Shows
StoryChat - With John FornofConnie Comes to StoryChat!
We welcome Katie Leigh to our show, the voice of Connie on Adventures in Odyssey and many wonderful other characters in Muppet Babies, Darkwing Duck, and many more! Bryan reveals why Connie is his favorite AIO character Katie shares some beautiful insight on what makes great stories and great characters.
Huge Big Wonderful Announcement:
Writers Recharge! is coming to Valdosta, GA September 15-21--your chance to re-energize your writing with Phil Lollar, Kathy Buchanan, and John Fornof! This in-person seminar gives you top-tier instruction, powerful inspiration, and a whole lot of fun! Lots o...2024-07-2737 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow Great Art Can Inspire Your Next StoryJohn geeks out as he and Bryan talk with Dr. Terry Glaspey, author of one of John's favorite books that has inspired him over and over again: 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know.
2024-06-1239 minStoryChat - With John FornofWelcoming Wooton's Father with Torry MartinTorry Martin joins Bryan and John and tells the story of how one the most popular characters in Adventures in Odyssey was born. Join us for the birth of Wooton Bassett. And lots more!
2024-02-2021 minStoryChat - With John FornofWhat's the Big Idea? with Torry MartinActor, Writer, and Comedian Torry Martin shares some excellent ideas on how you can grow your career and network as a writer. He says the secret is two words.
2024-02-0339 minStoryChat - With John FornofChristmas and The Greatest Story of AllBryan and John share their favorite Christmas movies. What makes a great Christmas movie? And we share why the best stories all relate to The Greatest Story of Them All.
2023-12-1318 minStoryChat - With John FornofReport on Sonic Con 2023, and We (Finally!) Answer Your Questions!It was so good to met several of you at Sonic Con--the audio drama convention at Liberty University! And Bryan reaches into the bin and pulls out your questions for us to answer.
2023-12-0629 minStoryChat - With John FornofAudio for ActorsActors are storytellers too, right? Well in this episode, John and Bryan will shed some light on great acting techniques and methods for audio!2023-09-251h 21StoryChat - With John Fornof"Story is Everything." - Phil LollarFrom a master of philosophy and a master of story, we've got some true gems to share in this show with Phil Lollar. Like this one: "Either you're the protagonist of your story or the minor character of someone else's." And wait till you hear Phil's story of "Act 2". If you need some encouragement or a kick in the pants, this is your show!
2023-08-2152 minStoryChat - With John FornofPhil Lollar!John welcomes the creator of Adventures in Odyssey, as Phil shares the surprising behind-the-scenes story of America's favorite family radio drama. Phil tells how he and Paul McCusker were just trying to keep up with the scripts, when one day, they discovered true gold. And how Hal Smith (the original Whit) said to Dr. Dobson, "You'll make a thousand of these!" Poignant as AIO is now heading for Episode #1000!
2023-08-141h 04StoryChat - With John FornofLocation, Location, Location...
Where Do You Write?
Create an environment to inspire your writing. John shares his brand new writer's setup in a sun room as well his 1940s "set" for writing (including a really cool 1940s telephone). Bryan asks what if you don't have a great environment? John shares ideas on what you can do with music and visual cues around you to inspire.Bonus Bryan Question: What should you do if you're not into what you're writing?
2023-07-3131 minStoryChat - With John FornofKidChatJohn Fornof is joined by two resident kid experts to talk about their perspective on what makes a good story!2023-07-1743 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow Story Can Literally Change Your Life - with Josiah MarshalJohn and Bryan are joined by author and audio-drama officionado Josiah Marshall as he shares how story literally changed his life, starting with a phone-call to Adventures in Odyssey. He shows how the hope of story got him through homelessness and suicide and eventually changed the life of Benjamin, a troubled student that Josiah mentored. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-06-2642 minStoryChat - With John FornofAntagonists and the Whitman Scenario - with Steve McCurdySteve McCurdy is back! He joins John and Bryan as they answer a listener question and explains a little about his book and the process of writing the book!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-06-1929 minStoryChat - With John FornofAnswering Listener Questions with Steve McCurdyJohn and Bryan welcome Steve McCardy to story chat as he helps them answer listener questions like steps in writing novels!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-05-1633 minStoryChat - With John FornofWhat Tolkien Got Wrong...Join John and Bryan as they discuss the Lord of the Rings trilogy and how we, as storytellers and writers, can learn from it. The good and the bad!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-04-2436 minStoryChat - With John FornofThe Star Wars SpecialA galaxy far far away calls as John and special guest Levi talk about STAR WARS!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-04-1730 minStoryChat - With John FornofUnleashing The Sense of WonderDirector Levi Johnson shares how to infuse the sense of “wonder” into your storytelling. What is “wonder” and how do we tap into it? This insight will take your writing from ordinary to extraordinary.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-04-1227 minStoryChat - With John FornofChristian Craft vs. Christian Crap: A Challenge to ExcellenceJoin Actress Kera O'Bryon in this invigorating conversation with Bryan and John. Think about what you do as a creative: Is it about Art or Impact? Millions of souls are at stake, and many faith-based films are missing the mark. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-04-0346 minStoryChat - With John FornofDoes Teamwork... Work?John and Bryan talk about working with teams and clients and when standing your ground is important, and when pivoting to something new is key and how to find the balance with the two. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-03-0622 minStoryChat - With John FornofA Studio Tour!John and Bryan visit KAPPA STUDIOS where they talk to some of the big wigs over there to show a little bit of the moviemaking, and audio drama making process! Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2023-02-0329 minStoryChat - With John FornofWriting on a DeadlineGot a project that's due? A deadline looming? In this episode of StoryChat, John shows his expertise by showing us how he sticks to his deadlines and why deadlines are important for the aspiring writer!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-09-2329 minStoryChat - With John FornofWriting with SuperpowersWriting can be a monumental task. Sometimes, it feels like you need in-human abilities to get over writers block and get pen on the page. So what superpowers do you have at your disposal? How do you write with what you got? Today, John shows Bryan all of the superpowers that you have at your disposal and how to use them.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-09-1529 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to Write Funny - Changing Hearts and Minds with LaughterCorrection is always a bitter pill to swallow, but if you are corrected while you are laughing, that can be a lot more palatable. Comedy can change the hearts and minds of people who otherwise wouldn't listen. So how do you write Comedy? And how do you write it responsibly? Today, John and Bryan talk about how Comedy is one of the most noblest of arts and how heavy a burden that really is. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-09-0132 minStoryChat - With John FornofIf You Don't Have Passion, You Don't Have a DreamWriter and Audio Drama Producer Darby Kern shows us how crucial passion is to achieving your dream. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-08-1747 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to Adapt a BookHow is adaptation done and done well? John and Bryan talk about the wonderful G.A. Henty and How John adapted some of his works for Radio drama. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-08-0121 minStoryChat - With John FornofCan a Writer and a Directors Really Collaborate?On location with South Georgia Film Studios, Director Levi Johnson talks with John about how Writers and Directors can work together to create a great movie.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-07-2531 minStoryChat - With John FornofChanging the World from Quitman GAChanging the World from Quitman, GeorgiaFilm Producer Honnie Korngold teams up with Cathy Parker to launch a 50,000-square-foot movie sound stage and post-production facilities in the small South Georgia town of Quitman. Georgia is the number one film-producing state in the country and Atlanta sound stages are booked out two years in advance. Launching in South Georgia not only makes sense, it's also launching the dreams of future filmmakers.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-07-1335 minStoryChat - With John FornofOn a Film Set with JohnWhat's it like to be a writer on the set of a film you wrote? Why aren't writers usually allowed on sets? John takes you to South Georgia where PhilanthroFilms is producing "The Buick Special"--a short film he wrote. He introduces us to some of the cast and crew and gives you a peek behind the scenes.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-07-0130 minStoryChat - With John FornofA Talk with Disney Animators: The Writers RoomJoin John in the Smoky Mountains for a Writers Room experience with two former Disney Animators and a film professor as they map out a brand new animation series. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-06-1442 minStoryChat - With John FornofThe Actor, Director and WriterCaleb Towns joins John and Bryan this week to talk about his many hats and what each hat means to the process of storytelling.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-06-0632 minStoryChat - With John FornofShakespeare and the Theater - with Caleb TownsToday, John and Bryan talk with Caleb Towns, a thespian, screen actor, voice actor, and bonafide nerd from Virginia!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-05-2334 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to Beat the BlahsYikes! You've got a deadline and you don't feel like writing. What can you do? Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-05-1027 minStoryChat - With John FornofIts Never too Late to Start! - with Kenny SargentAt the age of 40, Kenny Sargent discovered he was a storyteller. Ten years and 10,000 hours later, he runs a production company called Sargent Family Productions, which specializes in novels and immersive audiobooks for adults and older young adults. In this show, Kenny shares his journey and a couple of audio trailers.BONUS for StoryChat fans: He's offering a 50% discount on his audiobooks for a limited time! The discount code is (get ready) STORYCHAT Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-05-0332 minStoryChat - With John FornofLord of the Rings and More! with Nato JacobsonJohn and Bryan talk with Nato Jacobson on the lord of the rings and how influential it is to his work! Plus some in depth talk about a whole lot more!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-04-2133 minStoryChat - With John FornofWhat is King? - With Nato JacobsonJohn brings on special guest Nato Jacobson to talk about his hot takes on storytelling!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-04-1130 minStoryChat - With John FornofWorldbuilding - With Nathaniel BattagliaJohn and special guest Nathaniel Battaglia discuss the beginning of a writer's journey and all about the world of worldbuilding.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-03-2935 minStoryChat - With John FornofNetworking - With Kim SolimanSpecial guest Kim Soliman talks with John about how important it is to network as a storyteller, and a little bit on how to do it.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-03-1628 minStoryChat - With John FornofGetting into Screenwriting - with Kim SolimanJohn brings in screenwriter Kim Soliman to talk about screenwriting and getting involved with networking and festivals!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-03-0939 minStoryChat - With John FornofA Day in the Life of a Professional Writer - with Robert LiparuloJoin John and Bob as they talk about some professional tips in writing stories as Bob shares some of his processes for coming up with good stories.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-03-0240 minStoryChat - With John FornofWriting Thillers - with Robert LiparuloJohn chats with Robert Liparulo (Dreamhouse Kings, John Hutchinson Novels) about his thoughts and processes while writing his books.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-02-2434 minStoryChat - With John FornofOvercoming ObstaclesJohn and Bryan discuss the different types of obstacles that a writer might face, and the best strategies to overcome them.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-01-2433 minStoryChat - With John FornofThe Art of the Start WebinarJohn and Bryan share more about the upcoming webinar THE ART OF THE START!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2022-01-1722 minStoryChat - With John FornofThe StoryChat Christmas Special!Merry Christmas Everyone! John and Bryan talk some of their favorite Christmas movies and the odd dichotomy of the Santa story and the Jesus story.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-12-2222 minStoryChat - With John FornofA Story Well Loved - A RemembranceThis week John remembers and celebrates the recent passing of his Aunt Pat, and how a life story can be adapted into a traditional storytelling format.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-12-1135 minStoryChat - With John FornofDo the ThingJohn wants to encourage you guys by going a bit in detail about how he got into writing and all the obstacles that he had to face, and how he overcame them.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-12-0128 minStoryChat - With John FornofGood Endings with J.D. SutterJ.D Sutter from Audio Theater Central joins John and Bryan this week in this hectic episode about storytelling, critics, and good endings.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-11-1635 minStoryChat - With John FornofSonic-Con 2021 - with Dominic TreisJohn goes to Sonic-Con 2021! This week we talk to Dominic Treis, a listener just like you! We talk to him about how to get into the industry along with a surprise special guest!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-11-0829 minStoryChat - With John FornofSonic-Con 2021 - with Pat RoyJohn goes to Sonic-Con 2021! This week we talk to Pat Roy about the adventures of Jonathan Park and what good storytelling means. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-10-2628 minStoryChat - With John FornofDialogueHow do you make characters sound believable and not all the same? Good Dialogue is easier to write than you think! Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-10-2129 minStoryChat - With John FornofStory Problems? StoryHaven 2021 (pt. 2)John and the rest of StoryHaven 2021 talk about their varied story problems and how they get fixed.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-10-1132 minStoryChat - With John FornofTalk to other Creators! StoryHaven 2021This week on StoryChat, John is at StoryHaven 2021! He chats storytelling with Paul Hastings, Alex Lerma, Nathan Webster, Robert Brace, Adam Hardy, Tyler Hunt and Greg Tull. They talk the importance of storytelling and their unique takes on their passion that is storytelling! Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-10-0526 minStoryChat - With John FornofA Noble ArtWhy do we do what we do? How is our storytelling important? Do we even need a noble goal in our storytelling? John and Bryan cover this and more in this week's episode.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-09-2725 minStoryChat - With John FornofCONFLICTCONFLICT! At the core of storytelling lies conflict, a battle of wits and wills. Who will come out on top? In this episode, John and Bryan discuss what makes conflict work and some of the do's and don'ts at the core of storytelling.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-09-2027 minStoryChat - With John FornofWriting in the DarkWriting in a funk can be hard. Be it depression, anxiety or simply out of fear, it can be hard to put pen to page. This week, John discusses how to write well even in our darkest places. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-08-0924 minStoryChat - With John FornofWhat Medium Should You Choose?Film? TV? Book? Audio-Drama? Stage-play? Stuck on what presentation will best fit your story? John and Bryan discuss what medium you should choose and the pros and cons that will fit your story!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-08-0225 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to Create a Great VillainEveryone loves a great villain, but how do you craft one? In this episode, John and Bryan talk about how to craft a great villain and how to use them effectively in your story. Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-07-2627 minStoryChat - With John FornofArchitects, Gardeners and Planning Too MuchWe have questions from YOU! In this weeks episode, John and Bryan answer some questions from you regarding writers block and structuring you outline!Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-07-1925 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to Feed your CreativityAre you creatively starving? Are the things that are inspiring you good and beautiful? Or are they just a waste of time? In this weeks episode, John and Bryan dive deep into what is the best way to feed your creativity, and how to avoid bad inspiration.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-07-1429 minStoryChat - With John FornofHow to get UnstuckEver feel stuck in your writing? Having trouble soldiering on? John helps to alleviate this problem and show you how to get rid of the accursed writers block.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-07-0527 minStoryChat - With John FornofThe Art of SubtextIs your scene about what your scenes about? Sound confusing? Well this week, John and Bryan tackle subtext and why its needed to tell an effective story.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-06-2833 minStoryChat - With John FornofStructure and Car AlarmsDon't be intimidated by the “boring” topic of Structure! In this episode, John explains how structure can be exciting and necessary for the storytelling process! Also, there are some car alarms.car alarm art by Rflor from the Noun ProjectHoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-06-2135 minStoryChat - With John FornofCharacter and Saving CatsJohn and Bryan tackle the topic of creating a protagonist and how to make a character relatable.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-06-1433 min
StoryChat - With John FornofWhy Storytelling?In the first ever episode of StoryChat, John and Bryan delve into the question of why storytelling is important, and tell a little about themselves.Hoping to inspire and encourage storytelling in everyone!2021-06-0727 min