Story Stack

Episode 17: Why The Pitt is better than other medical dramas

The Pitt on HBO Max has captivated audiences since season one, with a twist on modern storytelling and character development. The show is a testament to what can be created when writing techniques are used intentionally. Writers for The Pitt also know how to face a challenge, making the show even more satisfying for the modern watcher. This episode of Story Stack pulls apart the best moments of The Pitt's storytelling (and some minor fangirling). Story Stack is a storytelling-centered podcast hosted by writers Ansley Standridge, Gabriel Rein, and Lily Johnson, who understand and care deeply about structure and laughter (and occasionally getting tipsy) . It's like book club, but it's more than books, and not quite a club. New Episode Every Thursday! Find Story Stack on TikTok and Instagram: @storystackpod

Episode 16: Cocktails and Classics: Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is an impactful piece of literature for readers of all ages. With complex themes of friendship, life purpose, and death, White brings these ideas to the page with masterful technique. Wilbur and Charlotte's story should not be ignored or reduced because it is designed for children. Any storyteller can appreciate the clarity in White's writing. So, settle down on your web, and let's have a drink. “Cocktails and Classics” seeks to inspire readers to open or rediscover the classics, breaking down the stories that have shaped modern literature (with a tipsy twist). Story Stack is a storytelling-centered podcast hosted by writers Ansley Standridge, Gabriel Rein, and Lily Johnson, who understand and care deeply about structure and laughter (and occasionally getting tipsy). It's like book club, but it's more than books, and not quite a club. New Episode Every Thursday! Find Story Stack on TikTok and Instagram: @storystackpod

Episode 15: All things ATLA and movie leaks

Avatar the Last Airbender (ATLA) notoriously had their full movie, set to come out on streaming by Paramount+ in October, leaked to the public the other week. While for some this means getting hot edits of the Gaang on TikTok, it also calls into question the ethics of watching a leaked production. ATLA is a masterful show which released its final episode in 2008, but almost two decades later, fans are still obsessed. Story Stack is a storytelling-centered podcast hosted by writers Ansley Standridge, Gabriel Rein, and Lily Johnson, who understand and care deeply about structure and laughter (and occasionally getting tipsy) . It's like book club, but it's more than books, and not quite a club.New Episode Every Thursday!Find Story Stack on TikTok and Instagram: @storystackpod

Episode 14: Does dark romance need trigger warnings?

In the dark romance book genre, it's common to see a lengthy list of trigger warnings before starting the first chapter, but are these warnings helpful? Are some things too dark to write about? The Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby is a popular self-published, dark romantic thriller, with the first three books in the offering the unusual warning, “I know this shit is fucked up, so don’t bother writing to tell me I’m twisted in the head ;)” The series acts as this episode's launch pad into a great discussion on dark romance and the place that certain themes have in literature. Story Stack is a storytelling-centered podcast hosted by writers Ansley Standridge, Gabriel Rein, and Lily Johnson, who understand and care deeply about structure and laughter (and occasionally getting tipsy) . It's like book club, but it's more than books, and not quite a club. New Episode Every Thursday! Find Story Stack on TikTok and Instagram: @storystackpod

Episode 13: Twenty One Pilots made the best concept albums ever

Concept albums are not a new storytelling technique, but Twenty One Pilots making a series of albums with rich backstory and characters is the sort of ingenuity found once in a lifetime. This episode focuses on the power of intention in musical narrative and how it pushes audiences into deeper devotion, fan culture in all its messy glory, and the magic of good songs in an even better world. Story Stack is a storytelling-centered podcast hosted by writers Ansley Standridge, Gabriel Rein, and Lily Johnson, who understand and care deeply about structure and laughter (and occasionally getting tipsy) . It's like book club, but it's more than books, and not quite a club. New Episode Every Thursday! Find Story Stack on TikTok and Instagram: @storystackpod