral clips around your story, novel, or screenplay. Then you go, “Okay, now 30,000 people are on my email list and I tell them about me and my perspective and my world. We're going to make this darn thing with AI for 20,000 bucks. You guys have got to pony up some money. Put in a dollar, five, 10, or you get the VIP $500 experience.” It's like crowdfunding, but much more sophisticated, because most crowdfunding was like begging friends and family to donate to your crazy dream. What I'm talking about is going to the audience directly, developing enough of the story, then going to the audience second, and then only when they validate the idea, to the extent that you're happy with. You could do a crazy idea that's going to have a small audience, and you don't have to have a blockbuster audience. You get to pick the audience size that you want, and then put the samples out there and see if you have a relevant audience size for this next project. Once the audience tells you, “Yes, we want this,” then you go make it. So you're ultimately reducing risk to almost zero. It takes time and you have to learn how to do this stuff, but it's thrilling to me because we just have the capacity to test the material and listen to the audience upfront. The last thing I'll say, and I've rambled a lot, I'm sorry. When I made a movie in 1994, a feature film right out of NYU, it took me three years to find out what the audience thought about that movie. I had to make the damn thing, and then I ran out of money, and that took me years to edit it, and I finally got it, blah, blah, blah. And again, I loved it. I loved every facet of it, and it was fine, but it was super inefficient. Today, I could take those same elements, create an AI trailer this weekend, put it in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and they could tell me right away, “This sucks,” or, “This is interesting,” or, “Holy smokes, this is amazing. I want this.” If it's not, “Holy smokes, this is amazing, I want it,” I can go ahead and re-edit the whole damn trailer, and just keep reiterating at almost no cost. Then once the demand is there, I can take that demand and that audience and go to Hollywood, and that's when they're going to want to work with me. Then it doesn't take a million conversations and finding the needle in the haystack, because Hollywood sees the numbers and they go, “Oh, you're the people we do want to do business with. You've proven demand. We want to do business with you.” Jo: Yes, it's so interesting. I can hear people listening and they're like, “Easier said than done, getting an email list of 40,000 people.” And in fact— It's exactly the same as building up a career as an independent author. This is as a filmmaker, as a visual person, and the industry is visual, so doing a visual trailer is the obvious thing. And as you say, the tools I use just to do this one, I use Midjourney, and I've used Seedance as the main video model. It does take a while, but it is pretty fast now, if you have a visual image of what you want in your head, which obviously you're a visual person as well. But is it… Brooks: Hold on. I want to push back on that a little bit, because I think it's really important. So yes, that's true, but underneath that, my friend, it's a relationship. It's the relationship, and the media is secondary. You have been prolific in connecting with your audience, and that's why I think a lot of people like you, because you share and they get to know you in that sort of cadence. I saw you in another podcast, you mentioned Seth Godin, who just said, “Hey, I want to be the type of person that has this relationship with my audience. I'm going to share some of my thoughts every day.” He happened to do it with words, with his background in marketing, but you could do the same thing with still images. You could do the same thing with a five-second movie clip once a week. It's the relationship you want with your fans. I'm not saying you snap your fingers and you have 50,000 people on your email list. What I'm saying is, what else are you doing? If we're artists and our impulse is to create and share, and if you do it in this way, if I can create and share and inspire trust in this relationship with a stranger because they like my genre thing and they like the way they felt when they experienced my media, words, images, movies, it doesn't matter. They just like the feeling, and they go, “Ooh, I want more of that feeling. How do I get more of that? Oh, this person has this email list or community.” If I can do it with one, then I can scale it out. So getting the first one, or the first 5 or 10 samples, that is a whole process. But then once you do that, scaling up is more of a mechanical thing. It's not even that hard, especially when you can do paid ads. So you can scale up very quickly if you have the sauce. If you don't have the sauce, it doesn't matter who you're related to, you've got to get the sauce right. Jo: Yes, and again, it's so parallel to the indie author community. I've just got to ask you, in the olden days, an author might write a screenplay, or a screenwriter write a screenplay, and then they would send it. They'd find an agent. They'd pitch an agent, and I guess then they'd hope that someone would turn that into a movie. So is that just dead now? Is it realistically that you need to get yourself out there, build the audience in the same way that it often is for authors? Brooks: So, no. I've got two screenplay deals going right now. So here's how it's going to work. Think about Broadway, or the theatre district in Britain. It's like West End or East End or whatever… Jo: The West End. Brooks: Sorry for my American ignorance. West End, okay. So every town on the planet has a stage, but there's only one Broadway, there's only one West End, right? And every town has its own festival, but there are a few significant tastemakers. There's Cannes, there's Sundance, there's Toronto. Hollywood is always going to be a tastemaker in our lifetime, for sure. What they don't have anymore, what they enjoyed for the first 100 years of the industry, is that they had a stranglehold on basically the equipment, the financing, and the audience, and that's all going away. Do you want to hear a fun story about the birth of cinema? Do you know why Hollywood started in Hollywood? Jo: No. Brooks: So Thomas Edison invented the camera, or the type of model camera that they were using in, I don't know, 1910 or something around there. They didn't want to pay his patent. They didn't want to pay the patent to make these movies, so they went all the way across the country, a bunch of outlaws, and they set up shop in California because he couldn't enforce his patent that they were basically stealing. And reason number two, LA enjoys amazing weather almost all year round. The weather here is either nice or really nice. You have mountains, you have beach, you have desert, you have all these different locales. So when it was really important to be on location, LA was the perfect place. Anyway, that is all going away. For many decades, more people could make movies. In the early '90s, Robert Rodriguez made a movie for 9,000 bucks. There was a book in the '80s that I bought that I loved, it was Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices. This guy, Rick Schmidt, I think his name was. There were the independent filmmakers really in the '60s and the '70s. So the cost has been going down and down and down, and now it's less than ever. Once social media came along, now you have access to the audience, so why do you even need Hollywood? That being said, there are tons of people. There are 400,000 people already working in the movie and the TV industry here. And they're voracious. We have a voracious demand. Humans need stories. We need big stories, long stories. We need stories, and Hollywood is so good at giving them stories. And so they have a need for these things, and they're still spending a lot of money on those budgets. So yes, there's still a demand for turning books and optioning them and turning them into movies. Books are great. Any sort of existing IP is great because there are marketing efficiencies there. People already know that stuff, know the vibe of it, and so it's easier to market than something that's totally creative and new. When you're spending that much money, you want those marketing efficiencies. They're really important. So the point being, the power is shifting away from Hollywood. Hollywood will still be a tastemaker, but you and me can reach anybody on the planet now. Almost. Billions of people. If it's making a movie, right now you could make a movie that most people wouldn't realise is an AI movie. If it was a horror film, I know a handful of people that could make a feature-length horror film right now with AI and 99% of the audience couldn't tell, if it was professionally written. Jo: I think the point here though is, I'm an author, the people listening are authors, and we don't want to make movies. We want to license our IP to people who want to make movies. Brooks: Yes. Great. Okay, good. So then you could, if you wanted, build an audience. Hollywood loves when something's already proven, so that's that IP thing, right? So if you just have a great book, then it's all about the sales. You guys have Dragons' Den, we have Shark Tank here. And what's amazing about that show is these are people or entrepreneurs pitching an idea, and there's an amazing rhythm that happens. They say, “We've got this great idea. It's this sort of company.” And the sharks, or the dragons, will listen. And there's a huge turning point when they reveal sales. They're either really excited about the idea and then they go, “Well, how are the sales?” And the person goes, “Well, we don't have any sales yet.” And they go, “Uh,” and they're not interested. Or they might even be like, “Eh, it doesn't seem like a good idea.” And they're like, “Well, how are the sales?” And they're like, “Oh, well, we've sold through the roof.” And then all of a sudden they perk up. So it's all about the sales. So step one is writing something that you want. Step two is making sure other people in your target audience are also loving it as much as you do. Step three is proving in some way at scale that there's real demand for it. So you could do that with trailers, you could do that with clips, you can do that as an indie publisher. There's all sorts of things that you can do. Humans are much more persuaded by concrete data than they are by just vibes. So if you can bring Hollywood concrete data of any type, like viral videos, like audience, like obviously bestsellers. Awards mean something, but not quite as much as sales. Then you're going to get Hollywood's attention because that reduces risk for them. So even now, when Hollywood's definitely shrinking and contracting, there's still very significant money being spent because it's a huge demand. If you ever walk around a studio lot, those things are opulent places. It's stunning. Like, how are they paying for all this stuff? These lots are enormous. It's because humanity is voracious for stories, and movies are one premium type of storytelling. The demand for stories is steady if not going up. It's just that we have a wider variety of types of stories that we can do, whether we're an indie author. So anyway, did I answer the question? You get me too excited with these questions, Jo. It's a problem. Jo: Yes. I think there's a lot of opportunity and a lot of ways in, but the parallels with being an indie author I think are quite clear. One of the things I found interesting about your profile and what you do is that you help clients who are already accomplished but not quite breaking through, and that sounds like a lot of mid-list indie authors, probably a lot of mid-list screenwriters, mid-list filmmakers. This is a hard place to be because, on the one hand, we are grateful for what we have achieved and what we can do, and yet wanting more, wanting that big Hollywood deal or the Netflix deal, or wanting the massive bestseller or whatever. So if someone wants to get to that next level, what are some of the ways that they can perhaps try and get there? Brooks: It's a great question. Coaching is a really wonderful way to learn anything of this sort of complexity and challenge, especially if it's a hyper-competitive business. We need two things, I think, to write a great novel or screenplay or both. A, we need to feel profoundly safe in our space. If we can't really feel deeply authentic about the things that are embarrassing, or that we feel shame about, or just our shadows, or anything that we don't feel completely comfortable saying and sharing in public usually. We need to be able to touch those things, and be articulate about those things, and that's one part of it. Then we need a concrete path forward. Maybe you're thinking about some tragedy that you had in childhood, and how you dealt with it and how difficult that was. So you need to be able to be real precise in those observations about what it felt like, and how you tried to compensate for it, and that didn't work and it made it worse. Whatever your observations are about your life journey, you need to be really specific and really deeply felt. A good coaching relationship allows you to be in that space, to be really honest with yourself and authentic. g Aood coach will push you back and say, “You know what? That sounds interesting, but maybe not quite as true to you deeply.” So that's one piece of it. Then there's a concrete path forward. You need to have the emotional access to that truth, and then you need to know what to do with that truth in a step-by-step way. Because most people, the ones that you're talking about, they're accomplished in something else. What happens is when we first start writing, and maybe this happens with novelists, but for sure it happens to screenwriters, you just start typing words. But you haven't really thought through the theme, the concept, the structure, the character, all the deeper questions that really matter. The milestones, like a North Star: winning a major award, or getting a publisher. That's the direction that we're heading towards, and then you set it and forget it, but you want to keep checking it every week, every month or whatever. But you want it very specific. “I would like to sell a book, or sell a book to Hollywood, or write a screenplay, or get a producer attached to a screenplay.” Whatever the milestone is, make it really specific, really concrete, and then reverse engineer. This is what I do on the concrete path. I reverse engineer every step to get there, starting with a really tiny one we can do today, and I make sure they feel really safe, and then we just walk through. Then what happens is, if you do that, if you feel safe, if you're showing up authentically and you have a process that's repeatable, not just willy-nilly, it's got to be something that's proven to work. It wasn't an accident I wrote 45 scripts. I've got a whole system. But by the way, the first five scripts took me forever. The last movie that I made took me three years to write that script. I can write a better script with those same elements in three months now, because I know I have a concrete path. So if you want to do something new, whether it's playing the piano or getting six-pack abs or writing a screenplay, work with somebody who's got a system that's already proven, and make sure you relate to them, and then just follow the system. Then when the doubts come up, and they will, that's where the feeling safe is really important. Because, oh, I want the six-pack abs, but I don't feel like going to the gym. I want the extra donut. If I'm working with a really good trainer, they go, “Dude, do you want the six-pack abs or not?” And then you go back and forth, and I go, “Okay, now I can make peace with myself and say I can take one tiny bite of the donut and then still do my workout,” and then I'm moving towards that North Star. Does that make sense? Jo: Yes. I think, like many independents, I resist anything that is systematised. I'm a discovery writer, and I follow the muse, and all of that kind of thing. I think I would say something in a similar vein, which is sustainable creativity for the long term, because your 45 scripts are also years of work, and my books are years of work, and we get better at what we do. So my system, I do have a system really, because— My system is that I do the work, and I write my stories, and I get them out there, and I do the marketing. So even if it's not as systematised as such, it's still a process that I have repeated over and over again. Brooks: That's fascinating to me. Would you consider yourself a pantser? You're like, “I've got an idea,” and you just start writing? Jo: I don't use the word pantser. I guess I call it discovery writing, which is… Brooks: That's a better term. Jo: Yes. What I'm writing for this prize, for example, I know the characters, I know now what's happening. When I had the idea, it was very much a vision and a theme, and the competition has a theme: a positive future with AI and technology. But the things that came around that, I then started playing with ideas around the treatment. I haven't written the screenplay yet. I don't do a plot, or I don't follow Save the Cat or any of that kind of thing. When I write a novel, I just explore and I never write in order. Then at some point I stop and then I have to think about the structure and putting it all together, so the edits are quite big. But my fun is in that discovery, really. Brooks: Oh, that's awesome. Okay, so let me ask, that's really fascinating. And by the way, that doesn't, to me, negate the system that I use. The one that I use is ultimately… the thing is, these questions, the audience is wanting your unique answers to. You don't necessarily need to do it in a certain order. I think that's actually really cool that you write out of order and you have a few elements in mind. All that stuff sounds awesome. The only thing that then makes me curious is, how's your pace? Are you actually completing novels at a pace that feels good, or do you feel like you go too fast, too slow? Jo: I do one or two a year at the moment. Well, two a year, really. But I would say I'm not as successful as I'd like to be, so I'm not saying that my system is the best. I'm saying I want to be better. It's just that my fun is this sort of creative chaos, which I then try and control later. One of the things I really like about screenplays and treatments and doing this kind of thing for film is that it is much more structured, I think, than a 70,000-word novel. You can go in all kinds of directions, whereas with screenwriting you do have to be more disciplined really. Brooks: Yes, so this is going to be fun probably, to hear my view for your audience, and the differences as I see them. For starters, you're talking about what, 10, 20, 30 hours reading a novel sometimes, or maybe less, whereas a movie's a 90-minute experience, right? So that's different. Or if it's a TV series, you might see an hour and then an hour. So that's a very different experience. What happens is when it's condensed like that, you're loading up layers. So every scene is stacked with exposition beneath the drama, and done in a certain way. So specifically, movies are only what you can see and only what you hear. Whereas novels, if you can think it, you can write it, it can be in there. So you don't need to have a plot, but if you want to sell your book to Hollywood, it helps. So I was very resistant about structure. I went to NYU film school, where we really just made short films. It was funny, I had friends that were in the dramatic writing department, and I was like, “You guys are wasting your money. You're just learning to write scripts. We learn to write the scripts and make the movies.” What I hadn't realised is it's a different skill set to hold somebody's attention across an hour-long play, or a 90-minute movie, than it is to make a movie that holds their attention for two minutes or five minutes. I found out years later when I made a feature that was like a lot of shorts patched together, and people were not… They liked it, but they didn't love it. I was like, “Well, what's going on?” And so then I learned to really love Save the Cat in particular. It completely changed me. What happened was, I got a big old slice of humble pie. I had made my second feature, and I put everything I had into it, and it had loose structural beginning, middle, end, blah, blah, blah. But I was still, “Eh, Hollywood BS. What do they know? It's all fake.” So I was very anti-Hollywood structure. Then I was like, now I've got two independent films out there, people saw them, liked them, whatever, but it wasn't getting me consistent work. It wasn't really advancing my career in the way that I wanted. And I was like, “Well, maybe there is something to the Save the Cat.” So I went to the Save the Cat workshop with Blake when he was still alive, and he was delightful, a really awesome guy. He's got this kind of cutesy style, for people that don't know. For context, Blake Snyder was a working Hollywood screenwriter, and he had this system called Save the Cat, which actually has some really interesting ideas. He's got this very light, breezy sort of style. A lot of people don't like him and some people really love him, and everything in between. But I took his weekend seminar, and it completely changed me, because at that point, like I said, I took three years to write a script. Then once he had a process and he had a way of thinking about craft that was just much more screenwriter-friendly, I was like, “Oh my God.” It was so much easier, because I was just focused on the right thing at the right time. So it just sped everything up. After that, I was banging out two to three scripts a year, and better and better quality. So for me, because I went from winging it and wrote five scripts in 13 years, and then wrote two to three scripts every year, I became a huge proponent of system and process. Then my own system really came from that, but it's modular. I have a nine-step system, but you don't necessarily have to go in that order, other than the last three steps, but I won't get into the details. Sometimes you kind of jump from two to three and then back to two and then back and forth. So I love that you get the feel for those elements, and then you just felt your way through. But writing screenplay pages doesn't make sense until you really understand concept, you get a deep sense of beginning, middle, end, character arcs, and these other threads. There are just way better tools for those jobs than screenplay format, because it's a really weird format. It's got these weird slug lines at the top that are all in caps, because a screenplay is a blueprint for somebody else to make the movie. It's not an end-user document like a novel. I don't let my clients even go to that format because it just gets them focused on the wrong things. What they really need to know is, what is your perspective about this theme? What happened in your life that you're fascinated with, that you'd even want to write about this? And tell me what your real life lessons are. So we go into… again, I go back to relationship. What's your relationship to the universe? And what's your relationship to your best friends, or where you got your heart broken, or whatever you want to write about. And then we get that clarity, and then I show you how to express it in terms of developing a screenplay. It's really long-form storytelling, and then the structure just makes it build on itself. But with the structure, because you're talking about so much money and people involved to make it, at least traditionally, what ended up happening was narrative structure that was not so much rigid. Because here's the thing, you can look at 50, 100 years of European cinema and you can look at Hollywood cinema, and Hollywood laps them. When I taught at UCLA Extension, I had lots of foreign students. Let's say there'd be two or three students… if there were 12 people in the class, two or three people would be from America, and everybody else would be from other countries. I would go around, I'd be like, “What movies and TV shows have you been watching?” Almost in every single country, they watch half from their own country, half from Hollywood. So Hollywood storytelling works, that's just the data, and they're dominant. The reason it works is what Aristotle was saying thousands of years ago.. There's a way of thinking about beginning, middle, end that just deeply speaks to the psyche, and you can ignore it if you want. I think Godard said, “You need beginning, middle, and end, but not necessarily in that order,” right? Which is great. Just the way we experience life, there's a beginning, a middle, an end to this podcast interview. There's a beginning, middle, end to the day, a beginning, middle, end to me eating lunch. So if you don't lean into the beginning, middle, end psychological aspect of your story, you're going to bore your reader. But to your point, you don't necessarily have to sort that out in the beginning. It's more efficient probably if you do, but you don't have to. Go into it wherever the muse tells you to go, and then at some point, like you do, then you go, “Okay, now I go back and I edit.” If you're saying there's another level, you have another gear in you, then yes, I'd be curious to slowly go through how you're making those decisions. Because what's happening probably is there are ways you're holding back a little bit. There's maybe something you're afraid of being vulnerable about. That's usually where me or other writers are holding themselves back, and we can take a look at that. There are different ways I show writers to do it. Then you can go, “Oh, I was doing it here, and now I can do it there.” And it could be with process, or just a certain creative choice. With story, it's clear and compelling. Those are the simple things. So, is this clear enough? Is it compelling enough? And there are almost always ways to up-level on any facet, whether it's one sentence, or a sentence that describes the whole concept of the book, or a chapter. Each one of those can be looked at with that lens and we can just say, “Hey, this is 70%, 80%,” whatever, and then we say, “Well, how do we get a little bit more?” And then when you do that enough, it piles up. Then especially if you bring in an audience and people are flipping out for your work, they'll tell you. Jo: Yes, I love a challenge, so thank you for everything you've shared today. So where can people find you and everything you do online? Brooks: Well, one way you can find me—if anything I said seemed helpful for you, if you have questions about Hollywood or you have a screenplay in your heart—you can just email me, brooks@brookselms.com. You could look me up on LinkedIn. I'm at Brooks Elms. I also have a Skool community called Screenwriter Marketing, but it's really for any sort of storyteller, and it talks about my favourite way to engage an audience and get through it. So anybody can jump into that if you like my vibe. If you really think anything I've said, or the way I said it, seems like it could be helpful for you, just reach out. Let me know what you're up to, and maybe there's a way I can help you. Jo: Fantastic. Well, thanks so much for your time, Brooks. That was great. Brooks: You're welcome. It was a total pleasure. It was lots of fun, and I really appreciate you.The post How To Prove The Demand For Your Stories And Get The Attention Of Hollywood With Brooks Elms first appeared on The Creative Penn.

    Relay FM Master Feed
    Intentional AI 5: There Be Dragons

    Relay FM Master Feed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 50:28


    Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT http://relay.fm/intentional/5 http://relay.fm/intentional/5 David Sparks and Chris Bailey David and Chris map four dragons waiting at the edge of the AI map: false confidence, scope creep, becoming the donkey, and surrender. David and Chris map four dragons waiting at the edge of the AI map: false confidence, scope creep, becoming the donkey, and surrender. clean 3028 David and Chris map four dragons waiting at the edge of the AI map: false confidence, scope creep, becoming the donkey, and surrender. Links and Show Notes: Credits TheHosts Chris Bailey David Sparks The Editor Jim Metzendorf The Fixer Kerry Provanzano Support Intentional AI with a Relay Membership Submit Feedback Intentional AI Intentional AI on YouTube Cognitive Offloading (Risko & Gilbert) Siri AI LM Studio Aristotle's Ethics The Odyssey (Film) Your Obedient Servant Pronouncing "Claude" on Reddit

    Android's Amazing Podcast
    Issue #235: San Diego Comic-Con 2026

    Android's Amazing Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 59:16


    This week James & Hunter talk all things SDCC 2026! Starting off with Marvel they talk about the Wolverine video game, the plethora of comics announced including Punisher vs Predator and Maximum X-Men, their new "Mangaverse" with Kadokawa, & all the Hall H announcements, like Ghost Rider! They then switch over to DC Comics and chat about the Lanterns trailer and everything announced at the "Next Level" panel. Finally they talk about any other crazy SDCC announcements like the new Dungeons & Dragons ongoing comic book at Dark Horse, Kull coming back to comics at Titan, Avatar: Seven Heavens, & Blade Runner 2099!Thanks for listening guys, you can head to our website androidscomics.com to check out this week's previews and new releases. Follow us on Instagram @androids_comics, the podcast Instagram @androidsamazingpodcast, and on X @androidsamazing for up to date news. You can follow James @vegalawless1226 and Hunter (ooh me) @scruffymooseman on most social media platforms and @scruffymoose on BlueSky.If you'd like to read our comics you can head over to our publication page on Comix.One, TokUSA Studios, to check our books in both Digital and physical formats. We are also on Global Comix. For more news on our comics be sure to follow us @TokUSA_Studios on socials.

    Frankenstein's Podcast
    137. Samara from 'The Ring' w/Jim Tandberg

    Frankenstein's Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 94:16


    This episode, Kalid and Joe are joined by returning guest and resident artist, Jim Tandberg, to chat about Gore Verbinski's take on The Ring from 2002, as well as the original Ringu film from Japan, and also Koji Suzuki's novel that inspired them all.RIP Daveigh Chase.​​*Thank you to Jim Hall for the music! Check out more of his music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you like what you hear, please consider donating to support his work⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!*Thank you to Jim Tandberg for the Frankenstein's Podcast artwork!*Shoutout to our Patreon Producer(s), Luke Johnson, Andy Groth, Jake Kohl & Joe Mischo!⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠Featured Guest:Jim Tandberg is a local Twin Cities artist, resident artist for this podcast, and a geek at heart. He counts himself as a member of countless fandoms, but often gravitates towards comics, manga, anime, model building and Dungeons & Dragons. You can see his latest art pieces⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠. Follow Jim on Instagram @⁠⁠Jimstagram2⁠⁠.References:Onryō (wikipedia)Thoughtography (wikipedia)The InviteThe FuriousFolklores Coffee House - San AntonioThe Whisper Man by Alex NorthRadio K (University of Minnesota radio station)Ninajirachi Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt DinnimanMarathon (video game)

    Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews
    Episode 112 - But That's How We've Always Played ...With Guest Host Lexi Kohanski

    Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 42:03


    July 29, 2026Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy JewsEpisode 112 - But That's How We've Always Played ...With Guest Host Lexi KohanskiJudaism's history and laws have been passed down through the generations. In the earliest days, this was passed down by word of mouth until it was written down. How do we know which rules and laws we should follow or change? Should we? Our guest host, Lexi Kohanski, joins us as we realize that it's exactly that kind of thinking that gets us things like Monopoly's "free parking jackpot" of the more recent "usage dice" in Dungeons & Dragons. Did we make these rules up? And if we did, is that really so bad?Share this episode with a friend:https://www.torahsmash.com/post/episode-112-but-thats-how-weve-always-playedLexi Kohanski - lexi@thetorahstudio.orghttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kohanski/worlds-to-comeConnect with us online, purchase swag, support us with a donation, and more at www.torahsmash.com

    Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families
    How Dungeons and Dragons Changed Gaming

    Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2026 8:57


    Step into the world of imagination and adventure with the story of Dungeons & Dragons, the game that started it all. Discover how two creative minds, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, invented this magical game in the 1970s. Learn how Dungeons & Dragons became the most famous roleplaying game, inspiring millions of players to create their own stories. See how this game sparked a whole new way of playing, where people use their imagination to become heroes and explore fantastic worlds. Follow the journey of roleplaying games as they grew from simple beginnings to a global phenomenon. Uncover the magic behind the dice rolls and character sheets that continue to captivate players young and old.