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Artwork for Origin Stories

Origin Stories

Campside Media
Campside Media
Slavery
Swimming
The Diplomat
Bonnie Tsui
Human Relationship With Water
The Morning Show
Behind the Scenes Of Television
Shell
Monticello
The Atlantic
Whitney Plantation
Angola Prison
National Book Critics Award For Nonfiction
Stowe Prize
New America Fellowship
Black Lives Matter
Journalism
Only Murders In the Building
True Crime

Have you ever wondered exactly how your favorite movie or book –– or podcast, TV series, documentary film, or magazine article –– got made? Origin Stories has you covered. Each week, veteran journalist Matthew Shaer talks to a different writer or director about the creation of a work close to their own hearts (and to ours). Nothing is off the table: not the frustrations and the joys, not the setba... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes49Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmArtsPerforming ArtsFilm Interviews

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Artwork for Origin Stories

Latest Episodes

David Owen is a longtime staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of numerous books about technology, infrastructure, and the hidden systems that shape everyday life. In Where the Water Goes, he follows the Colorado River from its headwaters in ... more

Josh Dean is a journalist and the author of The Impossible Factory, a sweeping history of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works division, and the engineers who reshaped aviation during the Cold War. Before The Impossible Factory, Dean wrote... more

YouTube

Ben Bradford is a journalist and the creator of Are We Doomed?, a narrative podcast that explores existential threats through the lens of systems, history, science, and human decision-making. Before launching Are We Doomed?, Bradford worked as a repo... more

YouTube

We’re excited to share a preview of a new podcast we think you’d enjoy: No Such Thing

No Such Thing is a show where three best friends and journalists settle their dumb arguments — and yours — by actually doing the research. Hosts Manny Fidel, Noah ... more

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Recent Guests

David Owen
Writer at The New Yorker, author on technology, infrastructure, and everyday systems
The New Yorker
Episode: David Owen on Where the Water Goes
Josh Dean
Journalist and author, co-founder of Campside Media
Campside Media
Episode: Josh Dean on The Impossible Factory
Ben Bradford
Creator and host of Are We Doomed
Nuance Tales / Are We Doomed
Episode: Ben Bradford on Are We Doomed?
Lily Kaplan
Licensed therapist, writer of the reality test newsletter
Independent/Writer
Episode: Introducing: No Such Thing
AJ Jacobs
Journalist, author famous for history pieces
Mental Floss (historical column)
Episode: Introducing: No Such Thing
Helena de Groot
Writer, audio producer, host of Creation Myth
Episode: Helena de Groot on Creation Myth
Scott Schultz
Designer, creative director; co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba
Yo Gabba Gabba
Episode: Scott Schultz and Christian Jacobs on Yo Gabba Gabba
Christian Jacobs
Musician and performer; lead singer of The Aquabats; co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba
Yo Gabba Gabba
Episode: Scott Schultz and Christian Jacobs on Yo Gabba Gabba
Sam Fragoso
Host of Talk Easy, interviewer
Talk Easy
Episode: Sam Fragoso on Talk Easy

Host

Matthew Shaer
Host of Origin Stories; Campside Media

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 53 ratings
  • Solid

    Good mix of guests - but would love more writers rather than movie peeps

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mountainsarecalling33
    United States7 months ago
  • One of the best podcasts out there!!!!

    I listen to hundreds of podcasts every year. Dozens, weekly. But Origins is one of the best out there. The kind, thoughtful conversation, the fun anecdotes, the emotions behind the development of each creative idea. IS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    airammss
    Mexico8 months ago
  • This one snuck up on me!

    I really miss Longform. I wasn’t sure that this podcast could fill that void, but I was really drawn in by the conversations about the creative process and how writers and creators do their work and how different it looks for each individual. Thanks so much for these wonderful conversations!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RegencyReader1
    United States8 months ago
  • Finally, a Longform substitute

    Been waiting for something like this. And the guests so far are so good. It’s like Longform, but with a tighter lens.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thePodfatherPart2
    United States8 months ago
  • Insights and inspiration and entertainment

    It’s so exciting to hear the host and his guests go deep on a tv show or book or podcast. It’s just the right mix of creative insight and storytelling!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheStateofMD
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the deep dive into creative processes and behind-the-scenes details.
Many compare it favorably to other longform interview shows for its tight focus on craft.
The host leads thoughtful conversations with warmth and clarity.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Josh Dean on The Impossible Factory
Q: How long did the editing and revision process take, and what was the major challenge?
The first draft was submitted in 2020 and was deemed unfinished; it took four more years to submit the next draft, mainly to trim length and balance depth with narrative propulsion.
Josh Dean on The Impossible Factory
Q: Did you submit an outline? Do you have to submit an outline for a book?
Josh explains that he did not submit a formal outline for this book, but he provided a very detailed chapter breakdown and a rough plan; the team trusted his ability to write a coherent narrative after his previous work.
David Owen on Where the Water Goes
Q: How do you balance explaining complex legal and technical material without turning the piece into a textbook?
By using other people to explain ideas through quotes and then interweaving concise commentary that guides the reader, ensuring explanations are accessible without oversimplifying the subject.
David Owen on Where the Water Goes
Q: How long are typical pitches for The New Yorker, and how much research goes into them before you pitch?
Pitches have evolved to require more upfront research; nowadays, thorough preparation is expected, but the core pitch may still be concise, with substantial backing built in during the editing process.
Ben Bradford on Are We Doomed?
Q: Why did you decide to pitch Are We Doomed personally to people instead of going through a network or an agent?
Bradford explains that personal outreach leveraged his track record and credibility from public radio, though it was also a hustle of following up relentlessly to secure interest and funding while building a compelling concept.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Origin Stories

What is Origin Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, interview-driven show that pulls back the curtain on how celebrated works come to life. Across episodes, conversations center on the creative process—writing, directing, casting, research, and production choices—and how real-world constraints, politics, and personal journeys shape final projects. Listeners get behind-the-scenes anecdotes, practical storytelling insights, and deep dives into craft from journalists, filmmakers, showrunners, and authors. The format tends to blend rigorous analysis with intimate storytelling, making it especially valuable for creators, publishers, and brand-friendly partners seeking thoughtful, long-form conversations with industry insiders.

Where can I find podcast stats for Origin Stories?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Origin Stories. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Origin Stories and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Origin Stories get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Origin Stories, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Origin Stories?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Origin Stories, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Origin Stories have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Origin Stories has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Origin Stories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Origin Stories:

1. Zero to Well-Read
2. Radiolab
3. Revisionist History
4. Fresh Air
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Origin Stories are there?

Origin Stories launched 10 months ago and published 49 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Origin Stories?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Origin Stories?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Origin Stories from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Origin Stories?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Origin Stories. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Origin Stories?

Recent guests on Origin Stories include:

1. David Owen
2. Josh Dean
3. Ben Bradford
4. Lily Kaplan
5. AJ Jacobs
6. Helena de Groot
7. Scott Schultz
8. Christian Jacobs

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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