Origin Stories w JJK

About Origin Stories w JJK

Bestselling author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka takes you behind the curtain of creativity to explore the journeys of the visual storytellers who shape the graphic novel and illustrated literature publishing landscape. Through candid conversations and a deep appreciation for the craft, JJK uncovers the unique paths that fuel artistic expression and drive success. Whether you’re an aspiring comics creator or a lover of illustrated literature, this podcast celebrates the twists and turns of life, reminding us that every literary superstar has an origin story.

Publisher

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jan 2022

Latest episode

23 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Aug 2025

   🏆📙 Shannon Hale's Origin Story: Crafting Stories from Childhood Dreams

   🛒 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: (https://StudioJJK.com/shop) (Use code PODCAST for 10% off art commissions.) 💬 Submit questions here! (https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts) 📕 Buy Shannon's books! Join us as we delve into the captivating journey of Shannon Hale, a celebrated author known for her imaginative storytelling and impactful children's books. In this episode, Shannon shares her childhood experiences, the challenges of writing memoirs, and her passion for creating stories that resonate with young readers.Shannon's early life in Salt Lake City, Utah, and her love for storytelling. The influence of her family and environment on her creative journey. Insights into writing memoirs and the balance between truth and storytelling. Shannon's transition from novels to graphic novels and her advocacy for children's literature. #ShannonHale #ChildrensBooks #Storytelling #MemoirWriting 👨🏻💻Learn more about JJK and his books (https://studiojjk.com)! 🗯Request information on JJK's keynotes and assemblies for schools, libraries, and institutions! (https://studiojjk.com/keynotes) 🍎Download free resources for your classroom! (https://studiojjk.com/freeresources) ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years. In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pug Frank and French bulldog Bella Carmella. #graphicnovel #booktube #artist #writer #illustration #artistadvice #creativeprofessional #comics #graphicnovels #graphicnovel #publishing #teacherresources #learning #howtomakecomics #drawingtutorial #vlog #artistlife #booktube #memoir

2. 

   16 Aug 2025

   ☎️ The ONE Piece of Advice I'd Give Art School Kids

   💬 Submit questions here. (http://studiojjk.com/podcasts)🛒 Support the show here. (https://StudioJJK.com/shop)Follow along this journey to get insight into my career as an author and illustrator of books for young readers. I am the creator of the LUNCH LADY graphic novels and won a few awards for my graphic memoir HEY, KIDDO.

3. 

   9 Aug 2025

   NEW KID Broke Barriers, but for Years Nobody Wanted His Work: Jerry Craft’s ORIGIN STORY

   💬 Submit questions (https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts) 🛒 Support the show (https://StudioJJK.com/shop) 📕 Support Jerry Craft (https://bookshop.org/lists/jerry-craft) In this episode, graphic novelist Jerry Craft shares his journey from a young artist with dreams of creating comics to becoming a multi-award-winning author known for his groundbreaking work in children's literature. He discusses his early influences, the struggles he faced in the comic industry, and the eventual success of his graphic novel 'New Kid,' which won prestigious awards and changed the landscape for representation in literature. Craft emphasizes the importance of creating stories that reflect the joy and experiences of young Black protagonists, and he reflects on the impact of his work on readers and the literary community.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

10,499,148

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

18 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

22

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

51