Shows
5AM StoryTalkMusician Tim Rogers | Redefining the Measure of SuccessHow do you survive 35 years in rock 'n' roll when the music industry's definition of success is a trap that can destroy you?Musician TIM ROGERS—front man of iconic Aussie band You Am I—looks back with an unvarnished eye at a career that includes hit albums, acting for stage and screen, a memoir, and, most recently, getting inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He breaks down his early days in the trenches of the 90s music scene, the heavy toll of chasing other people's measure of success, and discovering that the greatest, most enduring joy...
2026-10-2750 min
5AM StoryTalkFinally Getting It Right as a Storyteller | The BrewWhat happens when a screenwriter finally catches a break? In this personal check-in, I discuss the sudden return of creative momentum after some major life changes, the hidden costs of building a life around storytelling, career volatility in film/TV today, what I’ve been watching that’s blown me away (like ‘Digger’), and much more.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKS:▪︎ Learn more about Cole Haddon's 1-on-1 Mentorship Oppor...
2026-10-2012 min
5AM StoryTalk'Digger': How to Make a Film About How Terrible Your Audience IsHollywood and critics alike want you to believe Alejandro González Iñárritu’s DIGGER, starring Tom Cruise, is a failure in every respect—a satire with nothing to say that audiences were right to ignore.They’re completely missing the point.Beneath its glossy Hollywood exterior lies a relentless Russian nesting doll of a film designed to challenge the very role of cinema in our corporate-fascist state. It isn't just taking aim at billionaires; it’s setting a deliberate trap for the exact culture-goers sitting in the theater seats.In today's episode, we unpack w...
2026-10-1414 min
5AM StoryTalkDirector Paul Weitz | The 'Kamikaze' Approach to HollywoodHow do you forge a successful Hollywood career when every project you write or direct takes chances that could blow it up?Filmmaker PAUL WEITZ looks back across a 30-year 'distressingly diverse' career that has gone from generation-defining sex comedy ('American Pie'), to Oscar-nominated drama ('About a Boy'), to creating genre-defying sci-fi TV ('Murderbot'). He’ll break down his secret origin, kamikaze approach to storytelling, and the creative machinery behind the upcoming 'Murderbot' Season 2 – all while pulling back the curtain on the actual mechanics of the screenwriting and directing crafts, navigating the unpredictable business of the studio syst...
2026-09-2244 min
5AM StoryTalkWhen the World Is Ending, What Is Art For?AI, climate change, fascism, and forever wars are changing how we think, decimating our mental health, and warping our imaginations and art. The day-to-day struggle to create meaningful work during what feels like—and very likely could be—the end of the world is relentless. But it's also more necessary than ever. Today's episode marks the start of 5AM StoryTalk's ongoing attempt to help us reckon with this existential nightmare as artists and human beings.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and...
2026-09-1712 min
5AM StoryTalkTalkin’ Bout a (Cinema) Revolution | The BrewHollywood spent two decades turning the movie theater into a safe, predictable experience, and it's finally backfiring.Young adults are actively ditching algorithmic feeds and the inauthenticity of AI for weird, deeply personal, non-IP films, turning a simple night out into a frontline skirmish against digital conformity. From David Lynch retrospectives to indie cinema that prioritizes reality over comforting corporate fantasy, a genuine counter-culture is brewing in the dark and, thankfully, Hollywood is unequipped to stop it.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering...
2026-09-0110 min
5AM StoryTalk20 Years of 'Superman Returns': Brandon Routh on His Fall and Rise as the Man of SteelWhat happens when you're told to believe you can fly, only to be brought crashing back to Earth by the box office?On the 20th anniversary of SUPERMAN RETURNS, BRANDON ROUTH takes a nostalgic and honest look back at the Man of Steel. He opens up about the surreal reality of landing his dream role, the struggle and depression that followed being recast, and the closure he found through fans and getting to play Superman one last time during the CW's Arrowverse crossover 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members...
2026-08-181h 01
5AM StoryTalkShow Me on the Doll Where Christopher Nolan Hurt You | The BrewWhen did going to the movies become a digital holy war?A look at the tribalistic fallout over Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey', Emily Wilson's review and my viral response to it, and why staking our identities on artists and artworks like 'Star Wars' and Nolan is ruining the way we talk about culture. JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,600+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKS:Read "Emily Wilson's Christopher Nolan Hit Piece Is...
2026-08-1107 min
5AM StoryTalkDirector Greg McLean | Finding Fresh Terror in Familiar HorrorGenre filmmaking is all about taking simple premises and turning them into high-impact scares.GREG MCLEAN (writer-director of 'Wolf Creek' and 'Rogue') breaks down how to build relentless tension, develop iconic horror characters, and turn tight premises into unforgettable feature scripts.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: ALIEN (1979)Greg returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his own life that still...
2026-07-2154 min
5AM StoryTalkWhy Time Off From Writing Can Be Hell | The BrewTaking a vacation from the desk can be a recipe for disaster for a workaholic writer like me. Here’s why taking two weeks off triggered a massive 5:30 AM anxiety attack!Fresh off a family holiday that forced me to confront my need for daily writing to stay sane, I'm breaking down my panic spiral over my career backlog, an update on my new feature spec notes and TV pilot commission, plus my thoughts on finally watching the first season of "Shrinking".JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at...
2026-07-1407 min
5AM StoryTalkHow I Prep for My 2nd Draft | The BrewStarting a 2nd draft is one of the ultimate tests for screenwriters. Here’s why diving in too fast is a creative disaster!Fresh off wrapping the first drafts of two scripts (a TV pilot commission and a feature spec), I'm breaking down how I find perspective on my work, as well as my specific strategies to prepare for my next draft that will hopefully help you elevate your story from a messy 1st draft to the best 2nd draft possible. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Su...
2026-06-2313 min
5AM StoryTalkBored of 'Star Wars'? As a Screenwriter, I Can Tell You WhyWhy does Disney’s modern era of ‘Star Wars’ leave so many fans indifferent at best and running away at worst? It isn’t just you – and it isn't a lack of explosions and lightsaber duels. In this episode, I take a close look at the new film ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ to diagnose a massive narrative crisis in not just it, but most ‘Star Wars’ projects post-George Lucas. By breaking this golden rule of commercial storytelling, Disney has ensured that audiences will continue to tune out and films like ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ will continue to bomb.Today’s conversation i...
2026-06-1614 min
5AM StoryTalkWhy AI Destroys the Real Meaning of Filmmaking | The BrewRemember when we wanted to make films, not just generate them? Let’s dive into why AI filmmaking strips away the friction, chaos, and collaboration that also produces the greatest films. It also robs the process of its most important element — fun!We’re going to explore the corporate push to turn a bespoke, human art form into disposable, mass-produced, flat-pack junk — call it the IKEA-fication of cinema (and art)!I’ll be using plenty of examples from cinematic history — especially Steven Spielberg’s filmography — to support my case.Stick around for the last third, in w...
2026-06-0217 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Cultural Necessity of Awe | Psychologist Dacher KeltnerOur society has traded collective awe for isolating screens — and our art is paying the price.DR. DACHER KELTNER (UC Berkeley psychology professor and author of the game-changing book ‘Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life’) breaks down how our isolation kills creativity, why awe fuels art, and how modern screen culture threatens storytelling and our culture.SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AMJOIN THE COMMUNIT...
2026-05-2659 min
5AM StoryTalkNotes Survival Guide for Screenwriters & AuthorsGetting feedback on a script or novel shouldn't be so anxiety inducing. This episode of 5AM StoryTalk is the ultimate notes survival guide for screenwriters and authors receiving feedback – and a masterclass for producers, agents, and book editors looking to deliver critiques that actually inspire great revisions!👉 SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AMON THE ITINERARY:THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE: Breaking down the actual evolutionary psychology of why creative feedback triggers the exact same brain...
2026-05-1917 min
5AM StoryTalkOvercomplicating your world-building? | The BrewAre you overcomplicating your world-building? I’m breaking down why the most effective story worlds are built on simplicity — and why I opted (counterintuitively) to instead take a “maximalist” approach to my storytelling with my latest TV pilot script commission. The good news is, I finally heard from my producers what they think about the work I did, which I’m going to be filling you in about, along with an update on my new feature spec screenplay, and what I’ve been watching lately…like 'The Pitt’. Is it just me, or is it one of the most meditat...
2026-05-1210 min
5AM StoryTalkActor David Dastmalchian | Letting the Darkness SpeakWriters, stop trying to control the darkness and start letting it speak.Actor, filmmaker, and comic book creator DAVID DASTMALCHIAN (‘Dune’, ‘Late Night with the Devil’, ‘Murderbot’) joins me to discuss why the most dangerous thing an artist can do is try to "button up" the darkness. Through the lens of his life, career, and bold new graphic novel ‘Through’, we explore the thin line between creating a "fortress" of control and finding the courage to let your stories – and your life – remain beautifully unresolved.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk communi...
2026-05-0547 min
5AM StoryTalkHow I Picked My Next Spec Screenplay | The BrewAre you thinking about writing a feature spec script? I’m breaking down the 4-part stress test I used to pick my first big-screen project in five years.Today on The Brew — an intimate 5AM StoryTalk series on the struggles and successes of life in the arts — I’m sharing the exact process I used to identify and fall in love with an idea that would also have commercial appeal. Whether you are a screenwriter, author, or graphic novelist, the logic remains the same — what is relevant to one medium has applications across all others.JOIN THE C...
2026-04-2814 min
5AM StoryTalk'Project Hail Mary' Is the Blueprint to Save Hollywood (and Our Future)We’ve all said it: "They don’t make movies like they used to.” It's true, too...but Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY is the blueprint for how to fix the problem!This is the story of how my 11-year-old son — a kid raised on a steady diet of Marvel and Star Wars — ended up sobbing through a 28-year-old disaster flick and declaring it the best thing he’s ever seen. It’s also about why Hollywood is currently failing its audience, and how a science teacher lightyears from home in PROJECT HAIL MARY holds the key to saving the...
2026-04-2215 min
5AM StoryTalkImmigration Researcher Zoe Gardner | The Migration 'Crisis' Is a MythWhat happens when our cultural stories fail to tell the truth about where we’ve been and where we’re going? Independent immigration researcher and campaigner ZOE GARDNER joins me to challenge the dehumanizing narratives surrounding immigration, refugees, and borders. We dive deep into the intersection of policy, power, and the arts to uncover the systemic forces reshaping our global social landscape.ON THE ITINERARY:COLONIAL AMNESIA ON SCREENS: An exploration of why British TV and film’s reluctance to depict colonial history has fueled the ascent of Far-Right influence. THE CASTING DILEMMA IN BRITIS...
2026-04-1557 min
5AM StoryTalkA Screenwriter's Real-Life Ghost Story (Or: How I Wasted 6 Months of My Life)This is a Hollywood horror story about the dumbest thing to ever happen to me as a screenwriter - including the exact moment a room full of industry pros realized the embarrassing six-figure mistake that had been made.ON THE ITINERARYTHE “DRACULA” HANGOVER: Recovering from creating a TV series that turned into a "shit-show" while your career is technically booming. THE GOLDEN GOD TRAP: When “we love this script, you’re brilliant!” turns into a repetitive, unsolvable note. THE UNPAID EXTRA MILE: Navigating the "two-Step" pilot deal and why agents push you to work for free. THE...
2026-04-0709 min
5AM StoryTalkWhy Screenplay Templates Are Making You a Hack (and What to Do About it) | The BrewIf you’re struggling to master screenplay structure and finding that screenwriting guides aren’t making it easier like they promised, this episode of THE BREW (formerly 5AM RealTalk) is for you.The bad news: those mass-marketed screenplay templates you’ve been told to follow are originality killers – and their “hacks” tend to turn you into a hack.The good news: While there is no cheat code to becoming a great screenwriter, there is a way to learn structure on your own terms. The strategy I’m going to discuss today – in response to a listener’s quest...
2026-03-3112 min
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriters Meg LeFauve & Joe Forte | Breaking Your Story (and Life)"Every billion-dollar movie has tapped into something personal."Screenwriting isn't just a craft – it’s a psychological excavation. In this episode of 5AM StoryTalk, I sit down with Oscar-nominated screenwriter and co-host of ‘The Screenwriting Life’ MEG LeFAUVE (‘Inside Out’, ‘Captain Marvel’) and filmmaker JOE FORTE (‘The Man Who Saved Ben-Hur’) to pull back the curtain on the "sacred act" of storytelling.We move past the surface-level mechanics of scriptwriting to explore the high-stakes emotional work required to actually break and outline story. From the "clinical" necessity of a structural blueprint to the "molten lava" of personal truth th...
2026-03-251h 09
5AM StoryTalkWhy ‘Sinners’ Really Lost Best Picture | The BrewIf you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of a culture that demands “content” but punishes audacity and ambition from its artists, this ep is for you. 💪Are you confused why 'Sinners' didn’t walk away with the Oscars’ biggest prizes? Unsure why the theatrical box office is in free fall? Or are you taking as few risks in your own work as the people you complain have ruined the artforms you love most?In this episode of The Brew – a 5AM StoryTalk "plog" about the artist's life – I’m getting into all of this, plus how I’ve begun...
2026-03-1715 min
5AM StoryTalkThe F*cked Up Amount of Work It Takes to (Not) Sell Something in Hollywood Today“20 years ago, it was possible to sell a film/TV pitch based on a badass title alone. Today? I have an A-list actor attached and still can't get paid.” 🎬✍️In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I pull back the curtain on the back-breaking, soul-crushing work that is development in modern Hollywood 🎬. By way of a personal anecdote from my 20 years as a professional screenwriter and TV creator – involving a prestige limited series and one of my favorite actors – I break down what it’s like to be a screenwriter in 2026 ✍️.It’s a world where screenwriters...
2026-03-1014 min
5AM StoryTalkComedian Riki Lindhome | The Freedom of No OpportunitiesEmmy-nominated musician and comedian, actress, and TV creator RIKI LINDHOME (Garfunkel and Oates, 'Wednesday', 'Knives Out') discusses the "freedom of no opportunities", how failing at the traditional Hollywood audition circuit forced her to invent a singular, transgressive career on her own terms, and her new comedy album 'No Worries If Not' and one-person musical 'Dead Inside' that fearlessly, darkly, hilariously explore her fertility journey.Pay attention, artists and dreamers: This episode is a masterclass in turning desperation into innovation and the deeply personal into creative triumph. It suggests a roadmap for building a career in a "new...
2026-03-0356 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Hustle culture 'religion' • 'I can't do this anymore' • 'Marty Supreme'Are you spending more time chasing the work than actually creating it? In this Feb. 24, 2026 episode of The Brew, things get uncomfortable. I’m pulling back the curtain on the artist's gig economy and admitting things I’ve hidden from my closest friends for years. If you’ve ever screamed "I can’t do this anymore" into the void of an 80-hour work week, this one is for you. I hope it helps.On the itinerary this week:How did I end up working 80 hours a week as an artist (screenwriter, novelist, essayist, and podcaster)?!The 21st centu...
2026-02-2415 min
5AM StoryTalkSen. Fatima Payman | Defiance, Gaza & Free Speech in AustraliaFATIMA PAYMAN is a former refugee who became one of the youngest senators ever elected to the Parliament of Australia—where she has courted controversy on more than a few occasions. Today, the Senator joins me for some 5AM StoryTalk, and it’s one hell of a conversation.We tackle the decline of freedom of speech in Australia, the role of multiculturalism in the country’s art and identity, and whether the current Labor government is actually up to the challenges posed by the 21st century. A BONUS EPISODE is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack.Sen. Fatima...
2026-02-1747 min
5AM StoryTalkDirector Justin Simien | Predicting the Future by Telling the Truth in Your Art TodayScreenwriter-director JUSTIN SIMIEN (Dear White People, Haunted Mansion, Hollywood Black) discusses his life and craft, truth-telling in your art, finding your voice as an artist in an industry that increasingly doesn’t want you to have one, and Hollywood’s problematic relationship with Black artists.Pay attention, screenwriters: This episode is an intimate look at breaking into and sustaining your career in Hollywood in-between deep dives into how personal perspective and identity shaped Justin’s work – which will hopefully encourage you to pour as much of yourself into your own art as he does.A BONUS EP...
2026-02-121h 01
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Death of cinema? • Horror's killer year • Screenwriter's waiting game5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where Cole Haddon - veteran screenwriter (creator, 'Dracula') and novelist ('Psalms for the End of the World') - discusses the highs and lows of his life as an artist and human being living and creating in Australia.On the itinerary today (Feb. 10, 2026):America in the shitter, the death of neoliberalism, and racism on the march in AustraliaArtists answer the call...or would if not for billionairesStill waiting for notes on my pilotWhat happened to all the personal projects I...
2026-02-1010 min
5AM StoryTalkTRAILER: 5AM StoryTalk Season 3I’m Cole Haddon - screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer - and this is a trailer for Season 3 of 5AM StoryTalk! If you're as confused by the 21st century as I am, then you've come to the right place. Every week at this podcast, I'm going to be joined by some of the world's biggest artists and intellectuals so that we can try to make sense of what's going on in our culture. I’m talking where we've been, where we've ended up, and where we're going – all through the lens of art and storytelling.This season...
2026-02-0405 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Turned in my pilot script! • Bondi Beach attack and Rob Reiner • holiday message5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: I turned in my pilot script! - producer reaction/notes anxiety - final podcast episode of 2025 - the Bondi Beach terror attack hits close to home for me - the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner - Bret Easton Ellis on why he writes - by contrast, why Rob Reiner made films - trying to make the world a better place than it really is - all kinds of...
2025-12-2208 min
5AM StoryTalkWhy You'll Never Get Tired of 'It's a Wonderful Life'IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the most beloved Christmas films ever made. But the real reason behind the holiday classic’s enduring popularity isn’t what you might think it is - and it ensures you can never get bored of it Spoiler: It’s not because life is all that wonderful.This is an audio essay about growing up and older, grief, and why we’re all George Bailey.If you’re a storyteller, you’re going to glean plenty from this episode, too.SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK...
2025-12-1819 min
5AM StoryTalkActress Erin Cahill Is Counting Down to Another Hallmark Christmas ('Christmas at the Catnip Café' - 'Call of Duty: Black Ops' - 'Power Rangers')What do Hallmark Christmas films reveal about the state of our world? Why do millions of people turn to these stories every December for comfort and connection?Power Ranger – ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ agent – one of the best parts about Christmas. Today, I’m joined by actress (and dear friend) ERIN CAHILL. In this deeply intimate episode of 5AM StoryTalk, we go far beyond the IMDB credits. We explore the "spirituality of acting," the concept of art as a life of service, and why her latest film, 'Christmas at the Catnip Café', holds a special place in he...
2025-12-111h 01
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Big personal news • my favorite Christmas film • what punk really means5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: I bought a house in Australia! – 35% off 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter & Podcast yearly subscriptions – my favorite Christmas movie – Joey Ramone on what punk really means – sayonara, Hollywood – ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ is a perfect film, fight me – how I ended up Down Under – caring really is punk, thank you very much, James Gunn – SE London the greatest place to live on Earth? – the real meaning of Christmas – it’s not socialism, you idiot – conse...
2025-12-0813 min
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriter Cinco Paul Keeps Gambling on Himself ('Schmigadoon!' - 'Despicable Me' - 'The Secret Life of Pets')The 'Despicable Me' films — 'The Secret Life of Pets' — 'Schmigadoon!'. This week, I'm joined by screenwriter CINCO PAUL whose credits include these titles and many, many more. We’re about to discuss his life, craft, and becoming the writer he always wanted to be 25 years into his career.This is is an incredibly illuminating deep dive into professional success and how that can sometimes become a cage. Cinco and I are also going to get very granular about screenwriting craft, more so than maybe any other episode in 5AM StoryTalk's history.Pay attention, screenwriters: This i...
2025-12-0457 min
5AM StoryTalkMusician Ben Lee Is Watching the Fall of America ('Awake Is the New Sleep' - 'Ripe' - 'I'm Fun!')This week, I'm joined by an Australian musician whose career I’ve been following since I first interviewed him in a Detroit club 20 years ago. I’m talking about BEN LEE here, and we’ll be discussing his music (from the 20th anniversary of his seminal album 'Awake Is the New Sleep' to his stunning new single 'The Fall of America'), the death of the American myth that once inspired us to chase our dreams, and our complicated relationships with the country we once called home.This episode includes Ben performing 'The Fall of America', so no need to...
2025-11-261h 05
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Thanksgiving trauma • del Toro's 'Frankenstein' • are we creators or monsters?5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: Thanksgiving in the wrong part of the world – two Frankensteins: Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film and the BBC mini-series 'Frankenstein: The True Story' from 1973 – why screenwriters should study del Toro’s version – your racist uncle now thinks pedophilia is okay, too – disrespecting Hammer horror while exploiting it – intergenerational trauma in art and life – Victor von Frankenstein as history’s first tech bro? – what billionaires and serial killers have in common – Madonna – t...
2025-11-2411 min
5AM StoryTalkCyborg Anthropologist Amber Case Wants to Design a Better FutureAuthor - design advocate - cyborg anthropologist (yes, I said cyborg anthropologist!). This week, I'm joined by AMBER CASE and we’ll be talking about what’s gone wrong with how we interact with our technology, how craft, aesthetic, and consequently beauty have largely vanished from what we use in our everyday life, and how both issues affect our psychological and cultural health. Most importantly, we’ll be talking about how to fix this.A BONUS EPISODE with Amber is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from her life — the film 2001: A SPACE OD...
2025-11-201h 11
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriters: Don't Save the Cat...Put It in the Blender Instead!“Screenwriters: I want you to PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER instead.” 🐱🌪️'Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need' has done catastrophic damage to Hollywood storytelling and the moviegoing experience in the 21st century—but after 20 years as a professional screenwriter, I have a solution that might just help with your next script.In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I break down why the industry’s obsession with formulas has led to "bored shrugs" from audiences and how Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS offers a better path for spec scripts. ✍️🎬ON THE ITINERARY:THE FORMULA...
2025-11-1314 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Challenging screenplay form • 'Sinners', at last • artists as magiciansOn the itinerary today: 'Sinners', at last — Denis Villeneuve agrees with me — are scripts just blueprints, or can they be literature? — what artists and magicians have in common — the limits of the screenwriting form — what I’ve learned from Walter Hill, William Goldman, and Celine Song — but also, Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, J.C. Chandor, and Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan — writing pilot scripts — TV creator and showrunner Emma Frost gives me a panic attack — the role of Nick Cave’s lyrics and David Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ in my screenwriting evolution — everyone’s favorite poet-curmudgeon, Alan Moore — and cinema as visual poetry.5AM...
2025-11-1010 min
5AM StoryTalkWriter Emily St. James On Letting Go Of The Past ('Yellowjackets' - 'Woodworking' - 'Arden')Author - screenwriter - podcaster - and trailblazing journalist. Today on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I’m joined by EMILY ST. JAMES and we’ll be talking about her transition from beloved TV critic to the 'Yellowjackets' writers’ room, the fluidity of memory when it comes to our childhoods and relationships, and her beautiful new novel 'Woodworking' (which left me bawling and cautiously hopeful). This conversation moved me in unexpected ways I wasn’t quite prepared for, and I hope it does the same to you.A BONUS EPISODE with Emily is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, she and I di...
2025-11-0655 min
5AM StoryTalkDigital Rights Activist Lizzie O'Shea Knows How to Change the Future (co-founder + chair, Digital Rights Watch)A lawyer who has helped transfer $5.5 billion from corporations to their victims - an author - the co-founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch. Today, I'm joined by LIZZIE O'SHEA and we'll be discussing her digital rights activism, (which impacts the rights of artists), the value of art in changing political conversations, and how to fight back against everything in the 21st century. I dare you not to be inspired to action by this episode.A BONUS EPISODE with Lizzie is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, she discusses a foundational piece of art from her life - Gustave Co...
2025-10-3059 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Breakfast with a rock star • screenwriting trick to get past page 1 fast • something my therapist said5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: finding my characters’ voices fast with a writing trick you might want to try – breakfast with musician Tim Rogers (front man of Australian rock band YouAmI) – why artists need artists in their lives – how I answered when my therapist asked me what gives my life meaning – what art and church have in common – writing is rewriting – Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ – Charles Lane’s ‘Sidewalk Stories’ – Studio Ghibli’s ‘Grave of the...
2025-10-2712 min
5AM StoryTalkWriter-Director Scott Derrickson Isn't Scared Anymore ('Black Phone 2' - 'Doctor Strange' - 'Sinister')'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' - 'Sinister' - 'Doctor Strange' - 'The Gorge' - 'The Black Phone' and 'Black Phone 2'. Today, I'm joined by SCOTT DERRICKSON, the director of these horror and action blockbusters and more. He co-wrote many of them, too. I think it’s safe to say this is his most candid and revealing interviews ever; it’ll change how you understand so much of his work.A BONUS EPISODE with Scott is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, he breaks down the first 20 minutes of a seminal piece of art from his life - Dario...
2025-10-231h 00
5AM StoryTalkThe Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 4Since I was little, all I wanted was to do was grow up to write stories for the screen. But when my first TV series was green lit to series, it was a gut punch almost as bad as finding out someone I love had died. Find out why in the exciting, soul-crushing conclusion of the four-part podcast story "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series".What you're about to listen to is a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true. Ther...
2025-10-1620 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 3What could lead me to try to REPEATEDLY try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013)? If you thought things went to a dark place in Part 2, you ain't seen nothing yet!Today brings you Part 3 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'Dracula' starring Jonathan Rhys Meye...
2025-10-1414 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Am I a workaholic? • trading headphones for thinking time • Soviet cinema and Sergei BondarchukOn the itinerary today: how the writing muscle changes (negatively?) with age - my failed first novel - the importance of carving out thinking time amongst everything we juggle as artists and human beings - am I a workaholic? (thanks, Dad!) - springtime in Australia - Samantha Harvey's novel Orbital - Soviet director Sergei Bondarchuk and his four-part War and Peace films - Mosfilm on YouTube - and David Milch and fighting for our mass culture.5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist...
2025-10-1309 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 2What could lead me to try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013) starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Oliver Jackson Cohen, and Jessica De Gouw?!Today brings you Part 2 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sk...
2025-10-0917 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1How could a straight-to-series greenlight go so wrong for the first TV series I ever created?!Today brings you the first part of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'DRACULA' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a boatlo...
2025-10-0715 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Cairnes Brothers Know What Makes a Great Horror Film (writer-directors: 'Late Night with the Devil' - 'Scare Campaign' - '100 Bloody Acres')'100 Bloody Acres' - 'Scare Campaign' - 'Late Night with the Devil'. Today, I'm joined by Australian writer-directors of these fantastic horror films - THE CAIRNES BROTHERS. We're going to discuss their unique blend of horror, comedy, and drama, growing up in the 80s on a mix of Hollywood and Ozploitation films, the breadth of what a horror film can be today in part because of Aussie filmmakers, and what the brothers describe as the genre renaissance taking place in Australian cinema today.A BONUS EPISODE with the Cairnes Brothers is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack...
2025-10-0246 min
5AM StoryTalkDEI Pioneer Karen Horne Wants You to Do It For the MoneyThis week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, we’re joined by KAREN HORNE — DEI pioneer and former Senior VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion North America for Warner Bros. Discovery. Karen and I are going to dig into her life, how she became such a voice for representation and DEI in Hollywood, and the economics of diversity behind and in front of the camera. Let’s throw out the political hyperboles and outright lies and try to understand this issue — and what’s at stake — better together.A BONUS EPISODE with Karen is also available via Apple Podcasts or...
2025-09-2557 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Jimmy Kimmel • AI despair • KPop Demon HuntersIn today's plog, we discuss: white supremacist marches around the world - Charlie Kirk's assassination - Karen Attiah getting fired for directly quoting Kirk - Jimmy Kimmel canceled by the U.S. government and a cowardly corporation - the risk to artists for speaking up IRL and in their work - what's the point anyway? - Amazon 'reconstructing' Orson Welles' 'The Magnificent Ambersons' using AI - Paolo Sorrentino's 'Parthenope' - French expressionism at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne - and how much my kids (and I) love 'KPop Demon Hunters'.5AM RealTalk is a 5AM...
2025-09-2213 min
5AM StoryTalkHow to Survive the Sad, Uncertain Life of an ArtistHOW DO WE SURVIVE AS ARTISTS TODAY? Not just in 2025, but going forward, too, as the world’s creative industries become ever more perilous places to forge careers thanks to fun things like AI, corporate greed, and fascism. How do you keep on keeping on despite all the uncertainty that comes with an artist's life? How do you become the artist you want to be given such terrible odds?To help, I'm going to give you FIVE ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL AND LIFESTYLE TIPS that I wish someone had provided me with when I decided I would become a pr...
2025-09-1820 min
5AM StoryTalkHistorian Surekha Davies Knows Where Monsters Really Come From ('Humans: A Monstrous History')Historian of science, monster consultant, and author of the brilliant new book 'Humans: A Monstrous History'. Today I'm joined by DR. SUREKHA DAVIES, and we'll talking the perception of category breakers as monsters in history and storytelling and how our relationship to these 'monsters' helped invent race, gender, and nations along the way. This conversation couldn’t be more relevant to our world today – from migrant crises, to trans rights, to Gaza.A BONUS EPISODE with Surekha is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, Surekha discusses a seminal piece of art from her life — the ico...
2025-09-1148 min
5AM StoryTalkThe Brew | Mental health check-in • the waiting game • Yumi and Monster5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as an artist and human being - what I'm struggling with in my work, what's inspiring me, what's causing me to lose sleep. In today's episode, we get to know each other a little better, I muse about the artist's "waiting game" and the anxiety that brings, I talk about some personal stuff that's leading to something like writer's block (or rather, sluggishness), and I celebrate the release of my sister Kam Redlawsk's children's book Yumi and the Monster. Links...
2025-09-0809 min
5AM StoryTalkWriter-Director Kelly Fremon Craig Is Searching For Something True ('The Edge of Seventeen' - 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' - 'Ordinary Angels')Today I'm joined by KELLY FREMON CRAIG – screenwriter and director of coming-of-age films 'The Edge of Seventeen ' (2016) and the Judy Blume adaptation 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret' (2023). Her direction is never showy, and yet always specifically her; her dialogue and character work is always authentic and crackling and very often unexpectedly moving; and her screenplays are a legitimate joy to read. Enjoy this conversation about her filmmaking craft, how she writes with her body not just her head, and her quest to write something true.A BONUS EPISODE with Kelly is also available via...
2025-09-0453 min
5AM StoryTalkTRAILER: 5AM StoryTalk Podcast Season 2I’m Cole Haddon - screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer - and this is a trailer for Season 2 of 5AM StoryTalk! If you're as confused by the 21st century as I am, then you've come to the right place. Every week at this podcast, I'm going to be joined by some of the world's biggest artists and intellectuals so that we can try to make sense of what's going on in our culture. I’m talking where we've been, where we've ended up, and where we're going – all through the lens of art and storytelling.This season...
2025-08-2805 min
5AM StoryTalkMike Jackson Doesn't Care If He Ruffles Feathers (Get Lifted / 'Underground' / 'Rhythm & Flow')Today, I'm joined by MIKE JACKSON, co-founder of the Get Lifted Film Co. (with John Legend and Ty Stiklorious), the Emmy-winning producer of films and TV series like ‘Underground’, ‘Rhythm + Flow’, ‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey’, ‘Southside with You’, 'Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children', the 2019 ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live and Concert’ event, and so many more, and the host of a great podcast of his own called Why Not Me? (which you can find a link to below). Mike's films, TV, and documentaries are almost all socially conscious, very often preoccupied by social justice, and, with just a few except...
2025-08-0748 min
5AM StoryTalkDirector Sophie Hyde Wants To Make It Hard For Herself ('Jimpa' / 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' / '52 Tuesdays')Today I'm joined by SOPHIE HYDE, one of my favorite contemporary Australian filmmakers – director of numerous documentaries, short films, and TV series and feature films such as ‘52 Tuesdays’, ‘Animals’, ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’, and, most recently, ‘Jimpa’ starring Olivia Coleman and John Lithgow. Her filmmaking is deeply collaborative, structurally challenging, and very often transgressive. We’re going to dig into how she developed her unique narrative instincts in this craft-intensive and yet incredibly intimate conversation.A BONUS EPISODE, exclusive to 5AM StoryTalk’s bad-ass paid subscribers, is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, Sophie discusses a seminal...
2025-07-3158 min
5AM StoryTalkWhen Did We Stop Dreaming of a Better Future?The Hunger Games, "The Handmaid’s Tale", Blade Runner, "Black Mirror", "The Walking Dead", Mad Max…. Today we’re going to be discussing the question: Did science-fiction help make our 21st century dystopia inevitable? But the question could just as easily be: When did we stop dreaming of a better future? The answers might be deeply connected, as I’ll posit. It’s going to be a provocative conversation, to say the least, one that will challenge our culture’s relationship to science-fiction storytelling over the past 50 years.Read "When Did We Stop Dreaming About the Future?" (with images...
2025-07-2424 min
5AM StoryTalkDark Horse Founder Mike Richardson on Taking the Big Risks ('Hellboy' / 'The Umbrella Academy' / 'The Mask')Today I'm joined by MIKE RICHARDSON, founder and CEO of Dark Horse Comics (Sin City, The Umbrella Academy, Hellboy), founder of the Things from Another World store chain, film/TV producer, and prolific comic book writer. He’s a legend in the comic book industry, not just for the iconic titles he’s published – but for how he revolutionized creators’ rights in a game previously rigged to only enrich publishers in success. Let’s find out how he did it!A BONUS EPISODE is also available. Mike returns to discuss seminal piece of art from his life…a...
2025-07-1759 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Mike Richardson Talks the Art of Frank FrazettaMIKE RICHARDSON — founder and CEO of Dark Horse Comics, owner of the Things from Another World store chain, film/TV producer, and prolific comic book writer — returns for a bonus episode to discuss a seminal artwork from his life – seminal piece of art from his life…albeit with a twist. He’s going to dive into THE ART OF FRANK FRAZETTA as well as his friendship with the artist — who is sometimes called “the godfather of fantasy art”.Learn more about Frank Frazetta’s art here: https://www.frazettamuseum.com/This bonus episode was released half a year earlie...
2025-07-1724 min
5AM StoryTalkArtist Blak Douglas Isn't Here to Paint You Flowers (Indigenous Australian / free speech / political art)Today I'm joined by Australian First Nations artist BLAK DOUGLAS to discuss his highly political art, censorship in the Australian arts with regard to speaking out about Palestine, and the legacy of colonization in Australia, his identity, and his work. Blak has won numerous major prizes, including the Archibald Prize (2022), and his paintings hang on most major museum walls in the country where his ancestors have been custodians of the land for tens of thousands of years before and after Europeans arrived. A BONUS EPISODE is also available. In it, Blak and I discussing a seminal piece...
2025-07-1050 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Blak Douglas Talks the 1966 Australian $1 BanknoteAustralian First Nations artist BLAK DOUGLAS — one of the most fearless voices in the contemporary Australian art world – returns for a bonus episode to discuss a seminal artwork from his life – the 1966 AUSTRALIAN $1 BANKNOTE. The banknote featured a design that brazenly stole the bark paintings of Aboriginal artist David Malangi, which led to the first copyright case in which an Aboriginal artist successfully claimed rights to his own work. This is a banger of an art history lesson.This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bo...
2025-07-1021 min
5AM StoryTalkHow 'Andor' Blows Up Star Wars' Obsession With Moral AbsolutismLet’s reconsider the Prequel and Original STAR WARS trilogies through the lens of “ANDOR” and what it has to say about the 21st century society, our blind devotion to ancient religions and their ideas of good and evil, and why the Jedi maybe (probably) had it coming. This is going to be a provocative conversation, but I believe we can better understand who we are as a culture and as individuals by constantly interrogating our most closely held beliefs about art and sacred cows like Star Wars. For screenwriters, this will be a lot to learn about...
2025-07-0323 min
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriter Joe Barton Can't Help Himself ('Black Doves' / 'Giri/Haji' / 'Amadeus')Today I'm joined by British screenwriter JOE BARTON – creator of TV series such as 'Giri/Haji', 'The Lazarus Project', 'Black Doves', and, most recently, 'Amadeus'. We’re going to dissect why I love his work so much – revealing creative DNA from Steven Spielberg to “The West Wing”.Joe and I discuss the following and much more:The creative and cultural influences on his work, examining how Steven Spielberg and the British approach to storytelling synthetized in his own creative processHow he crafts stories that sit between reality and fantasy with a light-hearted yet serious tone – even embracing ca...
2025-06-2656 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Joe Barton Talks 'Wonder Boys'JOE BARTON – creator of TV series such as 'Black Doves', 'Giri/Haji', 'The Lazarus Project', and the upcoming 'Amadeus' – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from his life: Curtis Hanson’s 2000 film WONDER BOYS, which was adapted from Michael Chabon’s 1995 novel of the same name.This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id180743...
2025-06-2626 min
5AM StoryTalkEpidemiologist Anne Rimoin Knows All This Has Happened Before (and It Will All Happen Again) (epidemiologist: bird flu / Covid / pandemics and art)I'm joined by epidemiologist DR. ANNE RIMOIN, who will be discussing her scientific work and art’s role in our relationship to disease, pandemic potential viruses like H151 (avian flu), and what if anything we learned from COVID. She’s a Professor of Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health where she is also the Gordon-Levin Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases and Public Health and the director of the Center for Global and Immigrant Health.We discuss the following and much more:The challenges of being a scientist in America in 2025Her journey from reco...
2025-06-1957 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Dr. Anne Rimoin Talks Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca's 'E Moyo'DR. ANNE RIMOIN — professor of Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health director of the university’s Center for Global and Immigrant Health – returns for some more 5AM StoryTalk. In this bonus episode, she discusses a foundational piece of art from her life: Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca’s song “E MOYO” from their 2014 album La Rumba SoYo. Anne has a unique relationship to the song, as you’ll find. She'll continue discussing her experiences as a scientist in Congo, including how she acquired a Congolese name that translates to “The Woman Who Never Gives Up”.This...
2025-06-1819 min
5AM StoryTalkHow to Write Better Dialogue (While Becoming a Better Person)Today we’re going to be discussing three game-changing lessons you can learn from interviewing others - both to enrich your writing and your life. This skill, which I developed as a freelance arts journalist for Village Voice Media amongst others, has directly impacted my screenwriting and fiction writing over the years. But it's also helped bring me closer to loved ones I was struggling to understand better.SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'https://colehaddon.substack.com/You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this po...
2025-06-1217 min
What Am I Making PodcastWAIM Podcast #091: Cole HaddonCole Haddon describes living and working in the film industry in Hollywood as a daily life of believing that you are on the verge of winning a sort of lottery. At any moment a script that you’ve written might be greenlighted into a multi-million dollar project. The next big break always feels just one lunch, one meeting, one sympathetic producer away. It is intoxicating, but it can be crushing.Before he ran off to Hollywood to chase a dream, Cole Haddon grew up in Metro Detroit the son of hard working but practical parents who failed to...
2025-06-091h 34
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriter Liz Hannah Wants to Get Crazy ('The Post' - 'The Girl From Plainville' - 'Lee')Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! I'm joined by screenwriter LIZ HANNAH whose script for The Post was so phenomenal it was sold and released in just 15 months - with Steven Spielberg as the director. Her credits also include the films Long Shot and Lee, TV series like "Mindhunter", and co-creating “The Girl From Plainville”. Liz and I discuss the following (amongst many other things):Craft, craft, and more craftHer current struggle over how best to use her own creative voice to confront what’s happening in the U.S. and world, which is complicating her new spec script...
2025-06-0555 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Liz Hannah Talks 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'Screenwriter LIZ HANNAH (The Post, Long Shot, Lee, co-creator “The Girl from Plainville”) – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: David Bowie’s 1972 album THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS OF MARS. What can we learn about the creative process from this glam rock masterpiece?This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.co...
2025-06-0432 min
5AM StoryTalkProducers Erica Lee and Blye Pagon Faust on the Future of Hollywood ('John Wick' - 'Spotlight' - 'Sicario' - 'LulaRich')Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! Today I'm joined by ERICA LEE (partner, Thunder Road Films; producer, the John Wick universe, Sicario, Monkey Man) and BLYE PAGON FAUST (partner, Story Force Entertainment; Oscar-winning producer, Spotlight, Belly of the Beast,“LulaRich”). They’re two of my favorite Hollywood, and I’ve asked them to discuss the state of the Hollywood film/TV industry – are they as scared as I am? – and their advice for screenwriters looking to break into the business today.A bonus episode is also available here. You’ll get more of Erica, Blye, and I discussing the state of Holly...
2025-05-2952 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Erica Lee & Blye Pagon Faust Talk the Future of HollywoodSuper producers ERICA LEE (partner, Thunder Road Films; producer, the John Wick universe) and BLYE PAGON FAUST (partner, Story Force Entertainment; Oscar-winning producer, 'Spotlight') return to discuss the THE FUTURE OF THE HOLLYWOOD FILM/TV INDUSTRY, how they know if a script is right for them in this turbulent business, screenwriting with AI – good or bad – and much, much more. There is so much to learn from these hugely accomplished producers whether you’re a screenwriter or a producer in your own right trying to get your own project up.This bonus episode was released half a...
2025-05-2925 min
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriter John August Wants to Make Things Happen ('Scriptnotes' - 'Big Fish' - 'Corpse Bride')Today I'm joined by screenwriter, author, and ScriptNotes co-host JOHN AUGUST (Go, Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and many more). John is one of the most influential screenwriters of the 21st century, educating scores of people around the globe about the medium for 14 years now, so it is with no small sense of pride that I welcome him to my own podcast this week to talk his life, his craft, and the power of cinema.A bonus episode is also available. In it, John discusses a favorite piece of art from his life – th...
2025-05-2250 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: John August Talks the 'Modern Family' PilotJOHN AUGUST – screenwriter (Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels, and Corpse Bride), author (the Arlo Finch fantasy series), and co-host of the podcast ScriptNotes – returns for some more 5AM StoryTalk. In this bonus episode, we discuss a favorite piece of art from his life: the pilot episode of “MODERN FAMILY” (2009), written by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan. How does a TV series predicated on kindness, diversity, and progress that premiered in the first year of Barack Obama's presidency hold up 16 years later with Donald Trump back in the White House?This bonus episode was released half a year earlier th...
2025-05-2222 min
5AM StoryTalkWhat I Learned From My First Hollywood Script SaleToday we’re going to be discussing how I broke into the Hollywood film/TV industry and how I learned to trust myself in a business where nobody knows anything, but everybody insists they know everything.Put another way: I’m going to tell you about my first script sale, how it almost didn’t happen because of some questionable advice I received from my reps, and what the experience taught me about how to pursue my dreams of becoming a produced screenwriter – which I achieved a few years later when a TV series I created, “Dracula”, premiered on...
2025-05-1515 min
5AM StoryTalkActress Amber Tamblyn Is Going to Do It Again Tomorrow ('Joan of Arcadia' - "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' - 'Paint It Black')Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! I'm joined by the brilliant AMBER TAMBLYN ("Joan of Arcadia", Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, "House", Paint It Black). Amber is an actress, writer-director, author and poet, Substacker, and activist who doesn’t sleep. You can learn more about her and her work at her website (link below), but you can also find links to what we discuss in the links list below.Oh, and be sure to listen to my bonus episode with Amber, in which we discuss a seminal piece of art from here life - Ridley Scott's LEGEND (1985). Listen to it...
2025-05-0845 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Amber Tamblyn Talks 'Legend'AMBER TAMBLYN – actress, writer-director, author and poet, Substacker, and activist – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: Ridley Scott's fantasy film LEGEND (1985), written by William Hjortsberg and starring Tom Cruise. What does the film's “dance of shadows” as I call it, or the “seduction of darkness” I’ve seen others refer to it, reveal about her?This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:
2025-05-0820 min
5AM StoryTalkVeronica Sullivan Knows the Real Value of Art (Director of the Melbourne Writers Festival)Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! I'm joined by VERONICA SULLIVAN – the director of the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival. You can learn more about her extensive career in fiction, publishing, and the arts in general at her website (link below), but you can also find links to what we discuss in our artist-on-artist conversation in the links list below.A bonus episode with Veronica is available, too, in which she breaks down a seminal artwork from her life - C.S. Lewis's THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW (1955). Listen to it here or at Apple, where you can become a paid supporter and ge...
2025-05-0145 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Veronica Sullivan Talks C.S. Lewis's 'The Magician's Nephew'VERONICA SULLIVAN – director of the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival (May 8th – 11th) – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: C.S. Lewis’s Narnia novel THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW (1955). How has this multiversal prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe mirror impacted fiction in the decades since its release?This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.a...
2025-05-0122 min
5AM StoryTalkAstrobiologist Kevin Hand Is Ready for a Revolution (Director of NASA's Ocean Worlds Lab)Today I'm joined by DR. KEVIN HAND, director of the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab’s Ocean World’s Lab and one of the scientists leading the hunt for life elsewhere in our solar system – especially on icy moons such as Europa and Enceladus. He’s a planetary scientist, an astrobiologist, and real-life adventure. His wonderful book, Alien Oceans: The Search for Life in the Depths of Space, was published in 2020. And oh yeah, he’s also an old friend.Be sure to listen to the bonus episode with Kevin, in which we discuss a seminal piece of art from h...
2025-04-2458 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Dr. Kevin Hand Talks 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'DR. KEVIN PETER HAND – planetary scientist, astrobiologist, and director of the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab’s Ocean Worlds Lab – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from his life: Steven Spielberg’s classic science-fiction film CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977).This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928Substack: https://colehaddon.substack...
2025-04-2434 min
5AM StoryTalkScreenwriter Hart Hanson Isn't Sure If He's an Artist ('Bones' - 'The Finder' - Backstrom')Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! I'm joined by screenwriter and author HART HANSON, best known as the creator of “BONES” – a TV juggernaut that ran for 12 seasons. But he’s created multiple other series and had his name on almost 20 over the course of his 35-year career. He has two novels out, too, which you should check out. You can learn more about him and his work at his website, but you can also find links to what we discuss in our artist-on-artist conversation in the links list below.In this conversation, we discuss (amongst so many other things...
2025-04-1750 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Hart Hanson Talks the 'Northern Exposure' Pilot'BONES' creator HART HANSON returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from his life – the TV pilot episode of “NORTHERN EXPOSURE”. You can find links to what we discuss in our artist-on-artist conversation in the links list below.This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/Be s...
2025-04-1731 min
5AM StoryTalkActor Thomas Jane Is Trying to Save Himself ('The Expanse' - 'The Mist' - 'Boogie Nights')Today I’m joined by actor, filmmaker, and comic book creator THOMAS JANE (BOOGIE NIGHTS, DREAMCATCHER, THE PUNISHER, THE MIST, “HUNG”, “THE EXPANSE”, and a little Amazon show I recently wrote on called “TROPPO”). This is a wide-ranging conversation about the power of art as a way to save ourselves and the next generation of freaks and weirdos as lost as us.A bonus episode will follow, in which Tom and I interrogate a seminal film in his life – John Frankenheimer’s SECONDS (1966). Listen to it by returning to the episode list here or at Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com...
2025-04-1045 min
5AM StoryTalkBONUS: Thomas Jane Talks 'Seconds'Actor, filmmaker, and comic book creator THOMAS JANE (THE EXPANSE, THE MIST, BOOGIE NIGHTS) returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from his life: John Frankenheimer's SECONDS (1966).This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/Be sure to listen to the first part of my...
2025-04-1033 min
The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna185 | Why Tone and Genre ≠ Plot (ft. Cole Haddon)Cole Haddon is many things: a feature writer, a showrunner, a novelist, but he's grown an incredibly loyal community for his STORY brain, which mostly congregates on his very popular substack. Today we discuss tone, genre, and plot through a case study in which we compare two very popular TV shows: The Bear and Ted Lasso. In this discussion, we'll trace how, despite them sharing a lot narratively (plot), they exist in totally unique WORLDS when it comes to tone and genre (and why this matters.)For a deep dive into Cole's brilliant story brain...
2024-03-211h 02
Page One - The Writer's PodcastEp 164 - Screenwriter and novelist Cole Haddon on how Hollywood nearly broke him and why he turned to novelsCole Haddon is an Australian-American novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. Dracula, his first television commission, was produced by NBC and Sky Living starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and he has gone on to develop dozens of feature films and TV series around the globe – most recently Genocidal Organ for director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) and the rock musical Zombie Broadway for The Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart and director Jonas Åkerlund (Lords of Chaos). His graphic novels have been published by Dark Horse and others. His articles have appeared in the Melbourne Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Village Voice Media, amongst others. Psalms for the End...
2023-06-091h 04
The Writing Community Chat ShowAn interview with author, screenwriter and journalist, Cole Haddon.Welcome to our exclusive interview with Cole Haddon, an accomplished author and screenwriter. In this fascinating conversation, we delve deep into Cole's creative process and learn about his journey as a writer. Cole shares insights on his latest projects, including his upcoming book and screenplay releases. Including the discussion about how he has interviewed James Cameron, George Romero, and Quinten Tarantino. We explore his influences and inspirations, and gain valuable advice for aspiring writers. Whether you're a fan of Cole's work or simply interested in the craft of writing, this interview is a must-watch. Join us as we...
2023-05-121h 13
The Writing Community Chat ShowAn interview with author, screenwriter and journalist, Cole Haddon.Welcome to our exclusive interview with Cole Haddon, an accomplished author and screenwriter. In this fascinating conversation, we delve deep into Cole's creative process and learn about his journey as a writer. Cole shares insights on his latest projects, including his upcoming book and screenplay releases. Including the discussion about how he has interviewed James Cameron, George Romero, and Quinten Tarantino. We explore his influences and inspirations, and gain valuable advice for aspiring writers. Whether you're a fan of Cole's work or simply interested in the craft of writing, this interview is a must-watch. Join us as we...
2023-05-121h 11
The Bestseller ExperimentEP424: Cole Haddon — "I Stripped the Censor in my Head"Cole Haddon is an Australian-American screenwriter and novelist whose first TV commission, Dracula, was produced by NBC and SKY and starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Psalms for the End of the World is his debut novel and Cole tells us how he was inspired by looking into the eyes of one of his young children, why he's happy to fail, how he deals with notes, and he gives us tips for writing scripts and graphic novels.
2023-01-091h 07The Bestseller ExperimentEP424: Cole Haddon — "I Stripped the Censor in my Head"Cole Haddon is an Australian-American screenwriter and novelist whose first TV commission, Dracula, was produced by NBC and SKY and starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Psalms for the End of the World is his debut novel and Cole tells us how he was inspired by looking into the eyes of one of his young children, why he's happy to fail, how he deals with notes, and he gives us tips for writing scripts and graphic novels.
2023-01-091h 07
The Bestseller ExperimentEP424: Cole Haddon — “I Stripped the Censor in my Head"Cole Haddon is an Australian-American screenwriter and novelist whose first TV commission, Dracula, was produced by NBC and SKY and starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Psalms for the End of the World is his debut novel and Cole tells us how he was inspired by looking into the eyes of one of his young children, why […] The post EP424: Cole Haddon — “I Stripped the Censor in my Head” appeared first on The Bestseller Experiment.
2023-01-091h 07
Inspired MindsCole HaddonCole Haddon is an Australian-American novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. His new novel "Psalms For The End Of The World" was called ‘Ingenious and compelling’ by The Times. "Dracula," his first television commission, was produced by NBC and Sky Living starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and he has gone on to develop dozens of feature films and TV series around the globe. His graphic novels have been published by Dark Horse and others. He lives in the Blue Mountains of Australia with his wife and two children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-12-1153 min
The BookshelfNew fiction from Cormac McCarthy, Fiona McFarlane and Cole HaddonA brother and sister walk uneasy paths, and plumb both literal and hallucinatory depths in Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger; worlds and characters explode across both space and time in Cole Haddon's Psalms for the End of the World; and nineteenth-century Australia and its mythologies remade in Fiona McFarlane's The Sun Walks Down. Kate and Cassie are joined by guests rock star Tim Rogers, and critic and memoirist Shannon Burns
2022-10-2800 min
The Writers PanelPhillip Iscove, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin, and Cole HaddonPhillip Iscove (co-creator, Sleepy Hollow); Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin (The Killing; Carnivale); Cole Haddon (creator, NBC's Dracula). Recorded February 9, 2014.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS:https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plusCONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKERhttps://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanelTHE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Ho...
2014-03-041h 28
Discover Top Full Audiobooks in Fiction, DramaA Spot of Bother by Mark HaddonPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/350776 to listen full audiobooks. Title: A Spot of Bother Author: Mark Haddon Narrator: Alex Jennings Format: Abridged Audiobook Length: 6 hours 9 minutes Release date: August 31, 2006 Genres: Drama Publisher's Summary: George Hall doesn't understand the modern obsession with talking about everything. 'The secret of contentment, George felt, lay in ignoring many things completely.' Some things in life, however, cannot be ignored. At fifty-seven, George is settling down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed in his garden, reading historical novels, listening to a bit of light jazz. Then Katie, his tempestuous daughter, announces that...
2006-08-3110 min