Story Matters with Curt Mega

Welcome to Story Matters, a weekly podcast about stories and the artists who tell them, hosted by Curt Mega. Topics will cover all aspects of storytelling including film, television, theatre, Broadway, acting, performing, creating, fandom, nerd culture, digital content, music, writing, comedy, improv, design, production, poetry, visual arts, experimental arts and everything in-between with special guests and original content.  Website: www.storymatterspodcast.com Email: storymatterspodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @storymatterspodFacebook: www.facebook.com/storymatterspodcast

Welcome to the very first official episode of Story Matters! In this episode, I talk about the inspiration behind creating the show, becoming the next great American novelist at the age of six and using Ernie from Sesame Street as a stunt double for a violent scene in my feature film directorial debut. Enjoy! You can email me your thoughts, feedback, questions and stories at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter at @storymatterspod 

Riker Lynch is a man of many talents. Glee Warbler, Rockstar, Dancing with the Stars alumni and blossoming actor. In this episode, Curt sits down in Riker's dining room at the Lynch home in Southern California to talk Glee, Warblers, social media, the new yet-to-be-released R5 album, his upcoming films Voyeur and Colossal Youth, storytelling through music, creating comedy and more! You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! He'd love to hear from you!

It's been a strange week in America and a tough year for the world as a whole. We are on the brink of a new stage of our country as Americans and I know many of you out there are uncertain about what that means or what we can do about it... I know I sure have been. I am sometimes struck by the feeling of helplessness against the swelling tide of the world's problems. What can we possibly do? What does it matter what kind of things I put out into the universe? Who's even listening? The world is listening and it needs good stories more than ever. Story has the ability to transform us, change us, inspire us. Your creative voice matters more than ever to keep the powers that be in check and to spread love, light, compassion, and empathy and tell the stories of the forgotten and unheard. We are storytellers and our voice matters. 

In this episode, I talk about the time that I was (almost) invited to the Teen Choice Award's gifting suite, my addiction to social media, ruining Chord Overstreet's red carpet moment and discovering how saying one number on a little show called Glee would profoundly change the course of my life. Enjoy!  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! 

In this episode, I had the joy of hosting a special Story Matters meetup live from Pearl Studios in New York City where we talked BroadwayCon, Broadway as a medium of story, why it matters to each of us on a personal level and what makes it such a unique and transformative art form. Enjoy! 

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Tessa Netting (Billy Elliot, Bunk'd, Voice Over Actress, Maker of Incredible Parodies and YouTuber extraordinaire) and talk about her journey as an artist from Broadway to YouTube sensation, fantasy, fandom, audience ownership of the stories they love, and the power and joy of creating your own world to escape reality. You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas!

My journey from Texas to Los Angeles to becoming a Warbler on the set of Glee was strange, wonderful, crazy, and bizarre. In this episode, I talk about my journey coming to LA, living in a tiny shed covered in fleas, being chased by an angry pitbull, my meth dealing neighbors, mopping the floors of Starbucks, winning a nationwide talent search on Myspace and auditioning for the role of Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) on the hit Fox show Glee.  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! 

In this episode, I sit down with the fiercely talented Mary Kate Wiles (Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Edgar Allan Poe’s Murder Mystery Party, Spies are Forever, I Ship It, School of Thrones, Squaresville, Muzzled the Musical, Hello My Name is Frank, The Sound and the Shadow, Kissing in the Rain and MANY MORE!) to talk about her journey as an artist, creator, YouTuber, producer and all around amazing artist! You can currently catch Mary Kate in the new hit series from Shipwrecked Comedy Poe Party at YouTube.com/SHIPWRECKEDCOMEDY, support her work on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/mkwiles, subscribe to her channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/emkaysmiles, and follow her both on Twitter and Instagram at @mkwiles! We also talk about rejection, the reality of trying to pay the bills while you attempt to be a storyteller and the act of making your own work for the sake of doing something you love that’s not about getting hired and networking, but purely for the sake of creative passion. You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! 

In this special Broadway-themed bonus episode of the podcast, I sit down with the awesome Tessa Netting (Broadway's Billy Elliot, Bunk'd, YouTube) for a special bonus episode to talk about Broadway, Hamilton, Les Mis, Rent, Billy Elliot, and other shows that changed our life and storytelling through the medium of theatre. Enjoy! You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! And visit the show's website at www.storymatterspodcast.com!

In this episode, I sit down Joey Richter (Starkid, Tin Can Brothers, Henry Danger, Jessie, School of Thrones, Muzzled the Musical, I Ship It, Spies are Forever) to talk about the 2017 Oscar Best Picture nominations! We also talk about our favorite films from 2016, our take on the film industry as a whole and what films and we hope will win that little gold statue! Enjoy!  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Music: The theme music of the 84th Academy Awards. Composed by German composer Hans Zimmer. 

In this special BONUS episode, I talk about the 2017 Oscar wins and what it means to me for film and storytelling as a whole.    You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com!  

In this third and final part of the Podcast story series Hashtag Blessed, chronicling my journey of moving to Los Angeles and being cast on the TV show Glee, I talk about the experience of recording a solo on the show as Nick the Warbler (Uptown Girl by Billy Joel), grappling with rejection, facing criticism on the internet, wondering what comes next when the idea or dream of what you think you are supposed to become doesn't translate into reality, and finding my voice as a creator. You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! This episode was mixed by Mike Chinnici. You can find more of his work at http://www.mikechinnici.com

In honor of International Women’s Day, I sat down with actress, singer and artist Kim Whalen (Being Mary Jane, Austin & Ally, Code Black, A Winter Rose, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Fantasticks on Broadway and more!) to discuss representation of females in film & television, empowering female writers & directors to rise up as leaders in their fields and how male writers can do better when it comes to creating female characters. Enjoy!     

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend, actor, singer and songwriter Titus Makin (Fox's Glee, ABC Family/Freeform's Pretty Little Liars, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, CW's Star-Crossed, Nickelodeon's Victorious) to talk about his work as an actor, his newest album Love Addict. We discuss the journey of balancing career and passion. We also take a crack at writing some Glee Fanfiction while we're at it! ;) Featured Music: Addict & Ropes from Love Addict by Titus Makin  Watch the Love Addict Music Video!  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy! 

In this episode, I sit down with actor, writer, creator, comedian and producer Joey Richter (Starkid: A Very Potter Musical, Starship, Me and My Dick, Trail to Oregon and more, Tin Can Brothers, Spies are Forever, Poe Party, Henry Danger on Nickelodeon, Jessie on Disney Channel) to talk about making a living as an artist, discovering new creative skills through unexpected opportunity, his firsthand perspective of experiencing Starkid erupt into an internet phenomenon while still being in college at University of Michigan (#GoBlue), discovering his skills as a writer, his journey to LA, and creating his own work as a core member of the dynamic comedy trio The Tin Can Brothers! We also talk comedy, improv, spoiler culture, story structure, audience engagement, and experiencing twists and turns in musicals, movies and Television! Enjoy!  Subscribe to The Tin Can Brothers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tincanbros Follow Joey on Twitter: @JoeyRichter Follow The Tin Can Brothers on Twitter: @TinCanBros You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!   

In this episode, I sit down with actress, singer, songwriter Kathryn Gallagher to talk about her work in the recent Broadway revival of Deaf West's Spring Awakening! From a tiny theatre in LA all the way to Broadway, she shares her incredible experience of being part of the re-telling of this beautiful story in such a powerful and profound, new way through the use of sign language. We also talk creative education beyond college, the process of auditioning for theatre and Broadway and how it differs from film & television, and her work as a singer and songwriter. Enjoy! You can find links to more of her work on her website HERE: http://www.kathryngallaghermusic.com and check out her upcoming show on May 25th at 54 Below in NYC! https://54below.com/events/kathryn-gallagher/ You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy! 

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Lili Froehlich and Madison Mitchell from the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS and talk about the reality of working on Broadway, the grind of performing 8 shows a week in one of the most physically demanding shows of all time, the challenges of being a swing and covering multiple roles and what happens when your dream becomes your job. How do you maintain your stamina, both mentally and physically, beyond opening night? We also talk about working with Tony Winning Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights, Hamilton) and interpreting movement into story.  You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!   

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Eric Carroll (Alex Brody in Buffering, photographer extraordinaire and my co-writer/co-director of my feature film project POV) to talk about our process of writing a short film only to realize we had a bigger story on our hands and being willing to start over and reinvent everything we thought we know about the project. We also revisit our characters from Buffering as Ben and Alex in an improvised Buffering reunion! Enjoy! Eric Carroll Photography: http://www.ericcarrollphotography.com Buffering the Series: https://www.youtube.com/bufferingseries You can support the show on PATREON at Patreon.com/storymatters and if you like the show, click the rating button on iTunes and leave us a rating and review! You can also email Curt directly at storymatterspodcast@gmail.com with your feedback, thoughts, stories and ideas! You can listen to all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com! Enjoy!

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Telly Leung (Broadway: In Transit, Allegiance, Godspell, Rent, Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, TV: Warbler Wes on Glee) at his apartment in New York City to talk about his journey to Broadway and beyond. We also discuss learning to be present and content in the moment with what you have despite whatever success does or doesn't come, prioritizing life and relationships in tandem with career, diversity in storytelling, stories of color, stories of minorities, telling human stories that are both specific and universal and the importance of rising up as artists to serve the greater purpose of being a voice of compassion and empathy for the world to see, hear and feel.