The NoNaMe StoryTeller Podcast

Just in time for Halloween, hosts Aki , Anto , and Charlie welcome back horror author Craig DiLouie for the first-ever themed episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast. The trio kicks off with a spirited trip down memory lane — from childhood mummy costumes and Aki’s infamous nail-in-the-head high school misfire, to Facehuggers, Predator couple costumes, and ghostly Charlie Brown mishaps. Then the...

This week on the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast, our NoNamers - Aki, Al, Joshua, Edward, and Patrick- gather to dissect Chinatown (1974), the iconic noir starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston. The crew digs into the lack of voiceover narration, the film’s haunting visuals and score, and the tangled triangle of Jake Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, and Noah Cross. They pull apart noir tropes, w...

Why wait for December? In this special October edition of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , co-hosts Aki, Celeste, and Alice sit down with New York Times–bestselling author Alex Palmer to unwrap the wild, true-crime tale at the heart of The Santa Claus Man . Palmer’s own ancestor, John Gluck , brought the Santa Claus Association to roaring life in 1920s New York City—mixing holiday cheer with Gotha...

Hello, storytellers. Did you miss us? NoNaMe Storyteller returns for Season 4 — messy, glorious, and full of surprises. From a real-life Santa con to a devilish ex, haunted poems, lost daughters, space interns, and a team of heroes inspired by Mexican heritage, we’re serving stories that stir, shock, and shine. Expect noir, horror, pop culture chaos, and creative confessions from writers, poets, a...

Aki, Charlie, and Anto return with Jeff LaSala to geek out over Tolkien’s legendarium and his upcoming book, The Silmarillion Primer . Jeff shares his excitement—and apprehension—about presenting Tolkien scholarship in front of seasoned experts, which began after his in-depth blogs on Tor.com (now known as Reactor) were discovered, earning him an invite to speak at a Tolkien conference. It was the...

Join Aki, Charlie, and Anto as they dive into Jeff LaSala’s epic journey from lifelong Dungeons & Dragons fan to published author for Wizards of the Coast. In this episode, Jeff shares how his passion for roleplaying games and worldbuilding led him to write The Darkwood Mask , a novel set in the dark intrigue of Eberron. We explore his early love of Tolkien, favorite campaign settings, the uni...

In this heartwarming, laughter-filled episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast, hosts Aki and Celeste welcome back returning guest Hal Turner—this time joined by his equally talented writing partner and wife, Renee. A creative partnership spanning decades, the Turners take us on a joyride through their genre-hopping journey: from YA sci-fi ( Aly’s Luck ) to chilling horror ( The Atheist's Daughte...

What happens when a hard-nosed investigative journalist tries to cross the boundary into fiction—but keeps getting pulled back by the gravity of facts? In this episode, NoNaMe Storyteller welcomes Bill Alpert, longtime Dow Jones reporter and master of financial sleuthing, as he joins Aki and guest co-host Alice to explore the hilarious, humbling, and surprisingly existential question: Why can’t Bi...

What really happens behind the scenes of a thriving writing group? In this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast, hosts Al and Aki, with returning guest co-host Edward Gauvin, sit down with author Brian Petkash ( Mistakes by the Lake , upcoming tentatively titled The B-Sides ) and Nicole Caron, founder of Brian’s long-running writing group and a writing professor at Ringling College of Art and...

In Part 2, Mouse Guard creator David Petersen returns to talk about the past and future of his ever-growing mythos. Hosts Aki Liao , Mark Smylie , and Patrick Banayo explore how David developed the anthology series Legends of the Guard , including how he invited artists and storytellers to contribute their own tall tales within the Mouse Guard world—with very few rules (but absolutely no humans al...

In Part 1 of this Archaia reunion episode, Mouse Guard creator David Petersen joins hosts Aki Liao , Mark Smylie , and Patrick Banayo to discuss the artistic and creative choices behind the beloved comic series. From the bold decision to publish in a square format (yes, retailers complained!) to building handmade models as architectural references, David shares how he keeps his process creative an...

In this unapologetically bold episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , Aki, Al, Charlie, Edward, Patrick, and Anto gather around the mics for a cinematic showdown: when the movie adaptation didn't just hold its own — it actually outdid the book . Blasphemy? Maybe. Entertaining? Absolutely. We break down the storytelling alchemy behind films that surpassed their source material, diving into what...

Caution: This episode may contain trace amounts of literary theory, experimental fiction, and unapologetically obscure references. You have been warned! In this episode of the NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , hosts Aki and Al, along with co-host Mark Smylie, sit down with acclaimed translator and emerging writer Edward Gauvin to explore his journey from literary translation to authorship. Best known f...

What happens when two powerhouse indie creators team up? First came Forever , a moody, noir short published in David Lloyd’s Aces Weekly . Now, Alex Sheikman and Hal Turner are reuniting for Star Breach — an epic, Dune-style space opera graphic novel trilogy centered on a scoundrel navigating collapsing empires and ancient forces. In this episode of NoNaMe Storyteller , hosts Al , Aki , and Joshua...

This week on the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast, host Aki and guest co-host Anto sit down with the multitalented Charlie Brown—no, not the Charles Schulz one, but the publisher, editor, professor, arts journalist, film reviewer, and genre fiction author behind Dirty Magick Magazine . We dive deep into his vampire noir series, starting with Vamp City , Quarter Moon , and a first look at the upcoming th...

Bestselling author K Arsenault Rivera returns to the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast for a vibrant conversation packed with laughter, insight, and a love of storytelling across genres. Arsenault Rivera is joined by hosts Aki, Al, and Celeste, and discusses everything from epic fantasy and sapphic romance to supernatural noir and licensed IP. We dive into her expansive body of work: the fan-favorite Asc...

Summary: In this episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , we welcome back acclaimed author Craig DiLouie—this time to dive into the world of World War II fiction. Known for his gripping storytelling across genres, Craig shares his approach to writing compelling historical narratives, balancing accuracy with emotional impact, and what draws him to stories set during wartime. We also explore the...

On this episode of NoNaMe Storyteller , Celeste and Aki sit down with Phil Bryce, a seasoned NYC actor with an unforgettable journey. From making 25 appearances as a background extra on Law & Order —mastering the art of hiding his face—to landing roles in numerous soap operas during the golden era of daytime TV in NYC, Phil shares his deep love for storytelling. He takes us through his early d...

Aki’s battling a cold, but that doesn’t stop the crew—Al, Celeste, and Joshua—from taking a trip down memory lane. Special guest Sean P. makes a special appearance to share his latest creative project as the team finalizes the name NoNaMe Storytellers and officially dubs the fans “NoNamers.” Along the way, they confess their deep dislike of their own voices, reflect on what they’re getting out of...

We’re back, and the stories just keep getting better. Series 3 of The NoNaMe Storyteller is packed with unforgettable guests, brilliant conversations, and more moments of laughter, insight, and “wait… did we just go completely off-topic?” than ever before. This season, we’re diving into everything from high fantasy and vampire noir to wartime fiction, graphic novels, translation, and the weird, wo...

In Part 2 of our conversation with David Rodriguez, we dive deeper into his journey as a storyteller across multiple creative mediums, including comics, novels, and tabletop games. Best known for works like Starkweather: Immortal , Gossamyr , and his first superhero comic BattleMex , David shares how stories about young heroes confronting impossible odds have shaped his narratives. We discuss the...

On this episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , we explore the incredible writing journey of David Rodriguez, Narrative Director of Diablo IV and its expansion Vessel of Hatred . From a childhood immersed in RPGs and tabletop games to majoring in musical theater and creating superhero stunt shows complete with ninjas rappelling from the ceiling, David’s unique background set the stage for his...

Craig DiLouie, a prolific author and full-time writer, joins the NoNaMe Storyteller podcast to share his insights into the art and craft of storytelling. We dive deep into his writing process, including how he blends plotting and "pantsing" to build compelling narratives and follows frameworks like The Hero's Journey to shape plot points and character arcs. Craig also emphasizes the importance of...

In this episode of The NoNaMe Storyteller Podcast , Al and Aki dive deep into the noir influences that shaped their Frank Keegan noir series, joined by guest co-host Patrick. From classics like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon to neo-noir gems like Blade Runner , they break down how legends like Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ross MacDonald, and Jim Thompson impacted their work. The conve...

Kick off the new year with a special mini-reunion of creative minds on NoNaMe Storytellers ! Al and Aki are joined by guest co-host Mark Smylie, special guest Alice Liao, and legendary comic book storyteller Joe Illidge. Together, they explore the art of crafting compelling stories, starting with Joe’s work on The House of IL for IntraLinks, alongside artist Sean Wang and colorist Jennifer Rodgers...