Story Matters with Curt Mega

I think you should get your heart broken as often as possible. I try to do it three or four times a week. Not in real life. At the movies. Like Nicole. Nicole understands. And that is why she is our Queen. Here’s what’s been happening to me lately. I’ll read a headline about something genuinely devastating. Something that, if I really sat with it, should completely wreck me. A tragedy. A crisis. S...

We’re back with our annual Oscars podcast. This year Joey Richter and I break down the nominees, the films we loved, the ones we didn’t, and what the year in movies really looked like. You can watch the video version here: Thanks for reading Story Matters by Curt Mega! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...

What did I actually learn in 2025? Not the highlight reel. The real stuff. Burnout. Reflection. Health. Creativity. Letting go of old identities. Rebuilding new ones. This isn’t a “look what I achieved” post. It’s a personal inventory of the 10 biggest things that reshaped how I live, create, and think about my work. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, lost in the noise, or wondering if your cr...

Jon Matteson joins me here on Story Matters to talk about what it’s like returning to the role of Paul in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals nearly seven years after the original Starkid production. We get into the process of stepping back into a character after so much time has passed, how the fandom has shaped the show’s legacy, and what Jon is doing to prepare for the physical and emotional deman...

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners might be one of the boldest and most interesting movies I’ve seen in a long time. I loved it so much that I had to have my friend James Tolbert on to talk through all the details we couldn’t stop thinking about. We dive into how Coogler blends horror, music, drama, and emotional storytelling, while still keeping the film a total blast to watch. We also discuss the sound, the...

In this episode of Story Matters, Bryce Charles (Ella Ashmore) joins me to talk about the creative whirlwind of bringing Starkid’s Cinderella’s Castle to life. From developing Ella’s emotional journey to exploring the dynamic between Ella and Tadius, Bryce shares what it was like to take on the lead role in a brand-new Starkid musical, all while building the show from scratch in record time. We di...

We're back with the only Academy Award discussion you need! Joey Richter returns to talk all things Oscars 2025! Join us as we dive into the year's best films! Join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/curtmega Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/curtmega Follow me on Blues...

On this episode of the podcast, I had the absolute joy of chatting with the brilliant and delightful Meredith Stepien. We dove into our shared love for VHS Christmas Carols , the art of crafting cinematic vibes that radiate coziness and calm, and the beauty of embracing imperfection. Meredith also shares her perspective on releasing the weight of ambition and rediscovering joy in the creative proc...

Janaya Mahealani Jones, star of the newest Starkid musical 'VHS Christmas Carols', joins me to chat about the show! Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch. TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega  This is a public episode. If you would like...

Director James Tolbert joins me to chat about directing the newest Starkid musical, VHS Christmas Carols!  Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch. TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega    This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...

Joey Richter joins me for our annual Oscars roundtable as we talk about the films that marked the surreal, bizarre and crazy year that was 2020.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

In this special installment of the podcast, my Warbler bros, Riker Lynch, Dominic Tracy, Jon Hall, Telly Leung, Eddy Martin, Brock Baker and Tim Davis join me to reflect on our time working on Glee, how the experience has impacted out lives and what we've been up to since then!  Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Ema...

Joey Richter (from  Tin Can Brothers ,  Team Starkid ,  Jesse  on Disney Channel and more) joins us for the 4th year in a row for our 2020 ACADEMY AWARDS OSCAR SPECTACULAR! We dive into each of the nominated films along with the main categories. So put on your best tux or gown, hop in a limo and join us on the RED CARPET for this year's STORY MATTERS OSCARS PODCAST! Find all episodes of the show a...

Vijay Nazareth, creator of Pixel Playhouse and AVbyte , joins us on this week's episode to talk about the FUTURE OF THEATRE! How does theatre adapt for the digital age in a way that's both accessible and relevant? Vijay's mission is to bring theatre TO THE INTERNET, to make it more accessible and break down the barrier between creator and audience. LINK: Check out Pixel Playhouse on Twitch! Find a...

Ty Simpkins ( Avengers: Endgame ,  Iron Man 3 ,  Jurassic World ,  Insidious ,  The Nice Guys and more) joins us to talk about his experience as a young actor working in a slew of major franchises and creating characters that are part of a global phenomenon. We also talk spoiler culture, water-cooler conversations, and what it's like to know the end of a story years before the world gets a chance...

Story Matters alum Joey Richter returns for the 3rd year to take a deep dive into THE ACADEMY AWARDS! We break down the wins and losses, the snubs and successes, and we ask the question... what sort of impact will this year's awards have on future generation of filmmakers and artists? You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple...

Jon Cozart joins the show to take a deep dive with us into the world of Amadeus, the 1984 Academy Award winning musical biopic directed by Milos Forman about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as we cap off our exploration of the musical biopic genre with what is considered by many as the greatest biopic of all time! We also examine how this film speaks directly to our culture today (specifically...

In this episode, Curt, Mike and Kim sit down with actor Wesam Keesh (MTV's Awkward, ABC's For the People and more) to tackle the recent headline news of The Cosby Show's  Geoffrey Owens' candid discussions on the realities of the jobs we take to pay our bills while trying to pursue a career in the arts. In this roundtable episode, we talk openly about the craziest side-hustles we've all had to wor...

In this special OSCARS EPISODE, Joey Richter (Tin Can Brothers, Starkid) joins me once again to talk all things Academy Awards and share our takes on this year's nine nominees (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Shape of Water, The Post, Phantom Thread, Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Lady Bird, and Get Out). We also discuss some of our favorite films left out of the runni...

In this SPOOKY episode of Story Matters Podcast, I sit down with Kim Whalen and Eric Carroll to talk about the art of horror films! We talk about what defines a horror film and what kind of stories we can tell and learn through the genre as an art form. We also go down our top 10 lists of our favorite horror films of all time! So grab some popcorn, unwrap some candy, plug in your headphones, and j...

Part 2 of my conversation with animator/creator Leigh Lahav. We talk about how she developed her specific style as an artist, her taste in parody and comedy and the changing tide of creating for the internet. Also in this episode, another installment of Story Matters Story Collab Sessions featuring Kim Whalen!  You can find all of Leigh's work on her channel at  https:// www.youtube.com/onlyleigh...

In this part 1 of 2 episodes, I sit down with artist/animator Leigh Lahav to talk about her journey as an animator/artist coming from Israel to Los Angeles, the challenges that go into creating original animation for YouTube/internet culture, her passion for parody and fandom and the isolation that comes from living life as an artist. You can find all of Leigh's work on her channel at  https:// ww...

In this 2nd and final part of my conversation with actor Lauren Lopez ( Starkid , Poe Party , Spies are Forever and more!) we talk about her experience being apart of a internet phenomenon and finding her own unique creative voice in the process, the importance of not comparing yourself or your creative journey with others, and the joy of finding a creative community and making your own work! We a...

In this part 1 of 2 episodes, I sit down with Lauren Lopez to talk about her journey from dancer to musical theatre, to college, to Starkid to LA and all the ups and downs in-between. We also talk about the importance on having a life and focus outside of show business and what it means to keep a balanced perspective between career, creativity and living your life in the real world. Some of Lauren...

In this week's episode, I sit down with William J. Stribling (director of Shipwrecked Comedy's Poe Party and so much more) to talk about his creative process from writing to directing to editing and his perspective on storytelling through filmmaking. We also go behind the scenes of Poe Party and find out what it took to shoot such an ambitious project in only 10 days! This is an AMAZING episode fi...