The Writer's Lens

Shorts - "Those Who Would Take Advantage of Your Dreams"

In this reflective Short, I take a look back at when I was overeager and overly trusting of anyone I crossed paths with on my road to writing stories. 

Shorts - "Should We Care If Someone Reads or Doesn't Read Our Book?"

You publish something. Someone buys it. Maybe you know them. Maybe you don't. But does it matter if they read it so long as you sell it? Or at least know that they have a copy of it? Might seem pretty straightforward. This short little rant explores some of the psychology behind what happens when we know someone has bought, read, and then given feedback. 

News and Storytelling

The news is always updating, always changing, and seemingly always in our faces. And there's a reason for that - we love to hear stories. Good, bad, ugly - it doesn't matter. This newest short on The Writer's Lens is about the news and how storytelling is intertwined within. 

Shorts - "Should the Goal of All Creatives Be Mainstream Recognition?"

In this shorter episode of The Writer's Lens, I have some free form discussion on whether or not creatives should be working to attain mainstream recognition or not. 

As always, I trust this will garner some further thought (and perhaps action) on the topic. 

Enjoy! 

Reboots, Reboots and more Reboots....

Welcome back to The Writer's Lens! 

In this end-of-year episode, I decided to kick the podcast back into gear by discussing a few Hollywood and movie reboots. And what these reboots might be signaling about our culture - and how we view what it means to be a "man" in the 21st century. 

Enjoy and Happy New Year! 

"TMNT" and a Tale of Two Households

The Ninja Turtles are still - to some degree - a cultural phenomenon. A story about humanoid, mutant turtles who just so happen to know ninjitsu. But did you ever consider that it's a story about two fathers and how they run their households? I'm sure you didn't. So in this episode, I will attempt to lay out my argument as to why that is. And why the Turtles' story continues to be relative to each new generation that gets to know them.  

"Remember the Titans" and the Price of Leadership

The film "Remember the Titans" is mostly known for its brilliant way of portraying cultural race relations surrounding high school football in the 1970s. And though it's a very well-told and appropriate, the film is also a great example of what leadership can look like. What it takes to be a great leader and what sorts of intangibles are necessary. 

And for the sake of discussion, I do reference Michael Jordan's quote from "The Last Dance" also. 

”How To Train Your Dragon” and Dating, Courtship and ’Seeing Each Other’

What does a Dreamwork's movie have to do with dating and marriage? Or rather, what do dragons and vikings have to do with courtship? Well, here's my attempt to marry, uh, combine these two items into a singular episode. Enjoy. 

”A Christmas Story” and the Bullies Who Would Take Our Joy

It's the Christmas season. And in the spirit of Christmas, I'm doing a Christmas-themed episode by talking about A Christmas Story. This one is a bit jumbled in its approach, but in this holiday episode, I talk briefly about the infamous bully encounter within A Christmas Story and why overcoming our biggest detractors is a pertinent message for this time of year. 

 

Enjoy and Merry Christmas everyone! 

”Godzilla” and the Monsters We Make

Godzilla is an international icon in monster movie cinema. Recognizable by millions and adored by multiple generations. His inception - to those unaware - was Japan's response to the first, and only time, nuclear weapons were used in modern warfare. The bombs that hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastated the country and its people. And simultaneously gave rise to all manner of "what if?" scenarios about what could happen next should the bombs ever be used again in combat. 

Today's episode looks back at the horrors of war, the destructive nature of the bombings, and the movie monster that was birthed out of it. 

 

SIDE NOTE: There is a bit of static towards the end of this episode. I trust it doesn't detract too much from the content so hang in there till the end!