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Artwork for A Good Story Well Told

A Good Story Well Told

Jonathan Auxier and Matt Bird
Kpop Demon Hunters
Storytelling Techniques
Beloved
The Giver
Vertigo
Kill Bill
Demons
Hook
Children's Literature
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Toni Morrison
K-Pop
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Beau Is Afraid
Lois Lowry
Alfred Hitchcock
Treasure Planet
Slaughterhouse-Five
Quentin Tarantino
Anne Of Green Gables

A podcast about the craft of storytelling. Join authors Jonathan Auxier and Matt Bird as they dig up good stories to discover how their authors told them well … and how those same tricks and tools can help us all in our own writing

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes22Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHow To

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Artwork for A Good Story Well Told

Latest Episodes

It's the final episode of our Guilty Treasures season! Award-winning podcaster Austen Rachlis stops by to profess her affection for Hardball, in which Keanu Reeves coaches an inner-city little league baseball team, including a young Michael B. Jordan... more

Acclaimed children's author Kate Milford joins us to talk about one of her favorite movies, John Carpenter's cult classic Big Trouble in Little China. Will she be able to win us over to its charms?

Author and animator Benjamin Zelkowicz joins us to share his love of the 1990 Kevin Bacon creature-feature Tremors, and the three of us have a good old time mining it for story insights.

Master board game creator Peter C. Hayward joins us to sing the praises of the 2015 Nancy Meyers movie The Intern, but we have very different reactions. Who will join in the praise and who will say this movie just might be the death of America?

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Austen Rachlis
Writer and creator; guest on episode
Self/Secretly Sporty (as applicable)
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Hardball, with Austen Rachlis
Kate Milford
Author guest discussing film
Author (Bone Shaker, Rialto, etc.)
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Big Trouble in Little China, with Kate Milford
Benjamin Zelkowicz
Author, animator; guest on the episode
Various including previous work in animation and literature
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Tremors, with Benjamin Zelkowicz
Peter C. Hayward
Board game designer and author, based in LA; host of Fun Problems and creator of Blueprints for Life
Self-described; board game designer and author
Episode: Guilty Treasures: The Intern, with Peter C. Hayward
Keir Graff
Author; co-host of Filmographers Podcast
Filmographers Podcast
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Ace in the Hole, with Keir Graff
Betsy Bird
Former children's librarian and publishing insider, Betsy Bird
Evanston Public Library; Fuse 8 and Kate; School Library Journal blog
Episode: Guilty Treasures: The Brave Little Toaster, with Betsy Bird
James Kennedy
Writer and podcaster, known for exploring unique stories and worlds in literature
Former co-host of Secrets of Story
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Beau is Afraid, with James Kennedy
Grace Lin
Renowned author and illustrator in Children's Literature
Independent Author
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, with Grace Lin
Lindsay Eagar
Acclaimed author of middle-grade and YA literature
Candlewick Press
Episode: Guilty Treasures: Hook, with Lindsay Eagar

Hosts

Jonathan Auxier
Co-host and author; long-time presence on the show; central to craft-focused discussions.
Matt Bird
Co-host and author; brings practical writing insights and thoughtful critique.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • Great job guys!!!

    I learned about this podcast when Jonathan was on the kids podcast Withywindle, and I was curious about the nuts and bolts of writing. Thank y'all for doing this. I really appreciate it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bart the Fly Fishing Dude
    United States9 months ago
  • Learning about Stories

    Found this podcast after reading The Giver early in 2025. It’s really fascinating to hear discussion of what makes a good story and intricacies of how that story is told. Appreciate how Jonathan and Matt discuss stories they enjoy and how they bring different perspectives of how to look at those stories.

    One extremely minor quibble due to my bias, but I was bummed to hear them talk about the best versions of Treasure Island without mentioning the under appreciated Muppet Treasure Island.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasonIrl
    United States10 months ago
  • Good insights into good storytelling

    While not as deep into the nuts and bolts as Matt Bird’s previous podcast, this is still a great dive into why a particular piece of media worked, and maybe what could have worked better. Some solid tips for writers in each episode, as well.

    But then, plot twist, Jonathan Auxier reveals that he is also a board gamer (talking input randomness vs output randomness) and has strong opinions on D&D?! Where can I go for more of that?!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Create Nickname. Okay.
    United Statesa year ago
  • A good podcast well told!

    Entertaining and thought provoking! Looking forward to more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stevenabird
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love the analysis and insights

    Matt and Jonathan are fun and clearly know what they’re talking about. Even when they disagree, I want to believe both of them. 😆 I love that they both dissect a movie or book and then extrapolate techniques to make them concrete. There are some podcasts where I see a runtime of an hour and wonder how much real content there is, but not this one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nels Wadycki
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts challenge each other with warmth, making debates engaging rather than hostile.
Guests bring diverse perspectives, contributing depth and freshness to discussions.
Thoughtful, craft-forward analysis that's accessible and practical for writers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#57
Singapore/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#120
India/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#121
South Korea/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#160
Finland/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Shame Shelf: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Q: What do you think about Eastwood's goodness?
Eastwood's character shows small acts of kindness that offer a contrast to the other two characters, positioning him as slightly better in a morally ambiguous story.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About A Good Story Well Told

What is A Good Story Well Told about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show about the craft of storytelling hosted by two writers who break down how stories work, with practical tips that listeners can apply to their own writing. Episodes skew toward analyzing what makes books and films resonate, exploring world-building, character focus, structure, and storytelling techniques across novels, screenplays, and adaptations. Guests range from authors to critics, offering varied perspectives and personal anecdotes, while the hosts bring warmth, clear craft instincts, and a willingness to challenge each other's views. The format tends to combine close-text analysis with reflections on audience impact, making it a strong pick for aspiring writers, editors, and storytelling enthusiasts seeking concrete takeaways and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to A Good Story Well Told?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Good Story Well Told:

1. Read-Aloud Revival ®
2. Close Reads Podcast
3. The Literary Life Podcast
4. Classical Stuff You Should Know
5. The Habit

How many episodes of A Good Story Well Told are there?

A Good Story Well Told launched a year ago and published 22 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on A Good Story Well Told?

Recent guests on A Good Story Well Told include:

1. Austen Rachlis
2. Kate Milford
3. Benjamin Zelkowicz
4. Peter C. Hayward
5. Keir Graff
6. Betsy Bird
7. James Kennedy
8. Grace Lin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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