Origin Story

Phillip Russell, Ben Thorp

Origin Story is a conversational podcast that interviews creators about their lives, their work, and what's fueling their creations. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben Thorp.

45 Episodes

Study Hall 8: Killers of the Flower Moon
11/7/2023
1:19:26
In this episode of Study Hall, returning guest Joe Ostrander (of The Joeys fame) helps unpack the Killers of the Flower Moon. Does Scorsese still have the juice? When is the best time to pee during this movie? Should Joe be tried at the Hague for his current top ten 2023 movies list? These questions and so much more on the latest episode of Study Hall.Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpVisit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Find Joe's (mid) Letterboxd here. Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOriginal Study Hall Art by J. Dylan DenisonOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Jacob Geller on the Evolution of Video Essays and Games Criticism
10/24/2023
1:17:54
Jacob Geller is a YouTube video-essayist whose work grapples with video games, history, politics, empathy, and more. Recently his criticism has engaged with the politics of climate change and art in the pre-apocalypse as well as media preservation in the digital age.We talked with him about video essays as an art form and what it means that they are the most popular form of criticism. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can learn more about Jacob Geller here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
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Christine Lai (Landscapes) on How Art Endures Even After Apocalypse
10/3/2023
1:18:25
Christine Lai grew up in Canada and lived in England for six years during graduate studies. She holds a PhD in English Literature from University College London. Landscapes was shortlisted for the inaugural Novel Prize. Christine currently lives in Vancouver.We talk to Christine about Landscapes and our enduring relationship to art - even at the end of the world. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can learn more about Christine Lai here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Jamel Brinkley (Witness) on Bearing Witness and How to Write a Good Ending
8/1/2023
1:26:54
Jamel Brinkley is the author of a new short story collection called Witness and previously published the short story collection A Lucky Man which was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Story Prize, the John Leonard Prize, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award; and winner of a PEN Oakland Award and the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. His writing has appeared in A Public Space, Ploughshares, The Paris Review, American Short Fiction, Guernica, Glimmer Train,The Best American Short Stories, and many more. He was raised in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and now teaches at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.We talk to Jamel about his upcoming collection, Witness, and about what attracts him to short stories as a form. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can learn more about Jamel Brinkley here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Study Hall 7: Across the Spiderverse
6/29/2023
1:00:52
In this episode of Study Hall, returning guest Joe Ostrander (of The Joeys fame) helps unpack the Spiderverse. Can two lit majors finally make peace with the canon? Will Miles Morales be forced into a flesh-and-blood body? What was Pter Ptarker's canon event, anyway? Find the answers to these questions and more on the latest episode of Study Hall. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben Thorp Visit our website: Originstory.show Follow us on Twitter @originstory_ Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] Cover art and website design by Melody Hirsch Original Study Hall Art by J. Dylan Denison Origin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Hannah Nicklin (Salt Sea Chronicles) on Ensemble Storytelling and Building Equitable Workplaces
6/27/2023
1:35:09
Hannah Nicklin is the creative director at Die Gute Fabrik, an award-winning game studio based in Denmark. Their latest game, Salt Sea Chronicles, was recently announced to release later this year. Hannah previously worked on the narrative design, writing, and production of the game Mutazione.Outside of making games, Hannah is an artist and performer, her book Writing for Games: Theory & Practices released through CRC Press in 2022 and she also holds a PhD in interactive practices as anti-capitalist practice from Loughborough University.We talk to Hannah about her team’s latest game, Salt Sea Chronicle, an adventure game that uses an ensemble cast to tell a complete, multi-genre story. In addition to talking abotu Salt Sea Chronicles, we also go deep into explore how Die Gute Fabrik is trying to create an equitable workplace for its team, and how to live a more fulfilling creative life.Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can follow Hannah Nicklin here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Victor LaValle (Lone Women) on the Power of Monsters, and Writing a Different Kind of Historical Fiction Novel
6/13/2023
1:33:57
Victor LaValle is the author of a short story collection, five novels, and is also the creator and writer of two comic books. His novel, The Changeling, will soon be airing on Apple TV+ starring LaKeith Stanfield.He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, Whiting Writers' Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship,and many more.We talk with Victor LaValle about his newest novel, Lone Women, a historical fiction novel about a Black women named Adelaide who flees to Montana to start a new life as a homesteader in Montana.We get into how Victor thinks about speculative fiction and specifically, monsters, as a way to complicate difficult subject matter, his recent forays into television writing, and much more.Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can follow Victor LaValle here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Josh Sawyer (Pentiment) on Art, History and What Will Be Remembered
5/31/2023
1:22:37
Josh Sawyer is a studio design director for Obsidian Entertainment. He has worked as the director on Pentiment, Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, and Fallout: New Vegas. His most recent title, Pentiment, has won numerous awards including the Nebula for best game writing and best narrative and game of the year at the Game Developers Choice Awards. Pentiment is a historical narrative-driven game focusing on character development, heavily stylized art, and choice-driven storytelling in early 16th century Bavaria. Players will play as Andreas Maler, a clever illustrator caught up in a series of murders in Tassing and Kiersau Abbey over the course of twenty five years.We talked to Josh about how Pentiment came to be, the ways in which Obsidian designed their dialogue choice system to make difficult decisions for the player, and the state of narrative-driven games today.
Austin Walker (Possibility Space) On What Makes Good Criticism
5/9/2023
2:12:40
Austin Walker is the IP Director at the game studio Possibility Space. He has an extensive background in gaming journalism and criticism. He holds a Masters in Aesthetics and Politics from CalArts and also served as the Editor in Chief for Waypoint and Host of Waypoint Radio. Since 2014, Austin has hosted the popular tabletop roleplaying podcast Friends at the Table, and co-host the Star Wars podcast A More Civilized Age.We talked with Austin about his approach to criticism, his move to game development, and the absolute state of games journalism. This conversation was recorded before the announcement that Waypoint would be shut down. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben ThorpYou can follow Austin Walker here.Visit our website: Originstory.showFollow us on Twitter @originstory_Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] art and website design by Melody HirschOrigin Story original score by Ryan Hopper
Study Hall 6: Where'd Everyone Go? Bingo?
4/18/2023
30:44
In this episode of Study Hall, Ben and Phil talk about Resident Evil. Specifically, the new release of Resident Evil 4 Remake, how it holds up compared to the original and how Ben is getting a little scared while playing Resident Evil 2 Remake. Hosted by Phillip Russell and Ben Thorp Visit our website: Originstory.show Follow us on Twitter @originstory_ Do you have feedback or questions for us? Email us [email protected] Cover art and website design by Melody Hirsch Original Study Hall Art by J. Dylan Denison Origin Story original score by Ryan Hopper

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Origin Story

Phillip Russell, Ben Thorp

45 Episodes

Study Hall 8: Killers of the Flower Moon

Jacob Geller on the Evolution of Video Essays and Games Criticism

Christine Lai (Landscapes) on How Art Endures Even After Apocalypse

Jamel Brinkley (Witness) on Bearing Witness and How to Write a Good Ending

Study Hall 7: Across the Spiderverse

Hannah Nicklin (Salt Sea Chronicles) on Ensemble Storytelling and Building Equitable Workplaces

Victor LaValle (Lone Women) on the Power of Monsters, and Writing a Different Kind of Historical Fiction Novel

Josh Sawyer (Pentiment) on Art, History and What Will Be Remembered

Austin Walker (Possibility Space) On What Makes Good Criticism

Study Hall 6: Where'd Everyone Go? Bingo?