Best Point Noir Podcasts (2026)

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The Invisible Man (archive) 50:41

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36m ago50:41

50:41

Genre is enigmatic (at best). Writers, agents, readers, and editors, all have different perspectives, and sometimes they lead to heated debates. In this episode, which originally aired in Season 2, Melanie and I totally disagree on the genre. She thinks it's a horror, I think it's a thriller. Which of us is right? Tune in to find out. We'll be back…

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Sense and Sensibility (archive) 27:57

7d ago27:57

27:57

Did you know that the beginning of your story, and the end of your story, work together as a unit? This this episode, which originally aired back in Season 3, we explore how the powerhouse pairing of Jane Austen and Emma Thompson put this bit of theory into action. For the rest of your story, understanding sequences might just be the key to making …

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Top 10 Best Point-and-Click Adventure Games of 2025 17:18

7d ago17:18

17:18

2025 was a huge year for point-and-click adventure games...from cozy mysteries to gritty thrillers, narrative RPG hybrids to gothic ghost stories. In this video, I talk about my top 10 adventure games of the year, spoiler-free, with what makes each title special (story, art, mechanics, world-building, and etc). If you prefer visuals, this is also a…

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The Last of Sheila (archive) 39:09

14d ago39:09

39:09

Holy smokes! Now THIS is how you write a murder mystery. If you're a mystery writer, or simply want to watch an absolutely fantastic film during the holiday season, be sure to check out THE LAST OF SHEILA. This episode originally aired in Season 9 and it's one of our favourites. So sit back and enjoy, and we'll be back with a brand new show on Janu…

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Wayne's World (archive) 41:40

21d ago41:40

41:40

Wayne's World is a superior example of an anti-plot story (and it's hilarious to boot!). As Melanie and I take a much deserved recording break to enjoy the holidays with our families, we're sharing this archive episode with you because, if nothing else, it'll bring a smile to your face and give you a good laugh. We'll be back on January 15, 2026 wi…

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Doubt: a quiet story masterpiece (archive) 28:15

27d ago28:15

28:15

It's a brand new season and that means Melanie and I are studying two new topics: narrative drive and conflict triangles. Conflict and page-turners are usually associated with action stories, thrillers and the like. But DOUBT is a quiet, character-driven film that is so expertly crafted it grabs the viewer's attention immediately and holds it right…

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The Holdovers: a rare gem 30:47

1M ago30:47

30:47

This is storytelling at its finest. We could study it to learn about almost any aspect of writing, but this week, Melanie and I are highlighting the complexity and nuance of the main character. He's a passive character, which makes for an especially interesting study of both the hero's monologue and the shadow. If you've not seen THE HOLDOVERS yet,…

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Episode 16 | Native Noir | Hill Agency: PURITYdecay 31:03

1M ago31:03

31:03

In the neon haze of a stratified future city, an Indigenous detective named Meeygen Hill walks into a case that refuses to stay buried... In this episode of The Point-and-Quest Podcast, I talk about Hill Agency: PURITY/Decay, an Indigenous futurist noir by Achimostawinan Games -- a studio reshaping what video games can say, and who they’re for. We’…

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Tar: writing nuanced characters 26:15

1M ago26:15

26:15

If you are writing a villain’s POV in your story, this episode is for you. Lydia Tar is a villain but she’s also the protagonist of the story. Quite simply: villain + protagonist = anti-hero. The slow reveal of Tar’s shadow is a masterclass in writing a villain POV. You could start off with an evil villain and maintain that line in your story, but …

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Dial M For Murder: unlikeable characters 24:15

2M ago24:15

24:15

If you're curious about how to handle unlikeable protagonists, this episode is for you! In Hitchcock's classic, DIAL M FOR MURDER, the protagonist is the villain — he plots the murder of his wife, and that's about as unlikeable as it gets! His anti-hero's monologue is a veritable masterclass and his shadow reveals that he's actually kind of a nice …

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The Incredibles: storytelling gold 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

The villain isn’t a stand in for the hero’s shadow. The villain is a warning to the hero if the hero doesn't learn to integrate their shadow. The Incredibles is storytelling gold and a very clear example of the role of the villain and hero plus their relationship to the hero’s shadow. Of course, every good superhero movie needs a hero’s monologue a…

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The Proposal: writing dual protagonist stories 21:42

2M ago21:42

21:42

If you're writing a dual protagonist story, a story with multiple plot lines or a romance, this episode is for you! After the spookiness of last week's episode, I thought we are all due for a feel-good, positive juju kinda movie. What better choice than THE PROPOSAL? Enjoy! -V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses …

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Episode 15 | Cabernet: A Game to Sink Your Teeth Into 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

Welcome to season two of the Point-and-Quest Podcast!In this episode, we sink our teeth into Cabernet, a gothic narrative RPG about power, grief, performance, and the slow unraveling of identity. Follow along as we explore the game's story-rich chapters, intricate relationship dynamics, haunting folklore, and the moral weight of hunger. From romanc…

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The Substance: ewwwww! 28:01

2M ago28:01

28:01

You need to read stories you don’t like. Yep, it’s true. This week I put my body on the line and I forced myself (and Valerie - so sorry, please forgive me) to watch The Substance. I don’t read, watch, or listen to horror, but there are times when I need to go outside my comfort zone to learn more about the craft. My topic this season is The Shadow…

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Backdraft: yes, but why? 27:44

3M ago27:44

27:44

How does your reader know why your protagonist does what she does? This seemingly minor detail is one of the most important parts of your story and the way you let the reader know about it is through the hero's monologue. What aspect of your protagonist is hidden from her, from your reader, or both? If you want to create a main character with dimen…

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Bonus Episode! | Playlist of Perfectly Paranormal Point-&-Clicks 6:55

3M ago6:55

6:55

In this episode, I’m sharing a curated list of haunting, clever, atmospheric point-and-click adventure games that are perfect for October (IMO). These aren’t just horror games. They’re unsettling. Emotional. Linger-in-your-brain type games. Some are short and sweet, some are slow burns...but all of them are haunting in their own way. Whether you lo…

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What Went Right: the outrun 44:21

3M ago44:21

44:21

I think I missed the mark with my choice for What When Right this Season. I went with The Outrun because it scored well on ratings sites. Why did this movie get such good ratings when both Valerie and I had trouble staying engaged? It’s a story that has great performances and it handles addiction without judgement. There’s also some parallel story …

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Jett Cooper: Melanie's New Novel 1:00:44

3M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Today is a fantastic day for the Story Nerd Podcast. We are celebrating the launch of Melanie’s new middle-grade novel, Jett Cooper, by sharing a behind the veil look at how she put theory into practice. Join us for this special episode and learn more about Melanie, what inspired her to write this novel, and why it took her so long. Valerie also sh…

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What Went Wrong: stayin' alive 50:13

3M ago50:13

50:13

STAYIN' ALIVE has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (I didn't even know that was possible!) so Melanie and I wanted to see if we could figure out where the storytelling in this movie went wrong. And boy, did it give us the giggles. In this episode, we cover everything from missing empathy to missing pants. So come join us, and be sure to let us know w…

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Our Best Advice: villain's monologue + turning points 28:39

4M ago28:39

28:39

We've come to the end of another season and that means it's time for our best advice about the villain's monologue (what it is, and why it's essential you have one in your story) and turning points (those unexpected events that create opportunities for you to reveal character). -V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/cour…

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Black Bag: IYKYK 38:52

4M ago38:52

38:52

I think BLACK BAG misses the mark but it's one of Melanie's favourites. So what happens when we disagree on whether, from a craft perspective, a story is working or not? Well, you'll have to tune in to this week's episode to find out. One thing I'll say is that this might be a film that is meant for super fans of the spy genre (i.e., Melanie) becau…

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Episode 14 | The Supper: A Bite-sized Adventure Game 8:34

4M ago8:34

8:34

What do you get when you mix revenge, roast meat, and a silent innkeeper with a cleaver? A short horror game that lingers longer than most blockbusters. In this episode of The Point-and-Quest Podcast, we carve into Octavi Navarro’s haunting indie tale, The Supper. Join me as I explore the game’s darkly intimate storytelling, its symbolism-laced ing…

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Primal Fear: masterful writing 25:05

4M ago25:05

25:05

Primal Fear is a superb film. The novel, by William Diehl, is even better. This is a story to add to your short list of go-to stories to study for absolutely any aspect of the craft. Enjoy! - V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (…

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Legally Blonde (archive) 42:02

4M ago42:02

42:02

This week we're throwing it back to season 2. Valerie is studying The Hero's Gift Expressed and Melanie is studying Forces of Antagonism. Legally Blonde is a beautiful example of both! Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for fr…

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No Way Out: conflict triangles (archive) 41:06

4M ago41:06

41:06

In this week's episode, Melanie introduces the concept of conflict triangles and honestly, if you use them in your work, your story will improve immediately. In terms of cast design, while usually the plot supports the development of the characters in this case, the characters support the development of the plot. If you don't know which option best…

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Moonstruck: writing female characters (archive) 44:33

5M ago44:33

44:33

In this episode, Melanie is studying female characters and how women are presented in modern stories (her work in this episode is reeeeally interesting!), and I investigate something I learned from Steven Pressfield, which is that we shouldn't introduce anything new after Act 2. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses…

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The Bourne Identity: build tension, raise stakes (archive) 38:27

5M ago38:27

38:27

Whatever kind of story you're writing, if you want a reader to stick with you all the way to the end, you've got to build tension! Believe it or not, The Bourne Identity is a terrific example to study - even for a love story or coming of age story. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing template…

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Knives Out: mastering the whodunit (archive) 51:37

5M ago51:37

51:37

Puzzled about what it takes to write a great mystery? Then grab your notebook because this episode is chock-full of tips. No red herrings in this show, we promise! Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Val…

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Foe: offers lots of writing lessons 39:05

5M ago39:05

39:05

Ummm … I don’t know what to say to introduce this week’s episode. Perhaps I should start with a simple question, ‘What makes a story un-watchable/un-readable?’ Part of the answer is chickens. If you’d like to know the rest of the answer, then buckle-up and dive in. -M “Foe makes all the same mistakes that most novelists make.” - Valerie Francis Rel…

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The Miracle Club: when the hero is also the villain 30:36

6M ago30:36

30:36

THE MIRACLE CLUB is a multiple protagonist, miniplot, story. That means that each protagonist is also an antagonist. Sounds cool, right? But how the heck do you pull it off? Well one of the ways is to give each POV character her own villain's monologue. This film misses on one character and you just have to hear what happens to the story because of…

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She Said: constant characters 28:06

6M ago28:06

28:06

Valerie’s focus on the villain’s monologue in She Said was always going to be risky because we’d have to hear Harvey Weinstein's justification but justification requires the villain owning his stuff! What’s interesting is not what’s said but who says it. There’s also differences between the turning points in this movie and the others we’ve watched,…

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The Mighty Ducks: weak villains 37:51

6M ago37:51

37:51

The antagonist drives the middle of a story, so what happens when the antagonist is a really weak character? Well, if you're a filmmaker and can cast Emilio Estevez, you might get away with it. If you're a novelist, you're in trouble. This week, Melanie and I take a look at The Mighty Ducks where the story is thin but the ice is thick. While this m…

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How to Avoid a Page-One Rewrite 28:42

6M ago28:42

28:42

Melanie and I have both had to do page-one rewrites (actually, I've done TWO!!!), and they're not fun. Not fun at all. We want to keep you from suffering the same fate, so in this episode, we explain where we went wrong and what you can do to make sure you never ever have to start your novel from scratch. -V. The Fundamentals of Storytelling coupon…

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What A-List Authors Know that You Don't 31:25

6M ago31:25

31:25

Announcing THE FUNDAMENTALS OF STORYTELLING on-demand course, available now. Visit storynerd.ca/courses and use coupon code CANADA50 for 50% off, now through July 7, 2025. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscrib…

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Mission Impossible: simple yet solid 31:25

6M ago31:25

31:25

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation is a great example of good, straight forward storytelling. Yes, it’s an action movie with big stunts. Yes, you have to suspend your disbelief. Yes, it’s Tom Cruise. But there’s more craft in this movie than meets the eye. This episode, I’ll show you what I mean and Valerie will give her take on the interesting varia…

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Episode 13 | Caper in the Castro 30:11

6M ago30:11

30:11

In 1989, a point-and-click mystery circulated through floppy disks and dial-up bulletin boards, quietly becoming the first known queer computer game. It was created by CM Ralph, a San Francisco artist, designer, and activist, during the height of the AIDS crisis—and it wasn’t sold, but shared, with a simple request: donate to an AIDS charity.This i…

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Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3: don't look too closely 37:39

7M ago37:39

37:39

It's a brand new season and that means two brand new study topics! In Season 15, I'm studying something called the villain's monologue and Melanie is studying turning points. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is one of those films that's ok as long as you don't look too closely! There are definitely logic problems but insofar as our study topics are c…

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Traditional and Indie Publishing Models 39:33

7M ago39:33

39:33

Authors often ask us for our advice about publishing models and whether traditional is better, or worse, than indie/self publishing. So this week, we're bringing you an interview with writer and podcaster, Matty Dalrymple. Matty also happens to be the Campaigns Manager for ALLi (the Alliance of Independent Authors) and she takes us through what she…

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What Went Right: Juror #2 35:55

7M ago35:55

35:55

If you're writing a quiet, character-driven story — especially if it deals with questions of morality — Juror #2 is a film you must watch. The storytelling craft is rock solid, and although it's a legal drama, it's also highly nuanced with complex characters and an unbelievably intriguing plot. There's no spectacle here. It's all substance. Check o…

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What Went Wrong: Ghosted 36:55

7M ago36:55

36:55

If you are wondering what kids mean when they say, “It’s cringe” then watch this movie. Otherwise save yourself some time. On paper everything about this movie should work, but, and it’s an enormous but, it doesn’t. It’s easy to identify why. This movie doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up - is it a romance, a spy or an action movie. O…

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Our Best Advice: core event + progressive complictions 31:24

7M ago31:24

31:24

We've reached the end of another season and that means it's time for me and Melanie to give your our best advice, our a-has, and our key takeaways all about the core event and progressive complications. You'll want to bookmark this episode! -V. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates an…

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Women Talking: does what it says on the tin 28:03

8M ago28:03

28:03

We’ve had a number of masterful movies this season and Women Talking is another one. Q: How do you tell a story when everything you’ve ever known is at stake? A: Consider the pros and cons using multiple protagonists. This is a great movie where the level of writing craft is high, and the core event provides more relief than you thought possible. I…

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Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: secrets of multi POV stories 37:50

8M ago37:50

37:50

This movie looks like an innocent little story about seniors who want to make the most of their golden years, but the craft behind it will knock your socks off. It's a multiple POV, multiple plot film and believe me, this is NOT an easy format to pull off. So if you're writing a story with more than one protagonist and/or more than one plot line, d…

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Anatomy of a Fall: mind blown 28:56

8M ago28:56

28:56

Every-now-and-then we stumble across unassuming movies that blow our socks off. Anatomy of a Fall is one of these. There’s so much to love about this movie which is a masterclass in character, mystery, tension, and nearly every story telling principle we’ve discussed on the podcast. Of course, there’s a great deal to learn about progressive complic…

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Shirley: when endings fail 41:16

8M ago41:16

41:16

I think the filmmakers had good intentions when they made SHIRLEY, unfortunately, they failed to stick to the essentials of storytelling. In this episode, Melanie does a fantastic job of illustrating what happens to a story when writers fail to create obstacles that progressively complicate the plot. (Progressive Complications are a big deal - you'…

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Mother's Instinct: keeps you guessing 26:29

9M ago26:29

26:29

The antagonist owned the progressive complications in this movie. Celine shows her best friend Alice what a fate worse than death could be. Valerie explains how the Core Event is linked to its genre and why it’s important to understand the difference between the core event in an action, horror, or thriller. -M Acquire the power to write a bestselli…

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Greenbook: when society is the antagonist 22:28

9M ago22:28

22:28

If you're writing a character-driven story, or a story where society is the antagonist, or a story with broad societal issues, add Greenbook to your list of films to study. I know all about the controversy surrounding this film but our analysis this week is, as always, on the storytelling craft. And from a craft perspective, this movie does a whole…

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Anyone But You: yeah nah 27:18

9M ago27:18

27:18

First of all I have to let you know that it’s a miracle that no podcasters were harmed during the making of this episode. Bloody hell! What have I done? The cringe factor in this movie is off the charts - it’s worse than getting “sand up your clacker” (if you’ve watched this movie, you’ll get the reference). However, the opening scene does provide …

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Episode 12 | EcoQuest: Click Here to Save the Planet 13:07

9M ago13:07

13:07

Before Greta Thunberg, there was Adam Greene. In this heartfelt look at EcoQuest, we revisit Sierra’s most eco-conscious point-and-click series, complete with dolphin diplomacy, rainforest rituals, and a manta ray named Flesh-Eater. Yes, really. It’s a journey into edutainment, environmentalism, and one surprisingly emotional whale rescue.This week…

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The Bank of Dave: def leppard steals the show 26:58

9M ago26:58

26:58

It's a brand new season and that means two brand new story theory principles to discuss! This time around, I'm studying the core event (aka a story's climax) and Melanie is studying progressive complications. The writers of THE BANK OF DAVE definitely poured some sugar on this genuinely sweet, feel-good movie. It's rock solid. As an added bonus, it…