PODCAST

The Story Blender

WHERE GREAT STORYTELLERS SHARE THE SECRETS TO GREAT STORYTELLING. Hosted by Steven James.

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All Episodes

00:46:27

Season 10 - Episode 15: Clay Stafford

The Story Blender ·

2026/04/09

My guest this week is bestselling, award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright Clay Stafford. With millions of books sold, he’s also the founder of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference. We talk crime writing, how improv can help authors, and how I almost ended up a prisoner of the infamous Ministry of Tolerance. Check it out!

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00:48:26

Season 10 - Episode 14: Nat Cassidy

The Story Blender ·

2026/04/02

This week, horror author, actor, and playwright Nat Cassidy joins me to talk all things horror. You may have seen him playing a villain on the TV shows Quantico, FBI, or Law & Order: SVU, or read one of his acclaimed novels. Listen as he shares insights into why people love scary stories, what draws us in (and what drives us out), how they honor the human experience, and what Shakespeare has to do with horror. We also chat about his forthcoming collection of short stories, I KNOW A PLACE. If

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00:51:45

Season 10 - Episode 13: Jon Lindstrom

The Story Blender ·

2026/03/26

This week, I catch up with veteran Hollywood actor Jon Lindstrom, who has appeared in thousands of hours of television over the last three decades. He’s also a bestselling author with a new book out, a Los Angeles crime novel, Hollywood Payback. Join us as we talk about what actors can teach writers, the difference between ambiguity and moral complexity, and why it’s easier to write villains than heroes. Also, you’ll learn Jon’s movie recommendations, which might surprise you.

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00:49:42

Season 10 - Episode 12: Jane Friedman

The Story Blender ·

2026/03/19

For decades, Jane Friedman has been keeping her finger on the pulse of the writing industry. Each month she shares her insights with tens of thousands of writers through her newsletter The Bottom Line. This week she joins me to talk about some of the most prickly topics in publishing: whether or not to use a prologue, whether or not to outline, how many points of view to include, and the pet peeves of editors and agents. Tune in this week to get an insider’s scoop on the publishing industry.

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00:51:53

Season 10 - Episode 11: Nick Petrie

The Story Blender ·

2026/03/12

Critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Nick Petrie, who is known for his propulsive action stories and suspenseful plots, joins me this week. He shares how to create suspense, what lies at the heart of a great story, the importance of surprise, insights into the writing process, and more. We also talk about his latest book in the popular Peter Ash series, THE DARK TIME. Don’t miss it!

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00:44:46

Season 10 - Episode 10: Jayne Ann Krentz

The Story Blender ·

2026/03/05

New York Times bestselling novelist Jayne Ann Krentz joins me to talk about what romantic suspense actually is (and is not), how to identify your strengths in the stories you tell, true heroism, how a love story is different from a romance story, and the most interesting character in PARADISE LOST. We also chat about her latest romantic suspense novel THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE. Check it out!

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00:45:38

Season 10 - Episode 8: Bede Blake

The Story Blender ·

2026/02/26

This week, I caught up with screenwriter Bede Blake, one of my favorite instructors on the craft of writing and story, and the host of the YouTube channel PillarBoxer. On the channel, Bede shares ideas and insights into screenwriting—what works, what doesn’t, and why. He’s an expert at breaking down stories and has a fresh perspective you’re not going to get anywhere else. Listen in and be sure to subscribe to PillarBoxer on YouTube.

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00:41:06

Season 10 - Episode 8: C.J. Box

The Story Blender ·

2026/02/19

C.J. Box, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, joins me this week to talk about his iconic character, Joe Pickett, and his latest novel, THE CROSSROADS. Learn why he’s named “Joe,” what makes him so appealing, and how he has grown over the years. C.J. shares his thoughts about believability, authenticity, the importance of the West in his stories, and his personal advice to all aspiring authors. Check it out!

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00:54:24

Season 10 Episode 7: Wendy Walker

The Story Blender ·

2026/02/12

With the Olympics here this month, there’s no better time to check out a chilling, ice skating thriller. This week, bestselling author Wendy Walker, author of the critically acclaimed new novel BLADE, joins me to talk about her approach, how details matter, adding authenticity to stories, and what is more important—plotting or receptivity. As a former competitive ice skater, she tells a gripping story you won’t soon forget.

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00:47:28

Season 10 - Episode 6: Robin Cook

The Story Blender ·

2026/02/05

Legendary medical thriller author Robin Cook joins me this week. Author of more than forty books, he shares his origin story of how he wrote his first book while he was underwater for 75 days on a submarine, and once interviewed a Russian scientist who defected and whose team had hoarded enough anthrax to kill everyone on the planet. In addition, Robin shares his advice on writing and the inside scoop on his latest novel, SPASM. Check it out!

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00:34:10

Season 10 - Episode 5: Karen Morgan

The Story Blender ·

2026/01/29

This week I caught up with comedian Karen Morgan to talk about humor, comedy, and how to be funny. Listen in for tips and advice on why you should never try to be funny and why only you can do comedy like you can do. Give it a listen and don’t forget to check out her latest special on Dry Bar Comedy!

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00:46:07

Season 10 - Episode 4: Matthew Quirk

The Story Blender ·

2026/01/22

Matthew Quirk—New York Times bestselling author of The Night Agent, Hour of the Assassin, and Inside Threat—joins the show. The Night Agent hit #1 in 77 countries and returns to Netflix for Season 3 in February.We talk his latest novel The Method, writing believable thrillers, avoiding over-plotting, and how characters grow from page to screen. A must-listen for fans of spy fiction and intrigue.

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00:53:27

Season 10 - Episode 3: Ryan Steck & Simon Gervais

The Story Blender ·

2026/01/15

In this episode of The Story Blender, host Steven James sits down with thriller heavyweights Ryan Steck and Simon Gervais to talk about their new collaborative novel, The Second Son. The trio digs into what it takes to write as a duo, how high-concept thriller ideas are built and refined, and why today’s authors must think beyond the page and treat writing as a business. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about craft, collaboration, and the realities of building a career in modern publishing.

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00:45:50

Season 10 - Episode 2: Tony Marr

The Story Blender ·

2026/01/08

This week, acclaimed storyteller Tony Marr returns to talk about techniques to tell personal stories. We discuss the three key questions to ask yourself about any personal story you wish to share, how to end your stories, how to be vulnerable without oversharing, and how to retain the trust of your listeners as you tell your stories. If you have a personal story to share, this is the episode for you.

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00:45:03

Season 10 - Episode 1: Carter Wilson

The Story Blender ·

2026/01/01

As we kick off the 2026 year, I sit down with my good friend and our first guest, Carter Wilson. His work has received starred reviews from every major trade publication, has won multiple awards, and has been optioned for television and film. His 2025 release, Tell Me What You Did, was selected by Barnes & Noble as a national monthly pick. We talk suspense, making good on plot promises, how emotions fuel character development, and a rapid-fire word association game.

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00:38:17

Ep. 47 - 2025: John R. Carlos

The Story Blender ·

2025/12/18

Science fiction author John R. Carlos joins me to talk about world building and how emergent trends in technology might affect our lives in the future. We touch on context and trajectory—both in culture and in storytelling—and how stories can equip us with the courage to face oppression in whatever form it might come. We also talk about his debut novel Cryonic Dreams: Awakening. Check it out!

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00:48:28

Ep. 46 - 2025: Mia Sheridan

The Story Blender ·

2025/12/04

This week, bestselling author Mia Sheridan joins me to talk about how monsters can be made, whether it’s important to include the background on a villain in your story, how much believability stories need, longing for justice to occur in the stories that we read, and what’s more important—a story’s beginning or the ending? We also chat about her latest romantic thriller, The Fix. ,working through ⠀

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00:42:30

Ep. 45-2025: Melinda Leigh

The Story Blender ·

2025/11/27

Melinda Leigh, the bestselling author of 40 novels, talks about how her background in the martial arts informs how she writes fight scenes (and why you need vaguely specific details to make them believable). We also talk plot twists, why it’s so much fun to write villains, working through revisions, voice, and honest writing. Check it out!

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00:52:23

Ep. 44 - 2025: David Morrell

The Story Blender ·

2025/11/21

This week on The Story Blender I talk with legendary action thriller writer David Morrell. As the author of First Blood, he is known as the father of the modern action thriller. In this wide-ranging conversation, he shares his inspiration, words of advice for aspiring authors, and hard-won insights into the writing process that you just won’t want to miss. Check it out.

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00:58:24

Ep. 43 - 2025: John Branyan

The Story Blender ·

2025/11/13

Join me as I chat with acclaimed comedian John Branyan. We talk about secrets to comedy, how to gain confidence, how to tap into the truths of life and your own experiences to find humorous stories to tell. He also explains the history behind his famous Shakespearean “Three Little Pigs” rendition and shares who he thinks are the three comedians you definitely need to check out today. Give it a listen and enjoy.

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