Storyworld: Recent Episodes
Steve Schramm and Alex Giguere
The world of "story" has captivated humanity since the dawn of time. The oldest known form of communication, verbal storytelling is responsible for the continuity and development of civilization from its most primitive moments to its most advanced. Story invokes a sense of mystical wonder, but is also a powerful medium for communicating real and concrete ideas that shape people's lives and make them take action. Steve Schramm (Marketer, Non-Fiction Writer, and Story Nerd) and Alex Giguere (Fiction Writer, Wannabe Game Designer, and Story Nerd) join forces as worlds collide to discuss how "story" is the most powerful concept ever known, and how it interacts with each and every aspect of our lives -- from the most magical to the most mundane.
Is it too risky to invest your money and multiply it? No!!! Jesus was very clear that squandering our resources -- whether they be time or money -- is not God's will for our lives. In this episode, we explore the parable of the talents and look for ways to be useful in God's kingdom.
In this episode of the podcast, Steve and Alex discuss the parable of the mustard seed. This is one of the shortest and yet most significant parables in the entire Bible and raises some really interesting questions about Christianity and whether or not the Bible is even true. Enjoy this episode!
In this episode, Steve and Alex discuss the parable of the prodigal son. It's easy to miss the point of this parable. If you don't read it in the context of the whole chapter. In truth, it's an amazing parable that highlights the importance of Jesus' ministry on earth to find lost sinners -- not to spend all of his time with the righteous.
Welcome to our deep dive into the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this episode, we unpack a story that serves as a profound answer to the question - "Who is my neighbor?" Through Jesus's narrative, we are reminded that our neighbors are not just those closest to us, but extend to anyone in dire need of our assistance and kindness.
In this episode, Steve and Alex review the 2007 British comedy film Hot Fuzz directed by Edgar Wright. They discuss the hilarious humor, clever writing, over-the-top violent scenes, and stunts in miniature sets. They praise the performances of Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel and Jim Broadbent as Inspector Frank Butterman.
Steve and Alex agree the plot is excellent for a comedy film, managing to incorporate elements of buddy cop, slasher, and action genres while still staying grounded in humor. The emotional response the film evokes - mainly shock and laughter - earns it high marks. The guest cameos and characters bringing the script to life also impress them.
In terms of category intent, Hot Fuzz nails every genre it attempts - comedy, action, slasher, and buddy cop. Overall, Steve and Alex rate the film a "steak" - the highest score on their MEAT-O-METER scale - praising it as one of the best movies they have ever seen. They both expressed a desire to immediately rewatch the film after finishing it the first time.
They also briefly discuss the new social media platform Threads. While acknowledging Threads has gained popularity initially, they are skeptical of it due to issues like lack of ability to delete accounts and excessive data collection. Steve and Alex disagree on their opinions of the newest Indiana Jones film and the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Hope you enjoy the episode! Let Steve and Alex know what you think of Hot Fuzz and their discussion in the comments.
We will be exploring eight of Jesus' parables over the coming episodes from three angles: the historical context at the time, the spiritual teachings Jesus was communicating, and universal life lessons we can apply today regardless of religious beliefs. Our goals are to introduce listeners to Jesus through how he taught via stories, show the practical wisdom found in the Bible, and foster engagement and discussion among the podcast community. We encourage listeners to leave comments and questions to help grow the podcast and engage the listeners. In the story of the week section, we discuss an upcoming Elon Musk biography as well as developments with the Wagner Group in Russia.
In this episode, Steve and Al discuss the differences between direct response marketing and brand advertising and which strategy is best for growing your business. They cover:
• The key differences between direct response and brand marketing in terms of goals, costs, tracking effectiveness and more.
• How direct response works by always having an offer, compelling copy and testing campaigns to optimize performance.
• Examples of how brand advertising often relies on creating feelings and associations rather than direct response.
• How direct response marketing enables you to make money immediately while brand takes longer to build loyalty and recognition.
• Ways you can utilize both direct response and brand marketing by starting with direct response to fund brand advertising efforts.
• How content creators, writers and artists can market themselves through educational content that still ultimately drives revenue.
• The importance of putting your work out in public to garner the attention of publishers, fans and customers.
• Tips for providing value first through 'how to' videos, blog posts, tutorials and more to build an audience before trying to sell your products or services.
They discuss anecdotes, stories and case studies to illustrate key points around marketing effectively through either direct response or brand strategies. Overall, this episode provides practical tips and insights for small business owners, content creators and anyone looking to market a skill, talent or product online.
In this episode of the Storyworld Podcast, Steve and Alex discuss finally finishing the Harry Potter series, analyze the character development of Severus Snape, and give updates on what they’ve been working on recently.
Steve just completed watching all the Harry Potter films with his wife and found that while the later, darker films stripped away some of the fun “wizarding world” elements, the progression of the characters and story was fantastic. Alex, a longtime Potter fan, shares insights into details left out of the movies, like the close friendship between Snape and Harry’s mother, Lily. They analyze Snape’s complex character and ultimate revelation as a “good guy.”
For updates, Alex has been making fast progress on a first draft of his fiction book. Steve’s web design business has slowed down, so reach out if you need a website! He’s also revamping his blog to bring together his interests in business, marketing, theology, and creationism. He wants to build something to point to for the long-term.
They end discussing following your purpose and passions, even if just as a side project at first. While Steve enjoys his work, his ultimate goal isn’t just web design. He aspires to thought leadership and writing in the ministry realm. Alex is focused on writing fiction, preferring its simplicity to Steve’s diverse interests!
An engaging episode covering the Potter series, following your dreams, and the projects keeping Steve and Alex busy.
Join Steve and Alex as they rate and rank movies based on types of meat on their very own “meat-o-meter” scale. In this fun, lighthearted episode, they go through several movies they’ve watched recently like Rocket Man, The Prestige, and Interstellar to determine if each one deserves a impossible meat, spam, bacon, burger, or juicy steak rating. They also discuss their criteria for the ratings like plot, characters, emotional response, and category intent. While their rating system may be unconventional, their movie analyses and discussions are highly entertaining. Tune in for an episode full of laughs, movie reviews, and of course -- meat.
On this episode of the Storyworld Podcast, hosts Steve and Alex engage in a lively discussion about Christopher Nolan's film, 'Memento.' They explore the movie's unique non-linear narrative, where scenes are presented in both chronological and reverse order, creating an intriguing and complex viewing experience. They also dive into the character of Leonard Shelby, a man suffering from short-term memory loss, who uses Polaroid photographs and tattoos to find the people who attacked his wife. The hosts reflect on the movie's profound impact and share their questions about its intricate plotlines.
Is it possible for a story to be literally larger than life? Listen in as Alex and Steve explore this topic - as usual - from a variety of perspectives.
In the religious world, people "convert" and "deconvert." We've noticed an uptick in this, and want to examine the nature and power of these stories.
A little different one this week! Some of the most powerful stories in the entire world are the ones never leave your own mind. This is both good and bad, and certainly worthy of conversation. Enjoy the show!
The Rings of Power is arguably one of the biggest TV shows of all time, in terms of expectations, budget, and viewership. And it is not without controversy! Here's what Alex and Steve think about the show so far. Warning: spoilers ahead!
The writer of Ecclesiastes famously said, "there is nothing new under the sun." Adaptations and remakes are all the rage these days, and they raise some interesting questions about how--or even if--they can be done well. Let's talk about it!
Who doesn't love a well-done "whodunnit" movie?! Knives Out certainly fit the bill. It was fun to watch and even more fun to chat about. Enjoy the show!
How do you APPLY the difference between character-driven and plot-driven stories in real life? That's our topic for this episode! There is a TON of great info with regard to fiction writing and marketing in this one - don't miss it!
In this episode, the guys discuss what a character-driven story looks like in the context of fiction writing and marketing. Lots of GOLD tips here that you don't want to miss!
In this week's episode, we begin a series on the types of stories you can tell. We start with plot-driven stories, and there are some really great insights here from both the writing and marketing angles. Enjoy!
Why yes, there is a movie about Nick Cage BEING Nick Cage. It's extremely meta, extremely awesome, and Steve and Alex had an EXTREMELY fun time discussing and pulling valuable lessons out of this movie.
Space Cowboys is a GREAT (in our humble opinion) movie from the early 2000s. In this episode, we talk about what we liked, didn't like, and as always, tried to pull out some practical applications for you storytellers!
In this episode, Alex and Steve talk about one of their VERY favorite topics, SPACE! Space is the home of many of our favorite stories, and it's a very important part of the human story as well. Enjoy!
Did anybody like reading and writing in school? In this one, Steve & Alex talk writing in the classroom, what they did and did not like about it, how they feel it could be improved, and much more!
Interstellar is another FANTASTIC Christopher Nolan movie. In this episode, Steve and Alex talk about their likes, dislikes, and give an overview of the plot. SPOILER ALERT for sure on this one! If you've seen the movie, join us for the discussion!
We've all been there. You're working on a story, had good motivation and momentum in the beginning, and then it just stops. This is what we're calling "the messy middle." Can you overcome it? SHOULD you overcome it? Let's talk about it in this episode of Storyworld!
GOSSIP. It's infectious. It's evil. And we (well, humans in general) LOVE it. In this episode, we talk about why! And, how it relates to storytelling. This is a fun one!
In this episode, the guys discuss one of Steve's favorites - Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Obviously, as Story Nerds™, we have a particuilar fascination with fiction. Alex, a deep love that stems from his childhood, and Steve, a deep appreciation that stems from his marketing background. But... is actually reading and engaging with fiction a waste of time? Some think so. Let's talk about it!
In this final episode of our series on the importance of backstory, we are talking about "real life" backgrounds. How does someone's individual origin story affect public perception, etc? It's a fun one!
When marketing your product or service, how do you tell your stories in an interesting way? In this episode, we discuss the importance and art of telling your stories in a compelling way that invites change and action.
In this episode, we begin a brand new series on the importance of backstory! We're talking about the backstories of fictional characters. How do those backstories serve the overall narrative? Could NO backstory be a better choice in some cases? All that and more in this episode!
Music is undoubtedly one of the most profound and amazing ways to tell a story. In this episode, Steve and Alex share what they love about music and it can help engage with stories in an exciting way.
We talk a lot about stories we LOVE on this podcast...but what about the stories we don't like! There are some surprises with this one, so make sure you don't miss it!
Alex and Steve break down one of the (objectively!) best movies of all time, The Prestige! SPOILER ALERT You've been warned!
In this episode, Steve & Alex describe how they "set the mood" for work, writing, exercise, and lots of other things! While fun, this episode is EXTREMELY helpful to get ideas on how to set yourself up for success. Don't miss it!
Although we start with very (ironically) uninteresting banter...in this episode, we quickly shift to our 10 BEST tips for how to make your stories -- fiction or nonfiction -- more interesting! Enjoy!
The news and other popular stories are HUGE influencers on how we live life and make decisions daily. But, of course, it is possible to be easily manipulated by these outlets! How do we separate fact from fiction? How do we know who to trust? Find out our thoughts in this episode!
In the "storyworld" we live in, there are SO many different mediums for telling stories. In this episode, Steve and Alex discuss many of those different mediums, what they are good for, and how they help move society forward.
Between the two of us, we have the opportunity to do a lot of different types of writing. So, what does the process of writing actually look like for us? That's our topic in this episode! (P.S. Alex shares some particular awesome nuggets of fiction writing wisdom, so don't miss out!)
Fiction writers and marketers alike love to talk about "worldbuilding." Broadly speaking, worldbuilding is the idea of creating a place that is "other" than the real world. In this conversation, Alex and Steve discover some stark differences between how fiction writers and marketers use the term... as well as some surprising similarities. You don't want to miss this one!
Who are the storytellers that have influenced you the most? In this episode, Alex and Steve discuss those storytellers that have made them the writers and story nerds they are today.
There can be no doubt that storytelling is a powerful medium for communicating ideas to children! What does it look like to actually introduce children to stories--especially serious ones? That's the matter of discussion in this episode! We cover the spectrum from Jesus to Santa, so buckle up and enjoy the discussion!
Most stories come down to some version of "The Hero's Journey." In this episode, we uncover some major differences between how fiction writers and marketers tend to write and view their heroes. This one is a super deep dive where we both learn some new, fascinating things from each other. You don't want to miss it!
Rocketman (1997) is one of Steve's very favorite movies! Although it's a slapstick comedy, Steve and Alex discuss and discover some deep, universal themes in the movie, and attempt to shed light on those in this episode. This one is SUPER fun AND informative, we hope you enjoy!
Stories are a powerful marketing medium. In this episode, we discuss the difference between advertising, marketing, and sales, and what makes an effective story within these different modes! We discuss lots of practical and tactical advice for business owners, so listen in!
The stories most humans love all share some common traits and characteristics. In this episode, we discuss what makes a good story! Do you agree? Disagree? We would love to hear from you!
Do YOU have a favorite story? In this episode, we each discuss our three favorite stories! Join us for the journey!
Story has infected us both...obviously, because that's why we're here! So, how did we get our start and find our individual passion for storytelling? Find out on this episode!
This is not a "Christian" podcast...but both of us are Christians, and are VERY passionate about Christianity as being the "true story of the world." How does Christianity make sense of the world we see around us? Listen in to this episode to find out our thoughts!
The world of "story" is as diverse as it is impactful to our lives. Story has transcended the sands of time, and can be found in the most magical -- and the most mundane -- of moments. Welcome to episode one of our brand new podcast, where we dive DEEP into the world of story from the dual perspectives of a fiction author a marketing expert.