Derailed Trains of Thought

Hosted ByNick Hayden & Timothy Deal

Derailed Trains of Thought is your premiere podcast on storytelling for the creator and the consumer. Hosted by Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal, Derailed Trains of Thought discusses a wide range of storytelling topics, from the practical to the philosophical, in a engaging, conversational manner. It also includes bouts of fiction, brainstorming, Internet weirdness, puns, and a general enjoyment of the intersection between the written word, film, story, and meaning.

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Episode 48 – Glimpses of Light

“Balder the Beautiful / Is dead, is dead!” These words once caused a young C. S. Lewis to glimpse a scene of beauty and joy. We all have our own memories of a moment in some story that resonated deeply with us with its beauty. What makes such a moment? Wh

Episode 47 – The SFW ‘NSFW Episode’

You know what makes a story real? What makes it intelligent and high-minded? Sex. Also, unflinching violence. Then probably more sex. Or at least another pint of blood. But is this true? At what point do these things become gratuitous? Or are they always

Episode 46 – The Expurgated Version

Dear listeners: You may have heard the hosts of this podcast refer to such works as Star Wars, Babylon 5, The Muppets, LOST, The Wheel of Time, and other such well-known works once or twice (or 1753 times) in previous podcasts. We would like to inform you

Side Track 6 – Children of the Wells Round Table

It’s been awhile since our last Side Track (like 2011!), so when the Children of the Wells gang got together recently, we thought we’d have a round table discussion of what makes us tick as creators. You know Tim and Nick, of course, but here’s also Greg

Episode 45 – The One Certain Thing (Not Taxes)

Everyone knows if you’re wearing a red shirt, you’re going to die. And if you run out of flashbacks, you’re going to die. And if you’re someone’s mentor, you’re going to die. And if you’re in a Shakespearean tragedy, you and everyone dear to you is going

Episode 44 – Whose Outline Is It Anyway?

Look–it’s a fact. Not everyone can make diabolically elaborate plans go off without a hitch like the Joker or those guys from Ocean’s Eleven. That’s why some people use copious outlines while writing, and others…not so much. This episode, Nick and Tim

Episode 43 – The Child Within

Not everything’s War and Peace. Thankfully. Some stories don’t require a PhD. Sometimes we just want a good, simple story. So, Nick and Tim dive into the world of kidlit and kids’ movies–bastion (we hope) of innocence and wonder. Why do stories aimed at

Episode 42 – Why We (Don’t) Create

It’s no secret Tim and Nick like to create. I mean, they’ve recorded more than 40 podcasts discussing the art of storytelling! But every creative person has a reason they create. And every creative person has multitudes of excuses for why they don’t actua

Episode 41 – Can’t See No Forest For All These Trees

We all have our little pet scenes and characters. You know, that one line you’ll watch again and again or that minor villain you write long fan fictions about because he’s just SO COOL. Then there’s costumes design of the palace guards (which is just so t

Episode 40 – Of Making Many Books There Is No End

‘Tis the season, and if you’re like us, you’ll end up with books and movies beneath your tree. But in a media-saturated culture, how do you navigate among the millions of choices for entertainment and art? Well, lucky for you, Tim and Nick have decided to