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Story Babble Podcast

Story Babble is about the stories we tell – on the big screen, the small screen, the page, or face to face; why story matters, what makes a good story great, and how to become a better storyteller.

Story Babble

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Recent Episodes

Brittni Miner: “Buy m’Junk.”


“A shameless act of self-promotion”. We’ve all heard the phrase. But how do you sell your song, your art, or in Brittni’s case, your book without making a direct appeal. Now that she’s figured out a way to write and get published consistently, Brittni’s navigating the process of promoting her work. And it’s good work. She’s a talent, people.

Brittni Miner on Amazon

Sponsor: The Forever Young Foundation

Bernie Van De Yacht: Looping Master


Imagine this movie scene: Jesus driving out the moneychangers from the temple. What kinds of things would people be saying? What language would they use? Would some be angry and others frightened? Those are the kinds of questions looping designer, Bernie Van De Yacht of ProADRlooping has to answer while helping to build the human sound bed for the wildly successful series, The Chosen. His credits also include Fargo, Lovecraft Country, and Mom to name just a few. Did we mention he’s also a successful novelist and screenwriter? Bernie and his partner ML Gemmil are quickly becoming Hollywood’s go-to loopers. 

proadrlooping.com 

Bernie’s Amazon Books

Sponsor: Forever Young Foundation

Operation Varsity Blues: The Future of Documentaries?

Ken Burns’ didn’t invent the documentary 30 years ago. He just gave it a shot in the arm. Since then, documentaries have taken a thousand directions. The most recent is Operation Varsity Blues: the College Admissions Scandal. Unlike most documentaries, this one has a script, actors, and well-lit scenes. How is that a documentary, you ask.

Forever Young Foundation

Operation Varsity Blues: The Future of Documentaries?

Ken Burns’ didn’t invent the documentary 30 years ago. He just gave it a shot in the arm. Since then, documentaries have taken a thousand directions. The most recent is Operation Varsity Blues: the College Admissions Scandal. Unlike most documentaries, this one has a script, actors, and well-lit scenes. How is that a documentary, you ask.

Forever Young Foundation

Operation Varsity Blues: The Future of Documentaries?


Ken Burns’ didn’t invent the documentary 30 years ago. He just gave it a shot in the arm. Since then, documentaries have taken a thousand directions. The most recent is Operation Varsity Blues: the College Admissions Scandal. Unlike most documentaries, this one has a script, actors, and well-lit scenes. How is that a documentary, you ask.

Forever Young Foundation

About Story Babble

Since high school, we’ve been talking about what makes a great story great. We were in a few plays together and we even wrote one. It really sucked. Nevertheless, we both pursued some form of professional storytelling. Forty years later, here we are, still having the same kinds of conversations. And sucking less, we hope. 
Then someone told us about this thing called “podcasts” where, evidently, people sit around talking about the stuff they love and record it. Who knew? We immediately set aside our abacuses and eight-track tapes and got to work. Storybabble is the result. 

 

Meet The Hosts

Brian Nissen

Brian Nissen

Co-Host

Brian received a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts. While at CalArts he wrote a one-act play called Oscar (1989) that won the National Short Play Award for the American College Theatre Festival. He wrote the screenplay for the animated musical The Swan Princess (1994) and its nine sequels (and counting!) He’s also written almost a hundred screenplays for an animated series about the Bible and heroes of world history.  In 2004 he created a live stage show called Citrus Valley Playhouse. Performed in the style of old-time radio, it highlighted Arizona history, politics and culture. It appeared as an occasional special on KJZZ (NPR) and in 2007 its production of The Napolinator won Best Play of 2007 from the East Valley Tribune.  Today, Brian creates political ads, web videos and spoof songs performed by his mulleted alter ego, Dwain. Make America Great Again aggregated several million views.  

 

Mark Arnett

Mark Arnett

Co-Host

Mark earned his way through college performing magic for corporate parties as Arnett the “Not Too Bad.”  It was mostly an excuse for comedy, but it did include an escape from a large trunk.  However, after graduating from law school at Arizona State University, Mark stopped doing magic outside the bedroom.  Instead, Mark practices law with his brother Wayne at Arnett & Arnett, P.C. in Chandler, Arizona helping people who have been ripped off by their insurance company.  But Mark has always kept his hand in entertainment.  Whether that’s performing in a rock band, making a feature-length award-winning documentary (Baby Boomerang), or producing stage and screen projects with Brian.  Mark is currently working on a novel, a screenplay, a TV pilot, and a music video, but his latest “completed” project is an album of original songs entitled “Sugar Cubes.”  As Mark puts it, “I have an addiction to creativity.  I can’t seem to stop myself.  I even dream of pulling the old trunk out of the garage and seeing if I can still escape.”

Send a Message

If you’re feeling bored and need someone to talk to, we’re here for you. We will listen to your stories and tell you some of our own. Drop us a line.

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