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

Lee Papa is an author and performance and wellbeing coach who helps individual creatives, professionals, and teams strengthen their internal guardrails so clarity, resilience, and aligned results become sustainable. Her work blends emotional intelligence, mindful mastery, and practical insight to support the full human system behind performance.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The difference between hard work and "forced" work.

• How autopilot leads to creative burnout.

• Why guardrails (not restriction) actually improve creativity.

• And the connection between increased awareness and better writing.

RESOURCES:

• Mindful Makeovers: The Reset Map - $27 USE code: STORYLETTER for 50% Discount

• Schedule a 15 Minute FREE Inquiry Call with Lee

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

NYC to LA, We Ghosted Media LLC is a production studio focused on compelling storytelling and content creation. With an ever-changing industry, we find alternative ways to deliver new and exciting media that will engage in a two-way conversation with our audience. Our mission is to inspire other artists to keep telling their stories, produce immersive entertainment, and stay true to their original ideas and concepts. Run by award-winning Co-Founders Jaclynn Demas and Christopher Jammal, We Ghosted Media LLC brings 20+ years of experience in series animation, live-action and film production, and creative marketing promotion. Jaclynn and Chris have created and produced content for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Disney, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, Amazon, and Fox.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The evolution of their upcoming animated series "Owen Nowhere".

• How Web3 and blockchain could give creators more ownership of their IP.

• The narrative possibilities of fan-driven storytelling.

• And how "getting ghosted" led to the creation of We Ghosted Media.

RESOURCES:

• Owen Nowhere on Instagram

• We Ghosted Media

• Lamina1

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

Agnes is a self-published children's book author who debuted in 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelling, she overcame the challenges of self-publishing and, within 6 months, completely sold out of her debut book, "Who Took My Stuff", with a single viral video. Since then, demand has continued to grow and she's already on track to sell out again as she prepares new adventures for her readers.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The making of her viral book: "Who Took My Stuff"

• Writing with simple language and "low stimulation" storytelling.

• Choosing between Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, and Alibaba.

• Advice for self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.

RESOURCES:

• Buy Agnes' Book

• Agnes' Previous Episode

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

Alyson (Piekarsky) Eisenband is an Emmy-nominated writer and creator, most recently serving as Story Editor on Nickelodeon's hit series Blue's Clues & You!. Her work spans television, podcasts, games, and toys, and can be found across platforms including Nickelodeon, PBS, Netflix, Disney Junior, Duolingo, YouTube, Tonies, and wherever podcasts are streamed.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Writing across TV, podcasts, games and toys.

• Networking for writers as a long-term strategy.

• How to cold reach out on LinkedIn (and get responses).

• And why you shouldn't limit yourself to one lane.

RESOURCES:

• Alyson's 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

Qiushi Zhang is a writer-turned-founder and CEO of Leyline, an AI filmmaking platform built specifically for screenwriters and storytellers. After years of pitching scripts, waiting on greenlights, and watching great work stall, she set out to build a tool that lets creators iterate, experiment, and make films without waiting for permission.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Why AI makes writers uncomfortable, and why that's worth talking about.

• Efficiency versus effectiveness in creative work.

• What storytelling looks like without permission.

• And whether AI can actually make art.

RESOURCES:

• Leyline: https://www.leylinepro.ai

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

John Huss is a comedy writer with extensive experience in animation, late night and sitcoms. John was a staff writer on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "The Showbiz Show with David Spade" and has done joke writing for Norm Macdonald, David Letterman, "SNL Weekend Update," Craig Ferguson, Frank Caliendo and a radio prep service. John began his career writing the series finale of the WB sitcom "Nikki," followed by two episodes of the hit ABC comedy "The Drew Carey Show." In addition to freelance work for Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix and Cartoon Network, John was nominated for three Emmys (and won one) for the PBS show "WordGirl," and has been staffed on "Spidey & His Amazing Friends," "Firebuds" and "The Chicken Squad."

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Late-night TV as a pressure cooker for writers.

• Writing 50+ jokes a day and letting most of them go.

• Translating comedy skills into kids TV.

• And how to take notes without taking them personally.

RESOURCES:

• John's IMDB

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

After experiencing a tragic loss of a partner and battling some of his own personal demons, Will has grown to care deeply about having open and frank conversations around mental health. As a result, he's made it his mission to share his story in the hopes that it will show others they're not alone and perhaps encourage them to share theirs as well. In addition to his work in mental health advocacy, Will is the host of Sunday Reset w/ Will & Friends, a podcast where real conversations meet emotional honesty. He's also the author of One Step Forward: Ideally in the Right Direction, a personal collection of reflections on growth and resilience. He also just released The Sunday Reset Journal: Writing Prompts for Your Inner Healing, which invites readers to slow down, reflect, and reset - one prompt at a time.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Writing as a tool for processing grief and anxiety.

• Turning private writing into public work.

• Self-publishing and creative ownership.

• And why "done is better than perfect" is a rule worth breaking.

RESOURCES:

• Will's Book: "One Step Forward"

• Will's Podcast: Sunday Reset w/ Will & Friends

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

Story Series Selects is a curated episode from the archive of screenwriters and filmmakers speaking honestly about uncertainty, false starts, and what it takes to stay in a creative career.

EPISODES FEATURED:

• Joey Clift's Episode

• Mike Ott's Episode

• Ron Mita's Episode

• Daniel Calvisi's Episode

• Andy Guerdat's Episode

• Jeff Aghassi's Episode

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

Craig Carlisle is writer, director and actor. He won an Emmy for his work on "Arthur" for PBS and was nominated for second for "Welcome to the Wayne" at Nickelodeon. Craig was a finalist for the Humanitas Prize for one of his episodes of "Sofia the First" and recently received a nomination from the Canadian Screen Music Awards for a song he co-wrote for "Thomas & Friends" (he's helped write over 180 songs for animated TV). He was Head Writer for "Pete the Cat" at Amazon and "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go" for Netflix, and Creative Consultant/Writer on the just-dropped "Hey AJ!" for Surfing Giant Animation and Disney Junior. Craig has also worked as a voice director, film and television writer and has directed theatrical productions in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — including Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater, Cherry Lane and LaMama ETC. Craig holds degrees from Indiana State University and New York University and is a proud member of The Animation Guild, Writer's Guild of America East and SAG/AFTRA.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Why writing for kids is one of the hardest forms of TV writing.

• The importance of finding a story's North Star.

• How limitations can sharpen storytelling choices.

• And why emotional engagement matters more than comprehension.

RESOURCES:

• Craig's IMDB Profile

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

Michael v. Greene is an award winning writer-director and co-founder of Everyone Can Eat. His feature film, "CLIKA" (2026), follows the journey of a young Mexican-American from picking fruit in the fields to musical stardom, and will be released theatrically by Columbia Pictures. Michael penned and directed his debut feature film "LIVE" in 2018, a found-footage, psychological thriller, aiming to draw attention to human trafficking. It is distributed by Entertainment Studios / Freestyle Digital Media and currently streaming on numerous platforms.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• How a Craigslist gig led to a studio feature film.

• Writing the first draft of "CLIKA" in just two weeks.

• Getting authentic performances from first-time actors.

• And why there's no single "right path" into the industry.

RESOURCES:

• Check out CLIKA

• Michael's Production Company: Everyone Can Eat

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