Best Matt Bird and James Kennedy Podcasts (2025)

1
The Final Episode in this Feed: Another preview of "A Good Story Well Told"! 1:05:35

6d ago1:05:35

1:05:35

It's another episode of Matt's new podcast, "A Good Story Well Told" with Jonathan Auxier, this time discussing "The Giver", but from now on, to get new content, you'll have to subscribe to the "A Good Story Well Told" feed. Meanwhile, this feed will remain active so you can enjoy the wonderful archives of Matt and James's content.…

1
The Final Episode in this Feed: Another preview of "A Good Story Well Told"! 1:05:36

6d ago1:05:36

1:05:36

It's another episode of Matt's new podcast, "A Good Story Well Told" with Jonathan Auxier, this time discussing "The Giver", but from now on, to get new content, you'll have to subscribe to the "A Good Story Well Told" feed. Meanwhile, this feed will remain active so you can enjoy the wonderful archives of Matt and James's content.…

1
Introducing a new podcast: A Good Story Well Told with Jonathan Auxier 42:03

19d ago42:03

42:03

It's a special preview of the first episode of Matt's new podcast with Jonathan Auxier: A Good Story Well Told. Search for and subscribe to the new podcast to get a second episode now!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Introducing a new podcast: A Good Story Well Told with Jonathan Auxier 42:02

19d ago42:02

42:02

It's a special preview of the first episode of Matt's new podcast with Jonathan Auxier: A Good Story Well Told. Search for and subscribe to the new podcast to get a second episode now!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Live Show: Capturing the Nature of Children with Betsy Bird 45:43

8M ago45:43

45:43

Recorded Live at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, James and Matt welcome the legendary Betsy Bird to tackle a topic all three know something about: Capturing the Voices of Children in Your Writing. Matt argues that novels that feature truly authentic kids are by definition not childr…

1
Live Show: Capturing the Nature of Children with Betsy Bird 45:44

8M ago45:44

45:44

Recorded Live at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, James and Matt welcome the legendary Betsy Bird to tackle a topic all three know something about: Capturing the Voices of Children in Your Writing. Matt argues that novels that feature truly authentic kids are by definition not childr…

1
Episode 47: The Heroine's Labyrinth with Douglas A. Burton 1:26:29

11M ago1:26:29

1:26:29

Matt and James welcome author Douglas A. Burton to discuss his new book The Heroine's Labyrinth! Matt blurbed it and said "The Heroine's Labyrinth is filled with profound and unique observations on the topic of story structure, no matter what the gender of your protagonist. Burton closely analyzes a wide breadth of stories and proves his thesis tha…

1
Episode 47: The Heroine's Labyrinth with Douglas A. Burton 1:26:30

11M ago1:26:30

1:26:30

Matt and James welcome author Douglas A. Burton to discuss his new book The Heroine's Labyrinth! Matt blurbed it and said "The Heroine's Labyrinth is filled with profound and unique observations on the topic of story structure, no matter what the gender of your protagonist. Burton closely analyzes a wide breadth of stories and proves his thesis tha…

1
Episode 46: Organizing Chaos with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin 59:27

1+ y ago59:27

59:27

Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin return to discuss novelists' relationship with editors, whether freelance or at a publisher. All four of us have been on one side of that divide or another, and most of us more than one, and we have a grand old time discussing it.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Organizing Chaos with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin 59:28

1+ y ago59:28

59:28

Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin return to discuss novelists' relationship with editors, whether freelance or at a publisher. All four of us have been on one side of that divide or another, and most of us more than one, and we have a grand old time discussing it.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 45: Specific vs. Generic (Or is it Factual vs. Archetypal?) 1:11:24

1+ y ago1:11:24

1:11:24

It's always good to load up your story with specifics, right? Not so fast! James talks about his decision to leave some information out of his new novel Bride of the Tornado, and Matt quibbles.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 45: Specific vs. Generic (Or is it Factual vs. Archetypal?) 1:11:25

1+ y ago1:11:25

1:11:25

It's always good to load up your story with specifics, right? Not so fast! James talks about his decision to leave some information out of his new novel Bride of the Tornado, and Matt quibbles.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 44: Putting the Secrets of Story Into Action with Torrey Maldonado 1:24:53

1+ y ago1:24:53

1:24:53

Matt and James welcome acclaimed novelist Torrey Maldonado to talk about how he's put Matt's advice into action for his books for young people (much to James's chagrin)By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 44: Putting the Secrets of Story Into Action with Torrey Maldonado 1:24:54

1+ y ago1:24:54

1:24:54

Matt and James welcome acclaimed novelist Torrey Maldonado to talk about how he's put Matt's advice into action for his books for young people (much to James's chagrin)By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 43: Writing Every Day with Brock Swinson 1:07:24

2y ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Matt and James are joined by author Brock Swinson and discuss his new book of writing advice Ink by the Barrel. All three of us agree that writers must write every day and then sheepishly admit that we don't actually do that. Download Brock's book for free at BrockSwinson.com and check out his podcast Creative Principles!…

1
Writing Every Day with Brock Swinson 1:07:25

2y ago1:07:25

1:07:25

Matt and James are joined by author Brock Swinson and discuss his new book of writing advice Ink by the Barrel. All three of us agree that writers must write every day and then sheepishly admit that we don't actually do that.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 42: Mackendrick's Rules, the Epic Conclusion 52:56

2y ago52:56

52:56

Alexander Mackendrick summed up the wisdom that film schools (and MFA programs in general) hand down to writers. Is it helpful or poisonous? In this episode, Matt and James finish examining and questioning his 41 rules.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 43: Mackendrick's Rules, the Epic Conclusion 52:57

2y ago52:57

52:57

Alexander Mackendrick summed up the wisdom that film schools (and MFA programs in general) hand down to writers. Is it helpful or poisonous? In this episode, Matt and James finish examining and questioning his 41 rules.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Mackendrick's Rules, Part 2 59:59

2y ago59:59

59:59

Matt and James once again use the rules of Alexander Mackendrick as a springboard to talk about what makes for a good story. Bonus: Matt posits his theory of what's in the case in Pulp Fiction and completely convinces James!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 41: Mackendrick's Rules, Part 2 59:58

2y ago59:58

59:58

Matt and James once again use the rules of Alexander Mackendrick as a springboard to talk about what makes for a good story. Bonus: Matt posits his theory of what's in the case in Pulp Fiction and completely convinces James!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 40: Mackendrick's Rules, Part 1 1:09:49

2y ago1:09:49

1:09:49

The great filmmaker Alexander Mackendrick famously passed along 41 rules of writing advice and now Matt and James are going to evaluate them all in a three-part epic!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Mackendrick's Rules, Part 1 1:10:53

2y ago1:10:53

1:10:53

The great filmmaker Alexander Mackendrick famously passed along 41 rules of writing advice and now Matt and James are going to evaluate them all in a three-part epic!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 39: Agents 1:22:53

2+ y ago1:22:53

1:22:53

James and Matt discuss their checkered history of getting agents/managers, failing to hold onto them, and getting new ones, with lots of tips for the unagented! Check out lots of supplemental materials on SecretsOfStory.com.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 39: Agents 1:22:52

2+ y ago1:22:52

1:22:52

James and Matt discuss their checkered history of getting agents/managers, failing to hold onto them, and getting new ones, with lots of tips for the unagented! Check out lots of supplemental materials on SecretsOfStory.com.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 38: AI 57:10

2+ y ago57:10

57:10

Can a computer do our jobs? Matt puts it to the test and James scoffs, as is his wont.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 38: AI 57:11

2+ y ago57:11

57:11

Can a computer do our jobs? Matt puts it the test and James scoffs, as is his wont.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 37: Craft in the Real World 1:13:50

2+ y ago1:13:50

1:13:50

The long-awaited return! James and Matt reunite to discuss Matthew Salesses' book Craft in the Real World. Matt is worried about offending anyone and James is less so!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
37 Craft in the Real World 1:14:43

2+ y ago1:14:43

1:14:43

The long-awaited return! James and Matt reunite to discuss Matthew Salesses' book Craft in the Real World. Matt is worried about offending anyone and James is less so!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 36: Save the Cat with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin 55:55

3y ago55:55

55:55

Special guests Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin join us to debate the merits of the most infamous writing guide of all, Blake Snyder's Save the CatBy Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 36: Save the Cat with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin 55:56

3y ago55:56

55:56

Special guests Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin join us to debate the merits of the most infamous writing guide of all, Blake Snyder's Save the CatBy Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 35: Co-Authoring and Transgression with Keir Graff and Linda Joffe Hull 1:19:29

3+ y ago1:19:29

1:19:29

A whopping two guests join us to discuss the feat of co-authoring three thrillers as "Linda Keir", including "The Swing of Things", which leads to a discussion of whether or not transgression need always be punished in American literature.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 35: Co-Authoring and Transgression with Keir Graff and Linda Joffe Hull 1:19:28

3+ y ago1:19:28

1:19:28

A whopping two guests join us to discuss the feat of co-authoring three thrillers as "Linda Keir", including "The Swing of Things", which leads to a discussion of whether or not transgression need always be punished in American literature.By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Episode 34: Building Character Voice 1:19:57

3+ y ago1:19:57

1:19:57

James and Matt discuss Metaphor Families, Default Personality Traits, and Default Argument Tactics. James quotes great wisdom forgetting that he's quoting Matt, and Matt heaps praise on James's new book-- It's a kumbaya love fest!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

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