Story First Podcast
Episodes
Rob Watzke on Why Experience Changes How You See Everything
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What changes when you’ve actually tried to make something? In this episode, Brian McDonald reconnects with Rob Watzke, a fellow performer from their...
The Importance of Focus
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if the biggest problem in storytelling isn’t talent—but clarity? In this archived episode, Brian McDonald breaks down one of the most common ...
Everett Downing on The Discipline Behind Creative Dreams
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn imagination into a career? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Everett Downing — animator, director, and visual storytell...
Al Higgins on the Five Core Components Every Scene Must Have
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a scene work? In this episode of Masters of the Craft, Brian McDonald sits down with writer and producer Al Higgins to break down the five ...
Get Out of the Way — Jonny Ashcroft on Finding Flow in Creative Work
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you get out of your own way? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Jonny Ashcroft for a deep dive into flow state, that el...
G. Willow Wilson on Making Room in the Comics Industry
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your identity becomes part of the story you’re trying to tell? In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with award-winning writer...
Danny Rubin on How He Honed His Craft
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Writing isn’t about inspiration. It’s about belief. In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with Danny Rubin, the writer behind Groundhog Day, t...
The Myth of Overnight Success
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“Overnight success” is almost always a lie we tell ourselves after the fact. In this episode, Brian McDonald revisits a deeply personal conversati...
Paul Feig on Directing with Authenticity
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Great directing isn’t about control, it’s about trust. In this episode, Brian McDonald talks with writer and director Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks,...
Why Process Matters More Than the Goal — Gerald Kaye
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Great storytelling isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about process. In this episode, Brian McDonald sits down with storyboard artist Gerald Kaye (Spider...
Kira Lehtomaki on Using Fear to Tell Better Stories
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some people spend their whole lives searching for what they’re meant to do. Kira Lehtomaki knew at five years old. In this archive conversation, Bri...
Toby Cypress on the Craft of Comics and Why Fundamentals Matter
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toby Cypress draws like he’s solving a puzzle — one decision, one shape, one problem at a time. In this conversation, Brian McDonald sits down wit...
Claire Keane on the Power of Curiosity
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Keane grew up surrounded by animation legends — but her journey is all her own. As a visual development artist at Disney, she helped shape th...
Keeping the Fun in the Work with Leisl Adams
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Saturday-morning cartoons to Batter Royale, Leisl Adams has spent her life bringing stories to life—one drawing at a time. In this episode, Bri...
Ronnie del Carmen on Producing Empathetic Work
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to make audiences feel something? Ronnie del Carmen — co-director of Inside Out and the artist behind the emotional opening of Up ...
Inside Pixar’s Early Days with Jeff Pidgeon
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before Pixar became a household name, Jeff Pidgeon was already there, helping define what it felt like to laugh in Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Up. ...
Steve Higgins on Staying True to Your Voice
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before he was Jimmy Fallon’s sidekick, Steve Higgins was shaping comedy history, from The Higgins Boys & Gruber to Saturday Night Live. In thi...
The Invisible Hand of Story: Todd Masters on the Art of Building Worlds
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Academy Award-winning VFX artist Todd Masters has spent his life shaping worlds you’ve seen but never noticed. From True Blood to Battlestar Galacti...
The Secret to Telling Impactful Stories - The Armature.
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to STORY FIRST! Ever wonder what makes a story truly great? This week, Brian breaks down the concept of the Armature — the hidden spine th...
Treva Silverman on Writing Truth Into Television
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to STORY FIRST! Today’s guest is Treva Silverman, Emmy-winning writer and one of the first women to break through in television comedy. Fro...
The Power of Story with Dawud Anyabwile
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to STORY FIRST! Today’s guest is Dawud Anyabwile — award-winning artist, illustrator, and co-creator of the groundbreaking comic Brotherma...
Frank Oz on Trusting Your Instincts
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to STORY FIRST! Today’s guest is none other than Frank Oz — legendary puppeteer, director, and creative mind behind some of the most iconi...
The Process of Writing with Angela Sanders
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second episode of The Story First podcast! I’m SO excited about today’s guest - Angela Sanders, my friend since the 80s. Angel...
Glen Keane on the Value of Childlike Discovery
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to STORY FIRST! First episode: Disney animation legend Glen Keane from the archives. The man who brought Ariel, Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahont...
A New Beginning
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Introduction to Brian McDonald's new podcast on story and craft. If you're familiar with his previous podcast "You Are a Storyteller", this is the n...