Story First Podcast

When Joel Madison and I sat down to record this conversation, we started somewhere I didn't expect: school. Neither of us fit comfortably into traditional education. We talk about dyslexia, ADHD, and what it was like growing up before those things were widely understood. That becomes the jumping-off point for a much larger conversation about how creative people learn. Joel went on to become a succ...

This week’s episode is an archive edition from my old podcast, You Are a Storyteller, co-hosted by Jesse Bryan. In this conversation, Jesse and I explore a storytelling concept I call the outer boundaries. Every story teaches its audience how to watch it. Early on, a storyteller establishes the rules of the world—what’s possible, what’s impossible, and what kind of story they’re about to experienc...

When I first met Eddie Smith, he was a student in one of my storytelling classes. Since then, he's built an impressive career as a concept artist and visual developer, contributing to projects including Halo 2, Halo 3, MechWarrior 4, Dungeons & Dragons, G.I. Joe, and many others. But what I've always appreciated about Eddie is that he's remained a student of the craft. In this episode, we talk...

This week on the Story First Podcast, we're revisiting a conversation from the archives with director, production designer, visual development artist, and illustrator Jenn Ely. Jenn has worked with some of the most respected storytellers in animation, including Henry Selick on Wendell & Wild and Guillermo del Toro on the Academy Award-winning Pinocchio. Her career has also included work with L...

This week on the Story First Podcast, Brian McDonald talks with artist, art director, mentor, and visual storyteller Taraneh Karimi. Known for her work with Disney Animation, Netflix Animation, Disney Lorcana, games, publishing, and visual development, Taraneh has built a career helping shape stories through images. In this thoughtful conversation, Taraneh and Brian discuss creativity, emotional t...

This week’s Story First Podcast is an archive episode from You Are a Storyteller, my old podcast co-hosted with Jesse Bryan. In this conversation, Jesse and I discuss the power of simplicity in storytelling and communication. We explore why people often mistake complexity for sophistication, why clarity matters, and why simplicity is usually much harder to achieve than clutter. One of the recurrin...

This week on the Story First Podcast, Emmy-nominated director, storyboard artist, and filmmaker Brian Kalin O’Connell joins me for a deeply personal conversation about storytelling, artistic growth, and what it means to keep showing up for the work. Brian has worked at ILM, Lucasfilm, and Pixar, where he contributed to projects including The Clone Wars, Luca, Turning Red, Incredibles 2, and more....

This week’s episode is an archive conversation from my old podcast You Are a Storyteller, co-hosted with Jesse Bryan. We recorded this discussion shortly before the release of my graphic novel Land of the Dead, illustrated by Toby Cypress. In this episode, Jesse and I explore many of the ideas found in the book, including the journey into the underworld, transformation through hardship, and the se...

This week’s guest is author and illustrator Christy Mandin. Christy and I talk about storytelling as a natural human behavior—something people do every day without realizing it. We discuss picture books, visual storytelling, knowing what you want to say, observation, creativity, reviews, craft, and the difference between what people like and what is actually good. This ended up being a really thou...

This week’s episode is an archive conversation from You Are a Storyteller, my earlier podcast cohosted by Jesse Bryan. In this episode, Jesse and I discuss story structure in real life—how the foundation of storytelling isn’t film, television, novels, or even theater. It’s ordinary human conversation. People naturally slip into story when they want to explain something, make a point, justify thems...

This week’s guest is Nadine Takvorian. Nadine is an author and illustrator whose work focuses on personal storytelling through images. Her graphic novel Armaveni draws from her family’s experience in the Armenian diaspora, using the visual language of comics to explore memory, identity, and history. In this conversation, we talk about storytelling—specifically stories told with pictures. Nadine sh...

What does it actually take to master your craft? In this conversation, Charles Johnson breaks down the reality of becoming a writer—not as inspiration, but as discipline, iteration, and years of deep work. From writing six unpublished “apprentice novels” to throwing away thousands of pages in pursuit of something better, Johnson shares what it really means to commit to the process. This isn’t abou...

What does it actually mean to be a storyteller? In this conversation, Scott Morse breaks down the craft behind storytelling—not as writing, drawing, or directing, but as the ability to bring everything together into something cohesive, emotional, and true. From his early days working with legends like Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble to his experience across comics, animation, and film, Scott shares...

Why is simplicity so hard—and why does it matter so much? In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood ideas in storytelling and creative work: simplicity. Not simplistic, but precise. Focused. Intentional. Most people try to solve problems by adding—more backstory, more shots, more detail. But the real craft lies in taking things away. In knowing exactly what to include… and more...

What changes when you’ve actually tried to make something? In this episode, Brian McDonald reconnects with Rob Watzke, a fellow performer from their stand-up days in the 80s. What starts as a reunion quickly turns into a reflection on craft, failure, and the long road of figuring out where you truly belong. They revisit early ambitions in comedy, the lessons learned from bombing on stage, and the...

What if the biggest problem in storytelling isn’t talent—but clarity? In this archived episode, Brian McDonald breaks down one of the most common mistakes creators make: a lack of focus. Not knowing what you’re trying to say leads to scattered ideas, unclear characters, and stories that never fully land. Through simple but powerful examples—from The Three Little Pigs to Finding Nemo—Brian explores...

How do you turn imagination into a career? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Everett Downing — animator, director, and visual storyteller — to talk about the long road into animation and the mindset it takes to keep going when the path isn’t obvious. Everett shares how drawing became the gateway to storytelling, how persistence and curiosity shaped his career, and why the fundamentals...

What makes a scene work? In this episode of Masters of the Craft, Brian McDonald sits down with writer and producer Al Higgins to break down the five core components every scene must have — and why leaving one out can quietly weaken your story. From character objectives to conflict, stakes, reversals, and emotional movement, Al walks through the practical architecture beneath great storytelling. B...

What happens when you get out of your own way? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Jonny Ashcroft for a deep dive into flow state, that elusive creative space where ego quiets down, time disappears, and the work seems to do itself. They explore the neuroscience behind flow, the courage it takes to relinquish control, and why stretching just beyond your current abilities is often the gat...

What happens when your identity becomes part of the story you’re trying to tell? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with award-winning writer G. Willow Wilson to talk about faith, imagination, and the responsibility that comes with shaping culture. From creating Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel to navigating the expectations placed on her as a public voice, Willow reflects on how storytelling can...

Writing isn’t about inspiration. It’s about belief. In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Danny Rubin, the writer behind Groundhog Day, to talk about what it really means to build a life around storytelling. From the myth of the “overnight success” to the fear of the blank page, Danny unpacks the invisible work that shapes a writer long before anyone notices the result. They explore why s...

“Overnight success” is almost always a lie we tell ourselves after the fact. In this episode, Brian McDonald revisits a deeply personal conversation about the long road behind creative work, the years of rejection, near-misses, false victories, and quiet perseverance that never make the headline. Through stories of unfinished scripts, shelved projects, hard-earned awards that didn’t change anythin...

Great directing isn’t about control, it’s about trust. In this episode, Brian McDonald talks with writer and director Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks, Bridesmaids) about creating honest work by making actors feel safe enough to be real. From his early stand-up days to directing some of the most emotionally grounded comedies of the last few decades, Paul breaks down how authenticity, rhythm, and humili...

Great storytelling isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about process. In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with storyboard artist Gerald Kaye (Spider-Man, My Adventures with Superman, The Sisters Grimm) to talk about the long road into animation and the lessons learned along the way. They explore mentorship, learning where you are, and why every job — even the in-between ones — shapes your craft. It’...

Some people spend their whole lives searching for what they’re meant to do. Kira Lehtomaki knew at five years old. In this archive conversation, Brian McDonald talks with Kira — lead animator on Judy Hopps (Zootopia) and animation supervisor on Zootopia 2 — about passion, discipline, and the lifelong drive to get better at your craft. They revisit her path from a determined UW student to rising th...