Best The Anatomy Nerd Podcasts (2025)

1
The Substance: ewwwww! 28:01

Play Pause

2d 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…

1
Ep #91 The Incredible Paleo Impressionist Art of Doug Henderson 1:01:31

2d ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Ray and Dave explore the mind of paleo artist Doug Henderson exploring his techniques, inspirations, and the breathtaking body of work that re-imagines ancient worlds.By paleonerds

1
Backdraft: yes, but why? 27:44

9d 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…

1
What Went Right: the outrun 44:21

16d 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 …

1
Unearthing Hidden Gem Speakers & Getting the Most of Festivals - SXSW & TED 16:03

19d ago16:03

16:03

Joy talks about the hidden speaker gems discovered on big stages at major festivals, how to network and the possibilities of who you might meet in the crowd. Be open to the experience and see if peacocking is a good strategy in widening your network. Mostly enjoy the speakers, understand their delivery, discern and take away new insights and unders…

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

23d 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…

1
What Went Wrong: stayin' alive 50:13

1M 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…

1
Our Best Advice: villain's monologue + turning points 28:39

1M 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…

1
Ep #90 Fossil Fish, Antarctic Adventures and Teaching Anatomy with Kerin Claeson 1:13:00

1M ago1:13:00

1:13:00

Ray Troll shares morning coffee in his Ketchikan lounge room with Dr. Karin Claeson, exploring fish evolution, anatomy, development, and variability across deep time.By paleonerds

1
Anatomy of Conversation - We Can't Fix What We Can't Talk About with Emma Gibbens 1:07:14

1M ago1:07:14

1:07:14

Joy talks with Emma Gibbens about strategic communication, finding a common ground, generational connection and emergent ideas. Emma is a strategic facilitator, the author of "Anatomy of Conversation" and a keynote speaker. Her work explores the heart of human connection, the elements that make our interactions meaningful, transformative and at tim…

1
Black Bag: IYKYK 38:52

1M 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…

1
Episode 95 - Shockwave and Laser for Kids? 21:22

2M ago21:22

21:22

In this informative episode, Dr. Kate Eckert breaks down how advanced therapies like laser and shockwave can safely help student athletes of all ages—from elementary school through high school. Whether it's treating acute injuries, chronic conditions, or preventing future problems, Dr. Kate shares her expertise on age-appropriate treatments that ge…

1
Primal Fear: masterful writing 25:05

2M 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 (…

1
Legally Blonde (archive) 42:02

2M 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…

1
No Way Out: conflict triangles (archive) 41:06

2M 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…

1
Ep #89 Brachiopods Deserve Your Love with Dr. Susan Butts 1:03:32

2M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Ray and Dave learn all about Brachiopods, one of the hardy survivors of the Big Five extinctions, with Susan Butts, Director of Collections and Research at the famous Yale Peabody Museum.By paleonerds

1
Super Intelligence, Agentic AI and How to Be Organically Human 28:24

2M ago28:24

28:24

Ideas, AI and super intelligence threatens to infiltrate every corner of the internet and our human lives. It fuses an addition layer of surveillance, wired into our devices. Will we be further surveilled, scraped and exhausted by the scroll as we become more connected than ever. Will synthetic bots take over our human consciousness? Some are alrea…

1
Moonstruck: writing female characters (archive) 44:33

2M 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…

1
Episode 94 - Why Should I Follow Treatment Recommendations?? 21:25

3M ago21:25

21:25

In this essential episode, Dr. Kate Eckert breaks down the reality of healing timelines and why following your prescribed treatment plan is crucial for success. If you've ever wondered why some people get instant relief while others need weeks to see results, this episode is for you. Dr. Kate shares the three different patient response patterns she…

1
The Bourne Identity: build tension, raise stakes (archive) 38:27

3M 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…

1
Knives Out: mastering the whodunit (archive) 51:37

3M 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…

1
Understanding Domestic and Family Violence and Animal Welfare with Lucy's Project CEO Monique Dam 1:00:36

3M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

Joy speaks with Monique Dam - CEO of Lucy's Project about domestic and family violence, sexual violence and the connection with pets. How can we advocate for ourselves, our loved ones and lead change? Lucy's Project is a national charity that aims to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence through collabor…

1
Episode 93 - Patient Uses Shockwave on Multiple Body Parts! 21:25

3M ago21:25

21:25

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Lori Parel, a 70-year-old retired nurse who worked for 44 years while battling chronic pain from a car accident at age 24. After being told by multiple doctors to "learn to live with the pain," Lori shares how she went from taking a minimum of 8 Advil daily for 20 years to being completely medication-free…

1
Foe: offers lots of writing lessons 39:05

3M 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…

1
Ep #88 Unearthing Egg Mountain’s Dinosaur Nursery: Field Insights from Montana with John Scannella 1:05:07

3M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Dave goes out on a dig at the famous Egg Mountain site in western Montana with Dr. John Scannella, curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies.By paleonerds

1
The Miracle Club: when the hero is also the villain 30:36

3M 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…

1
Episode 92 - Is Your Pain Situation Hopeless? 21:39

4M ago21:39

21:39

In this powerful episode, we sit down with long-time patient Roger, a 68-year-old BMX racer, musician, preacher, and all-around inspiration. Despite living with degenerative arthritis, chronic inflammation, and severe spinal degeneration, Roger shares how he's maintained an active lifestyle by blending medical interventions like ablations with holi…

1
Why Do Anything Since We Can Outsource to ChatGPT & Emotion Bots 50:40

4M ago50:40

50:40

Does finding The Meaning of Life matter anymore, since we can lean into ChatGPT and emotion coaching autobots? Does privacy on social media no longer exist? How do we put ourselves out there to create more opportunity and show our authentic selves? Can we opt out of the digital scrape and LLMs as artists? Joy explores these ideas, shares some direc…

1
She Said: constant characters 28:06

4M 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,…

1
The Mighty Ducks: weak villains 37:51

4M 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…

1
How to Avoid a Page-One Rewrite 28:42

4M 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…

1
Episode 91 - Pain Relief for Runners! 12:37

4M ago12:37

12:37

In this episode, we hear from one of our amazing patients, Sarah, an avid runner training for her third marathon. When hip and ankle pain threatened to derail her progress, she turned to Shockwave Therapy at Eckerd Chiropractic. Instead of taking weeks off, Sarah found a way to continue her training and recover at the same time. You’ll hear about h…

1
What A-List Authors Know that You Don't 31:25

4M 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…

1
Mission Impossible: simple yet solid 31:25

4M 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…

1
Ep #87 Anvil Sharks, Lampreys & Ratfish with Head-Sprouting Teeth featuring Vertebrate Paleontologist Michael Coates 1:19:04

4M ago1:19:04

1:19:04

Ray and Dave explore jaws, fins and fossil fish while tracing the deep origins of vertebrate life with Dr. Michael Coates, Vertebrate Paleontologist and Chair of Organismal Biology and Anatomy Professor at the University of Chicago.By paleonerds

1
The Briefcase Effect - Career Building, Personal Branding and Entrepreneurship with Vinisha Rathod 1:18:44

4M ago1:18:44

1:18:44

Joy speaks with startup fairy Vinisha Rathod about strategies to building an online presence, developing timeless skills, balancing spirituality with commercial success and the importance of authenticity and meaningful connections. In this fun and impactful conversation we discover how to align ourselves for more traction and agency. How do we buil…

1
Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3: don't look too closely 37:39

4M 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…

1
Episode 90 - Interview - Shockwave and Laser Head to Toe!! 13:09

4M ago13:09

13:09

In this inspiring episode, Alice shares her remarkable journey from debilitating foot surgery complications to running a 5K—all thanks to shockwave therapy. After a complex 6-hour foot reconstruction left her unable to walk more than a mile, traditional treatments failed her. Discover how shockwave therapy succeeded where pain medications and physi…

1
Traditional and Indie Publishing Models 39:33

5M 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…

1
What Went Right: Juror #2 35:55

5M 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…

1
Episode 89 - Is Your Invisalign Causing Your Neck Pain?? 8:51

5M ago8:51

8:51

In this episode, I reveal surprising culprits behind unexplained neck pain that most people—and even healthcare providers—often overlook. If you've been dealing with chronic neck stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion without any clear cause, this episode could be the key to finally understanding what's really going on. Key Highlights: The In…

1
Creating Stories, Asking Better Questions and Career Transformation with Journalist and Advocate Briana Blackett 1:11:44

5M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

Joy speaks with award-winning communicator and journalist Briana Blackett. With her extensive global news experience, we explore how to tell a compelling story and authentically connect with people. We explore how to navigate misinformation and disinformation whilst telling our own impactful stories. Briana is currently Future Women's Head of Conte…

1
What Went Wrong: Ghosted 36:55

5M 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…

1
Ep #86 Painting Prehistoric Worlds and Dinosaur Dreams with Mark Hallett 1:04:29

5M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Ray and Dave talk Sauropods, Smilodons, and Spielberg with artist and paleo visionary Mark Hallett, whose decades of work bring ancient worlds to life.By paleonerds

1
Our Best Advice: core event + progressive complictions 31:24

5M 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…

1
Sharing Your Story on a Podcast & Digital Strategy I've Discovered This Last 6 Years 33:27

5M ago33:27

33:27

Joy shares best practice of what and who we consume online and how to ferociously apply digital strategies to support ourselves and our kids. We can build authority, be more googleable, discoverable and sprinkle that digital confetti across the internet - to build our profiles and businesses for more opportunities and greater human connection. We e…

1
Episode 88 - Shockwave for your Pelvic Floor?? 7:17

5M ago7:17

7:17

In this episode, I share insights from a recent Herman & Wallace course focused on using shockwave therapy for pelvic floor dysfunctions. From erectile dysfunction and prostatitis to incontinence and interstitial cystitis, this conversation dives deep into how focused shockwave can aid both men’s and women’s pelvic health. I break down the science …

1
Women Talking: does what it says on the tin 28:03

5M 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…

1
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: secrets of multi POV stories 37:50

6M 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…

1
Anatomy of a Fall: mind blown 28:56

6M 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…