Tell The Damn Story

About Tell The Damn Story

This is where we interview and discuss the challenges and successes of writing books, comics, films, and other creative arts and pop culture topics.

Publisher

Alex Simmons & Chris Ryan

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Feb 2018

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

443 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Tell The Damn Story, ep 436: Life As a Plot Patch—How Real Life Can Help Fix Your Story

   Stuck in the middle of your story? Can’t find an ending that feels right? Take your story out for a walk. This week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore how real life can help writers work through plot problems and character gaps. A New York Comic Con outing, an unexpected Manhattan encounter, and a breakthrough in Alex’s screenwriting classroom reveal what can happen when you stay observant—and let go of the ending you’ve been trying to force. We talk about asking “What if?”, capturing unexpected ideas, listening to feedback, and remembering that the people who inspire our fiction have lives of their own. Listen, follow the show, and share this episode with a fellow storyteller. What’s something you witnessed that later became part of a story? CTA: Watch or listen to TTDS 436, then tell us what real-life encounter has inspired your fiction. Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Then, please leave them in the Comments Section. Write: TTDSOnAir@gmail.com And follow us on ... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tellthedamnstory.com (https://tellthedamnstory.com) www.Facebook.com/Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube.com/ Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕ If Alex and Chris helped you solve a problem, avoid a mistake, or find your next creative step, consider buying them a coffee and helping keep TTDS on the air: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory)

2. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Tell The Damn Story ep 435: Return To Episode 1, Where and Why Our Creative Journey Began

   It's a trip back in time to where and how our 400+ odyssey to help creatives began. This special milestone episode of our podcast dives deep into the creative journeys—the triumphs, setbacks, and lessons—of writers striving to tell their tales. In this 435th episode, listeners are transported back to where it all began, revisiting the very first episode with the original trio: acclaimed writer Alex Simmons, dynamic illustrator Tim Fielder, and journalist-turned-novelist Chris Ryan. The conversation focuses on their creative origins, the collaborative creation of the iconic Blackjack character, and the unique perspectives each brings from comics, books, film, and illustration. A key theme that emerged is the importance of representation and authenticity in storytelling, as the trio explores how personal experience, research, and reflection influence character development and world-building. ☕ Did this episode help you tell your story better? Help us keep sharing decades of creative experience—free of charge—by buying TTDS a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory)

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   Tell The Damn Story, ep 434: How to Make the Stakes Personal, Even When Worlds Collide

   In Episode 434, Alex and Chris explore how writers humanize enormous stakes. Because the human factor is the thread that connects the audience to any fictional tale.Drawing from Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, John Wick, The Odyssey, Reacher, Hamlet, The Lord of the Rings, Project Hail Mary, and Dragonheart, they examine the fears, losses, relationships, moral choices, and everyday moments that invite audiences into extraordinary worlds. Every week, Tell The Damn Story shares hard-earned lessons, practical insights, and candid conversations with working creators, all free of charge. If our episodes help you improve your craft, avoid a mistake, or keep moving forward, please help us continue bringing these conversations to you.☕ Support TTDS by buying us a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Then, please leave them in the Comments Section. Write: TTDSOnAir@gmail.com And follow us on ... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TellTheDamnStory.com www.Facebook.com/Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube.com/ Tell The Damn Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕ If Alex and Chris helped you solve a problem, avoid a mistake, or find your next creative step, consider buying them a coffee and helping keep TTDS on the air: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory⁠ (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory)

Who has been a guest on Tell The Damn Story

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• EF Deal
• Teel James Glenn
• Karen Renner
• Daemon Manx
• Charles Barouch

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

2,909

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

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

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

77

Contact Tell The Damn Story

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Tell The Damn Story