The Story Dads

DreamWorks' Shrek revolutionized animated films with its humor, pop culture references, and willingness to poke fun at fairy tales. But was it actually tearing down those stories—or celebrating them? In this episode, Eric and Micah discuss: Why Shrek is still a classic more than 20 years later The difference between satire and cynicism How the Hero's Journey survives beneath the parody Shrek as th...

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Ambition, Consequences, and Connection This week on StoryDads, Eric and Micah are joined by special guest Tessa Barkley—musician, screenwriter, and film student at Loyola Marymount University—to discuss one of Sony Animation's most beloved comedies. Topics include: Why animated films often have some of the strongest screenplays Flint Lockwood's pursuit of recogni...

In this episode of StoryDads, Eric and Micah tackle the film they've been dreading to revisit: Toy Story 4. After praising Toy Story 1, 2, and 3 as one of the greatest trilogies ever made, we ask a difficult question: Does Toy Story 4 undermine everything that made the original films meaningful? We explore: • Why the original Toy Story trilogy is so powerful • Woody's character arc across all four...

This week on StoryDads, Micah and Eric are joined by StoryDads producer/editor Isaac Liverance for a deep dive into one of the most unexpectedly profound animated films ever made: Kung Fu Panda. Together we explore: Why Po succeeds where Tai Lung fails The meaning of the Dragon Scroll Pride vs humility Creativity and originality in the age of AI Mentorship and calling The challenge of becoming who...

In this episode: Why kids are obsessed with Minions The timelessness of silly humor Gru as a “Beauty and the Beast” archetype Fatherhood and becoming a hero at home Why movies don’t always need a deeper agenda The purity of simply having fun Looney Tunes, slapstick comedy, and universal humor Why fart jokes still work in 2026 Plus: Horse Kicks Tree and Then Farts on Dogs The dangers of overanalyzi...

Why Brave feels different as a parent Merida vs. Queen Elinor: chaos and order The unique complexity of mother-daughter relationships Pixar’s early parent-centered storytelling Mordu and the symbolism of fractured families Generational healing and family systems Why Brave avoids the “strong female character” cliché Learning to see your parents as human beings Parenting through conflict and emotion...

In this week’s Dad’s Night Out , we dive into The Karate Kid (1984) —a movie that lives in the cultural imagination, whether you’ve seen it or not. For Eric, this was a first-time watch… which makes for a fresh look at a story most people think they already understand. But The Karate Kid isn’t just an underdog sports movie. It’s a story about formation . Daniel LaRusso enters a new world without a...

Movie Discussed: How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks) Core Themes: Humility and the willingness to be wrong The pursuit of truth over approval Rewriting personal and cultural narratives Father-son dynamics and earned identity Moving beyond “us vs. them” thinking Key Takeaways: Growth often begins with the realization that our assumptions are incomplete The courage to question what “everyone knows...

🎧 Episode 50: Mulan — Family, Courage, and the Call to Step Up Guest: Kaitlyn Drew In this milestone episode, we revisit Mulan through the lens of story, character, and what it means to step up when you don’t feel ready. 🧭 What We Explore Why Mulan’s story is rooted in duty, not self-discovery The power of the “awkward hero” and why it resonates How growth happens through adaptation, not natural...

Episode Title: The Incredibles: Fatherhood, Greatness, and a Family That Fights Together 🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Joseph King Barkley Joseph is an Executive Coach with Novus Global and President of the Meta Performance Institute. You can check out more of his teaching and communication on his YouTube channel, featuring talks from his time as a pastor at Radius Church: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Radius...

Episode Notes Why Finding Nemo is really about fatherhood, fear, and letting go Marlin’s anxiety: justified… but ultimately limiting The challenge every parent faces: protect vs prepare Nemo’s arc: proving capability and earning trust Dory as the counterbalance to fear (“just keep swimming”) A different kind of Pixar story— simple plot, rich characters The “road trip” structure and why it works so...

🎧 Featuring Jordan Crowder Host of the Gentleman Scofflaw Podcast https://www.gentlemanscofflaw.com/ https://jordancrowder.com 🧠 What We Discuss Why Ralph Breaks the Internet feels like a completely different story How the sequel reverses the core message of the original The difference between strong storytelling and message-first storytelling Why kids seem to instinctively disengage from this f...

Key Themes Twin hero journey Romance as transformation The devouring mother Leaving home and identity formation Sacrifice and love Psychological Lens Borderline personality traits Munchausen by proxy dynamics Parent-child enmeshment Notable Moments The Snuggly Duckling (threshold into the world) Lantern scene (falling in love) Final sacrifice and resurrection Related StoryDads Episodes Beauty and...

In this episode, we unpack why WALL-E might be Pixar’s deepest film—and why it still resonates years later. Joined by executive coach Joseph Thompson, we explore how a nearly silent movie about two robots becomes a profound story about love, agency, and what it means to be human. 🧠 Key Takeaways WALL-E as a Catalyst Protagonist He doesn’t change—but he changes everyone around him. The Danger of L...

In this episode of StoryDads, Eric and Micah take a deep dive into Pixar’s Ratatouille — a film that turns a bizarre premise (a rat controlling a chef by pulling his hair) into one of Pixar’s most thoughtful stories about art, talent, and creativity. At its heart, Ratatouille isn’t really about cooking. It’s about the artistic impulse — the drive to create something beautiful, meaningful, and true...

🎙 Follow StoryDads If you enjoy exploring the deeper symbolism and storytelling behind movies your kids love, make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. ⭐ Leave a Review Reviews help other listeners discover the show. If you’re enjoying StoryDads, a quick 5-star review on Apple Podcasts goes a long way. 💬 Join the Conversation What did you think of The Super Mario Bros. M...

Go check out and support the GoodFellow KickStarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danfriedman/goodfellow-1-what-does-it-take-for-an-immortal-to-grow-up 🔗 Connect with StoryDads Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads X: https://x.com/StoryDad...

In this episode of StoryDads, Eric and Micah head to 1920s New Orleans to unpack Disney’s The Princess and the Frog — a film that’s far richer than its fairy-tale reputation suggests. What starts as a classic princess story becomes a powerful exploration of ambition, identity, and the danger of chasing success the wrong way. We dive into Tiana’s relentless work ethic, Naveen’s carefree charm, and...

We only scratched the surface — for a richer and more layered symbolic reading of Snow White, we highly recommend Jonathan Pageau’s analysis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgaCikt1hSg 🔗 Connect with StoryDads Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStor...

Buy Dino Duties on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dino-Duties-Micah-Brenner/dp/B0FX8C5XJR/r=8-1 Buy Dino Duties on Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dino-duties-micah-brenner/1148574129?ean=9798218842901 🔗 Connect with StoryDads Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads YouTube: ht...

Buy Dino Duties on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dino-Duties-Micah-Brenner/dp/B0FX8C5XJR/r=8-1 Buy Dino Duties on Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dino-duties-micah-brenner/1148574129?ean=9798218842901 🔗 Connect with StoryDads Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads YouTube: ht...

Brett Boles Analysis of the Michael Giacchino's Score to Inside Out: https://www.instagram.com/thebrettboles/reel/C46OrzdO_cd/ 🔗 Connect with StoryDads Follow us for clips, updates, and more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storydadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.story.dads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryDads X: https://x.com/StoryDads 👤 About the Hosts Micah’s IMDB...

In this episode of StoryDads, we revisit Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. and explore why this animated classic is far deeper than it first appears. What looks like a buddy comedy is actually a powerful story about fatherhood, strength, fear, and moral formation. We break down Sully and Boo’s relationship, the symbolism behind “monsters,” and why children need both tenderness and properly channeled strength...

What actually makes a Christmas movie a Christmas movie? In this special holiday episode of StoryDads , we take on the ultimate Christmas movie debate by building a full Christmas Movie Hierarchy . Instead of ranking films by popularity or nostalgia, we ask a deeper question: How well does each movie embody the meaning, spirit, and transformation at the heart of Christmas? We construct a six-level...

In this episode of Story Dads, we dive deep into the perennial debate: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? With its release in July 1988, the film originally intended to be an action blockbuster has since become a holiday favorite for many. Join us as we explore the film's cultural impact, the transformation of Bruce Willis from comedic actor to action hero, and how Die Hard set the standard for future...