Best Shawn Pace Podcasts (2024)

1
Clayton Keller & Nathan MacKinnon join; Global Series, Swayman contract, Utah hockey 1:11:01

3d ago1:11:01

1:11:01

Dan and Shawn were joined by Clayton Keller (20:40) and Nathan MacKinnon (44:03). Keller discussed getting started with the Utah Hockey Club, the journey from Arizona, the uniforms, experience so far and what the team could do this season. Before the interview with Keller, Rosen talks about his on-the-ground experience in Prague covering the Buffal…

1
Dorian Gray: what mick jagger said 29:43

3d ago29:43

29:43

The Rolling Stone’s song ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want,’ is my earworm this season. This week, I started to pick apart how wants, needs and arcs are connected. Dorian Gray is a classic cautionary tale about selling your soul. Dorian arrives in London as a beautiful but naive young man and dies with a rotten and decrepit soul - he is unredeema…

51
Jack Hughes & Jon Carlson join; Dahlin named Captain, Michkov buzz, Matthews goal scoring pace 1:07:40

8d ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Dan and Shawn are joined by Jack Hughes (15:33) and Jon Carlson (36:40). Rosen and Roarke open the show discussing the Buffalo Sabres and their European adventure. They talked about Rasmus Dahlin being named the Sabres new captain and Buffalo's chances of ending what is now a 13-year playoff drought. Auston Matthews' chances of one day owning the N…

1
The Social Network: pacing, pacing, pacing 29:06

10d ago29:06

29:06

It's a brand new season and this time Melanie is studying character arcs through 5 key questions: Where do the characters start, where do they finish, what do they want, what decisions do they make along the way that get them to the end, and do they get what they want or need? Meanwhile, I do a deep dive into exposition. You've heard about "show, d…

1
Best Advice: Narrative Drive + Conflict Triangles 25:39

17d ago25:39

25:39

Whoa. This season has been a heavy season. Narrative Drive and Conflict Triangles are two major concepts that can - and will - transform your writing. In this episode, Melanie and I summarize everything we learned this season. -V For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie'…

1
Leon Draisaitl & Bill Daly join; Crosby signs, Oilers cup chances, Rookie Faceoff 1:02:35

18d ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Dan and Shawn are joined by Leon Draisaitl (14:28) and Bill Daly (40:08) for this week's episode. The guys recap the player media tour in Vegas, along with breaking down freshly signed contracts from Sidney Crosby (02:17) and Lucas Raymond (09:25). They discuss the Edmonton Oilers chances at a Stanley Cup this season (28:18). Lastly, they dive into…

1
Eye in the Sky: wonderfully nuanced storytelling 33:43

24d ago33:43

33:43

Eye in the Sky reminds me of the ‘greater good’ questions I discussed in class during high school - there’s no right or wrong answer but there are always consequences. This movie is an excellent example of how tension and escalating stakes combine with conflict triangles and narrative drive to create a compelling story. This isn’t an action movie b…

1
Nick Cotsonika joins; Gaudreau brothers, Draisaitl contract, Swayman status 52:16

1M ago52:16

52:16

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika (09:06), who is in Columbus covering the candlelight vigil in remembrance of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau. Nick, who recently wrote about that tragedy and its impact on hockey, shares his thoughts on the news. The conversation shifts to other hockey news, including Le…

1
NYAD: writing unlikeable characters 32:15

1M ago32:15

32:15

Your reader doesn't have to like the protagonist but she does have to empathize with him because if empathy is absent, your story is in trouble. In this episode Melanie and I study conflict triangles and narrative drive, but we also have an interesting side conversation about empathy and likeability. If you're writing an unlikeable character, or if…

1
The Wife: best movie ever 25:24

1M ago25:24

25:24

Holy moly, this is a good movie! It's an especially good movie to study for anyone writing a quiet, character-driven story. THE WIFE originally aired as Episode 4 of Season 6 when Melanie was studying stakes and I was studying empathy. But honestly, this is one of those rare films that novelists (and memoirists!) can study to learn just about any s…

1
August Osage County: simply masterful 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

This movie is a masterclass on characters, character development, cast design and the relationships between characters. It honestly doesn't get any better than this. So no matter what kind of story you're writing, grab your notepad and dive in! -V. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), su…

1
Lego Batman: ROTFL 39:35

2M ago39:35

39:35

Melanie chose Lego Batman from the vault because, in addition to being a really well-written story, it made her laugh. And that, imo, is the mark of superior writing. This episode originally aired in Season 5 when Melanie was studying resonance. If you're curious about what that is, and how it can truly enhance your storytelling, be sure to give th…

1
The Godfather: Valerie gets excited 50:47

2M ago50:47

50:47

Melanie and I are taking a short mid-winter/mid-summer break, so while we recharge our batteries we're reposting some of our favourite episodes starting this week with THE GODFATHER. Wow, there just aren't too many movies with this level of storytelling craft in them. I had a whole lot to say about this classic film and I know that no matter which …

1
Nocturnal Animals: pretty, but no story 24:26

2M ago24:26

24:26

We visit the joys of multiplot stories this week. Valerie discovers (again) the issues with multiplot stories in movies, and I investigate how the different timelines impact the narrative drive. We both learnt what happens to a story when conflict triangles and curiosity and concern are absent - a cautionary tale for writers. -M “A character can’t …

1
The Help: put this on your list 29:01

2M ago29:01

29:01

If you're writing a story with multiple protagonists/POVs, or if you're tackling a big social issue in your story, then you'll want to study The Help. As it happens, it's also a cracking example of Conflict Triangles and Narrative Drive - and that's what Melanie and I talk about in this week's episode. - V. "The bigger the scope of the issue, the s…

1
A Simple Favor: seriously, an evil twin? 36:53

3M ago36:53

36:53

This week one of mystery writing’s deadly sins makes a guest appearance. Valerie and I discuss if the appearance is welcome or not. A Simple Favour has good examples of how Narrative Drive works - great for my topic. However, it wasn’t so good for Valerie’s study of Conflict Triangles, so we see how superficial a story can be when the conflict isn’…

1
Belfast: active v passive protagonist 33:47

3M ago33:47

33:47

In BELFAST, Kenneth Branagh does something that most, if not all, new writers do. In a movie, it's kind of hard to spot because filmmakers have access to tools (like costume design, cinematography, and a musical score) that obscure it. In a novel, it's obvious —stark even — because all we have is black text on a white page. It's laid bare for all r…

1
Free-agency roundup; Winners/Losers, Super 16, Mailbag 48:45

3M ago48:45

48:45

Dan and Shawn discuss a potpourri of offseason moves and start by talking about the splash made by the Nashville Predators, who signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei on July 1. Does this make the Predators the best team in the Central Division and a real Stanley Cup threat? They wonder why the Lightning did not re-sign Stamko…

1
What Lies Beneath: play the "let me guess" game 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

Sometimes we learn more from our mistakes than our successes - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it this week! Narrative drive is an important storytelling principle to learn and this week’s movie is an example of poor story structure resulting in terrible narrative drive. A mystery writer should have control of the information. Valerie’s study o…

1
Mike Morreale joins; Draft preview, Free agency intrigue, Hall of Fame debate 54:48

3M ago54:48

54:48

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's own draft guru, Mike Morreale (16:18), who is the NHL.com Senior Draft Writer and co-host of the "NHL Draft Class" podcast. Morreale answers questions about Celebrini, the projected No. 1 pick to the San Jose Sharks. He discusses what makes him special, his rehab from shoulder surgery he had five months before …

1
Doubt: a "quiet story" masterpiece 26:59

3M ago26:59

26:59

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
Stanley Cup Final check-in; Oilers flip script, Devils acquire Markstrom, PLD shipped to Caps 58:40

4M ago58:40

58:40

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Derek Van Diest (12:22) and Tom Gulitti (29:47) to cover all the angles of the Stanley Cup Final and discuss how the Oilers seemingly flipped the script on the Panthers. What will Game 6 bring ? In this series, it's anybody's guess, but both Derek and Tom provide their opinions on the series as they have been c…

1
Our Best Advice: female characters + setups and payoffs 30:23

4M ago30:23

30:23

We've reached the end of another season and so we're wrapping up our best advice and a-ha moments just for you. Tune in to hear what we have to say about writing female characters and using female archetypes. We also share why it's crucial for you to use the first half of your story to set up everything that happens in the second half. (Hint: it al…

1
The Pride Episode (w/Bob the Drag Queen & Brian McQueen) 1:08:03

4M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

Happy Pride, Classmates, and welcome to the season finale of ART CLASS! And have we got a show for you today! We are heading into the summer purse first with this week's iconic guest, RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 winner, Bob the Drag Queen! Join us as Bob gives us their hilarious and brilliant takes on a wide array of topics from gender to drag to a…

1
Stanley Cup Final check-in; Panthers lead series, Edmonton's injuries, Barkov's importance, NHL News & Notes 36:31

4M ago36:31

36:31

Dan and Shawn look back at a thorough Florida Panthers Game 2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. They look ahead to game 3 and try to figure out what the Oilers have to do to generate more offense. Plus, they look at some of the injuries that the Oilers are dealing with and discuss the importance of Aleksander Barkov for Florida as Shawn calls him the b…

1
Hanna - women aren't small men 41:04

4M ago41:04

41:04

I have been looking forward to this episode since the start of the season. I specifically selected Hanna so we could study fight scenes and weapons handling with female characters - Hanna doesn’t disappoint. I consider aspects of female fight scenes and firing pistols. Valerie wasn’t so lucky this week. Hanna is light on story because the action sc…

1
Ryan Callahan joins; Stanley Cup Final preview, Pavelski's legacy, Draft jockeying 56:40

4M ago56:40

56:40

Dan and Shawn are joined by ESPN analyst Ryan Callahan (17:26) to preview the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. Callahan looks at the series from every angle, including the Oilers defensive growth under Kris Knoblauch and Stuart Skinner's emergence as the goalie the Oilers have needed in years past. Plus, he breaks…

1
Where'd You Go, Bernadette: deus ex machina 33:30

4M ago33:30

33:30

Quite often, stories that don't work have more to teach us than the stories that do. Maybe Maria Semple's novel (upon which this film is based), is simply one that's challenging to adapt to the screen. Whatever the case, this move has missed the mark on some basic storytelling principles (it has too many backstory info dumps, a Deus Ex Machina, and…

1
Living the Solution (w/Giselle Byrd & Shawn Martinbrough) 1:04:47

4M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Happy Pride, Classmates and welcome back to ART CLASS! We're back to our regularly scheduled programming this week with two fantastic conversations for you to enjoy. First, we're joined by the fabulous and talented Giselle Byrd, Executive Director of The Theater Offensive in Boston and the first Black trans woman to hold such a title at an American…

1
The Genius of Novellas 11:36

4M ago11:36

11:36

Novellas are the ace up your writerly sleeve! They enable you to practice all of the principles of storytelling in a shorter, more manageable form. That's going to make you a much better novelist because your story will be focused and you won't get lost in your manuscript. And oh, the best part? Novellas are on the rise. - V. *Script note: In the e…

1
Derek Van Diest joins; Igor's brilliance, Oiler's maturity, Tanev's impact, Bylsma back in NHL 49:06

4M ago49:06

49:06

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Derek Van Diest who's covering the Western Conference Final (9:15). Van Diest dives deep into all the storylines surrounding the Oilers and Stars, including the MIDAS touch that Kris Knoblauch has had since taking over the team, Stuart Skinner's performance in Game 4 and the impact that losing Chris Tanev will …

1
Crazy Rich Asians: when the antagonist is more compelling than the protagonist 44:13

4M ago44:13

44:13

Crazy Rich Asians pitches two female leads against each other - sounds excellent right? Not so fast… This should set up an epic battle of wills as one fights against traditions she doesn’t understand while the other fights to retain order and tradition. This week, I find out what happens when the protagonist doesn’t plausibly match, then surpass, t…

1
Conference Finals storylines & preview, Berube to Leafs, remaining coach openings 43:49

5M ago43:49

43:49

Dan and Shawn break down all of the storylines of the Eastern and Western Conference Final. They preview each series and look at some of the more intriguing matchups. Plus, the dissect Craig Berube to the Maple Leafs and look at the remaining coach openings. Will the Devils hire Sheldon Keefe? and is Dan Bylsma someone that might be a good fit for …

1
Yentil: the heroine's journey 36:39

5M ago36:39

36:39

This movie was way ahead of its time. It's a brilliant example of the heroine's journey and Melanie walks us through all 10 phases as outlined in Maureen Murdock's THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY: A WOMAN'S QUEST FOR WHOLENESS. Thanks to its excellent use of setups and payoffs, it also has an ending that is both surprising and inevitable. "One of our most ha…

1
LIVE!!! (w/Nona Hendryx) 1:03:19

5M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

We have a very special episode for you today, Classmates! Last April, as part of the Hear it Here Podcast Festival, we gathered at Lincoln Center's David Rubinstein Atrium to sit in the presence of music royalty! So please join us for an audience with Nona Hendryx, legendary singer/songwriter, technological innovator, and all-around wise and wonder…

1
Red Joan: meeting reader expectations 35:38

5M ago35:38

35:38

The marketing for this film highlights Judi Dench, but she's barely in it at all. As fans of hers, Melanie and I were disappointed. The movie is ok but it wasn't what we expected and that soured our experience of the story. Melanie still did a study of female archetypes and I still studied setups and payoffs, but the real lesson this week is what h…

1
Mike Zeisberger joins; NYR in danger, Avalanche issues, Oilers goaltending, Maple Leafs exchange 48:01

5M ago48:01

48:01

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger (14:11) to discuss the Oilers goaltending issues and a Toronto Maple Leafs deep dive. Mike explains what he'd like to see the franchise do in the offseason, the options they have and the disappointment that fans in Toronto are feeling. The guys spend the first half of the episode discussing the …

1
Second Round reaction, Swayman & Johnston shine, Sharks win Lottery, Coaching carousel 46:21

5M ago46:21

46:21

Dan and Shawn get together for the two-man show this week, no guests, just hockey talk, and react to all the storylines from the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They breakdown what the Hurricanes have to do to find some success in Game 3 and what the Stars have to do to avoid losing the first two games of a second straight series. They ta…

1
Dirty Dancing: the heroine's journey 38:20

5M ago38:20

38:20

Does the nickname "baby" bother us? Why yes, yes it does. But we've got to admit, Dirty Dancing is an excellent example of the heroine's journey, as well as female archetypes and how women are presented in stories. It also happens to be, structurally, an excellent film. It's not a complex story, but it's well-told. -V. "In the first half of your st…

1
Resisting the Pace of Privilege (w/Lecolion Washington and Sona Jobarteh) 1:09:48

5M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Welcome to another episode of ART CLASS, dear classmates! On this week's episode, we continue our discussion about creating more equitable and inclusive spaces in classical music with Lecolion Washington, a brilliant musician who's blazing new trails as the Executive Director of the Community Music Center of Boston (0:05:32). And boy, do we talk ab…

1
Gustav Forsling joins; Game 7 potential, Rangers/Canes, Lightning future, Oilers advance 53:19

5M ago53:19

53:19

Dan and Shawn are joined by Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (18:00) to discuss the Panthers advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, how the team is handling the days off, the importance of ending series early, Paul Maurice's coaching style, his welcome to the Playoffs moment and when he started dreaming about winning …

1
Zero Dark Thirty: women in war zones 35:36

5M ago35:36

35:36

War stories are often the domain of ‘dick lit’ male protagonists, but is this a true representation of history and does the experience of women in war differ? In this episode, I reference historical female warriors and examines how the experiences of Maya, the protagonist in Zero Dark Thirty, compares with her wartime service. Valerie explores what…

1
Darren Pang joins; Playoff storylines, Demko injury, Bob's save, Ovi's struggles, Ruff hired 46:59

6M ago46:59

46:59

Dan and Shawn are joined by Turner Sports analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang (15:00). Pang explains why losing goalie Thatcher Demko to an undisclosed injury will be an issue for the Canucks and discusses how the Avalanche have re-gained control of their series against the Jets largely because they have found a way to score 10 goals in two g…

1
Moonstruck: writing female characters 44:17

5M ago44:17

44:17

We're kicking off a brand new season with two new story concepts. Melanie will be studying female characters and how women are presented in modern stories (her work in this episode is reeeeally interesting!), and I'll be investigating something I learned from Steven Pressfield, which is that we shouldn't introduce anything new after Act 2. "Setups …

1
Firing a New Canon (w/Julia Bullock & Sona Jobarteh) 1:08:44

6M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Greetings, Classmates! It's time for a brand new episode of ART CLASS and have we got a show for you today! This episode we're talking to two incredible Black women artists who are both blazing exciting new trails in their fields. First up, we talk to Grammy Award-winning singer, activist and friend of the show, Julia Bullock, in advance of her Met…

1
What do agents do? 48:04

6M ago48:04

48:04

This bonus episode was prompted by a chat I saw on Threads. It started with the question, what excites you most about having an agent? Offline, Melanie and I began to literary agents and what they do. We decided to hit record and share what we know with you. Enjoy! - V. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of train…

1
Tom Gulitti joins; Stanley Cup Playoffs primer & predictions, coaching carousel, offseason storylines 54:53

6M ago54:53

54:53

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Tom Gulitti (12:26) to talk about the Washington Capitals punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, their series with the NY Rangers, the Eastern Conference playoff bracket and some of the matchups in the Western Conference. Dan and Shawn start the episode talking about the Eastern Conference playoffs …

1
Our Best Advice: left-brained stories 23:37

6M ago23:37

23:37

Left-brained stories (mysteries, crime thrillers, spy stories) are among the highest selling books on the market today. Readers can't get enough of them, and that means the bar for authors is really high because we have to create a puzzle that our readers haven't seen before. Add to this the fact that the fundamentals of storytelling work in a slig…

1
Daryl "Razor" Reaugh joins; Stars streaking, Islanders take charge, Ovechkin's consistency, Mailbag: 70 goals or 100 assists 1:01:55

6M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

Dan and Shawn are joined by Dallas Stars analyst Daryl "Razor" Reaugh (23:25) to to talk about the Stars improvements on the defensive end and how they've successfully meshed their mix of youth and experience. He talks about coach Peter DeBoer's calm demeanor on the bench and his behind the scenes work that has gotten the Stars to be a Stanley Cup …

1
The Sixth Sense: the art of the gotcha ending 36:43

6M ago36:43

36:43

Are you planning to use a twist at the end of your story? Have you ever wondered how M. Night Shyamalan pulled off this famous gotcha ending? If so, this episode is for you! Melanie does a deep dive into story twists and surprises so that you can craft an ending that delights your reader. I focused on the Central Dramatic Question which is a key pa…

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