5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.
On the itinerary today: I turned in my pilot script! - producer reaction/notes anxiety - final podcast episode of 2025 - the Bondi Beach terror attack hits close to home for me - the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner - Bret Easton Ellis on why he writes - by contrast, why Rob Reiner made films - trying to make the world a better place than it really is - all kinds of gratitude to you, you, and you in the back - when 5AM StoryTalk will be back.
FESTIVE SEASON SALE
Get 35% off yearly subscriptions to 5AM StoryTalk at Substack, where you’ll get access to this podcast, all of its exclusive bonus episodes, and hundreds of other arts & culture articles, essays, and educational resources for screenwriters, writers, and art fanatics in general. Deal expires Dec. 26, 2025.
https://colehaddon.substack.com/915eba7a
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a foundational artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
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5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
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5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the most beloved Christmas films ever made. But the real reason behind the holiday classic’s enduring popularity isn’t what you might think it is - and it ensures you can never get bored of it
Spoiler: It’s not because life is all that wonderful.
This is an audio essay about growing up and older, grief, and why we’re all George Bailey.
If you’re a storyteller, you’re going to glean plenty from this episode, too.
FESTIVE SEASON SALE
Get 35% off yearly subscriptions to 5AM StoryTalk at Substack, where you’ll get access to this podcast, all of its exclusive bonus episodes, and hundreds of other arts & culture articles, essays, and educational resources for screenwriters, writers, and art fanatics in general. Deal expires Dec. 26, 2025.
https://colehaddon.substack.com/915eba7a
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
What do Hallmark Christmas films reveal about the state of our world? Why do millions of people turn to these stories every December for comfort and connection?
Power Ranger – ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ agent – one of the best parts about Christmas. Today, I’m joined by actress (and dear friend) ERIN CAHILL. In this deeply intimate episode of 5AM StoryTalk, we go far beyond the IMDB credits. We explore the "spirituality of acting," the concept of art as a life of service, and why her latest film, 'Christmas at the Catnip Café', holds a special place in her heart.
Expect non-stop laughs, profound insights into the creative life, and a look at what the holidays truly mean when the cameras stop rolling.
🎁 FESTIVE SEASON SALE: 35% OFF
Get 35% off yearly subscriptions to 5AM StoryTalk at Substack. Gain instant access to our archive of essays, educational resources for screenwriters, and exclusive bonus episodes. Deal expires Dec. 26, 2025. 👉 https://colehaddon.substack.com/915eba7a
BONUS EPISODE
A bonus ep with Erin is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, we discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: William Shakespeare’s “THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN” MONOLOGUE from ‘As You Like It’. You might know it as the ‘all the world’s a stage’ monologue. As a child, it changed how Erin looked at acting.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-erin-cahill-talks-shakespeares-the-seven-ages-of-man/id1807437928?i=1000740139937
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-erin-cahill-talks-shakespeares
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
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Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.
On the itinerary today: I bought a house in Australia! – 35% off 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter & Podcast yearly subscriptions – my favorite Christmas movie – Joey Ramone on what punk really means – sayonara, Hollywood – ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ is a perfect film, fight me – how I ended up Down Under – caring really is punk, thank you very much, James Gunn – SE London the greatest place to live on Earth? – the real meaning of Christmas – it’s not socialism, you idiot – conservative misreadings of Christmas movies crack me up – don’t be a dick.
GET 35% OFF YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/915eba7a
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A PAID SUBSCRIPTION gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss foundational pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a foundational artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
The 'Despicable Me' films — 'The Secret Life of Pets' — 'Schmigadoon!'. This week, I'm joined by screenwriter CINCO PAUL whose credits include these titles and many, many more. We’re about to discuss his life, craft, and becoming the writer he always wanted to be 25 years into his career.
What you’re about to listen to is an incredibly illuminating deep dive into professional success and how that can sometimes become a cage. Cinco and I are also going to get very granular about screenwriting craft, more so than I have in probably any other episode I've shared so far. Pay attention, screenwriters, this one is for you!
A BONUS EPISODE with Cinco is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, we discuss a seminal piece of art from Cinco's life: Frank Capra’s iconic, beloved, utterly magical 1946 film, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Specifically, we’re going to dig into a perfect seven-minute-scene — the telephone scene, as you might describe it — in which George Bailey comes to the terrible (almost violent) conclusion that yes, despite all his hopes and dreams of getting out of his crummy town, he’s going to marry Mary Hatch anyway. This is another ep no screenwriter should pass up.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-cinco-paul-talks-its-a-wonderful-life/id1807437928?i=1000738755558
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-cinco-paul-talks-its
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
This week, I'm joined by an Australian musician whose career I’ve been following since I first interviewed him in a Detroit club 20 years ago. I’m talking about BEN LEE here, and we’ll be discussing his music (from the 20th anniversary of his seminal album 'Awake Is the New Sleep' to his stunning new single 'The Fall of America'), the death of the American myth that once inspired us to chase our dreams, and our complicated relationships with the country we once called home.
This episode includes Ben performing 'The Fall of America', so no need to hunt that down elsewhere. You can follow along with the lyrics found here: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benlee/thefallofamericaacoustic.html
A BONUS EPISODE with Ben is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from his life - the iconic short story 'THE BALLOON' by Donald Barthelme, first published in The New Yorker in 1966.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-ben-lee-talks-donald-barthelmes-the-balloon/id1807437928?i=1000738078697
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-ben-lee-talks-donald
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.
On the itinerary today: Thanksgiving in the wrong part of the world – two Frankensteins: Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film and the BBC mini-series 'Frankenstein: The True Story' from 1973 – why screenwriters should study del Toro’s version – your racist uncle now thinks pedophilia is okay, too – disrespecting Hammer horror while exploiting it – intergenerational trauma in art and life – Victor von Frankenstein as history’s first tech bro? – what billionaires and serial killers have in common – Madonna – the self as a work of art – a bad year, but good news at least.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss foundational pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a foundational artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers.
Author - design advocate - cyborg anthropologist (yes, I said cyborg anthropologist!). This week, I'm joined by AMBER CASE and we’ll be talking about what’s gone wrong with how we interact with our technology, how craft, aesthetic, and consequently beauty have largely vanished from what we use in our everyday life, and how both issues affect our psychological and cultural health. Most importantly, we’ll be talking about how to fix this.
A BONUS EPISODE with Amber is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from her life — the film 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968). This part of our conversation is very much a continuation of what you listen to today; what I mean is, it’s less a cinematic breakdown and more of a breakdown of the culture that produced the film and then…changed (and, of course, Amber’s personal experience of all that).
Apple: https: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-amber-case-talks-2001-a-space-odyssey/id1807437928?i=1000736919146
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-amber-case-talks-2001
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
'Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need' has done catastrophic damage to Hollywood storytelling and the moviegoing experience in the 21st century - but I have a solution that might just help with your next script. I want you to 'PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER' instead. By the time we're finished, maybe you'll have a better understanding why some spec scripts - and some films, such as Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners', which I'll discuss in some detail - make a splash and others get nothing but bored shrugs.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.
On the itinerary today: 'Sinners', at last — Denis Villeneuve agrees with me — are scripts just blueprints, or can they be literature? — what artists and magicians have in common — the limits of the screenwriting form — what I’ve learned from Walter Hill, William Goldman, and Celine Song — but also, Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, J.C. Chandor, and Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan — writing pilot scripts — TV creator and showrunner Emma Frost gives me a panic attack — the role of Nick Cave’s lyrics and David Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ in my screenwriting evolution — everyone’s favorite poet-curmudgeon, Alan Moore — and cinema as visual poetry.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers.
Author - screenwriter - podcaster - and trailblazing journalist. Today on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I’m joined by EMILY ST. JAMES and we’ll be talking about her transition from beloved TV critic to the 'Yellowjackets' writers’ room, the fluidity of memory when it comes to our childhoods and relationships, and her beautiful new novel 'Woodworking' (which left me bawling and cautiously hopeful). This conversation moved me in unexpected ways I wasn’t quite prepared for, and I hope it does the same to you.
A BONUS EPISODE with Emily is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, she and I discuss a foundational piece of art from her life — the “X-Files” Season 3 episode, 'Jose Chung's From Outer Space'. Many people - including us - believe it's one of the best eps of TV ever produced. In it, we'll continue to dig into the role of memory in narrative and her novel, 'Woodworking'.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-emily-st-james-talks
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
A lawyer who has helped transfer $5.5 billion from corporations to their victims - an author - the co-founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch. Today, I'm joined by LIZZIE O'SHEA and we'll be discussing her digital rights activism, (which impacts the rights of artists), the value of art in changing political conversations, and how to fight back against everything in the 21st century. I dare you not to be inspired to action by this episode.
A BONUS EPISODE with Lizzie is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, she discusses a foundational piece of art from her life - Gustave Courbet’s perpetually controversial 1866 painting, L'ORIGINE DU MONDE (THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD, in English). This is a brilliant conversation about the freedom of expression and censorship over the past 160 years.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-lizzie-oshea-talks-gustave-courbets-lorigine/id1807437928?i=1000733645524
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-lizzie-oshea-talks
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
LINKS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.
On the itinerary today: finding my characters’ voices fast with a writing trick you might want to try – breakfast with musician Tim Rogers (front man of Australian rock band YouAmI) – why artists need artists in their lives – how I answered when my therapist asked me what gives my life meaning – what art and church have in common – writing is rewriting – Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ – Charles Lane’s ‘Sidewalk Stories’ – Studio Ghibli’s ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ – and Rick Rubin and the practice of being an artist.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE
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A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
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5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
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Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
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5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers.
'The Haunting of Emily Rose' - 'Sinister' - 'Doctor Strange' - 'The Gorge' - 'The Black Phone' and 'Black Phone 2'. Today, I'm joined by SCOTT DERRICKSON, the director of these horror and action blockbusters and more. He co-wrote many of them, too. I think it’s safe to say this is his most candid and revealing interviews ever; it’ll change how you understand so much of his work.
A BONUS EPISODE with Scott is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, he breaks down the first 20 minutes of a seminal piece of art from his life - Dario Argento's classic 1977 horror film SUSPIRIA, which provides a kind of secret origin to Scott's filmmaking identity. It's also an opportunity to hear a horror master interrogate another horror master's work.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scott-derrickson-talks-suspiria-1977/id1807437928?i=1000732588425
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-scott-derrickson-talks
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Aside from the personal, you should expect a lot of amazing craft insights in this episode, -about Scott’s creative process, themes that show up in his work, and his third acts. You’re also going to learn a ton about how he’s maintained his independence in Hollywood since he directed 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' in 2008 – which informs how he ended up directing the psychologically personal film Sinister and ultimately walked away from directing 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'.
I’ve described some of my conversations as master classes in storytelling – but none of them compares to this one with Scott Derrickson.
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
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5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
Since I was little, all I wanted was to do was grow up to write stories for the screen. But when my first TV series was green lit to series, it was a gut punch almost as bad as finding out someone I love had died. Find out why in the exciting, soul-crushing conclusion of the four-part podcast story "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series".
What you're about to listen to is a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true. There's a reason why 'DRACULA' (2013), which starred Jonathan Rhy Meyers and a boatload of other brilliant actors, became infamous in two different countries' TV industries.
If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there: https://open.spotify.com/episode/73yAzyPeOP0eQXmR30GgVB?si=b055bf9239da4acb
Here's Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yokwT6qMuSVFV97N2hmuk?si=c0b20765c03a4629
And here's Part 3: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zBxLqkdssV0RsnC6TbXTA?si=9be4fd173b274139
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
What could lead me to try to REPEATEDLY try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013)? If you thought things went to a dark place in Part 2, you ain't seen nothing yet!
Today brings you Part 3 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.
I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'Dracula' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a bunch of brilliant actors. A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.
If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there: https://open.spotify.com/episode/73yAzyPeOP0eQXmR30GgVB?si=b055bf9239da4acb
Here's Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yokwT6qMuSVFV97N2hmuk?si=c0b20765c03a4629
Part 4 will be published in two days.
Subscribe to 5AM StoryTalk here at Spotify so you don't miss out on the rest of this horror story's gory details!
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
In today's plog, we discuss: how the writing muscle changes (negatively?) with age - my failed first novel - the importance of carving out thinking time amongst everything we juggle as artists and human beings - am I a workaholic? (thanks, Dad!) - springtime in Australia - Samantha Harvey's novel Orbital - Soviet director Sergei Bondarchuk and his four-part War and Peace films - Mosfilm on YouTube - and David Milch and fighting for our mass culture.
5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being - what I'm struggling with in my work, what's inspiring me, what's causing me to lose sleep.
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast at Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers.
What could lead me to try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013) starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Oliver Jackson Cohen, and Jessica De Gouw?!
Today brings you Part 2 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.
A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.
I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'Dracula'. If you've ever aspired to work in Hollywood, this is a must listen. Maybe it'll help you avoid the fate that befell me when I finally "made it".
If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there: https://open.spotify.com/episode/73yAzyPeOP0eQXmR30GgVB?si=b055bf9239da4acb
Parts 3 and 4 will be published next week.
Subscribe to 5AM StoryTalk here at Spotify so you don't miss out on the rest of this horror story's gory details!
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
How could a straight-to-series greenlight go so wrong for the first TV series I ever created?!
Today brings you the first part of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.
A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.
I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'DRACULA' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a boatload of other brilliant actors. If you've ever aspired to work in Hollywood, this is a must listen. Maybe it'll help you avoid the fate that befell me when I finally "made it".
Part 2 will be published in two days and parts 3 and 4 will be published next week.
Subscribe to 5AM StoryTalk here at Spotify so you don't miss out on the rest of this horror story's gory details!
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.
'100 Bloody Acres' - 'Scare Campaign' - 'Late Night with the Devil'. Today, I'm joined by Australian writer-directors of these fantastic horror films - THE CAIRNES BROTHERS. We're going to discuss their unique blend of horror, comedy, and drama, growing up in the 80s on a mix of Hollywood and Ozploitation films, the breadth of what a horror film can be today in part because of Aussie filmmakers, and what the brothers describe as the genre renaissance taking place in Australian cinema today.
A BONUS EPISODE with the Cairnes Brothers is also available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack. In it, Colin and Cameron discuss a seminal piece of art from her life — the film THE STUNT MAN (1980).
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-the-cairnes-brothers-talk-the-stunt-man/id1807437928?i=1000728350318
Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-the-cairnes-brothers
Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Get access to this podcast episode, the bonus episode, and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.
Tip Jar
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
Links:
Social Media:
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere
Email:
5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers.