Sci-fi author Jeremy Szal joins the Story Centric Podcast to talk about building a writing career when the odds aren’t exactly friendly (like debuting during COVID). He shares the unconventional strategies that helped him stand out, from leaning into community over competition to focusing on long-term platforms like podcasting instead of chasing short-term trends.

We dig into his high-octane storytelling style, shaped by influences like Red Rising and Mass Effect, and explore how cross-genre mashups and anime-style chaos can still deliver real emotional depth. Jeremy also offers a grounded take on the divide between literary and genre fiction, and why they’re both so important.

If you’re trying to cut through the noise, build meaningful connections, and stay creatively authentic in this ever-shifting industry, this episode offers a bit of wisdom wrapped in practical perspective.

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This week, Andrew sits down with comic book writer and filmmaker George Michail (90’s horror kid, cinematic obsessive, and co-writer of the Knight Terror script) to trace the origin story behind the storyteller. George shares how a steady diet of slasher films, comics, and late-night movie marathons shaped his creative instincts, and why growing up in the shadow of practical effects and VHS-era horror left a permanent mark on his imagination.

The conversation dives into the evolution of Knight Terror, from concept to screenplay to feature film. George pulls back the curtain on adapting a dark, stylized idea into a cinematic narrative, including the creative and financial risks, the structural challenges, and the practical realities of moving from page to production. It’s an honest look at what it actually takes to shepherd a genre project forward in today’s film landscape.

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On this episode of StoryCentric, Andrew sits down with Charles Melcher, founder of Future of StoryTelling, to explore how technology, neuroscience, and human biology are reshaping the way stories work. From immersive theatre and LARPing to AI characters and virtual worlds, Charlie explains why the future of storytelling is participatory and deeply community-oriented.

They dig into the idea of “actience” (the audience as co-creator), why storytelling is hardwired into our evolution, and how new tools are democratizing narrative creation for everyone, not just studios and publishers. Along the way, Charlie unpacks the ethical challenges of AI-driven stories, the power of multi-sensory experiences to boost memory and empathy, and why immersive storytelling may be a surprising antidote to social disconnection.

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