All Things Narrative Presents:
The LIVE A MEANINGFUL STORY Podcast
Connecting the movies we love with the stories we live
44: The Journey Towards Great Art (RATATOUILLE)
How does one become a great artist? Finishing out our "I Am The Protagonist" series is Jason's pick, the beloved Pixar film RATATOUILLE. We discuss the role of criticism in art, while settling the debate once and for all whether anyone can cook.
43: Embracing Your Uniqueness (CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS)
Have you ever struggled to be accepted by your family or community? In this next installment in our "I Am the Protagonist" series, Joseph takes us through the quirky animated film CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS. We discuss the feelings of rejection that come when we embrace our uniqueness.
41: To See With Eyes Unclouded By Hate (PRINCESS MONONOKE)
Have you ver felt trapped in a conflict that’s beyond your control? We kick off our brand new series “I Am the Protagonist” with a very personal film for Derrick: Hayao Miyazaki’s PRINCESS MONONOKE. This Studio Ghibli fantasy epic wrestles with how we can reconcile differing points of view. We also discuss the way it layers both Western and Eastern forms of storytelling, while analyzing it from different perspectives such as Christianity and Narrative Therapy.
23: More Than Meets the Eye (TRANSFORMERS)
Why do we gravitate towards certain kinds of stories? In this next episode of our 'Power of Myth' series, we search for the deeper meaning of TRANSFORMERS. Joseph shares what these robots in disguise mean to him, with their themes of peacemaking, beating the odds, and transformative leadership. We also discuss at length the TRANSFORMERS mythos; along with why we as humans enjoy collecting physical objects, and the deeper meanings we derive from them.
21: Coming-of-Age in an Ever-Changing World (PINOCCHIO)
How do we grow and mature in a world that is trying to mold us into its own image? In this first entry of our 'Power of Myth' series, we discuss at-length one of the most influential stories in the last 150 years: PINOCCHIO. We compare and contrast the book with the 1940’s Disney Classic, and the contemporary stop-motion film by Guillermo Del Toro. Throughout our conversation, we connect PINOCCHIO to the various biblical narratives it references, while gaining insights from Joseph Campbell and Jordan Peterson. Derrick also gets personal about fatherhood and welcoming his son into the world.
14: Confronting Nature’s Brutality (WATERSHIP DOWN)
How do we confront the brutality of nature that lies within animals and ourselves? We're diving down the dark rabbit hole that is WATERSHIP DOWN, a so-called "children's" story about colorful topics such as cruelty, tyranny, and the inevitability of your own demise. We have too many laughs trying to discern what this story means, while also discussing everything from the power of myth, to deus ex machina's, and the time a dog attacked Derrick's chicken.
13: Finding Strength through Compassion (HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE)
How do we continue to do good, even when everything around us is falling apart? In this week's episode, we continue exploring the theme of acceptance through HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE by Studio Ghibli. Featuring an eclectic family made up of a cursed woman, an insecure wizard, a mute scarecrow, and a fire demon, we find at its heart a tale about carrying one's burdens. We also discuss the difference between Eastern and Western storytelling, and how that's reflected in the films of Hayao Miyazaki.
8: How Curiosity Frees Us from Autopilot (Jason & WALL-E)
How do we break free from autopilot? We wrestle with this question by exploring the temptation to outsource to technology, as seen in both 'Wall-E' and '2001 Space Odyssey'. And Jason shares his journey of breaking free through cultivating curiosity and wonder in his life.
7: How Connections Help Us Flourish (WALL-E)
How is connection the key to human flourishing? The film Wall-E explores the relationships between humanity, technology, the earth, and what happens when things go awry. Jason leads us in a conversation about Wall-E that traverses dystopias, identity, and the Narrative Practice of Re-Membering, so we can find ways to connect that help us flourish.
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