John Bernardy and John Thorne linger on a key thematic idea  

Full chat: http://tiny.cc/yy04vz

John Bernardy and John Thorne are gifted writers with a talent for analysis, intuition, and originality. We had a great time discussing their theories (https://bit.ly/3JDQ38W | http://tiny.cc/d270vz), their research & writing processes, and the world of Twin Peaks in general. 

Highlights include: 

1:07 - What is that Twin Peaks show about? 

2:53 - Is any of the supernatural stuff . . . real? 

8:15 - Hinduism and Esoteric Buddhism 

17:00 - Interesting titles: "Ominous Whoosh" and "Navigating Between Worlds" 

27:37 - How to corral such a big text into a coherent analysis 

44:35 - Being stuck -- in Twin Peaks and in life 

49:44 - Could Cooper have just "gone out now"? 

53:59 - Fruitful entry-points into Twin Peaks (other than plot) 

58:43 - Game time: Cowboy statue ("Windswept") 

1:04:20 - Game time: Bosomy woman (a "key" perhaps?) 

1:12:53 - Game time: Cooper in the security monitor 

1:17:47 - Starting from cool and making it work 

1:20:19 - Lynch's unique creativity 

1:22:13 - What's with the backwards talk in Twin Peaks? 

1:28:00 - What's a tulpa? 

1:32:17 - Twin Peaks as an open, participatory text 

1:37:57 - An unsolicited recommendation 

1:43:14 - Advice for young writers 

1:47:23 - Speed round: Laura & Diane 

1:49:50 - Speed round: Best TP ending (S1, S2, FWWM, TR?) 

1:50:52 - Twin Peaks events and get-togethers 

This was a real treat for me -- thanks John and John! 

Resources & References: 

John T’s latest book: http://tiny.cc/d270vz 

John T’s social media: http://tiny.cc/p270vz 

John T’s podcast: http://tiny.cc/q270vz 

John B's podcast: https://bit.ly/3l2PGuj 

John B's social media: http://tiny.cc/0cz3vz / http://tiny.cc/zbz3vz 

John B's writing: https://bit.ly/3JDQ38W 

My grammar course: http://tiny.cc/l270vz

John Thorne offers some very interesting ways to analyze point-of-view, drawing from his own repertoire and upon Seymour Chatman's "story vs. discourse" ideas.

Full chat (video): http://tiny.cc/i5c0vz

Full chat (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/f6i0vz

Find John's book here: http://tiny.cc/d270vz

(Initially published Oct 2022)

Two of my favorite writers, John Thorne and Peter Smagorinsky, share thoughts on a very interesting topic: writing accessibly for readers of various types.   

Full chat w/ John (video): http://tiny.cc/i5c0vz

Full chat w/ John (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/f6i0vz

Find John's book here: http://tiny.cc/d270vz

Full chat w/ Peter: http://tiny.cc/07c0vz

(Initially published Oct 2022)

John Thorne shares a few items from his book left on the cutting room floor.  Perhaps one day they will see the light of day. 

Full chat (video): http://tiny.cc/i5c0vz

Full chat (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/f6i0vz

Find John's book here: http://tiny.cc/d270vz

(Initially published Oct 2022)

Jeremiah Beaver (Take the Ring) opens up his sketchbook and reveals some breaking news.  

Full chat (video): http://tiny.cc/eempuz

Full chat (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/j6i0vz

(initially published March 2022)

Jeremiah Beaver (Take the Ring) on the benefits of supportive, creative family.  

Full chat (video): http://tiny.cc/eempuz

Full chat (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/j6i0vz

(initially published March 2022)

Jeremiah Beaver (Take the Ring) discusses what might not be so obvious

Full chat (video): http://tiny.cc/eempuz

Full chat (audio-only): http://tiny.cc/j6i0vz

(Initially published March 2022)

A chat with artist Jeremiah Beaver (Take the Ring) about his craft. If you like Twin Peaks, you've likely admired his video essays and wondered how certain elements or ideas were accomplished. Jeremiah's an interesting guy, and this peek behind the curtain will likely inspire and motivate you to keep (or start) doing your own thing! (Initially published Mar 4, 2020)

Highlights include: 

1:21 - How long do these videos take to produce? 

2:53 - Passion projects & the genesis of the Take the Ring channel 

5:28 - Free-writing & scriptwriting 

9:17 - Training, learning, mom's red pen, and the value of family 

14:02 - Motivation & effort (and shooting for enduring value) 16:18 - Enjoyment, inspiration, & challenges 

23:05 - Obsessions & eccentricities (and the great Maj. Briggs) 

29:24 - Jeremiah's fingerprint & ("clean, dry, simple") style 

33:55 - Composing as building: Recommended tools of the trade 

38:26 - The "video essay" genre 

45:58 - The importance & power of audio editing 

52:48 - Thinking, writing, vetting, & revising 

1:02:28 - What else is worth knowing? 

1:09:48 - Jeremiah's sketchbooks, dossiers, and plans (Very cool!) 

1:21:33 - Pre-vis artwork and preview of "BOB" episode 

1:24:10 - Dreamers, Thorne, Kreider, and Bierce 

1:31:56 - Jeremiah's repurposed "Secret History" files 

1:39:58 - Advice, motivation, encouragement, & realism 

1:49:17 - A "playground for artists everywhere" - great show, great community 

1:51:13 - Family is good 

WATCH "Talk About Judy • Dreamers • Twin Peaks: The Return Theory" here: http://tiny.cc/4f8puz 

Connect with Jeremiah here: https://twitter.com/TakeTheRing430 

Diagram Twin Peaks-themed sentences here: http://tiny.cc/af8puz

John Thorne answers the call and helpfully shares how he approaches challenging texts. We discuss John’s newest book (http://tiny.cc/d270vz), a 300+ page interpretive review of “Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017), and even non-viewers of Twin Peaks will find value in John’s mindset and approach to analysis. It was a true pleasure talking with one of my favorite writers! (Initially published Oct 19, 2022) 

Highlights include: 

0:26 - “Wrapped in Plastic” at 30 

4:06 - the development & expansion of John’s analytical skillset 

7:55 - writing enjoyable-to-read academic essays 

10:21 - how has John’s new book been received? 

12:22 - analysis, personal development, & self-knowledge 

14:18 - “reading and writing my way toward the truth” 

17:50 - disciplining oneself as a writer 

19:55 - this thing of “feel-thinking” (intuition and “feel-thinking”) 

23:28 - creating one’s own “writing prompt” 

27:30 - challenges of analysis 

31:02 - Chatman’s “covert narrator” and the use of POV 

40:10 - stories within stories (puzzle pieces coming together) 

45:03 - when research is invigorating (Rourke’s “overlapping deliria”) 

52:08 - these would be fun to read (some “missing pieces”) 

57:50 - thoughts on the legacy of The Return 

1:02:19 - when diversity works well (Lynch/Frost: syncs & clashes) 

1:04:00 - “doing it for the doing” 

1:07:00 - helpers and inspirations 

1:14:11 - contributions to the Twin Peaks “interpretive canon” 

1:16:52 - helpful (and non-helpful) critics 

1:23:10 - what does “Lynchian” mean? How about “Thornean”? 

Resources & References: 

John’s latest book: http://tiny.cc/d270vz 

John’s current journalism: https://www.bluerosemag.com/ 

John’s former magazine: https://wrappedinplasticmagazine.com/ 

John’s social media: http://tiny.cc/p270vz 

John’s podcast: http://tiny.cc/q270vz 

Seymour Chatman’s “Story and Discourse”: http://tiny.cc/g270vz 

Brian Rourke’s “Inland Empire” essay: http://tiny.cc/i270vz 

Philip Ball’s “Beyond Weird”: http://tiny.cc/7270vz 

Amrutur Srinivasan’s “Hinduism for Dummies”: http://tiny.cc/w270vz 

My grammar course: http://tiny.cc/l270vz