Derailed Trains Of Thought

Has urban life made people soft? Does living off the grid make you one with Nature? Does eking out an existence on a deserted island improve your moral character? Following up last episode's discussion on nature, Tim and Nick examine how characters are changed for the better (or worse) by the wild. In the second half, after our first audio Listener Feedback, our intrepid hosts tackle such pressing questions as "How would Charlie Brown survive if he was stranded on the moon?" in a rousing What If? So, whether you're a city slicker or a noble savage, you're sure to enjoy the latest episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes

The flowers are blooming, the trees blaze green, and the world shines in the aftermath of cool showers. Spring is here! And so, naturally (pun intended), Nick and Tim discuss the place of nature in fiction. They follow up with a short, plant-based "It Came From the Intrawebs," followed by a quick hop back to topic of Biblical adaptations to highlight The Chosen in "Previously On..." So, get outside, put in those ear buds, and listen to the soothing sounds of episode 108 of Derailed Trains of Thought, your premiere podcast on storytelling. Show Notes

Even when you're stuck at home, there are still worlds to explore! In this special Side Track, socially distanced hosts Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden share the contents and histories of their book and movie shelves. It's a special quarantine Side Track of your favorite podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought! Listen in. You have nothing better to do. Show Notes

What will the father do when his daughter is kidnapped? Whatever it takes. What will the detective do to clear his name from a wrongful accusation of murder? Whatever it takes. What will the group of superheroes do when half the world is wiped out by a magic glove? Whatever it takes! Strong-willed protagonists get things done. But are proactive main characters always the best choice? Why do we love them and are there times to enjoy/create other types of protagonists? Hosts Nick and Tim muse about these thing in this episode's Story School. Then, in the second half, we play "Guess That Protagonist!" in a new Challenge Accepted! So, what will you do to find time to listen to episode 107 of your premiere podcast on storytelling? Whatever it takes, obviously. Show Notes

What if I told you everything you knew was a lie? The Island is actually purgatory and all the Pixar films are connected and Aladdin actually takes place in a future post-apocalyptic wasteland and Captain Planet and the Magic Schoolbus are actually the same show. Also, Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord. Or maybe we're over analyzing. Your hosts, Nick and Tim are here to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of analyzing (and over analyzing) a story. Then, in the second half, they tackle their annual book club Take on Tales. So, whether Derailed Trains of Thought is your premiere podcast on storytelling or just a cleverly designed element of your Truman Show life, listen in and enjoy. Show Notes

If you haven't heard, there's been a new Star Wars movie. Oh, and some streaming show featuring a cute green creature and an armored dude. So, of course, Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden are digging into these two new Star Wars adventures like Jawas into a Mudhorn egg. You may have thought you'd heard everyone and their brother's opinion on The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian, but you were wrong. Listen. Here. Now. Finally. We have spoken.

Merry Christmas! 'Tis the season for nativities and stories of the Nativity, which put Tim and Nick in the mood to discuss Biblical adaptations. How do you adapt a Bible story, and what makes it different from a normal adaptation? Then, for this month's What If?, your hosts decide to try their hand at their own adaptations of well-known (and little known) Biblical accounts. So, as you wait for Christmas Day, and all the joy it represents, perhaps a little diversion with your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought, would make your wait even better. Merry Christmas! Show Notes

Some stories make you laugh. Others make you cry. And some can make you laugh, cry, cower in terror, and want a nice cup of tea with a friend. In this episode's Story School Tim and Nick examine the range of emotions that some stories can carry and how creators can help readers/viewers feel deeply. In the second half, your trusted hosts revisit old topics with new twists in "Previously On...," asking such questions as "What are the metaphysical implications of human communication?" and "Why do people like cheese?" Whatever your mood, listening to this newest episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought, is sure to brighten your day. Show Notes

So, the Internet says that there's a 1 in a trillion chance of you having a doppelganger somewhere on the planet. But that must be wrong, because characters in stories run into their lookalikes all the time. And if not their doppelganger, than their clone. Or a robot version of themselves. Or a dark psychic double. Or...well, you get the idea. Tim and Nick discuss the use of doubles in fiction in this episode's Story School. In the second half, Tim and Nick look to AI to help them write a story in It Came From the Intrawebs! And then they share not one, but two Bits of Story. Kinda. It's all here in episode 103 of this truly unique podcast, the one and only Derailed Trains of Thought! Show Notes

A wise and weird man once said, "My, my, this here Anakin guy, May be Vader someday later, now he's just a small fry." Which raises the important question: How? How does the village coward become a brave knight? How does a fussy old Hobbit become an adventurer? Or, in other words, how does a character change? Tim and Nick delve into the depths of character development, hoping to find some answers. In the second half, they present their hopefully-not-too-late review of summer movies and TV shows, from Endgame to Stranger Things. So listen in to the newest episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. While some chem teacher become drug lords, and not all white wizards remain true, we're here once again, changing only for the better. Show Notes

If there's one thing everyone knows about the end of the world, it's that it's pretty cool to watch on the big screen. There's nothing like destruction, chaos, and extinction-level events to make us sit back and think, "Man, this is awesome." Guest Nathan Marchand joins hosts Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal to discuss this phenomenon. Then they join in the fun by adding giant monsters to classic books and movies in this episode's What If? They've been there and back again, but now it's time for Nick and Tim to get back to work on your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Listen in. It would be a disaster if you didn't. Show Notes

It's here! IT'S HERE! EPISODE 100! After nearly 9 year and 99 episodes, we've finally arrived at episode 100. Triple digits, here we are! It's been quite a journey and, without spoiling much, so is this episode. Don't wait, press play, and join Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden for a very special edition of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. We hope you enjoy the trip! Show Notes

IT'S HERE! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!? IT'S REALLY HERE! EPISODE 99 OF THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZINGLY AWESOME PODCAST ON STORYTELLING! IT'S THE GREATEST! IT'S STUPENDOUS! AFTER YOU LISTEN TO THIS, YOUR LIFE WILL BE COMPLETE! Now take a breath. This episode in Story School, Timothy and Nick examine how hype affects our view of stories. Then, after a Project Update, they revisit It Came From the Intrawebs! to subject themselves to fan-made trailers in search of some of that hype we so enjoy reveling in, with mixed results. No matter what ails you, this podcast--THIS PODCAST!--will totally blow you away and make you wish that you could listen to episode 100 RIGHT NOW! Oh, the agony of waiting! Show Notes

Of the many stories never mentioned on Derailed Trains of Thought (your premiere podcast on storytelling), one is The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover, where Grover tries to prevent the appearance of the monster at the end of the book. He has a certain sense of foreboding (probably given him by the title of the book) that, perhaps, there might be a monster at the end of the book. If this isn't foreshadowing, we don't know what is. This episode Nick and Timothy discuss the use of foreshadowing in stories, while not discussing Grover or other puppet-like creatures. Then, in part 2, you get a double dose of fun! First, a short What If? and then a Disney-saturated It Came From the Intrawebs! Now that you have a sense of what's coming when you hit the play button, go ahead and see how it unfolds. Show Notes

While the entertainment world gives tons of coverage to movies, video games, and books, what about the stage? (And not just musicals?) Well, in today's Story School the play's the thing we discuss with special guest Lauren Nichols, Artistic Director for all for One Productions. Then, get ready, in the second half, Nick shares some of his favorite podcasts and Timothy finally (finally!) unloads his thoughts about the long-awaited Kingdom Hearts III. The curtain's going up, so settle in and enjoy the spectacle that is Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes

It might be a rant, a heartfelt reminiscence, a personal reflection, an exposition dump, or a rousing speech, but whatever it is, there's something special about one character taking a minute (or ten) to share what's on his mind. This episode, Nick and Timothy examine the types and uses of monologues in story. In the second half we introduce a new segment: "Challenge Accepted!" In it, Nick and Timothy challenge each other to NAME THAT MONOLOGUE! So, if you're in the mood to hear other people talk with no chance of engaging in a dialogue, hit the play button and enjoy episode 96 of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes

Story is good. We've said that before. But story can also take an out-sized and even, shall we say, idolatrous place in our media-soaked lives. Nick and Tim discuss the dangers of story for the creator and consuming in this episode's Story School. Then it's time for this year's Book Recap in Our Take on Tales, where we tackle exciting and humorous fantasies, philosophical mythology, mystical play practices, suspenseful deceits, war-torn rebellions, and Dickens. Listen in to this episode of your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. In its proper place, it's pretty darn entertaining. Show Notes

It's Christmas, and while that means food and festivities, hopefully it also means moments of silence and thoughtfulness. This episode, Nick and Tim muse over the use and flavors of silence in stories. In the second half, they present a special holiday collage of original fiction designed to highlight the meditative nature of Christmas and the reason for the season. Find a quiet spot where you can drink some hot chocolate and watch the snow falling on the fields outside and listen in to your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes

It's Thanksgiving, and while the commercial world is rushing on to Black Friday, Timothy and Nick want to pause a moment and give thanks for stories. So, in Story School, we list the ways stories benefit our lives. Then in What If? we shoehorn the oft-neglected Thanksgiving special into a variety of popular franchises. So, before the tryptophan kicks in, grab an extra helping of mashed potatoes, gather the family, and listen in to your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes

The Hero's Journey is essential to a good story, right? How about an epic climax? Five acts? Three? A witty sidekick? What does a story need and what do we modern Westerns think it needs? Many of our conventions of story telling are just that, conventions. This episode, Timothy and Nick discuss story conventions past, present, and elsewhere in Story School. In the second half, we take on another Take on Tales (literary edition) and return to an old topic in a Previously On... segment. You know the drill--listen in, enjoy, tell all your friends. This is your premiere podcast on storytelling, Derailed Trains of Thought. Show Notes