Tell The Damn Story ep 403: Writing Our Way Through_The Power of Story to Survive and Succeed episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 22, 2026 · 36 MIN

Tell The Damn Story ep 403: Writing Our Way Through_The Power of Story to Survive and Succeed

from Tell The Damn Story · host Alex Simmons & Chris Ryan

What does it really mean to survive through art?Alex and Chris take a thoughtful detour from craft mechanics and dive into something deeper — how writing, storytelling, and the arts help us survive difficult seasons of life.From Chris’s college epiphany (when a professor bluntly told him he loved music… but wasn’t a musician), to reflections on Stephen King writing his way through trauma, to stories of young artists in the Bronx finding sanctuary on stage — this conversation explores how creativity becomes more than career.It becomes identity.It becomes a refuge.It becomes survival.We also talk about:Knowing who you really are (Aristotle would approve)The difference between loving an art form and being called to itWhy self-reflection matters more than external labelsHow artists like Josh Johnson find their voice in chaotic timesSurviving expectations — especially other people’s expectationsWhy your art doesn’t need to fit someone else’s definition to be validWhether writing is your sanctuary, your profession, your side hustle, or your calling, this episode asks a simple but powerful question:What does your art do for you?And maybe even more importantly…What might it do for someone else?Tell your story.Tell it honestly.Tell it bravely.And as always…Tell the damn story.Have any questions, comments, or suggestions?Then, please leave them in the Comments Section.Write: [email protected] follow us on ...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TellTheDamnStory.com [email protected]/Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/ Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stories change lives. They always have. At *Tell The Damn Story*, we believe in lifting voices and passing stories on. Your support keeps them alive for future generations. Help us by supporting TTDS → ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 22, 2026

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Tell The Damn Story ep 403: Writing Our Way Through_The Power of Story to Survive and Succeed

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