STORYBEAST

By STORYBEAST

A podcast for story lovers, Storybeast explores how we weave tales and why we love them. Co-hosts Ghabiba Weston and C. Shack chat with each other and legendary guests about different elements of vari... more

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FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 111 episodes available.

STORYBEAST episodes:

January 30, 2025Episode #90: On milk candy and writing books for bold, bi, brown women with legendary Gabriella Buba
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston has the pleasure of interviewing legendary Gabriella Buba.
Gabriella Buba is a mixed Filipina-Czech writer and chemical engineer based in Texas who likes to keep explosive pyrophoric materials safely contained in pressure vessels or between the covers of her books. She writes adult romantic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered. SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW is out now, DAUGHTERS OF FLOOD AND FURY coming your way July 2025.
In this episode, you'll hear about
getting ATLA's prince Zuko (Dante Basco) to narrate Saints of Storm and Sorrow

writing as a BIPOC author

giving yourself permission to write from a place of inner truth

Ghabiba's take on what makes fan fiction so popular

finding validation in stories that resonate

Gabriella's incredible book looks and her product recs

Gabriella's publishing journey

the power of spite

the dark side of publishing for marginalized authors

the one thing Gabriella learned about the publishing process that she didn't know going in

the book 2 struggle bus

Gabriella's favourite snack

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 14min
January 27, 2025Episode #89: FANGIRLING OVER ARCANE + Character Foils + MAJOR SPOILERS
Welcome to a special FANGIRLING episode, in which your Beasts (Courtney and Ghabiba) discuss Season 1 of Arcane with the incredible Ruth Mckell.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Major fangirling!! And spoilers!!! Don't say we didn't warn you!

Character foils

Relationship foils

Storytelling strategies and how these relate to theme

Join us for the next FANGRILING OVER ARCANE episode to discuss strong women. After that...corruption arcs, anyone?
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
45min
January 16, 2025Episode #88: On the power of boredom, horror, and purple pens, with Legendary Katherine Arden
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Katherine Arden.
Katherine Arden is the New York Times Bestselling author of books for adults and children, including The Winternight Trilogy, The Small Spaces Quartet, and The Warm Hands of Ghosts. She lives in Vermont.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
the importance of writer boredom in allowing space for your imagination

Katherine's methods for keeping that space

Katherine's stationery recs

Katherine in danger of purple pen theft by Courtney

the writer moratorium

Katherine's inspo behind the small spaces quartet

horror: dread and fright through atmosphere

horror as a study of emotion exploration without the abstract

the emotional component to building atmosphere

plotting versus pantsing (find out which one Katherine is) and staying true to your characters

Katherine's advice on approaching revision

Tamora Pierce and her formative influence

Katherine's advice for creating vivid scenes for the reader

the worst writing advice Katherine's ever heard

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
46min
January 10, 2025Episode #87: Happy 2025! New year, new rambles
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this episode of Season 4 Part 2, the Beasts:
get real chatty about things they love, but insist they are not sponsored (really, they are not)

talk about goals and themes for 2025
Courtney says numbers and Ghabiba does the math (it's book related, promise!)

Discuss burnout and how to avoid it this year

Claim Emily Rath as their own and get real into the excitement for North is the Night

Talk about upcoming projects

Allude to a secret that is now out--congrats to McKell Wall on her book announcement, Honey in Her Veins.

Chat about upcoming Arcane episodes with McKell.

Have snacks. Find Courtney's spinach and artichoke dip recipe she liked here or here Ghabiba's kale salad recipe.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!

A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.

As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.

Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 26min
December 12, 2024Episode #86: 'Tis the (end of a half) season! Romantasy Summit highlights and teasers for upcoming Legendaries
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this final episode of Season 4 Part 1, the Beasts:
recount the highlights of the Storybeast virtual conference, 'Romantasy Summit 2024'

share some of their takeaways (one of those may or may not be how to scoop out an eyeball)

share resources non-attendees can access

feel cool because they can now do an Anakin sword spin

recommend a show which they feel is a great study in characterisation

give some hints for who to expect in our Legendary line-up for Season 4 Part 2

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!

A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.

As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.

Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
36min
December 05, 2024Episode #85: Legendary Thea Guanzon on the Hurricane Wars, Monsoon Rising, and Reylo
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Thea Guanzon.
Thea Guanzon is a New York Times, USA Today, Indie List, Sunday Times, and global bestselling author from the Philippines. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with a specialization in International Politics and a minor in Peace Studies. When she’s not writing, she likes to travel, fangirl over villains, play Dungeons & Dragons, annoy her cats, and drink iced coffee. She currently resides in Metro Manila.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Thea's author journey

Inspiration for the Hurricane Wars

Reylo as the third pillar of civilization

delicious food

and what to expect from Monsoon Rising (out December 10)

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 3min
November 28, 2024Episode #84: On the lead up to Storybeast’s Romantasy conference and the sharing of secrets
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode:
Courtney shares her take on essential Romantasy ingredients.

you'll hear about what to expect from Romantasy Summit's sword yoga guided break

Ghabiba shares a fun sword fact

you'll hear about a gift from ⁠WeaponUp ⁠from Romantasy Summit attendees

the Beasts announce a Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale for Romantasy Summit

Courtney has Lie Pie

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠welcome page ⁠or jump straight into ⁠the course offerings⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching. Registration closes December 4th, 2024.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠subscribe to our newsletter.⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
26min
November 21, 2024Episode #83: Emily Varga on feminine rage and her debut, For She is Wrath
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Emily Varga.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Emily's publication journey

Feminine Rage

Tropes and characters in For She is Wrath

Advice on managing life as an author

And lots of swords
A special note on our winter conference:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠⁠welcome page⁠⁠ or jump straight into ⁠⁠our course offerings⁠⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 2min
November 14, 2024Episode #82: On challenges: the good, the tough, the internal, the external
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.

In this episode
Ghabiba has feelings (who would've guessed)

the beasts discuss facing challenges in your pj's
the world is on fire: the outside challenge

how do I create in times like this? the inside challenge
you'll hear about craft challenges that can help you step outside your comfort zone and expand your talent

Gabi reveals a secret future legendary whose wisdom has been instrumental in helping her break out of her writing comfort zone

Courtney talks about getting past the "graveyard of beginnings"

Ghabiba shares more about her short stories and touches on tapping into "the you outside of writing" to lend context and flavor to your characters and themes

Courtney plays the audience and Ghabiba gives you a micro-documentary on a snake from Africa

the beasts discuss finding ways to challenge yourself within a genre and interpret conventions with intention

Ghabiba talks about using physical changes within a story to represent themes, esp. helpful in short form fiction where a lot of what you want to convey is implied

Courtney talks about when real world challenges spill into your writing space

the beasts discuss finding YOUR internal character motivations and staying challenged

Courtney shares book recs in the spirit of short stories and ARCANE!

A special note for our listeners:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our welcome page or jump straight into the course offerings to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.

Save your seat today.

For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our newsletter.

Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!

A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.

As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.

Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
47min
November 08, 2024Episode #81: Clare Sager on Intuition, Poison, and What's Next
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Ghabiba Weston and Courtney Shack have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Clare Sager.
Clare Sager writes fantasy stories with adventure, intrigue, darkness, and a heaping spoonful of steamy romance. Her favourite tropes include enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and tricky fae bargains that just might be more trouble than they’re worth.
She lives in Nottingham, Robin Hood country, so it’s no surprise she writes about characters who don’t always play by the rules.
In this episode, you'll hear:
About dealing with burnout

Love for Becca Syme and her Better Faster Academy

Shout outs to Charlie's Book Recs' substack

How Clare's method of relaxing impacts her stories

Clare hint at what's next for her in the writing world

Bonding over poison
A special note on our winter conference:
Join us for Romantasy Summit this December and discover our amazing, online conference for writers creating in the fantasy and romance genres. Take a look at our ⁠welcome page⁠ or jump straight into ⁠our course offerings⁠ to see what our incredible faculty are teaching.
For more storytelling content to your inbox,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠subscribe ⁠to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠.⁠
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h

FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 111 episodes available.

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