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

David Levy is the Head of Studio at Pinkfong USA, where he oversees original IP and creative direction on co-productions for the company behind Baby Shark. With over 20 years in animation, Levy has held roles at Disney, Viacom, and Warner Bros. As Director of Animation at Disney+, he led teams creating content for Pixar, Lucasfilm, and more. He is also the author of Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive, and has taught at Parsons, SVA, and NYU. A former president of ASIFA-East, Levy brings deep creative and leadership experience to every stage of production.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ The power of personal storytelling

✅ What it means to be a "virtual studio"

✅ Maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset

✅ Why every "no" is worth collecting

✅ Reinventing yourself in moments of industry disruption

📌 Learn more about David: https://a.co/d/dt5yqL5

📌 Watch David's Short Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yUV4DJGvRc&list=RD4yUV4DJGvRc&start_radio=1

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Jeff Aghassi is a 30-year film and television industry veteran, literary manager, and producer. He began as a location manager on Tank Girl and The Crucible before moving into agenting under renowned agent Lynn Pleshette. Jeff contributed to sales of major works including Cold Mountain, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Brokeback Mountain. Since 2007, he has managed a diverse roster of writers, directors, and creators across film, TV, and publishing. His clients' work spans preschool animation to award-winning features, including The King's Speech. As a producer, Jeff's credits include the documentary series Sports On Fire and numerous projects in development.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ The King's Speech - Origins to Oscar night

✅ Producing the documentary series Sports on Fire

✅ The impact of streaming on the TV landscape

✅ Qualities he looks for in clients

✅ Why timing and leverage are everything when opportunity knocks

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Tanya Memme is an Emmy-nominated TV host, award-winning producer, and internationally recognized speaker, best known as the host of A&E's hit series Sell This House. Over her 20-year career, Tanya has anchored and produced acclaimed programs for networks including A&E, TLC, Hallmark, and CBS, conducted hundreds of celebrity interviews on the world's biggest red carpets, and appeared in more than 50 national commercials. She is the founder of Mastering the Spotlight Academy, where she empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to command the camera with authenticity and confidence.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ Going from pageants to primetime

✅ The grind behind landing her first national commercial

✅ That terrible audition that led to her becoming a household name

✅ Reinventing herself as a speaker and coach

✅ Helping others find confidence and authenticity on camera

📌Learn more about Tanya: https://tanyamemme.com/

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Daniel Calvisi is a Script Doctor, Writing Coach and the author of Story Maps: How to Write a GREAT Screenplay and Story Maps: TV DRAMA: The Structure of the One-Hour Television Pilot. He was the Script Consultant on the upcoming feature "Devoted" starring Mena Suvari and Skeet Ulrich. Daniel is a former Story Analyst for major studios like Twentieth Century Fox, Miramax Films and New Line Cinema, and as a versatile screenwriter, his three most recent writing assignments were on a feature thriller, a one-hour drama pilot and the award-winning horror short "The Lost Camp." Many of his coaching clients have worked with the top networks, streamers and studios in the industry, such as Netflix, Max, Amazon, Disney, and more.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ Common mistakes writers make - and how to fix them

✅ Why horror is having a cultural moment (and how to tap into primal fears)

✅ The "rule he'd like to break" about pitching scripts

✅ Best and worst career advice, and how imposter syndrome still creeps in

✅ The power of reaching out (because that's how this episode happened!)

📌Learn more about Daniel: www.actfourscreenplays.com

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Farnaz Esnaashari rose from Nickelodeon intern to creator and executive producer during her 17-year run at the studio. While running post on Dora the Explorer she developed and sold several shows, ultimately creating Shimmer & Shine, a preschool juggernaut that built a multi-billion-dollar global franchise. Farnaz has steered projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, Spin Master, Mattel and more, and served as SVP, Creative at BRON Digital, leading Unreal Engine series and companion games. Also a Simon & Schuster children's author, she brings a holistic, business-savvy lens to storytelling for all ages.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ Growing up neurodivergent and discovering art as her language

✅ How being told "no" fuels her determination

✅ The real reason she pitched Shimmer & Shine

✅ Learning the business of licensing and merchandising

✅ What she's doing now to help the next generation of creators

📌Learn more about Farnaz: https://thepitchdocs.com/

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Noël Stark is the author of Love, Camera, Action, a smart, steamy debut novel that pulls back the curtain on life behind the scenes of a TV set. A true industry veteran, Noël has worked in nearly every role in film and television—both in front of and behind the camera. Although she's Canadian, she lives in L.A. with her young son, desperately missing winter. She likes chocolate milk in her coffee and gets most of her real world intel from her three step kids.

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ The leap from acting to directing

✅ Learning storytelling from writing Reality TV

✅ How her experience on sets shaped her novel's structure

✅ Navigating notes, agents, and the publishing process

✅ What romance novels taught her about healing

📌Learn more about Noël: https://www.noelstark.com

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Mike Reagan is an award-winning composer, songwriter, and producer for film, TV, and games, known for his work on God of War, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Chico Bon Bon, and Rock, Paper, Scissors (Nickelodeon). A Berklee alum and former sound designer on Face/Off, Mike blends orchestral, electronic, and world music with hands-on multi-instrumentalism. His credits include scoring for Disney, Marvel, Sony, and composing Grammy-winning songs like "Take the First Step" (Elmo in Grouchland). Mike records globally with top orchestras at legendary studios like Abbey Road, Capitol Records, and Skywalker Sound, creating immersive scores across genres and platforms.

📌 Learn more about Mike: https://www.mikereaganmusic.com/

🎙️In this episode, we explore:

✅ What it means to "solve a puzzle" in sound and scoring

✅ From sound design to composing for film, TV, and games

✅ Recording in junkyards, train yards, and abandoned spaces

✅ How mixing, mood, and emotion shape the final sound

✅ Lessons in hustle, humility, and creative reinvention

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Mengting Hou is an entrepreneur and the founder of Mimir, an AI-enhaned language learning platform that transforms language learning by focusing on real-life content and conversation. With a background in law, commerce, finance, and strategy, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to solving challenges in education. Mengting has led business development across industries, forged global partnerships, and managed complex investments. Her mission is to bridge the gap between innovative technology and practical classroom needs, empowering both learners and educators through meaningful, experience-based learning.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ How her childhood shaped her relentless work ethic

✅ The leap from law student to serial entrepreneur

✅ Her honest take on pitching in the U.S. vs. China

✅ What makes Mimir different from Duolingo

✅ Why "respect" and "common sense" are the only rules she follows

📌 Learn more about Mengting: https://www.themimir.com

🎥 Prefer to watch this episode? Catch it on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bviolette?feature=shared

🔔 Like what you hear? Subscribe to The Story Series Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Rick Suvalle is a writer, producer and showrunner known for creating and producing DreamWorks' "Dew Drop Diaries" and Mattel's "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!" and for his work as Head Writer/Story Editor on Amazon's Emmy-nominated animated series "The Stinky & Dirty Show". Other recent credits include five television movie premieres including the Hallmark Channel Original Movie "Campfire Kiss" and the Syfy Original Movies "The Hollow" and "Roadkill". Rick's work spans animation and live action, with a career that includes writing for top studios and networks across kids and family entertainment.

Learn more about Rick: https://ricksuvalle.com/

Marlyn Benitez is a women's fitness and nutrition coach helping busy moms reset their mindset, fuel their bodies, and train with purpose—without restrictive dieting. Based in Santa Clarita, California, Marlyn draws from her experience as a mom of three to support women in building sustainable health habits that fit real life. Raised in a hardworking Latino household, her passion for wellness grew after becoming a mother, inspiring her to create programs that blend strength, flexibility, and mindset. While running her online coaching business, she's also developing digital tools to make fitness more accessible for moms. With a heart for faith and family, Marlyn empowers women to feel strong, confident, and full of purpose.

Learn more about Marlyn: www.fitwithmarlyn.com