Ali discusses the key foreshadowing moments in John Steinbeck’s classic novella, Of Mice and Men.
Episode 9 — Invader ZIM + “Dodgeball of Doom”
Ali discusses the cult Nicktoon, Invader ZIM, created by Jhonen Vasquez. She talks about her favorite episodes, quotes and character interactions while sharing various behind-the-scenes facts she’s learned about the series. She also expresses her excitement about the upcoming TV movie, Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus, and she shares an Invader ZIM story she wrote called “Dodgeball of Doom.”
Episode 8 — It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Ali discusses the third original animated Peanuts special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, written by Charles Schulz. She shares her favorite moments and touches on Peanuts’ influence in other works of animation.
Episode 7 — Writing Tips
Ali shares writing tips with a focus on key elements to crafting a story, including character, conflict, dialogue and more. She also talks about the classic rule of showing vs. telling, and she shares a few tips on how to combat writer’s block.
Episode 6 — “Sea Oak”
Ali discusses the short story, “Sea Oak,” written by George Saunders, citing various excerpts and the important message surrounded by its disturbing content.
Episode 5 — Mean Girls
Ali discusses the movie, Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey, sharing memorable lines and highlighting its noteworthy messages along the way.
Episode 4 — BoJack Horseman + “Temporarily Forget”
Ali discusses the adult animated Netflix series, BoJack Horseman, created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. She talks about why it’s one of her all-time favorite television shows, citing its many innovative storytelling devices as well as favorite running gags, lines that make her laugh, moments that make her cry, pivotal themes and much more. Afterward, she shares a BoJack Horseman story she wrote called “Temporarily Forget.”
Episode 3 — The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Ali discusses The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the acclaimed epistolary novel by Stephen Chbosky. She cites various quotes that resonate with her, compares the novel to its movie adaptation and talks about the qualities she admires most about the main character, Charlie.
Episode 2 — “The Light”
Ali shares a short story she wrote called “The Light.”
Episode 1 — “Fairy Tale Reimagined”
Ali gives an overview of what to expect from the podcast and shares a short story she wrote called “Fairy Tale Reimagined.”