Today, we're chatting with Doug TenNapel, a guy whose career spans an impressive variety of genres and media. He's worked in video games, graphic novels, film, and television, and our conversation really covers some ground. TenNapel is perhaps most well known as the creator of Earthworm Jim, but he's also published a bookshelf's worth of graphic novels and is the showrunner for Dreamworks Animation's VeggieTales in the House for Netflix. On this episode, we chat about his wide-ranging career, how the video game and publishing industries have changed during that time, what elements are mandatory in his creative environment, and how to deal with the inevitable failures and setbacks that come with success.

Today, we're bringing you our chat with Gerard Way and Nick Derington from New York Comic-Con. Gerard Way rose to fame as the lead singer for My Chemical Romance before making the somewhat unexpected leap to the cozy peace and tranquility of graphic novels. Almost immediately, he burst onto the scene with The Umbrella Academy. Most recently, DC Comics has handed him the creative reins of Young Animal - their new "pop-up imprint." On this episode, we chat about Doom Patrol, taking creative risks, what constitutes a pop-up imprint, whether this will set a precedent for DC (and other publishers), and what else we might see from Young Animal down the line.

Today, we're putting on our dancing shoes...OK, maybe more like our standing-around-and-awkwardly-tapping-one-foot-while-bouncing shoes. Either way, we're talking to musicians Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm! That's right - all of them. At once. It's a party! On this episode, we chat about the JoCo Cruise, whether they were ever pushed to be more "mainstream" in their music, STEM vs the arts, how the Internet has become a crutch for many musicians, and the future of the music industry. And stick around after our chat - we've got Coulton's performance of "You Ruined Everything" from 10/8/16 at The Bell House in Brooklyn.

Today, we're boldly going to the 23rd century (and beyond) with Mike and Denise Okuda. If you've watched and enjoyed Star Trek in nearly any of its incarnations over the years, you have the Okudas to thank for so many different aspects of the shows. On this episode, we chat about their work on the Star Trek Encyclopedia, remastering the show for blu-ray, Star Trek tech, how Star Trek has and continues to inspire us, the journey to Mars, and what Star Trek will look like 50 years from now.

Today, we're thrilled to be joined by Paige O'Hara and Richard White, the original voices of Belle and Gaston from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. We talk about their experiences making the film, having such a monumental film be the starting point of their careers, reprising the roles throughout the years, the return of the Disney musical, and what they do away from acting.

Today, we're chatting with Chuck Palahniuk: a writer who almost defies description. His books are impossible to categorize, and - frankly - that's just the way he likes it. Palahniuk burst onto the literary scene in 1996 with Fight Club, which went on to be made into the cult-hit film directed by David Fincher. On this episode, we have a fascinating and revealing conversation about working outside of the "mainstream," writing for yourself, self-doubt, how the adult coloring book craze is saving the publishing industry, the importance of arousing physical reactions among readers, and Palahniuk's own personal approach to writing and storytelling. And poop. We also talk about poop.

Today, we're chatting with Ben Blacker: co-creator of Thrilling Adventure Hour and writer of just so many things. On this episode, we chat about his longstanding partnership with Ben Acker, the strengths each brings to the table, the lessons he's learned as a result of doing The Writer's Panel podcast, writing for different formats, and the power of a live audience.

Today, we're just thrilled to bring you our conversation with Clark Gregg: the one and only Agent Phil Coulson. On this episode, we talk about whether Agent Coulson's changing role as "everyman," making an ensemble cast work, what he'd like to see in the Inhumans film, and when he'll get back to directing. We crack open the conspiracy that his FBI Agent Casper from The West Wing was actually a deep undercover Agent Coulson and try to figure out what SHIELD's interest in the Bartlet White House was. And we talk about the ramifications of the current real-life drama playing out in the U.S. presidential election and what Clark would say to every American voter if given the chance.

Today, we're chatting with John Jackson Miller, who has written for some of the biggest geek franchises ever. He's perhaps most well known for his work in the Star Wars and Star Trek universes, but he's also played in the Halo, Mass Effect, Indiana Jones, and Planet of the Apes sandboxes. Talk about crossing the streams. On this episode, we talk about his career, the similarities and differences in working for the different Star Wars "regimes," the Star Trek: Prey trilogy, the challenges in writing for established franchises, and his personal writing routines and habits.

If you're a fan of comics or graphic novels at all, or if you have a kid of reading age, you know who Jeff Smith is. The epic story of the Bone cousins, Ted, Gran'ma Ben, Thorn, the Great Red Dragon, and all the other wonderful characters that populate the Bone books is one of the most enchanting, engrossing, gorgeous stories ever put to paper. On this episode, we chat about self-publishing, having one story dominate your career, the effect of awards and acclaim, what an "all-ages" label really means, why Bone mostly escapes the persistent "boy's/girl's book" stigma, and McDonald's in India.