Best Melanie Hill Podcasts (2025)

1
Doubt: a quiet story masterpiece (archive) 28:15

1h ago28:15

28:15

It's a brand new season and that means Melanie and I are studying two new topics: narrative drive and conflict triangles. Conflict and page-turners are usually associated with action stories, thrillers and the like. But DOUBT is a quiet, character-driven film that is so expertly crafted it grabs the viewer's attention immediately and holds it right…

1
The Traitors with Glenda Crest 1:00:10

2h ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Get your cloak because we're going castle-hopping on this week's episode as we talk Peacock's sneaky reality gem, "The Traitors", with our guest, broadcast media veteran and Fine Beats and Cheeses superfan, Glenda Crest. This was such a fun episode. We love talking to Glenda and we hope you love listening! Younger of 2 siblings, Watches wayyy too m…

1
The Holdovers: a rare gem 30:47

9d ago30:47

30:47

This is storytelling at its finest. We could study it to learn about almost any aspect of writing, but this week, Melanie and I are highlighting the complexity and nuance of the main character. He's a passive character, which makes for an especially interesting study of both the hero's monologue and the shadow. If you've not seen THE HOLDOVERS yet,…

1
Die Hard with Geraldine DeRuiter 1:28:37

6d ago1:28:37

1:28:37

... or Fine Beats and Cheeses Rarely Dies, as Producer Sam called this episode upon editing it. We continue our holiday episodes while continuing the debate about whether "Die Hard", 1988's classic action flick that made Bruce Willis a movie star, is a Christmas movie. We think it is but what do you think? We ponder this with return guest, friend o…

1
Rewind Episode: It's A Wonderful Life with Elly Cohen 1:05:24

15d ago1:05:24

1:05:24

We kick off the holiday season with this Rewind Episode from December 2024. It's a REALLY good one and we hope you enjoy it. There's something about Mary this week on the podcast because we are talking Christmas classic "It's A Wonderful Life" with a focus on Mary Bailey, the main character's wife! Our guest is Senior Recruiter, Job Search Speciali…

1
Tar: writing nuanced characters 26:15

9d ago26:15

26:15

If you are writing a villain’s POV in your story, this episode is for you. Lydia Tar is a villain but she’s also the protagonist of the story. Quite simply: villain + protagonist = anti-hero. The slow reveal of Tar’s shadow is a masterclass in writing a villain POV. You could start off with an evil villain and maintain that line in your story, but …

1
The Dick Van Dyke Show with Olivia Howell and Genevieve Dreizen 1:02:27

10d ago1:02:27

1:02:27

Watch out for that ottoman you are about to trip over and sit down and listen to this episode about classic TV comedy, "The Dick Van Dyke" show, and our guests are Olivia and Genevieve from The Fresh Starts Registry. We call them The Sisters! They are two of our favorite people to talk to. On the show we talk Dick Van Dyke, his show (and how a 60 +…

1
Rewind Episode: One Tree Hill with Dr. Jessica Rabon 46:34

14d ago46:34

46:34

Enjoy this Rewind Episode of Fine Beats and Cheeses! It's "One Tree Hill", a show that I had never watched but am now kinda taken with. Our guest was the amazing Dr. Jessica Rabon! Listen now. Meet us at the basketball court and bring your drama as we talk classic 2000s series, "One Tree Hill" with our guest, Dr. Jessica Rabon. I (Lynne) completely…

1
Dial M For Murder: unlikeable characters 24:15

24d ago24:15

24:15

If you're curious about how to handle unlikeable protagonists, this episode is for you! In Hitchcock's classic, DIAL M FOR MURDER, the protagonist is the villain — he plots the murder of his wife, and that's about as unlikeable as it gets! His anti-hero's monologue is a veritable masterclass and his shadow reveals that he's actually kind of a nice …

1
So I Married An Axe Murderer with our own Lynne Streeter Childress 1:01:45

18d ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Woman. Wo-man. WHOAAAAA Man. If you know what that's from, you'll know that this week on the pod, we are talking Mike Myer's 1993 masterpiece (so say we) "So I Married An Axe Murderer", and our guest is our very own co-host, Lynne Streeter Childress! From time to time, we here on the FBC crew are going to feature us talking about the cheesy things …

1
TTPod 5.3: "The Other Side of the Tracks" In Conversation with Transnet Executive - Yolisa Kani 51:15

1M ago51:15

51:15

In this TTPod episode we’re catching up with someone who’s become a real friend of the podcast and a standout leader in South Africa’s public sector: Yolisa Kani. She’s back with me in Cape Town, bringing her trademark energy and a wealth of experience from both government and the private sector. If you’ve followed Yolisa’s journey, you’ll know she…

1
The Incredibles: storytelling gold 29:29

29d ago29:29

29:29

The villain isn’t a stand in for the hero’s shadow. The villain is a warning to the hero if the hero doesn't learn to integrate their shadow. The Incredibles is storytelling gold and a very clear example of the role of the villain and hero plus their relationship to the hero’s shadow. Of course, every good superhero movie needs a hero’s monologue a…

1
Real Housewives with Melanie Hood-Wilson 1:04:06

25d ago1:04:06

1:04:06

"We may be cheesy, but we're still fine" would be our tagline if this show was a contestant on one of the shows in Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise, but since podcasts can't go on that show, we talk about it with justice and inclusion advocate and consultant (and friend of the show) Melanie Hood-Wilson. We talk the juicy parts of all the shows, …

1
The Proposal: writing dual protagonist stories 21:42

1M ago21:42

21:42

If you're writing a dual protagonist story, a story with multiple plot lines or a romance, this episode is for you! After the spookiness of last week's episode, I thought we are all due for a feel-good, positive juju kinda movie. What better choice than THE PROPOSAL? Enjoy! -V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses …

1
Parasocial Relationships with Meghan Riordan Jarvis 1:03:03

1M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Sometimes it feels like you really know your fave celebrity and sometimes you REALLY think you know them, when you do not. That's called a parasocial relationship: a one-sided relationship where you feel emotionally connected to a public person that you've never met. It sounds creepy, but we all might, to some extent, get wrapped up in the latest n…

1
Rewind Episode: Halloween (the movies) with Desiree Simone 1:06:27

2M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

Happy October 31! Enjoy this replay from 2024! Have fun getting candy tonight! ♫This is Halloween... Join Personal Development Coach and podcast host Desiree Simone and the crew as we discuss Halloweens! The movies, we mean... Desiree Simone is a Personal Development and Brand Coach, as well as the host of Growth On the Rocks, a fun, informative an…

1
The Substance: ewwwww! 28:01

1M ago28:01

28:01

You need to read stories you don’t like. Yep, it’s true. This week I put my body on the line and I forced myself (and Valerie - so sorry, please forgive me) to watch The Substance. I don’t read, watch, or listen to horror, but there are times when I need to go outside my comfort zone to learn more about the craft. My topic this season is The Shadow…

1
Reality Show Villains with Meredith Davis 1:03:33

2M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

Get ready to be voted off the island or out of the house as we talk Reality Show Villains with our friend and return guest, Dr. Meredith Davis. We discuss people we love to hate, what makes a good villain, and if some of the people portrayed as villainous are not as bad as the shows would want you to believe. It's a good one! Meredith Davis is a so…

1
Rewind Episode: Ghostbusters with Alex Steed 1:22:59

2M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

It's a little Halloween Rewind! Grab your Staypuft Marshmallows and listen to this episode from this past February where we talked to our friend Alex Steed about the original 1984 Ghostbusters! Who you gonna call? Us, we hope! Or at least you will listen, as we talk to friend of the show Alex Steed (of the wonderful "You Are Good", a feelings podca…

1
Backdraft: yes, but why? 27:44

1M ago27:44

27:44

How does your reader know why your protagonist does what she does? This seemingly minor detail is one of the most important parts of your story and the way you let the reader know about it is through the hero's monologue. What aspect of your protagonist is hidden from her, from your reader, or both? If you want to create a main character with dimen…

1
Sinners Part 2 with Latisha Jones 56:04

2M ago56:04

56:04

Here is part 2 of our talk about Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" with writer and actor Latisha Jones. (You can hear Pt. 1 here!) We dig more into this scary, fun and deep movie. We hope you like it!! Latisha Jones is a Writer, Actor and Educator. And host of “Interspectional”, a podcast where she discusses the sci-fi/fantasy media through a social justice…

1
What Went Right: the outrun 44:21

2M ago44:21

44:21

I think I missed the mark with my choice for What When Right this Season. I went with The Outrun because it scored well on ratings sites. Why did this movie get such good ratings when both Valerie and I had trouble staying engaged? It’s a story that has great performances and it handles addiction without judgement. There’s also some parallel story …

1
Sinners (Pt. 1 of a 2-episode series) with Latisha Jones 53:53

2M ago53:53

53:53

Today, we talk about a set of twins (who are not Lynne and Leslie) who had to fight vampires and racists all of that as we talk the the brilliant "Sinners" with our brilliant guest: writer and actor Latisha Jones. This was such a good conversation that we looked at the clock and realized we weren't anywhere near done, and scheduled a second episode…

1
Jett Cooper: Melanie's New Novel 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Today is a fantastic day for the Story Nerd Podcast. We are celebrating the launch of Melanie’s new middle-grade novel, Jett Cooper, by sharing a behind the veil look at how she put theory into practice. Join us for this special episode and learn more about Melanie, what inspired her to write this novel, and why it took her so long. Valerie also sh…

1
Big Brother with John Poitevent 48:04

2M ago48:04

48:04

1
What Went Wrong: stayin' alive 50:13

3M ago50:13

50:13

STAYIN' ALIVE has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (I didn't even know that was possible!) so Melanie and I wanted to see if we could figure out where the storytelling in this movie went wrong. And boy, did it give us the giggles. In this episode, we cover everything from missing empathy to missing pants. So come join us, and be sure to let us know w…

1
Aliens with Judd Winick 1:40:21

2M ago1:40:21

1:40:21

We are so excited to be talking about 1986's outer space adventure about a fierce woman and her associates fighting with extraterrestrials, "Aliens" because our guest is 3-time Fine Beats and Cheeses guest, and our friend, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and reality TV legend, Judd Winick. This is a long one because we all like to talk, and then Sam …

1
Our Best Advice: villain's monologue + turning points 28:39

3M ago28:39

28:39

We've come to the end of another season and that means it's time for our best advice about the villain's monologue (what it is, and why it's essential you have one in your story) and turning points (those unexpected events that create opportunities for you to reveal character). -V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/cour…

1
And Just Like That with Dawn Davis 56:47

3M ago56:47

56:47

This week, it's all things Carrie Bradshaw and crew as we talk "And Just Like That", the continuation of HBO's classic series, "Sex and the City" with our guest (and friend from Lynne and Leslie's days in church teen choir), Dawn Davis. Note: we did an episode on SATC when AJLT was in its earlier days, but are revisiting that universe now! This was…

1
Black Bag: IYKYK 38:52

3M ago38:52

38:52

I think BLACK BAG misses the mark but it's one of Melanie's favourites. So what happens when we disagree on whether, from a craft perspective, a story is working or not? Well, you'll have to tune in to this week's episode to find out. One thing I'll say is that this might be a film that is meant for super fans of the spy genre (i.e., Melanie) becau…

1
Roswell with Nichole Land 53:38

3M ago53:38

53:38

Something IS out there as we talk 2000s pretty teen alien TV drama, "Roswell", with our guest, Nichole Land. This was such a fun one and you will love it! Nichole says: My name is Nichole Land. I am a Rockville, Maryland Resident. I work at Montgomery College, a Community College in Montgomery County, MD where I was just recently promoted to the po…

1
Primal Fear: masterful writing 25:05

3M ago25:05

25:05

Primal Fear is a superb film. The novel, by William Diehl, is even better. This is a story to add to your short list of go-to stories to study for absolutely any aspect of the craft. Enjoy! - V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (…

1
Doo Wop Music with Emily Edwards 1:02:47

3M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Get your Shbop Shbop on today and gather around the street lamp with your friends as we explore the delightful tones of Doo Wop music with our friend, author and podcaster, Emily Edwards. Fun show! Emily J. Edwards earned her degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and took the long road to becoming an author, working for…

1
Rewind Episode: Billy Joel with Geraldine DeRuiter 51:22

3M ago51:22

51:22

Venture back to September 2023 where we talked to our friend Geraldine DeRuiter about the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel. This episode was joy. We've wanted to do this episode for The Longest Time: we talk about Billy Joel!! WE LOVE HIM, and so does our guest, culture writer Geraldine DeRuiter. We talk about the relatability, joy, and thoughtfulness…

1
Legally Blonde (archive) 42:02

3M ago42:02

42:02

This week we're throwing it back to season 2. Valerie is studying The Hero's Gift Expressed and Melanie is studying Forces of Antagonism. Legally Blonde is a beautiful example of both! Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for fr…

1
John Wick with Robin Peace 54:38

3M ago54:38

54:38

Join us as we avenge Keanu Reeve's movie dog as we talk the first installment of the sensitive hitman movie series, "John Wick", with returning guest and friend of the show, Robin Peace. We talk revenge, the cutest dog in the world, grief, the awesomeness of the aforementioned Mr. Reeves, and more. Check it out. Robin is the author and poet, R. R. …

1
Rewind Episode: Cargo Pants and Other Things People Love To Wear with Julie Khanna 49:07

4M ago49:07

49:07

Come with us back to October 2023 for this Rewind episode about wearing what you want, including supposedly unhip things like cargo pants! You know that favorite thing that you love to wear and buy over and over again no one else understands and you DON'T CARE? We do too! We talked to PR, Marketing, and communications expert Julie Khanna about her …

1
No Way Out: conflict triangles (archive) 41:06

3M ago41:06

41:06

In this week's episode, Melanie introduces the concept of conflict triangles and honestly, if you use them in your work, your story will improve immediately. In terms of cast design, while usually the plot supports the development of the characters in this case, the characters support the development of the plot. If you don't know which option best…

1
Michael McDonald with Andrew Walen 57:18

4M ago57:18

57:18

We take a trip back to the 70s, 80s and back to now as we sing, in a gravelly soulful voice, the praises of one Michael McDonald, Brother of Doobie, maestro of the piano, and owner of cool hair. Our guest is our friend, musician, author, and mental health advocate Andrew Walen, who is a longtime friend of Lynne and Leslie's, and a longtime devoted …

1
Moonstruck: writing female characters (archive) 44:33

4M ago44:33

44:33

In this episode, Melanie is studying female characters and how women are presented in modern stories (her work in this episode is reeeeally interesting!), and I investigate something I learned from Steven Pressfield, which is that we shouldn't introduce anything new after Act 2. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses…

1
You Got Served with Briana Barner 1:05:27

4M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

I hope you're happy today, because today you're getting served this hilarious and fun episode about 2004's dance battle spectacular featuring 2000's cute boys like Marques Houston and the band B2K. We are joined by return guest Dr. Briana Barner, who previously talked about podcasts themselves. Y'all, this was a jubilant and joyous good time, and w…

1
TTPod 5.2: "The Chaos Precinct" - In conversation with Author and Planner, Dr. Tanya Zack 45:05

4M ago45:05

45:05

Welcome back to the Talking Transformation Podcast! We'redelighted to welcome back Tanya Zack, a renowned urban planner and author, joining us from Johannesburg. Tanya first graced our podcast in February 2023 when shediscussed her book "Wake Up, This is Joburg!", a fascinatingexploration of inner-city Johannesburg urban landscape and the vibrant c…

1
The Bourne Identity: build tension, raise stakes (archive) 38:27

4M ago38:27

38:27

Whatever kind of story you're writing, if you want a reader to stick with you all the way to the end, you've got to build tension! Believe it or not, The Bourne Identity is a terrific example to study - even for a love story or coming of age story. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing template…

1
Spice World with Melinda Hare 1:05:16

4M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

We'll tell you what we want, what we really really want, and that's for you to listen to this hilariously awesome conversation with past guest Melinda Hare about The Spice Girls'1997's classic campy music movie extravaganza, "Spice World". It was a hoot and a half and we hope you love it. About Melinda: "Born/raised in Northern California, I have a…

1
Knives Out: mastering the whodunit (archive) 51:37

4M ago51:37

51:37

Puzzled about what it takes to write a great mystery? Then grab your notebook because this episode is chock-full of tips. No red herrings in this show, we promise! Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Val…

1
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) with Donja Hamlin Houston 58:34

4M ago58:34

58:34

You ever make a deal with evil spirits and stop aging but all your oldness and evil goes into a painting you have hidden in your house? Me either, but Dorian Gray from the Oscar Wilde novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" did, and we discuss the 1945 movie based on that novel with visual artist Donja Hamlin Houston (who Leslie and Lynne have known sin…

1
Foe: offers lots of writing lessons 39:05

4M ago39:05

39:05

Ummm … I don’t know what to say to introduce this week’s episode. Perhaps I should start with a simple question, ‘What makes a story un-watchable/un-readable?’ Part of the answer is chickens. If you’d like to know the rest of the answer, then buckle-up and dive in. -M “Foe makes all the same mistakes that most novelists make.” - Valerie Francis Rel…

1
Rewind Episode: Total Eclipse of the Heart with Christopher Walker 44:00

5M ago44:00

44:00

2/3 of the Fine Beats team and their people are out of town on Leslie's book tour for her new novel, "Family And Other Calamities" (which you should totally read), so today we go back to November 2023 for this rewind episode! Once upon we were falling in love, but now we're only do a podcast!! Today we are talking about the dramatic 1980s classic "…

1
The Miracle Club: when the hero is also the villain 30:36

5M ago30:36

30:36

THE MIRACLE CLUB is a multiple protagonist, miniplot, story. That means that each protagonist is also an antagonist. Sounds cool, right? But how the heck do you pull it off? Well one of the ways is to give each POV character her own villain's monologue. This film misses on one character and you just have to hear what happens to the story because of…

1
Hatewatching with Paula Chase 1:01:43

5M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

You ever been annoyed by a show or movie, but something keeps you watching it anyway? Then listen to today's new episode, where we talk Hatewatching with our guest Paula Chase. We discuss finding something good in the things that we kinda don't like. It's a fun one. Co-founder of award-winning blog, The Brown Bookshelf, Paula Chase is a long time I…

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Melanie Hill Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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