The DTALKS Podcast

What happens when you carry a creative idea with you for decades and finally get the chance to bring it to life? On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, Joe sits down with writer, actor, and filmmaker Michael Tove to talk about his short film Yard Saleing and the long road that ultimately brought it to the screen. Michael shares how an early experience on the set of The Handmaid's Tale sparked his love of filmmaking, why storytelling has always been part of his life, and how an idea he first began developing more than 30 years ago eventually became an award-winning film. Joe and Michael also talk about recognizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, why simply getting an opportunity is never enough, the importance of respecting and learning from everyone involved in the creative process, and how showing up prepared, curious, and willing to do the work can open doors you never expected. It's a conversation about creativity, persistence, collaboration, and why sometimes the difference between a dream that stays a dream and one that becomes real is simply being willing to keep your antenna up — and act when the opportunity appears. Enjoy!

What happens when talent isn't the only thing determining whether you get your shot? On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, author Angelica Cheng joins Joe to talk about her debut novel, The Fast Track, a YA rom-com set in the high-pressure world of Formula racing. Angelica shares how discovering Formula One during the pandemic — and quickly noticing how few women were represented in the sport — inspired the story of Justine Kwong, a young driver chasing her dream of reaching F1 while navigating competition, sponsorships, expectations, and the constant question of whether she truly belongs. Joe and Angelica also discuss the difference between being good enough and being allowed the opportunity to prove it, the imposter syndrome that can come with being the only one in the room, why ambition and romance make such an interesting combination, and the importance of writing messy, ambitious girls who are allowed to make mistakes without losing their worth. It's a conversation about racing, representation, identity, competition, and how we can encourage young people to chase big dreams without letting those dreams become the sole definition of who they are. Enjoy!

What makes somewhere — or someone — feel like home? On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, award-winning author and illustrator Shaun Tan returns to the show to talk about his latest book, Hometown. Joe and Shaun explore the story's wonderfully strange premise: a girl who feels completely at home among a family and community that look nothing like her, until someone who looks like her arrives and insists she belongs somewhere else. From there, the conversation opens into questions of identity, belonging, belief, first contact, and why human beings can become so certain that their way of seeing the world is the correct one. Shaun also discusses the value of leaving room for doubt, the importance of questioning what we inherit, and how Hometown ultimately became a story about making thoughtful decisions rather than simply accepting what someone else tells us is true. Joe and Shaun also talk about parenting, giving kids enough guidance to feel supported without making their decisions for them, and why home may ultimately be less about where we come from and more about familiarity, love, and having the freedom to change. Enjoy!

How much of our lives should actually exist outside the frame? On today's episode of The DTALKS Podcast, Joe sits down with his friend A.J. Hernandez, a Boston-based lifestyle, food, and fashion creator, for a conversation about what it means to build a life online without turning your entire life into content. A.J. talks about finding the balance between beautiful, curated experiences and not taking himself too seriously, why authenticity can quickly become just another social media strategy, and how he decides which brands, opportunities, and pieces of his personal life actually belong on his feed. Joe and A.J. also discuss navigating marriage and boundaries in the age of content creation, the importance of keeping some things sacred, the increasingly blurry line between real and manufactured content, and why social media can sometimes make us feel connected to people without actually maintaining the relationship. It's a conversation about storytelling, friendship, identity, boundaries, and remembering that you can invite people into your life without necessarily giving them the key. Enjoy!

What happens when you take control of your own story? For the 300th episode of The DTALKS Podcast, Joe welcomes back two previous guests for two very different conversations about identity, storytelling, survival, and the stories we tell about ourselves. First, actor Nicole Pacent joins the show to talk about stepping into the role of Mystique in Marvel's Wolverine. Nicole discusses making an iconic character her own, the freedom of performance capture, bringing pieces of herself into Raven, representation, vulnerability, and what it means to reach a career-defining role after nearly two decades of work. Then, Survivor alum, writer, and podcaster Stephen Fishbach returns to discuss his debut novel, Escape! Stephen takes us behind the curtain of reality television to explore fame, the strange desire to stay relevant after appearing on TV, the relationship between contestants and producers, and what happens when someone else is helping shape the story you're telling about yourself. Two conversations. Two very different worlds. And a fitting celebration of 300 episodes spent trying to better understand how other people experience theirs. Enjoy!

How much of the roadmap we follow through life is one we actually chose — and how much of it was handed to us? On today's episode of the podcast, Audra Phelps (aka Mama Audra) joins Joe to discuss her journey from growing up in the Mormon faith to eventually choosing to leave after a decade-long process of questioning, discovery, and change. Audra shares how motherhood, friendships outside the church, returning to school, and living around the world helped her begin separating who she was expected to be from who she actually wanted to become. Joe and Audra also discuss letting go of other people's expectations, rebuilding family values without a prescribed blueprint, giving our kids the freedom to discover what they believe for themselves, and the work Audra now does helping ex-Mormon moms navigate identity, grief, guilt, and life after leaving the church. Enjoy! About Audra Phelps I left the church in 2015 after more than 10 years of wrestling with doctrine that I did not agree with. I was depressed, anxious, irritable, and moody. I knew there were times when I was overwhelmed and out of control - and I vowed to start taking inventory of my life to make some changes. I realized that when I left the church, I was also giving up the built-in support and roadmap to raising kids. I had to figure out how to raise them in a different way - a way I had never seen or experienced. This was terrifying. I was free of the church's rules and never felt so unhindered - but I was terrified that I would do it all wrong!   At first I leaned on what I had learned in a parenting class that I enrolled in at my daughter's preschool several years ago. That gave me a new starting place. Then I relied on my education in child development, and that helped me navigate my children's behaviors and emotions . I also realized that I had spent all my energy doing what the church told me to do as a woman - make my kids and my husband happy - and had forgotten what brought me joy. I no longer knew who I was - there was only a memory of the woman I was before I had children. I had to re-create my identity. Who was I without the church? What were my core beliefs and values that would inform my every decision and pass on to my children? As I started on the long path of self-discovery and re-learning how to be a mom, I began to feel empowered to stand in my truth with confidence.     Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

Author Samuel Sattin returns to the podcast to discuss Unico: Hunted and the latest installment, Unico: Lost. Joe and Sam explore how Unico's story has evolved, the challenge of honoring Osamu Tezuka's beloved character, and why young readers connect with stories that take their emotions and experiences seriously. They also talk about friendship, fear, kindness as a form of strength, and whether Unico might finally be able to break his curse. Enjoy!   About Samuel Sattin Samuel Sattin is a best-selling, Eisner-nominated writer, editor, and narrative designer with over a decade of experience creating captivating and immersive stories across animation, comics, games, and publishing. As the writer of Scholastic's bestselling UNICO series in collaboration with Tezuka Productions and the Eisner Award-winning artist team Gurihiru, he reimagined Osamu Tezuka's beloved classic for a new generation. He also adapted Cartoon Saloon's Academy Award-nominated Irish Folklore Trilogy into acclaimed graphic novels and authored the Eisner-nominated BUZZING (Little Brown for Young Readers).   About 'Unico 3: Lost' Unico's friends race to save him from the evil goddess Venus! Lost and alone in a windswept desert, Unico seeks help from the Fey queen Titania. But danger lurks. The goddess Venus and the monstrous hunter, Iver, remain bent on destroying Unico. Meanwhile, Starrow, a celestial scientist, trains Unico's friends, the cats Chloe and Toast, to travel across time and space. But can they reach Unico before Venus does? Conceived anew by Eisner-nominated author Samuel Sattin and Eisner-winning artist team Gurihiru, and developed in collaboration with Tezuka Productions, Unico: Lost is the third volume in a groundbreaking reboot of a beloved manga by Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka, the "God of Manga." With striking full-color artwork and reading left to right in the Western comics style to match the original manga, UNICO AWAKENING is a brilliant series featuring storytelling at its best. Join Unico on an unforgettable journey!   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

On this episode of the podcast Preeti Chhibber shares her experience taking different characters/nerdom and putting her own spin on them! In her latest book, "House of Harkness", Preeti tackles the Scarlet Witch's story -- told through the lense of a boarding school. What would a Magical Marvel boarding school look like and how would Wanda navigate it? Enjoy! About Preeti Chhibber Preeti Chhibber is an author, speaker, and freelance writer. She worked as a publishing professional. She has written for SYFY, Polygon, Elle, BookRiot, The Nerds of Color, and The Mary Sue, among others. Her debut young adult romantic comedy, Payal Mehta's Romance Revenge Plot is out in 2024. She also co-hosts the podcasts Women of Marvel, Desi Geek Girls, and Tar Valon or Bust. She's appeared on several panels at New York Comic Con, San Diego Comic Con, and on screen on the SYFY Network. Honestly, you probably recognize her from one of several BuzzFeed "look at these tweets" twitter lists. She usually spends her time reading a ridiculous amount of Young Adult but is also ready to jump into most fandoms at a moment's notice.    About 'House of Harkness' Calling all witches! Join Marvel fan-favorites Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, and Agatha Harkness in this spell-binding graphic novel adventure! Sixteen-year-old Wanda Maximoff is eager for her first day at the highly coveted magic school, the House of Harkness. A place bursting with spellbinding secrets, misfits, and mayhem, Wanda, aka Scarlet Witch, finds herself at odds with the head student and heir to the school, Agatha Harkness. When evil threatens the school, Wanda and Agatha are challenged to put their differences aside to save the day.   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

Have you ever wondered what it's really like within the walls of the CIA? What about the stories from the women who actually lived and worked within the walls from the 60's through today? And just how much of it is like James Bond? On today's episode of the podcast, former CIA Agent Christina Hillsberg stops by the show to discuss her book "Agents of Change: The women who transformed the CIA". It's a fascinating look into the world of the agency through the eyes of the women who directly effected change. Enjoy! About Christina Hillsberg Christina Hillsberg is a former CIA intelligence officer, keynote speaker, and USA Today bestselling author of Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA and License to Parent: How My Career as a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids. She brings audiences inside the high-stakes world of espionage to reveal what it takes to break barriers, drive change, and redefine who gets to succeed. At the CIA, she wrote intelligence assessments for U.S. presidents and senior policymakers and later served in the Directorate of Operations, clandestinely collecting intelligence in the field. One of the Intelligence Community's few Swahili and Zulu linguists, she received multiple CIA Exceptional Performance Awards for her work. After her government service, she worked at Amazon before transitioning to writing and speaking full-time. Today, Christina translates these experiences into powerful, real-world insights on leadership, inclusion, and performance, showing organizations how diverse perspectives don't just strengthen culture, but drive better outcomes. Her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Harvard Business Review, People Magazine, and more. About "Agents of Change" Years after her successful and impactful career at the CIA, Christina Hillsberg became enthralled with the stories of the trailblazing women who forged new paths within the Agency long before she began her career there in the aughts. These were women who sacrificed their personal lives, risked their safety, defied expectations, and boldly navigated the male-dominated spy organization. Through exclusive interviews with current and former female CIA officers, many of whom have never spoken publicly, Agents of Change tells an enthralling and, at times, disturbing story set against the backdrop of the evolving women's movement. It was the 1960s, a "secretarial" era, when women first gained a foothold and pushed against the one-dimensional, pop-culture trope of the sexy Cold War Bond Girl. Underestimated but undaunted, they fought their way, decade-by-decade, through adversity to the top of the spy game. Seamlessly weaving together the individual stories of these exceptional women, Hillsberg deftly tackles not just the fight for gender equality at the CIA, but the current dilemma the Agency faces when dealing with the culmination of a decades-long culture of sexual harassment and assault. Each chapter sheds a light on women's issues during that decade before bringing to life the stories of female CIA operations officers whose experiences were emblematic of that given era. In this fascinating and empowering chronicle, Hillsberg takes readers inside the Agency in a way that's never been done before, paying long overdue tribute to the survivors and thrivers, the indispensable groundbreakers, and defiant rabble-rousers who made the choice to change their lives and in turn, changed history.   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com  

It's the episode all the bad guys want! Let's take it back to 1985! Come back to Texas! Alright, alright, we're done. But on this week's episode legendary Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Reddick stops by the podcast to promote the BFS 32nd Birthday Bash on June 5, 2026! Joe and Jaret get into a conversation about BFS' career since the pandemic ended, what the birthday bash means to them, and how to continue to evolve as a band all these years later. Enjoy! About Bowling For Soup Pop Punk legends Bowling For Soup are throwing a birthday party - and everyone's invited! Celebrate 32 years of pop-punk, power chords, and zero apologies as Bowling For Soup brings the hits to The Backyard for a full-throttle anniversary show. Would absolutely love for you to chat with vocalist Jaret Reddick ahead of this event!  Expect wall-to-wall singalongs, throwback anthems, and the kind of chaotic fun only BFS can deliver — from "1985" to "Girl All the Bad Guys Want," plus plenty of surprises fit for a birthday blowout. Warming up the crowd is Van Full of Nuns, cranking out high-energy pop-punk classics to start the party right. Cold beer, loud guitars, and a crowd that knows every word. This isn't just a concert, it's a birthday party 32 years in the making. Formed in Wichita Falls, TX in 1994 and later relocating to Denton, TX, Bowling For Soup spent years grinding it out in vans, playing to anyone who would listen. Then in 2000, the UK took a liking to "The Bitch Song", and things took off from there. Over the years, they've delivered massive crowd-pleasers like "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" (GRAMMY-nominated in 2003), "1985," "Punk Rock 101," and "High School Never Ends". They even became a part of pop culture history with the theme songs for Jimmy Neutron and Phineas and Ferb. Renowned for their fun, interactive, and unpredictable live shows, Bowling For Soup aren't just a band you listen to—they're a band you experience. Nobody leaves a Bowling For Soup show without a huge smile on their face. Their fans span multiple generations, with OGs who grew up on the band's music now bringing their kids—who know every word to every song. That's because BFS have become ingrained in pop culture, from hit songs to movie soundtracks and TV themes. Whether playing to 3000 or 50,000 people, their onstage chemistry, fan engagement, and comedic charm make every show feel personal. With their legendary live performances, ongoing new music, and active social media presence, Bowling For Soup continue to prove that pop punk is alive, well, and a hell of a good time. In early 2025, longtime guitarist Chris Burney retired due to health concerns, but Jaret Reddick (vocals/guitar), Gary Wiseman (drums), and Rob Felicetti (bass) have carried on, insisting, "You can't replace a legend." June 5. The Backyard. Be there. If you want to listen to the After the Encore episode featuring Jaret, you can CLICK HERE   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com