Companionship, grief, work, parenting, coming of age. Sometimes, we just need stories that remind us of what it means to be human. And for our final entry in our genre series, we focus on those kinds of Slice of Life stories. These films and shows fluctuate between the comedies and dramas of life, causing us to wrestle with what it all means. And for the first time, the guys are joined by Derrick's wife, Tori, making for a fitting finale of this series.

When two Jewish immigrants published a story in 1938 about a Superman, they birthed something that would take the 21st Century by storm: the superhero genre. And now 85 years later, many argue that the genre is running out of steam. We investigate how superheroes stays alive by blending with other genres, while wrestling with what this genre means for our lives, and whether or not it's time to move on to other kinds of stories. Join us for a celebration (and potential funeral) of a genre that's helped us all live a meaningful story.

Why are we so drawn to things that scare us? What are the ethical ramifications of creating and consuming horrific stories? In this Halloween special, we continue our genre series by diving into the evils and hells of Horror. We discuss stories about the monsters we face in life, and the dangers of the monsters we might become. Along the way, we wrestle with whether we should even give these stories the time of day, and what the implications of these stories are for Narrative Therapy.

How do we find our values in a lawless society? What is the narrative of what we call 'The West'? In this installment of our genre series, we explore the rugged terrains of the Western genre. For our discussion, each of us picks a Western film that helps us understand why this genre resonates with so many people, and what it has to say about how we grapple with what it means to be human.

How do we select and interpret the narratives we call History? What is our relationship with that History via storytelling? Derrick's wife Tori joins us for an informative discussion on the nature of history, and how that's reflected through various film genres including political epics, war, biopics, and even historical fiction.

How do we find our place in an ever-changing world? In this entry of our genre series, the guys return to discuss Science Fiction. While these stories may warn us about the threats of technology and aliens, Sci-Fi at its heart is about exploring what it means to be human. Join us for a lively conversation as we prob our favorite Science Fiction narratives and how they inform our existence.

Why are we so drawn to Fantasy lands and larger-than-life characters? How can Fantasy stories help us better engage with our world? Derrick is joined by the return of Joseph, Jason, and Nick to take a deep dive into the Fantasy genre using JRR Tolkien as our guide. We also discuss our recent experiences at Mega Con Orlando.

Why are we drawn to heart-bounding adventurous and perilous journeys? Proverb Newsome joins us to explore Action stories, and how they challenge us to face our conflicts courageously. We discuss some of our favorite Action films, including 2022's hit Top Gun Maverick, and how going to college relates to the Hero’s Journey.

You ever had an experience with a story that stirred something profound within you? Though most stories explore one's inner-life, there is an often neglected category of stories that specialize in the metaphysical. These journeys examine the philosophical, religious, and spiritual components that reshape our identity and make life meaningful. Jason and Nick return to the podcast to explore why these stories resonate with us so much, and what it's like for us to embark on our own metaphysical journeys.

It's a Valentine's Day Special! One of the most popular genres in novels and film is the Romance. But is the Romance more than just a simple love story? In the first entry of our new series on genres, Derrick and his wife define what constitutes a Romance story. Along the way, they discuss examples in fiction (including Romeo & Juliet & 500 Days of Summer), stories from their dating years, and how Romances speak to the love and acceptance we most long for in life.

In this final episode of 2022, Derrick and the guys reflect on some past episodes while also discussing everything from grief in stories, to different trends in cinema, and other great film series' such as Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Planet of the Apes. We also look ahead to the new year and discuss some potential ideas for new episodes.

It's time to jump back into our conversation about Derrick's favorite collection of films: Studio Ghibli, Japan's most influential animation studio. With their focus on strong female protagonist coming-of-age stories, along with themes of environmentalism and war, Studio Ghibli has earned a global reputation for creating beautiful works of animation for all ages that stand the test of time. Derrick's wife Tori joins the discussion to chronicle their journey of watching every Studio Ghibli film in order (and for the first time). We also share our perspectives as parents on what these films offer young people. Join us as we explore how this collection of diverse films became among our all-time favorites.

The time has come to discuss Derrick's favorite collection of films: Studio Ghibli, Japan's most influential animation studio. With their focus on strong female protagonist coming-of-age stories, along with themes of environmentalism and war, Studio Ghibli has earned a global reputation for creating beautiful works of animation for all ages that stand the test of time. Derrick's wife Tori joins the discussion to chronicle their journey of watching every Studio Ghibli film in order (and for the first time). We also share our perspectives as parents on what these films offer young people. Join us as we explore how this collection of diverse films became among our all-time favorites.

This one's for all the outcasts, the misfits, to anyone who doesn't quite fit in, because today we're talking about the Uncanny X-Men! We dive into the complicated history of Marvel's mutants, while discussing our favorite moments in the comics, shows, and films along the way.

Class is in session as the All Things Narrative Podcast arrives at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Joining Derrick is his wife Tori and Harry Potter expert Braeden Storkersen. We discuss the themes and best moments from the 7 books and 8 films that defined a generation.

We continue our celebration of Spider-Man's 60th Anniversary with an in-depth discussion about Spider-Man's villains, love interests, supporting characters, various depictions in film, TV, and comics, and how Spider-Man inspires us to live a meaningful story.

It's the 60th Anniversary of everyone's favorite web-slinger! And to celebrate, we are doing an in-depth 2-part episode where we discuss the mythos, philosophy, and themes of Peter Parker and everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Join us as we converse about the various films, shows, games, and comics that have made Spider-Man one of the greatest pop culture icons of the last hundred years.  

Welcome to the lands of Middle Earth & Narnia! This week, fellow story enthusiast Ryan Mating joins Derrick to explore two of the greatest fantasy franchises of all time. We compare and contrast Tolkien's and Lewis' approaches to storytelling, dive deep into the mythology of Middle Earth & Narnia, and share our favorite moments from these fantasy epics that help us live a meaningful story.

It's time to wish upon a star as we discuss the most influential animation studios of all time: Disney & Pixar. We discuss the role of fairy tales in culture, how these stories shape our fantasies at a young age, and our differing perspectives on a variety of Disney & Pixar films.

In part 2 of “Why We Love Marvel”, we discuss the characters and themes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, share our rankings, and explore how Marvel superheroes can help us live a meaningful story.