The Storymakers' Rebellion

Welcome to The Storymakers' Rebellion, where we have bold conversations with storytellers who flip the script on storytelling.If you're a writer, author, filmmaker or just passionate about story and its power to change the world, join me as I chat to makers of story who are dreaming into being a braver, kinder and more connected world. We explore the craft, courage, and rebellion behind stories that challenge the status quo.

Episode 1: Vicki Madden – Showrunning and Storytelling from the Murky MistsWelcome to the first episode of The Storymaker’s Rebellion! I’m thrilled to open the series with Vicki Madden, the award-winning writer, producer, and showrunner behind The Kettering Incident and The Gloaming. Her work draws deeply from Tasmanian landscapes, myth, and folklore, and consistently champions complex female characters and fresh storytelling perspectives.In this episode, we dive into:Vicki’s early call to storytelling and her creative journey.The experiences of women and gender-diverse creatives navigating roadblocks in film and television.How fairy tale motifs such as home, loss, and exile shape her narratives.The evolution of the showrunner role in Australia, and what it means to hold creative authority as a woman.Her approach to symbolism, intuition, and giving the natural world a powerful Vicki’s work is a masterclass in breaking traditional storytelling moulds, following your truth and accessing new ways to lead, create, and imagine on screen.Links & Resources:More insights from this conversation on my Substack: Between the LinesWatch the conversation on YouTubeWorkshops: Heroine’s Journey and Constellate Your Creative

Host: Kimberley Lipschus Guest: Dr. Sharon BlackieEpisode Summary: In this episode, Kimberley Lipschus is joined by Dr Sharon Blackie, mythologist, psychologist, and much loved author and advocate of female-led storytelling. The episode explores the untapped potential that midlife holds when viewed through the lens of myth, fairy tales and female empowerment. Sharon shares how her lifelong engagement with folklore and mythology, particularly European traditions, has shaped her understanding of women’s journeys and creative expression. The discussion unpacks the “post-heroic” journey, the stages of fairy tales that illuminate midlife transitions, and the concept of the mythical misfit—those who question the dominant cultural myths and seek new stories to live by. Sharon also explores the divine feminine: wisdom embedded in older women archetypes, and shares how her knowledge of working with fairy tales and folklore to provide tools for both personal growth and creative practice.Listeners will gain insights into:How midlife can be a period of internal exploration and transformation.The unique lessons that fairy tale heroines offer for navigating life and creative work.How to embrace the “wise woman” archetype in personal and narrative storytelling.The power of community, relationality, and connection to land in shaping story.Practical inspiration for writers, creatives, and anyone navigating transitions in life.Timestamps:00:02 – Episode Introduction01:11 – Sharon’s journey into mythology and storytelling02:40 – Fairy tales as early lessons in resilience and community03:10 – Midlife crises and the search for inspiration05:22 – Hero’s journey vs. post-heroic journey07:16 – Origins of myths, folklore, and fairy tales10:27 – Fairy tales as tools for personal growth and creativity12:06 – Loss of family/home in fairy tales and personal journeys14:05 – Midlife, menopause, and internal transformation18:45 – The role of “hags” and wise women in myth and story20:50 - The heroic lens is an inflated archetype21:40 - The way Hero’s journey has been applied - search for glory 24:20 - The women are the grail bearers and not about killing25:12 – Shifting from heroic to community-focused narratives30:00 – Mythical misfits and embracing uniqueness33:46 – Reimagining fairy tales for contemporary audiences. How authors use them35:49 – How landscape, place & setting influence a story 38:40 – The divine feminine as a narrative and creative force42:28 – Wells, water, and the life-giving force

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger takes us on a journey through storytelling, the heroine’s journey, and the power of connection. In this lively and insightful conversation, she explores the contrasts between the heroine’s and hero’s journeys, dives into themes of gender, mythology, and cultural impact, and reflects on her own path from archaeology to authorship. Gail shares her wisdom on staying true to one’s voice, building meaningful networks, and the transformative role of compassion in shaping stories that resonate.TakeawaysConnection, collaboration, and compassion in the heroine’s journeyHow heroines rebuild networks, find lost connections, and create supportive communities,The cultural impact of narratives in shaping perception. Themes of perseverance, staying true to one’s voice, and the transformative power of storytellingLinkshttps://gailcarriger.com/Gail's resources for writers: https://gailcarriger.com/resources/#writershttps://gailcarriger.com/2020/10/07/heroines-journey-special-extras/

Charting a New Course: How Maureen Murdock Defied the Hero’s JourneyIn this episode, Kimberley sits down with Maureen Murdock, the groundbreaking author of The Heroine’s Journey, whose work challenged the dominant myth of the Hero’s Journey.Together they explore the evolution of women’s voices in memoir and myth, the necessity of emotional truth in storytelling, and why Maureen spent a decade developing a feminine journey.They discuss the courage it takes to tell your truth for the benefit of other women, the myth of female inferiority, and the deep need to integrate both the masculine and feminine within ourselves and our culture.Maureen also clears up that infamous moment with Joseph Campbell, and the quote that’s been mythologised ever since.✨ Key takeaways:Maureen's early connection to the sacred feminine guided her life's work.The absence of women's voices in memoirs prompted Maureen to explore this field.Emotional truth is key to writing impactful memoirs.The power of emotional truth in memoir and personal storytellingWhy The Hero’s Journey didn’t fit women’s lived experience—and how The Heroine’s Journey was bornThe heroine's journey offers a framework for understanding women's experiences.Deficit thinking affects women's self-perception and achievements.Healing the mother-daughter split is crucial for personal growth.Integration of the masculine and feminine is a hopeful goal for society.Chapters 01:31 Introduction and Purpose of the Conversation 03:40: Maureen's Early Connection to Purpose06:14: Exploring Myth and Memoir 11:37: The Evolution of Women's Memoir 13:25: Courage in Sharing Personal Truths15:29: The Nature of Truth in Memoir 18:14: Joseph Campbell's Influence on the Heroine's Journey 23:35: The Emergence of the Heroine's Journey 26:38: The Impact of the Heroine's Journey in Modern Storytelling32:04: Understanding the Myth of Inferiority 36:19: Addressing Internalised Patriarchal Voices 36:21: The Archetypes of Reasonable Behaviour 39:00: The Heroine's Journey and Collective Resistance 41:17: Mythical Themes in Writing and Creativity 44:37: Stages of the Heroine's Journey 53:20: Awakening and Spiritual Aridity 55:32: The Descent and Reconnection with the Feminine 59:03: Healing the Mother-Daughter Split 01:03:23: Healing the Wounded Masculine 01:06:44: Integration of Masculine and Feminine

The Virgin’s Promise offers a new narrative lens, a path that contrasts with the Hero’s Journey. Rooted in a love-based worldview, Kim Hudson spent years developing her model for screenwriters, creatives and for us to live by. It illuminates feminine power, authentic self-discovery, and the transformative potential of internal growth. This episode explores the 13 beats of the Virgin’s Journey, the hidden realms where insight and creativity dwell, and the interplay between fear-based and love-based power. It’s a roadmap for creating connection, embracing authenticity, and choosing light in a world often dominated by external conquest. Chapters00:02:09 Introduction: How Kim came to this journey00:05:12 How engaged she was with Hero’s Journey00:06:40 The use of the World Virgin00:09:50 Overview of the Virgin's Promise00:11:10 Outward Facing v Inward Facing00:14:20 Linear Power00:16:48 Virgin's Journey and Hero's Operating System00:25:00 Productivity and Linear Outcomes00:29:50 Leadership is Changing. Be Kind00:30:45 The Secret World00:36:25 Virgin's Promise in a Partnership. Accepting00:38:50 The Personal Virgin's Journey-Growth00:39:25 Hero's Conflict vs discomfort in a Virgin's Journey00:45:25 Choosing Your Light is a Life Well Lived00:49:15 The Village Must Change00:50:23 Hero's Story Preserves what exists. Virgin's doesn't00:49:49 Whatever is in Your Heart will Grow