The Smarter Artist Show

Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant, and David W. Wright—the trio behind the legendary Self-Publishing Podcast —are back. But the world of storytelling has changed, and so have they. It's the same three voices you know, talking about the craft and commerce of storytelling — from the work we're creating to the TV and movies we can't stop thinking about. Shop talk for artists playing the long game in a creative world that never slows down. If you've been here since the early days, welcome back. If you're new, pull up a chair. You're listening to The Smarter Artist Show.

The Smarter Artist Show is a society podcast hosted by Sterling & Stone, with 998 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sterling & Stone hosts The Smarter Artist Show, a society show with 998 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #28

  The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 28 - Alternate Endings: Train to Busan

  Jul 31, 20261h 6m

  This week we bring you the third episode of Alternate Endings, the show between the Smarter Artist episodes, where we force each other to watch a show or movie and then talk about it. These episodes were recorded in 2021, then promptly hidden in a vault for reasons unknown, never before aired. This week we talk about my pick, the zombie thriller Train to Busan. Additionally, we argue about Stephen Kind and Quentin Tarantino.

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  Episode #27

  The Smarter Artist Show 27: Alternate Endings - Gone Girl

  Jul 24, 202646 min

  Sean's out of town this week, so time to dig into the archives of unreleased episodes of Alternate Endings. This week we talk Gone Girl, what we liked, what we didn't like, and then compare it to another author who attempted to write their own screenplay with wildly different results. Want more Smarter Artist delivered every week to your inbox? Sign up free at https://smarterartist.net/dispatch and never miss an episode.

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  The Smarter Artist Show

  The Smarter Artist Show-26: The Future of Story

  Jul 17, 202657 min

  There's never been a better (or more difficult) time to be a creator it seems. With existential threats of AI, a population that isn't reading as much, and cost cutting at the studios, what does the future of story look like? In today's episode we look at the landscape of books, film, and video games, and give our guesses as to what's next, what we're worried about, and what we look forward to. TIMESTAMPS 6:00 — Johnny gets annoyed 6:30 — Johnny's talks about his upcoming thriller, Terminal, and the Kickstarter he's doing for it. 11:40 — Dave talks about the old Better Off Undead and Worst Show Ever podcasts 21:42 — The topic of the show. What's next for stories? 28:40 — declining readership? 37:01 — Navigating the "AI revolution" and the need for real art 50:00 — Dave closes with a pessimistic thought… because of course he does. **LINKS** Johnny's Kickstarter for the thriller Terminal. https://johnnybtruant.com/thriller The Lady of the Library Video — "The End of Reading Panic Is Missing the Real Problem" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Th-i2RTv3A

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  Episode #25

  The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 25 - Alternate Endings - Tenet (Bonus Podcast)

  Jul 10, 20261h 7mS1

  Remember when Brandon Sanderson revealed a bunch of books he'd written? Well, this is our version of that. We're revealing a podcast we recorded in 2021 or 2022 called Alternate Endings . A show that we recorded a year's worth of episodes! It's a show where Sean, Johnny, and I (Dave) force each other to watch a different show or movie each week and then get together and talk, argue, and discuss. Up first, the super easy to understand Tenet . If you like this episode, let us know. We'll release more bonus shows like this every so often when we're in a pinch. Or maybe add them as a second podcast. Or even revive it! Who knows?

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  Episode #24

  The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 24 - The Books We'd Build Different Now

  Jul 3, 202653 min

  In this episode Sean, Johnny, and Dave go back through four of their own series (Available Darkness, Karma Police, Cursed, and Robot Proletariat) and ask what they'd do differently now. Not with the stories themselves, but the surrounding architecture, to ensure that each series had a better shot at success. SOMETHING COOL 9:00 — Johnny finally created an Instagram account (@johnnybtruant) 14:40 — Sean talks about when Quentin Tarantino appeared in a Muppets movie. 18:00 — Topic of the show — Dave talks about he and Sean's first book together, Available Darkness, and what he'd do now with it. 25:00 — Sean talks about redoing their Karma Police/ Jumper series. 32:00 — Johnny's favorite writer. 34:00 — Johnny talks about how he thinks differently now on packaging and positioning. 35:00 — Johnny and Sean talk about their Chupacabra Outlaw series (now known as Cursed). 38:00 — Talking about serialization of Cursed, coming up with a "forever series." 46:40 — Dave asks Johnny a question about side stories. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE Johnny's Instagram https://instagram.com/johnnybtruant Get our weekly Dispatch and a free copy of The Smarter Artist book. https://smarterartist.net/dispatch

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