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. Something real, happening to real people, right now.And my reaction is just…“Man, that’s awful.”And then I scroll on. Before I know it, that horrible, painful thing is an afterthought.And I want to be clear about something. It’s not that I don’t care about the tragedies that come into the feed. It’s that the way I’m encountering this information is specifically designed to prevent me from caring fully as a human being.A notification. A fifteen second clip. A headline between two memes. The format tells my brain this is content to be consumed, not a human story to be felt.And when everything arrives the same way, wars, political corruption, celebrity gossip, natural disasters, sports scores, Kalshi predictions on whether or not we’re gonna drop a nuke and also if Timothée Chalamet will win the Oscar… it all starts to flatten. Not because the tragedies aren’t real. But because the delivery system treats them like they aren’t.It’s like every channel on the mixer is pushed all the way up. And instead of feeling more, you just get noise. Flat. Constant. Background.And somewhere along the way, your emotional response doesn’t disappear.It just dulls.And then I go to the movies.I sit in a dark room. I watch something I know isn’t real.And it destroys me.I’m crying over people who don’t exist. Situations that never happened. A completely constructed emotional experience.And somehow, that hits harder than the real thing. Why? Why does something fictional feel more real than reality?I don’t think it’s because stories are more powerful than real life. I think it’s because real life, the way we experience it now, isn’t built to be felt. It’s built to be processed.You skim it. You categorize it. You move on.Stories don’t let you do that. They inherently slow you down. They give pain, joy, loss, tragedy, victory, love, heartache and hope a shape, a face, a beginning, a middle, and an end. They don’t let you scroll past it.They make you stay.The problem isn’t that the news isn’t real. It’s that it arrives in fragments. A headline. A clip. A scroll. Nothing has a beginning or an end. Nothing asks you to stay.A story does.In a story, your attention is locked. There’s no next tab. No notification. No algorithm pulling you somewhere else. You’re just there. And when your attention is actually there, your emotions follow.And there’s something else going on too.Stories give you proximity to pain without responsibility.You don’t have to fix it. You don’t have to respond to it. You don’t have to do anything except feel it. Fully. Without guilt. Without the pressure to act immediately.And that’s something most of us don’t give ourselves permission to do anymore.So it’s not that stories make you feel more than reality.It’s that they don’t let you look away.And the more I sit with that, the more I think this isn’t just entertainment.It’s maintenance.Here’s the analogy I keep coming back to.When you go to the gym, you’re not lifting weights because lifting weights is the point. You’re lifting weights in a controlled, artificial environment so that your body is strong enough to handle the demands of the real world outside the gym. The workout isn’t the destination. It’s the preparation.I think stories work the same way.When I sit in a dark room and let something wreck me, when I feel grief for people who don’t exist, fear for situations that never happened, I’m doing reps. I’m exercising something.Empathy.The capacity to feel what someone else feels. To imagine a life that isn’t mine and care about what happens to it.And like any muscle, if you don’t use it, it atrophies.If you only ever engage with things that are comfortable and easy and safe, you slowly lose access to everything else. The range of motion closes down. The sensitivity fades.But here’s the thing about the gym.You don’t go to the gym and never leave.The workout only means something if you take the body somewhere. If you do nothing with the strength you’ve built, the reps were just reps. The point was never the lifting. The point was what the lifting makes possible.Same thing here.I don’t want to mistake feeling a lot of emotion for a fictional character for meaningful action in the real world. Crying at a movie is not the same as showing up for someone. Being moved is not the same as moving.But I do think one leads to the other, if you let it.The practice of feeling something fully and of not looking away, of staying in the room with someone else’s pain even when it’s uncomfortable… that’s not the destination. It’s the training. It’s building the muscle memory of care so that when the real moment comes, you’re not starting from zero.So feel it. Let it wreck you. And then take that somewhere.So when I hear someone say “I don’t want to watch something sad right now”, I get it. I really do.But I also think that instinct, taken too far, leads somewhere worse.Because the world is not going to stop being hard. The headlines are not going to stop coming. The noise is not going to quiet down on its own.And if you spend enough time avoiding the things that might hurt, you wake up one day and realize you’ve gone numb. Not because you’re broken. Because you adapted. Because the alternative felt like too much.But here’s what I know.When I let a story wreck me, when I sit in the dark and feel something all the way through, I can feel my chest open back up. I can feel the electricity of empathy moving through me again. It reminds me what I’m capable of feeling. It reminds me what it actually means to be a person paying attention.The world needs people who are paying attention.So yeah. Get your heart broken.On purpose. Regularly. As often as you can manage.Not because it’s fun. Not because it’s cathartic, exactly.But because it’s one of the only places left where you can feel something all the way through without being asked to immediately do something about it.And if the world starts to feel like noise… and the only place you remember how to feel is inside a story? That’s not weakness. That might be exactly the point.I made a video about this too, including two specific films that broke me open in ways I didn’t expect. You can watch it here: - CurtThanks 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 other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

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 other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

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 creative spark is still there, maybe this one’s for you.1. I Don’t Love Vlogging… And That’s OkayIn theory, I love the idea of capturing moments of my life and creating stories from them. In practice, vlogging pulled me out of the moment. I love photography, love capturing things, love documenting projects but I realized I thrive with intentionality. 2. Consuming Without Reflecting Doesn’t Make Me BetterI consumed a ton this year, intentionally so. Films, books, performances, all in the effort of rekindling a creative spark. Turns out, it doesn’t mean anything unless I actually sit with it. Write something down. Infer meaning. Input without reflection is just noise that my brain quickly discards. Art is too precious to be discarded into the content heap. I want to take the time to let the stories I engage with actually resonate. 3. My Body Wasn’t Broken. It Was Burned OutYears of bad sleep, stress, and “grind” disguised as momentum finally caught up with me. I had to rebuild my physical health from the ground up. And what shocked me was how fast my body responded once I stopped punishing it and started listening. I feel better than I have in a decade and it wasn’t because I achieved anything. It was because I stopped trying to do everything and focused on giving myself what I needed. Proper nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and creative play. 4. Consistency Beats InspirationThe unsexy truth is that showing up and doing the freaking thing is 90% of the game. The boring stuff usually has the largest ROI. You may not feel it for a long time, but even mediocre consistency over time will be bouts of genius. 5. Saying Yes to Everything is a Form of Self-AbandonmentTrying to be everything, on every platform, in every project, left me fragmented. I had to start saying no to find my voice again. And in doing so, I remembered what I actually love to make. 6. Photography Made Me More PresentPhotography helped me see again. Not just aesthetically, but emotionally. It reshaped how I think as a filmmaker, as an actor, as a storyteller. It’s not about monetizing or content. It’s about presence and the power of telling a story in one single frame. 7. Sleep is the FoundationSleep wasn’t optional. It was the missing piece. For years I told myself I didn’t need it because I am able to function on a very little of it. But functioning isn’t the same as thriving. Once I started prioritizing real rest, everything changed. Focus. Energy. Creativity. All of it. I’m the very last person to learn this very obvious lesson but hey, I got here eventually. 8. Pursue Creative AuthenticityI am letting go of the desire to be seen and replacing it with the intent to go deep. I want to talk about creativity, about characters, about stories. If fewer people care, so be it. I’d rather be honest than optimized and know that I can stand by what I put put out there. 9. I Thought I Was Done But I Was Just Running on EmptyThere were moments this year I truly thought the spark was gone. But what I needed wasn’t a breakthrough, it was a better fuel source. I didn’t need to quit. I needed to recharge. 10. I’m More Alive, Creative, and Lit Up Than I’ve Been in YearsI don’t know exactly what’s coming in 2026. But I feel clear. Present. Focused. Alive. Recommitted to the path and genuinely loving the idea of what it means to be an artist and live the creative life day in and day out. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters deeply to me. And I’m freaking lucky to be doing it.As part of this reset, I’m doing a 30-day creative shift series over on TikTok, IG, and YouTube. One small video a day, each focused on a tiny perspective shift that’s helped me get unstuck.No heavy lifting. Just simple, doable resets that might help you reconnect with your own spark.If that sounds like something you need right now, it’s all up on my socials.If you’d rather watch than read or listen, there’s a video version of this 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 other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

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 demands of the remount. We also get real about burnout, overcommitment, and the myth that you have to destroy yourself to make good work!If you prefer to watch a VIDEO version, you can check it out here: Check out Team Starkid’s newest Kickstarter project, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals: Reprised! (Trailer shot by yours truly!) -Curt MegaCONNECT WITH ME: Join my Patreon community!Follow me on Twitch!Follow me on Instagram!Follow me on Twitter!Follow me on Bluesky! 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

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 style, that insane juke joint musical sequence, and why Coogler has officially landed on the “I’ll watch anything he makes” list.You can find and follow James on Instagram and BlueSky:James Tolbert on InstagramJames tolbert on BlueSky 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 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 dive into: • How the tone of the show was discovered • The pressure and joy of creating something this fast • Behind-the-scenes stories from the rehearsal room • The process of shaping a fairytale heroine with modern heart 👑 Cinderella’s Castle was written by Nick and Matt Lang, directed by Nick Lang, with music and lyrics by Jeff Blim. 🎵 Get the album on iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/cinderellas-castle-original-starkid-cast-recording/1801909042 🎙️ Story Matters is a show about the stories that shape us, hosted by Curt Mega. 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 Bluesky: @curtmega.bsky.social  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

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 Bluesky: @curtmega.bsky.social   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

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 process. You can check out VHS Christmas Carols right now at https://starkid.vhx.tv/products/vhs-christmas-carols-2024-digital-rental.  Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on BlueSky, IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega  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

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 to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

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 discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

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 Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] 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

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 at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] 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

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 all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] 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

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 to see it. You can listen to all episodes of Story Matters at www.storymatterspodcast.com!  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

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 Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!   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

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 us as artists), our own personal struggle with jealousy, ego, the fear of not being good enough and the madness that is the creative process.  You can find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com!  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 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 work to pay the bills, the societal stigma and shame that seems to be applied to people working regular day-jobs to support their art, the discipline of training like an athlete even when it comes to creativity, and the value of trying new things that scare the living daylights out of you.  You can find all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a review and rating and let us know how the show has inspired you in your storytelling journey!  About Wesam Keesh: Wesam was raised most of his life in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Union High School and followed up the rest of acting, theater, and film study at the University of Tulsa. He spent a summer in London at Imperial College focusing on theatre and the arts. Wesam moved to Los Angeles immediately after college to begin his professional film and television career. For more info on Wesam or to see some of the amazing projects he's worked on, check out his IMDB at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3967234 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 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 running for best picture and take a look back at 2017 from a cinematic perspective and what it means going forward for filmmakers, creators, and storytellers both in front of and behind the camera. I had such a blast talking Oscars LAST year with Joey so please join me on this official Story Matters tradition as Joey and I take on THE 2018 ACADEMY AWARDS! Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast 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 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 join us on this terrifying journey as we explore THE ART OF HORROR! Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast You can listen to all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com   Music: Ectoplasm by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/   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

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.  Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast You can listen to all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com Spooky Ride by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://www.twinmusicom.org/song/250/spooky-ride Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org 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 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://www.youtube.com/onlyleigh.  Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast You can listen to all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com 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 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 also talk about recent projects (The Solve it Squad Returns) and her upcoming series (Stellar People) and answer some questions from my Patrons at Patreon.com/storymatters! We also talk about adopting a rescue animal, the joy of being a pet caretaker and her daughter Diane the dog! Enjoy!  Lauren's body of work includes Starkid's A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel, Starship, Trail to Oregon, Holy Musical Batman, and Firebringer, Tin Can Brother's Spies Are Forever and The Solve-It Squad Returns, and Shipwrecked Comedy's Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party! You can also find her in Muzzled the Musical and the upcoming series Stellar People! For more info on Lauren, visit http://www.lauren-lopez.com!  Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast You can listen to all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com 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 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's work includes Starkid's A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel, Starship, Trail to Oregon, Holy Musical Batman, and Firebringer, Tin Can Brother's Spies Are Forever and The Solve-It Squad Returns, and Shipwrecked Comedy's Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party! You can also find her in Muzzled the Musical and the upcoming series Stellar People! For more info on Lauren, visit http://www.lauren-lopez.com!  Support Story Matters on Patreon at Patreon.com/storymatters! Email me at [email protected] Twitter:@storymatterspod Instagram:@storymatterspod Facebook: Story Matters Podcast You can listen to all episodes at www.storymatterspodcast.com     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 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 filled with so much knowledge and insight into the filmmaking process and I can’t wait you all to hear it and learn from Joe! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com!   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 episode, I sit down with Corey Lubowich from Tin Can Brothers and Team Starkid, to talk about his journey as an artist from growing up performing and working in theatre in his hometown of Chicago, to becoming an artistic director for BasementArts the University of Michigan, back to Chicago as a member of Starkid and then to Los Angeles as a founding member of the comedy trio Tin Can Brothers! We also storytelling through design, navigating the transition to a new city, the challenge of transitioning from theatre to film/digital video creation and his newest projects Flop Stoppers and The Solve it Squad Returns!  The Solve it Squad Returns - June 15-18 and June 22-25 @ the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood, C, Directed by Corey Lubowich and starring Joey Richter, Brian Rosenthal, Ashley Clements, Gabe Greenspan & Lauren Lopez! For tickets: https://www.tincanbros.com Flop Stoppers coming to YouTube 5/9! https://www.youtube.com/tincanbros You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy! 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 episode, I sit down with the amazing actor, writer, producer and improviser Michael Hitchcock (Glee, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Bridesmaids, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, The New Normal, United States of Tara, Men of a Certain Age, Party Down, The Suite Life On Deck, Madtv and MANY more) to talk about truth in comedy, character driven comedy, episodic storytelling in the process of writing for television. I learned SO much from him and I know you will too! Listen now and share! Enjoy! You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!  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 episode, I sit down with the amazing Telly Leung (Broadway: In Transit, Allegiance, Godspell, Rent, Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, TV: Warbler Wes on Glee) at his apartment in New York City to talk about his journey to Broadway and beyond. We also discuss learning to be present and content in the moment with what you have despite whatever success does or doesn't come, prioritizing life and relationships in tandem with career, diversity in storytelling, stories of color, stories of minorities, telling human stories that are both specific and universal and the importance of rising up as artists to serve the greater purpose of being a voice of compassion and empathy for the world to see, hear and feel.    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 episode, I sit down with my dear friend Eric Carroll (Alex Brody in Buffering, photographer extraordinaire and my co-writer/co-director of my feature film project POV) to talk about our process of writing a short film only to realize we had a bigger story on our hands and being willing to start over and reinvent everything we thought we know about the project. We also revisit our characters from Buffering as Ben and Alex in an improvised Buffering reunion! Enjoy! Eric Carroll Photography: http://www.ericcarrollphotography.com Buffering the Series: https://www.youtube.com/bufferingseries You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy! 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 week’s episode, I sit down with Lili Froehlich and Madison Mitchell from the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS and talk about the reality of working on Broadway, the grind of performing 8 shows a week in one of the most physically demanding shows of all time, the challenges of being a swing and covering multiple roles and what happens when your dream becomes your job. How do you maintain your stamina, both mentally and physically, beyond opening night? We also talk about working with Tony Winning Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights, Hamilton) and interpreting movement into story.  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!    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 episode, I sit down with actress, singer, songwriter Kathryn Gallagher to talk about her work in the recent Broadway revival of Deaf West's Spring Awakening! From a tiny theatre in LA all the way to Broadway, she shares her incredible experience of being part of the re-telling of this beautiful story in such a powerful and profound, new way through the use of sign language. We also talk creative education beyond college, the process of auditioning for theatre and Broadway and how it differs from film & television, and her work as a singer and songwriter. Enjoy! You can find links to more of her work on her website HERE: http://www.kathryngallaghermusic.com and check out her upcoming show on May 25th at 54 Below in NYC! https://54below.com/events/kathryn-gallagher/ You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!  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 episode, I sit down with actor, writer, creator, comedian and producer Joey Richter (Starkid: A Very Potter Musical, Starship, Me and My Dick, Trail to Oregon and more, Tin Can Brothers, Spies are Forever, Poe Party, Henry Danger on Nickelodeon, Jessie on Disney Channel) to talk about making a living as an artist, discovering new creative skills through unexpected opportunity, his firsthand perspective of experiencing Starkid erupt into an internet phenomenon while still being in college at University of Michigan (#GoBlue), discovering his skills as a writer, his journey to LA, and creating his own work as a core member of the dynamic comedy trio The Tin Can Brothers! We also talk comedy, improv, spoiler culture, story structure, audience engagement, and experiencing twists and turns in musicals, movies and Television! Enjoy!  Subscribe to The Tin Can Brothers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tincanbros Follow Joey on Twitter: @JoeyRichter Follow The Tin Can Brothers on Twitter: @TinCanBros You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!    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 episode, I sit down with my dear friend, actor, singer and songwriter Titus Makin (Fox's Glee, ABC Family/Freeform's Pretty Little Liars, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, CW's Star-Crossed, Nickelodeon's Victorious) to talk about his work as an actor, his newest album Love Addict. We discuss the journey of balancing career and passion. We also take a crack at writing some Glee Fanfiction while we're at it! ;) Featured Music: Addict & Ropes from Love Addict by Titus Makin  Watch the Love Addict Music Video!  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!  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 episode, I sit down Joey Richter (Starkid, Tin Can Brothers, Henry Danger, Jessie, School of Thrones, Muzzled the Musical, I Ship It, Spies are Forever) to talk about the 2017 Oscar Best Picture nominations! We also talk about our favorite films from 2016, our take on the film industry as a whole and what films and we hope will win that little gold statue! Enjoy!  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Music: The theme music of the 84th Academy Awards. Composed by German composer Hans Zimmer.  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 Broadway-themed bonus episode of the podcast, I sit down with the awesome Tessa Netting (Broadway's Billy Elliot, Bunk'd, YouTube) for a special bonus episode to talk about Broadway, Hamilton, Les Mis, Rent, Billy Elliot, and other shows that changed our life and storytelling through the medium of theatre. Enjoy! You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! And visit the show's website at www.storymatterspodcast.com! 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 episode, I sit down with the fiercely talented Mary Kate Wiles (Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Edgar Allan Poe’s Murder Mystery Party, Spies are Forever, I Ship It, School of Thrones, Squaresville, Muzzled the Musical, Hello My Name is Frank, The Sound and the Shadow, Kissing in the Rain and MANY MORE!) to talk about her journey as an artist, creator, YouTuber, producer and all around amazing artist! You can currently catch Mary Kate in the new hit series from Shipwrecked Comedy Poe Party at YouTube.com/SHIPWRECKEDCOMEDY, support her work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/mkwiles, subscribe to her channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/emkaysmiles, and follow her both on Twitter and Instagram at @mkwiles! We also talk about rejection, the reality of trying to pay the bills while you attempt to be a storyteller and the act of making your own work for the sake of doing something you love that’s not about getting hired and networking, but purely for the sake of creative passion. You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas!  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 episode, I sit down with the amazing Tessa Netting (Billy Elliot, Bunk'd, Voice Over Actress, Maker of Incredible Parodies and YouTuber extraordinaire) and talk about her journey as an artist from Broadway to YouTube sensation, fantasy, fandom, audience ownership of the stories they love, and the power and joy of creating your own world to escape reality. You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! 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

Riker Lynch is a man of many talents. Glee Warbler, Rockstar, Dancing with the Stars alumni and blossoming actor. In this episode, Curt sits down in Riker's dining room at the Lynch home in Southern California to talk Glee, Warblers, social media, the new yet-to-be-released R5 album, his upcoming films Voyeur and Colossal Youth, storytelling through music, creating comedy and more! You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at [email protected] with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! He'd love to hear from you! 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