The Story Series Podcast with Brandon Violette (For Writers Who Break The Rules)

Adam Redfern is the Showrunner of "Peppa Pig", and an award-winning creative, writer and executive producer with over 20 years experience working in kids' TV, animation, commercials, promos and digital content.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Becoming Showrunner on Peppa Pig.

• Breaking in as a runner at Disney Channel UK.

• Learning to depersonalize rejection along the way.

• And why imperfect characters create better stories.

RESOURCES:

• Adam Redfern

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Jordan Gershowitz is a 2x Emmy-nominated screenwriter, playwright, and author. Most recently, Jordan co-developed and head wrote Hot Wheels Let's Race for Netflix/Mattel and is the EP/showrunner on Karters for Warner Bros and Mediawan. Prior to that, he was the head writer for Nickelodeon's new series The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj, which he developed for the network.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• His early career in the pop punk band "Rushmore".

• How music taught him the foundations of networking.

• What head writers look for when evaluating writers.

• And how to find that personal connection when developing major IP.

RESOURCES:

• Jordan Gershowitz

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

"What's a rule in our industry that you believe is worth breaking?"

If you follow the podcast, you know that's the question I ask every guest at the end of every conversation. In Volume 4 of "The Rule I Break", I'm sharing standout answers from recent guests on trusting your voice, taking bigger swings with your scripts, and refusing to let the industry define what kind of creative you're allowed to be.

EPISODES REFERENCED:

• Ryan Pyle

• Goldie Chan

• Michael Greene

• Craig Carlisle

• John Huss

• Qiushi Zhang

• Alyson Eisenband

• Agnes Lee

• We Ghosted Media

• John Dove

• Thom Harp

• Marcie Colleen

• Curtis Jobling

• Karim Zreik

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Lincoln Jones is the founder and artistic director of the American Contemporary Ballet of Los Angeles. He has presented dance in increasingly compelling and creative formats, staging immersive productions of Inferno and Burlesque (to a score commissioned from late Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Wuorinen) and Astaire Dances. Jones' immersive staging of The Nutcracker Suite became an unexpected L.A. holiday tradition, selling out every season since its 2017 premiere. Los Angeles Magazine wrote "American Contemporary Ballet is undeniably one of the most talented institutions across the entire globe."

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Ambition and obsession: What dancers and writers have in common.

• Why contrast is essential to making compelling art.

• How limitations inspire better creative work.

• And why we need to study the masters in order to say something new.

RESOURCES:

• American Contemporary Ballet

• Upcoming Show Tickets

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Scott Sonneborn co-developed, executive produced and show ran Angry Birds Summer Madness for Netflix, while also working as the story editor on the animated series Ghee Happy, which won the 2024 Annie Award for best preschool show. Before that, he was on an overall deal at Disney Television Animation developing a show he created. Scott has story edited and written for series ranging from Beavis & Butt-Head to My Little Pony. He's also the author of more than 40 books for kids, has been nominated for an Emmy, and was a Hugo Award Finalist.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Learning to write without waiting for inspiration.

• The qualities of a strong staff writer.

• Show Development: Using character dynamics to generate story examples.

• And why you should always be asking yourself, "Is it fun?"

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about Scott Sonneborn

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Karim Zreik is a producer and entertainment executive who has delivered hundreds of hours of television across platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, ABC, and more. Previously as Senior Vice President of Original Programming & Production at Marvel Television, he helped establish Marvel as a major force in TV, overseeing the studio's landmark Netflix slate- including Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Earlier, at Junction Entertainment, known for the National Treasure franchise, and the Emmy-nominated Jericho. In his current deal with Amazon Studios, Karim oversees a development slate including Mass Effect, based on Electronic Arts' best-selling sci-fi video game franchise.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• How to brand yourself early (and pivot later).

• Lessons from 400+ episodes of Marvel Television.

• What makes a script stand out in today's industry.

• And why kindness is everything in Hollywood.

RESOURCES:

• Karim Zreik on LinkedIn

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Curtis Jobling is the designer of worldwide hit children's television show 'Bob the Builder', and the author/illustrator of numerous children's books. He lives with his wife, Emma, in Cheshire, England, along with a menagerie of children and pets. His own animated series, 'Frankenstein's Cat' and 'Raa Raa the Noisy Lion', can both be seen on the BBC. His acclaimed best-selling series of epic fantasy novels, 'Wereworld', was published by Penguin worldwide. The million-selling 'Wereworld' series of novels has been adapted into a major new animated show for NETFLIX, titled Wolf King and produced by Lime Pictures and Jellyfish Pictures.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• From production designer to fantasy author and show creator.

• Being pigeonholed in the industry- and ways to break out of it.

• How creative skills are transferable across disciplines and age groups.

• And "why knowing your place" is a rule worth breaking.

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about Curtis Jobling

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Marcie Colleen has worn many hats - teacher, actress, nanny - but now she spends her days writing children's books. She is the acclaimed author of The Super Happy Party Bears chapter book series, as well as the picture books Love, Triangle, Penguinaut!, The Bear's Garden, and Survivor Tree, a 2022 ALA Notable Book that celebrates the real-life pear tree that survived the September 11th attacks. A former Senior Writer/Editor for Epic! Originals, Marcie has written comics and prose for their digital platform, including the Kitten Ninja series, which has garnered over 40 million reads. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and a beloved herd of stuffed animals.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The reality of publishing: agents, rejection, and long timelines.

• How to determine the right format for an idea.

• The most important storytelling skill across formats.

• And why curiosity should guide your creative career.

RESOURCES:

• Learn more about Marcie Colleen

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

Thom Harp is a screenwriter and director of comedy films including "The Donor Party" and "Home Delivery", now in theaters, about a plus-sized model who invites her estranged family to witness the birth of her baby. The film stars Donald Faison, Melanie Field, Lindsay Sloane, Jimmi Simpson, Joe Pantoliano, Lesley Ann Warren, Peter MacNicol, Tracie Thoms and Rainn Wilson.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The origin of "Home Delivery" (and how it almost didn't happen).

• Writing toward creative and budget constraints.

• The importance of tone and when not to be precious about dialogue.

• And why you have to advocate for yourself.

RESOURCES:

• See "Home Delivery"

• Learn more about Thom Harp

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

A retired New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant with over 21 years of service, he held leadership roles in units including Internal Affairs, K-9, and the Brooklyn Cold Case Homicide Squad as well as the Criminal Intelligence Unit where he worked on joint terrorism investigations with the FBI after the September 11 attacks. He later transitioned into television, starting as a technical advisor on CSI: NY before becoming a writer and rising to Co-Executive Producer. He has since written and produced for multiple series, including Hawaii Five-0, Chicago P.D., and L.A.'s Finest. He is currently working on the second season as a co-executive producer on the CBS hit series Boston Blue. A lifelong writer, he holds a bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Empire State College and has contributed opinion pieces to the New York Daily News and Daily Wire.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Breaking into TV as a technical advisor on CSI: New York.

• The connection between law enforcement and storytelling.

• The reality of writers rooms, feedback, and finding your voice.

• And how empathy, not structure, creates real characters.

RESOURCES:

• John's IMDB Page

WANT MORE? ✏️💥

I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer.

👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com

CONNECT:

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube