Stephen Talks

There's nothing wrong with making an adaptation, as long as you get certain things right about it.  In this podcast, I discuss the essential elements to get right with any adaptation.

News about Russia's continual oppression of Ukraine and its own people, as well as what it will *really* take to gain peace in the Middle East.

Several lessons in giving credit where credit is due and *not* giving blame where it isn't, as well as news about TikTok, Republicans in Congress, and LGBTQ+ news across the country.

Abortion and IVF both exist for the same reason, the same purpose: to let a woman choose when to have a child.

Between Super Tuesday and the State of the Union address, a lot has happened in American politics this last week.

New sanctions on Russia on the two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine could lead to higher prices in the U.S. Also, some troubling news from CPAC and the presidential primaries.

Proper compensation and regulating the use of A.I.-generated content were major points of concern in last year's Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes; and they're major points of concern for *all* artists.

The House of Representatives finally got their impeachment, and they may just get their shutdown. But judgment was meted out to Donald Trump this week, too. Also, some words about the Super Bowl and gun control in this week's episode.

Mike Flanagan is at the top of his game when it comes to storytelling and horror. In this episode, I talk about what he's done and what I'd like to see him do next.

All three branches of the federal government saw some heated action this week, including an impeachment vote and an important case before the Supreme Court.

Even if your opponent would fight as hard as they can to get their way instead of you getting your way, you don't have to be enemies. That's what I learned from the Rocky movies. That's what I learned from Carl Weathers.

It's been close to a year since my last podcast, and what a year it's been. I'm not good at keeping things brief, but I'll do my best in this "lightning round" of 2023 highlights (and some lowlights). Here's the link to my homepage, where you can find links to each of my self-published ebooks on all eReader platforms: http://stephens.website/

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has lifted their ban on Donald Trump's accounts. We'll see how they handle his inevitable lies and incitements in the future.

Are you writing the kind of mystery you like to solve? Can you solve it the way it's written? If you can't, then I guarantee your readers won't be able to. In this episode, I talk about how to write good mysteries.

James Cameron has taken us to a new world, with new life and new civilizations. A lot of people around the world love the Avatar movies, but a lot of people have concerns about them. In this podcast, I talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly about Avatar.

The more we learn about the true history of our nation and how it was formed, the more injustices we'll notice in the world today, and the more motivated we'll be to correct them. That's what I think the purpose of Thanksgiving should be.

Elon Musk's ostensible purpose in buying Twitter was to make it a "platform for free speech around the globe". It already was that. Now, it's just another free-for-all hellscape, and I want no part in it. You can find my other social media accounts at this link: https://stephens.website/stephen-lives/

You may not think your vote makes much of a difference; but you're not alone. Voter turnout *always* makes a difference, and the 2020 and 2022 elections prove it.

Whatever your politics or whatever issue is most important to you, Elaine Luria is objectively a better choice than Jen Kiggans for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, and I explain why in this podcast.

This episode is not so much about the attack on Paul Pelosi, but rather the responses to the attack and what they tell us about the people responding.

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol held its tenth and potentially final hearing last week. Here is my recap and my thoughts on their findings and conclusions, and on its bearing on the upcoming midterm elections.

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol held its tenth and potentially final hearing last week. Here is my recap and my thoughts on their findings and conclusions.

Even when there isn't a president or a governor or a member of Congress on the ballot, every election matters, as does every vote.

This episode of the "Game of Thrones" spin-off "House of the Dragon" has made a lot of people uncomfortable (even though, as GOT fans, they *really* should be used to this kind of stuff by now). Content warning: I will be discussing sex, incest, and matters of consent in this episode.

The first Star Trek movie, released in 1979, has garnered a lot of criticism for its slow pacing and lack of action, especially compared to the next movie in the franchise, The Wrath of Khan. But does it deserve a reputation for being one of the "worst" movies in the franchise? I talk about why I think it's an underrated film in this episode.