Learn to analyze stories for yourself. Whether you’re a parent trying to engage with your children over the latest movie or a story aficionado who can’t stop reading to save your life, this show is for you.
Narratives are inescapable. Every time you think about something, you form a story about it. Someone is always feeding you a cultural narrative. Your very life is a narrative.
In Navigating Narrative, we break down movies, shows, and books, and show how they work on a story level.
By tuning in, you'll develop the skills to:
Spot all the messages a story is sharing and how it's promoting them | Distinguish between good, bad, and legendary storytelling | Appreciate the depths of certain stories you might have missed | Articulate your opinions clearly and persuasively | See through cultural narrative | Begin to view your life as a story
5. How to Read Myths & Myth-Inspired Stories: a Radical Perspective
If you love stories, you're going to have to engage with myths. That's partly because some of the greatest stories ever told are myths, partly because countless authors have been inspired by ancient myths, and partly because they pop up all over pop culture.
In this episode, Daeus and Kate bring on special guest Josiah DeGraaf to talk about...
. How myths are NOT just made up, but actually based in reality.
. How to navigate the complicated worldviews of myths and their mixture of truth and deception.
. Top lessons we've gained from myths.
. An overview of the spiritual realm as it relates to myths.
. Are there any dangers in exposing your kids to myths in forms like the Percy Jackson series or Marvel movies?
. Is the Bible a myth???
. How the myths that inspired inspired Tolkien's Middle Earth caused him to make one critical mistake.
. And more!
Also, make sure to check out Josiah's new magic school novel A Study of Shattered Spells. https://josiahdegraaf.com/a-study-of-shattered-spells/
Follow us @NavigatingNarrativePodcast, and send your thoughts on this episode to navigatingnarrativepodcast@gmail.com
Music license code: UHXWZ4SYWSO2VND6
31 Aug 2025
4. Braveheart - Wish Fulfillment Propoganda for Dudes
For many men, Mel Gibson's portrayal of William Wallace in Braveheart is a heroic role model. But while this character is properly inspiring in some ways, overall he actually completely betrays the ideals of a hero set up in the story's first act.
In this episode, Daeus and Kate argue that Braveheart is wish fulfillment propaganda for dudes. We cover...
. How the death of Wallace's wife caused him to betray and subvert his own values.
. How his enemies are all strawmen designed to make him look good so you'll root for him.
. How the movie frames the conflict around the sexual use of women.
. How Mel Gibson is basically a masochist, lol.
. Why Robert the Bruce is a stronger character than Wallace.
. And more!
It's time to be a real hero, so let the fake ones go.
Follow us @NavigatingNarrativePodcast, and send your thoughts on this episode to navigatingnarrativepodcast@gmail.com
Music license code: UHXWZ4SYWSO2VND6
27 Jul 2025
3. The Incredibles - What Does It Mean to Be a Successful Man?
This episode is just incredible. (Sorry, I had to.)
The Incredibles is one of the greatest movies from the golden age of Pixar. Not only is the pacing, action, and humor spot on, but the story still has a lot to teach men (and women!) today.
In this episode, Kate and Daeus talk about the common cultural narrative for men that the successful man is independent, suave, non-cooperative and non-vulnerable, and surrounds himself with status symbols. Also:
. How this movie makes fun of James Bond.
. How "being responsible" can be a diversion from your true calling.
. How an idolized view of manhood destroys men.
. How keeping your "normal self" and your "true self" separate destroys both selves.
. Why we repeat the flaws of those who let us down.
. What a great legacy looks like.
. And more!
Get ready to see just how incredible The Incredibles is.
Follow us @NavigatingNarrativePodcast, and send your thoughts on this episode to navigatingnarrativepodcast@gmail.com
Music license code: UHXWZ4SYWSO2VND6
28 Jun 2025
2. Frozen - Start Here to Learn Stories
Hosts Daeus and Kate analyze Disney's Frozen, exploring its themes of love versus fear, deconstruction through "Let it Go," and character symbolism, revealing insights into storytelling techniques.
22 May 2025
1. House of David
The hosts of Navigating Narrative analyze the Amazon Prime show *House of David*, discussing its plot failures and cinematic elements.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
12
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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