Stories Are Soul Food

Latest Episodes:

Revenge Movies and Masculinity Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

This week on SASF—apparently our 200th episode (who knew?)—we're diving into the massive topic of justice and mercy? From revenge-soaked movie plots to the rise of the manosphere, we explore why so many men seek utter annihilation over their enemies, and what it looks like for Christians to fight with integrity.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJXPMaxwip4

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Writing Your Story with Self-Control Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Nate and Brian sit down to talk about the importance of self-control in writing your story. Plus, brand new pitch reviews featuring a ewe with a unique circumstance.

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

What Makes a Story Resonate? Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Nate and Brian return to review your pitches and break down what makes stories resonate with an audience. Plus, their takes on the Charlie Kirk memorial service through the lens of powerful storytelling.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAEIWasioO0

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

How Propaganda Ruins Stories Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of SASF, Nate and Brian are back to review your pitches again while tackling propaganda in Christian media. Catch them discussing the power of satire and what friendships should look like in your stories.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNDqEXKUiXY

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Charlie's Cheerful Masculinity Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

This SASF episode breaks down the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. What a story:

How the devil messed up by killing Charlie, because martyrdom after Christ doesn't work.
Charlie's cheerful masculinity made him a target.
Why Charlie's "free speech" approach prevents civil war.
Crazy progressives in public high schools and universities only "reproduce" because of your children.
Live like Charlie by faithfully "raking the gravel" in your life.

Watch Charlie Kirk's entire Man Rampant episode with Douglas Wilson for free on Canon Press's YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bL4DxMZXNIA?si=tWcFKiIZ9XI_Ycc8

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11LQ5pRfwA

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Spotting Stories with Hidden Poison Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

How do you identify stories with poison in them? They never say "TAKE THIS POISON." They always coat it in chocolate first...
- "Make Me Famous" pitch reviews segment continues with "The Ghost Train". Maybe this is the episode wherein Nate finally likes a pitch.
- Then the guys turn to stories that start out sweet but conceal poison in the end.
- Harry Potter and The Hunger Games both start a story with something admirable (the underdog, self-sacrifice). That's the chocolate.
- But once you like the chocolate, an author *can make you eat anything after that... even poison (self-pity, dissatisfaction, ungratefulness, victimhood mentality).
- To demonstrate how a true underdog story works, Nate reframes the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors (not what that is).

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAm8YX1i4oQ

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Were We Wrong About KPop Demon Hunters? Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of SASF Nate and Brian discuss the recent X controversy Nate caused, Why you should watch KPop Demon Hunters? How we as Christians should approach it and all forms of Media? How Miyazaki does anime well? and much more.

- Nate and Brian discuss how Kpop Demon Hunters is a bad pitch, but done well
- Why Kpop Demon Hunters is a better movie for girls to watch than the Disney Classic Beauty and the Beast
- Why Kpop Demon Hunters isn’t a coming out movie.
- Where viewers have prejudice against the movie because it’s in an Anime format, How Miyazaki does good anime while telling a good story.
- How you shouldn’t be legalistic against a movie because it’s on Netflix

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBAEkOyqZgY

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Fictional Dads To Look Up To Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

You have heard this SASF axiom: "A good dad can't be present in children's fiction." This is because if he was, there'd be no story for the kids to take care of -- BUT... there are a few exceptions...

- Brian and Nate search for those elusive MG/YA unicorns: the good and present father.

- What about To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch? Jeremiah Land from Peace Like a River? Guido in Life is Beautiful? In these stories, the good dad becomes the protagonist.

- Uncle Frank in 100 Cupboards? Nate explains why he'd never call Uncle Frank a good father figure.

- Heading further afield: what about Mustafa from The Lion King? Bandit from Bluey? Gomez Addams??  - Finally the guys turn to real life: Ralph Moody's father, Pa Wilder, Bible characters including Nate's pick for best dad in the whole Bible: Jesus's earthly father, Joseph.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELUsAxix-1k

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

Nate Roasts Your Story Pitch (Make Me Famous No. 1) Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

This week SASF listeners sent in their own pitches for an episode of "Make Me Famous"
In this new SASF segment, Nate reacts for the first time to original ideas containing:
- The Last Airbender meets Stranger Things plus reincarnation, a slave girl, and a menacing priest
- A headstrong girl who awakens an ancient evil
- Narnia fanfiction
- a determined goat trying to succeed at roarball;
- and much much MORE, including the elements of a good pitch. If you still have an idea, send it! We'll likely do another episode of "Make Me Famous" in the future.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQcOY_9H8MQ

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

F1, K Pop Demon Hunters, and Netflix’s Big Mistake Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Brian Kohl and Nate Wilson discuss F1: The Movie and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Nate explains that the latter sounds terrible on paper pitch but the filmmakers really pulled it off. They also touch on the teaser for Pixar's upcoming movie, "Hoppers" and why it's just a plain old bad pitch.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjs3dlyxatA

IT'S HERE! Pre-Order the 4th installment of the Ashtown Burial Series at ashtownburials.com.

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