This week, Nigel and Tazziii are going alone as we fly south for the winter with our deep dive into DreamWorks' emotional ride, The Wild Robot (starting at 20:44).

It's a new spin on the fish out of water story and one that tugs hard on the heartstrings and makes us question whether kindness can be a survival skill. But does its somewhat predictable plot impact the emotion of its journey?

We examine how a narrative that revolves around robots and animals manages to tell such a human story about adapting to harsh environments, parenthood, friendship and growing beyond your programming. This week's storytelling tip is about designing a Fool Triumphant narrative journey.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Slime ISEKAI Memories, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Four Seasons, Resident Alien, Gangs of London, Sakamoto Days, Thunderbolts*

In this Rewind episode, we're bringing you the audio from our monthly Studio77 Report with Nigel and Tazziii discussing their reactions to the hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console!

Join us as we break down the recent Nintendo Directs and views on the console itself, from newly revealed specs, including surprise inclusion of 4K gaming… to the surprise increase in pricing. We'll share our reactions to the hardware features, launch titles from Mario Kart World to third party, and what this means for Nintendo's next generation of gaming.

You can catch the Studio77 Report live on Twitch and YouTube each month: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada and https://youtube.com/mayamadatv

This week, Nigel and Tazziii upgrade their operating systems to metaphysical levels for a dive deep into Spike Jonze's scarily accurate Her (starting at 26:52), with Comic Creator Nathan Hawthorne and Community & Member Engagement Lead Sara Veal as guests.

Even over a decade old, we discuss how relevant this story is to today's world post mass ChatGPT adoption. Even in its pastel tones, it manages to capture our growing dependence on AI companions from a professional and relational level...but does it work as a narrative beyond its foreshadowing?

We examine its surprisingly human themes of moving past the pain of breakups, loneliness in a technologically connected world, and what our relationship with AI means for our relationships with the flesh-and-blood people around us, debating which themes about what makes love special for humans resonate effectively. This week's storytelling tip is about creating a meaningful job role for your protagonist.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story (Book), You (Netflix), It Takes Two (Xbox), Dr Stone (Crunchyroll), Beastars: Final Season Part 1 (Netflix), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Crunchyroll), Campfire Cooking in Another World (Crunchyroll), The Witch Hat Atelier (Manga), The Apothecary Diaries (Manga & Crunchyroll), Vinland Saga (Netflix), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+), South of Midnight (Xbox), Sinners (Cinema).

Connect with Nathan online:

Website: https://www.hawthornearts.com

Twitter: https://x.com/hawthornearts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornearts

Connect with Sara online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalbruhaha

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalbruhaha and https://www.instagram.com/sirena.curiosa

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Roshelle Patterson, a UX Researcher and Writer, to discuss her journey from serving in the U.S. Air Force to working in the video games industry across both AAA and indie titles, including Blizzard's World of Warcraft: The War Within and the climate-focused indie project Waves of Jeju.

We hear how she navigated her path with intention and a desire to positively impact others. Join the conversation and discover how taking stock of what motivates you can lead to opportunities that are the perfect fit for you. This is a must listen for anyone worried about missing the “conventional” path to games...there is none!

Connect with Roshelle online:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshelleantoinette
• Email: [email protected]

This week, Nigel and Tazziii explore what it means to be an introvert, extrovert and everything in between in the creative industries with Bridget Banton, television executive and founder of Dear Creative Gurl.

In this candid conversation, we delve into what makes different personality types tick and how they manifest in professional settings. From navigating networking events to managing energy levels during meetings, we share invaluable insights from our years of experience across mayamada, television, consultancy, and lessons learned along the way.

We also look at practical strategies for being your best self whilst pursuing creative entrepreneurship so that you can stay true to what energises you, discussing everything from sustainable work routines to authentic relationship-building. This week's episode is essential listening for anyone looking to better understand and leverage their personality type in the creative industries.

Guest Links

Connect with Bridget online:

- Website: https://www.dearcreativegurl.com

- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/bridgetbanton

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearcreativegurl

- Substack: https://dearcreativegurl.substack.com/p/a-seat-at-the-table

In this Rewind episode, we're bringing you the audio from our recent Casual Conversations With Comic Creators livestream where Nigel talked with watercolourist and comic artist Tony Moy.

The international artist gave us some great insight into his creative journey, from teaching and working in the tech industry to working with Marvel Snap, travelling for some of the biggest conventions in the US and his passion project The 442nd — a watercolour comic about the Japanese American 442nd Battalion.

Originally streamed on Twitch, this conversation delves into Tony's unique artistic style, his experience teaching at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and what he's learnt about taking the leap to go for his dreams. Tune in for insights into the craft of making comics and bringing historical stories to life through art.

You can catch Casual Conversations With Comic Creators live on Twitch each month: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

This week, Nigel and Tazziii enlist into the most secretive British spy agency with this deep dive into Kingsman: The Secret Service (starting at 24:36), with Aisha Ahmed, Freelance Community Manager & Journalist.

We reminisce on this decade-old story and see if the comic book-inspired narrative still holds up or whether its portrayal of the London Roadman lifestyle is outdated in 2025. With a protagonist that displays a strong moral core beneath a rough exterior, it's a film that shares beats with another troubled youth who is enlisted into a super-secret agency to learn the tricks of the trade in order to take down a malevolent threat.

We examine the depiction of social mobility in a Bond-like setting, debating whether the tonal balance between refined gentleman and ultra-violence works for this adventure and how the story's themes resonate with our panel. This week's storytelling tip is about implementing a "Save the Cat" moment in your story.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Adolescence (Netflix), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Crunchyroll), The Apothecary Diaries (Crunchyroll), I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I'll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Crunchyroll), Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms (Crunchyroll), Sakamoto Days (Netflix), Dr Stone (Crunchyroll), Vinland Saga (Netflix), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)

Guest Links

Connect with Aisha online:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hades_kitty

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aisha_kicks_ass

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@Aisha_anime

- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AishaAhmedAnime

This week, we’re bringing you a special Rewind episode featuring the “My Creative Journey” roundtable discussion from our Origins: Against All Odds manga launch event during Women’s History Month 2025, hosted by Japanese Gallery Kensington.

Moderator (and manga muse) Tazziii was joined by panellists Miyuki Panda, Janelle McCurdy, and Shazleen Khan for an open and honest conversation about their careers, discovering their voices, making it through the hard times...and licking cars?!

Check out the episode and don’t forget to grab your copy of "Origins: Against All Odds" on our website at mayamada.com

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Simone Giampaolo, Director of Animated Films, to discuss his journey from the south of Switzerland to studying animation in the UK.

His path led him to work with some of the biggest names in animation, including major studios like Netflix, Disney, and Aardman, while still finding time to direct independent teams to award-winning work.

We delve into Simone's process to understand why he makes stories, what creativity means to him, and what makes animation such a unique medium for empathetic storytelling and conveying important messages—plus we discover how cute (and also what is) a Quokka is live on the podcast!

GUEST LINKS

• Website: https://simonegiampaolo.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-giampaolo

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giampaolo.simone

This week, Nigel and Tazziii don their capes, cowls, and hit the bricks for a deep dive into The LEGO Batman Movie (starting at 27:17), with Content Creator Chochy.

We tackle this high-octane, laugh-a-minute exploration of the Batman mythos told through the LEGO IP, as we question whether this animated view of Batman's trauma and his relationship with The Joker has given us the best story about the Dark Knight to date. It's a fun ride, but does it succeed as a narrative that can entertain audiences on multiple levels?

We examine its themes of family, trust, and vulnerability, debating which moments work and whether the redemption arc ends on a satisfying note. This week's storytelling tip is about creating meaningful setbacks on the path to redemption for your protagonist.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Mickey 17 (Cinema), Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+), Superman & Lois (The CW), School Spirits (Paramount+), Supacell (Netflix), Superstore (Netflix), Sakamoto Days (Netflix), My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom (Crunchyroll), Captain America: Brave New World (Cinema), Gangs of London (Netflix), Klara and the Sun (Book), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)

Guest Links

Find Chochy online:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/chochyplays
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chochy.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/chochyplays
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chochy1000
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@chochy1000
• Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chochyplays