Story Secrets - A Tale Of Soot And Spirit

In today’s story, a quiet monastery hides a restless hunter—and a secret dream of claws, courage, and transformation. “The Magician’s Cat” follows a feisty orange tabby named Magnus who’s not content with the peaceful life of his old monk companion. He doesn't want milk and naps—he wants the thrill of the hunt, the pride of a warrior, the roar of a lion. And in a dream (or is it more than a dream?), we glimpse the future of this unlikely feline: not just a house cat, but a lion-in-waiting. This cozy yet symbolic tale is more than it seems—because Magnus just might play a bigger role in my upcoming fantasy novel. Listen in for a hint of what’s to come, and enjoy this playful, purring peek behind the monastery doors.Note: After recording this draft, I felt something was missing. So I added a new ending to the story. Read it on my Substack!

What happens when the Room of Tears hides more than just vestments—and opens into a world of snow, silence, and saints? In this magical and deeply symbolic short story, “The Lion, the Bridge, and the Wardrobe,” I reimagine the first moments of Pope Leo XIV after his election. Inspired by C.S. Lewis, the papal name "Leo," and a mysterious door in the Vatican, this tale takes the new pope on a Narnian-style journey through a desolate Rome where bridges have vanished and only a lion remains. Guided by the lion's wisdom, the pope must rebuild a bridge—not just across the Tiber, but between people, generations, and hopes long lost. With the help of living saints and ancient grace, the bridge becomes more than stone—it becomes a path to renewal. It’s a story of courage, calling, and what it means to carry the weight of hope.

What if the black and white smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel weren’t just symbols… but sentient? In this short story, I reimagine the smoke of the papal conclave as two ancient beings—mystical smoke-spirits locked in a sacred duel inside the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Inspired by the spiritual weight of the moment, and a dash of Lost-style mystery, I wrote "A Tale of Soot and Spirit: A Short Story About Two Colors, One Choice." As black smoke wrestles with fear, habit, and power, and white smoke embodies trust, hope, and surrender, each round of their battle mirrors the secret ballots cast below. It's a meditation on the tension between tradition and transformation, and the mysterious grace that can come when we stop fighting.

While the world watched for smoke above the Sistine Chapel, I was home with a fever and a head full of stories. In this episode, I share how illness kept me grounded—but not my imagination. Inspired by the live Vatican stream and a particularly clumsy seagull chick on the roof, I wrote a whimsical short story: "The Chick on the Chimney – A Short Story About Feathers in the Vatican." You’ll hear about a brave little gull named Pico, his parents Bianca and Bruno, and how a poop on the Pope’s chimney may have brought joy to millions. It’s a tale of fluff, flight, and fame—told high above St. Peter’s Square.

Ever wonder what happens when you follow a calling you barely understand, armed with nothing but faith, ink, and a slightly trembling hand? In this episode, I tell a story I made up on the spot—no script, no notes, just imagination and a whisper of a world I’m slowly discovering. It’s called “Walking With Dragons,” and it follows a young novice story mage on his very first mission. Sent into the unknown by nothing more than a vague prayer and a quiet sense of direction, he arrives in a village convinced it’s under attack. But not everything that shakes the ground is out to get you...You can read the refined and improved version of the story on my Substack: https://fatherroderick.substack.com/p/walking-with-dragons  

The conclave begins tomorrow. In just a few days, a name will echo from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The white smoke will rise. The world will hold its breath. And we’ll meet a new pope. But what if—just for a moment—you let your imagination run a little further? What if the name announced wasn’t one you expected? What if the figure that stepped onto that balcony wasn’t what anyone saw coming? That’s the story I ended up telling on a walk this week. I didn’t plan it. I just hit record. And somehow, out came a short story about tradition, surprise, and what it might mean when the Holy Spirit truly does something unexpected. This is the first in a new personal challenge I’ve set for myself: one short story every day. Some will be light. Others more reflective. But all of them, I hope, will spark a bit of wonder. You can listen to this one—the story of After the White Smoke—in this episode. And if you enjoy it, let me know. I’d love to hear what you imagine when the smoke finally rises.

I've always believed in the transformative power of stories. Whether it's through Star Wars, the dozens of novels I read each year, or the countless podcasts and TV programs I’ve made, stories shape who I am. But recently, something changed. Writing my own fantasy novel—set in a mythical version of early medieval Ireland—showed me how much I still have to learn about storytelling. It’s one thing to enjoy stories. It’s another to craft one from scratch. So I’m trying something new: I’ll be telling one story every day. Short, 10 to 20-minute stories. No planning. Just letting creativity flow. Like a podcast, but fiction. Like morning pages, but with magic. My goal? To become a better storyteller. To practice. To experiment. To get feedback. To learn by doing. Why should you care? Because: You’ll hear brand-new stories every day—some personal, some fantastical. You’ll watch me grow (and fail!) as a writer in real time. You might be inspired to tell your own stories too. This is raw, imperfect, and honest storytelling. And I’m inviting you to come along for the ride. 🎧 First story drops tomorrow. Are you in?

At the start of this year, I took a crazy leap: I began writing my first fantasy novel. I was scared — but some friendly fantasy writers encouraged me to just start writing, no matter how imperfect it would be. And wow, has it been a ride. Set in early medieval Ireland, my story asks: 👉 What if the miracles attributed to saints actually happened — through a kind of sacred storytelling magic? Instead of flashy spell systems like you find in Brandon Sanderson’s books, I’m inspired more by Tolkien’s fuzzy, mysterious magic. In my story, monks and priests collaborate with angels to write magical stories into a sacred book — the Codex Fabulae — and when they read from it, miracles happen. Until... the book is stolen. Here's what I’m working on now: Finished a full 40-chapter outline (yay!) Story divided into three acts, with dramatic turns and personal battles Focusing on a fast-paced, cinematic style like Blake Crouch’s thrillers Early medieval setting inspired by real Irish saints like St. Brendan and St. Brigid The hardest part? Not stuffing every idea I have into the first book! I have to keep the story tight, exciting, and leave plenty of mysteries for the future. May will be a writing sprint: a chapter a day! I'll keep you posted. And trust me — this world of saints, story magic, and hidden battles for Ireland is one you’ll want to visit. 🎙 Curious about the deeper layers and all the behind-the-scenes struggles? Listen to the full episode of Story Secrets — it’s all there!

I finally watched Twisters, the sequel to one of my guilty pleasures: the 90s classic Twister. And honestly? It left me feeling... underwhelmed. Just like the original, Twisters is a popcorn blockbuster full of tornado chases, cheesy accents, and implausible survival scenes. But while the first movie had this raw, thrilling energy (and that unforgettable roaring sound design), the sequel felt like a safe remix — same story beats, less heart. A few things stood out: The main characters felt flat, and their transformations were too convenient. The CGI was impressive, but somehow less terrifying than the old-school effects. Big-name actors popped in and out without leaving a real impact. It was fun, sure. But Twister is still my go-to for guilty weather thrills. Also: no Lisa Loeb music this time. Major missed opportunity! Want the full review — including my thoughts on tornado YouTubers and why nostalgia isn't enough? Check out this week's Story Secrets podcast!