Rephonic
Artwork for The Story Blender

The Story Blender

The Story Blender
Storytelling
Character Development
Writing
Comedy
Folklore
Horror
Writing Process
Publishing Industry
Suspense
Cultural Identity
The Second Son
Moral Dilemmas
Cultural Appropriation
Folktales
Community Engagement
The Usual Silence
Screenwriting
Crime Fiction
At the Island's Edge
Hollywood

WHERE GREAT STORYTELLERS SHARE THE SECRETS TO GREAT STORYTELLING. Hosted by Steven James.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes336Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Story Blender

Latest Episodes

International bestselling author Alex Finlay joins me to talk about trusting your readers, letting them fill in the gaps, how much planning to do (or not do) before writing your book, and how to handle clichƩs in a way that lets you get away with usi... more

With books sold in 150 countries, author J.D. Barker has become a name synonymous with suspense. He joins me to talk about his writing process, the economy of language, how to start scenes (and how not to), and why the emotional impact of stories mat... more

This week on The Story Blender, international bestselling author Douglas Preston and his coauthor (and daughter), Aletheia Preston, join me to discuss their latest novel, PARADOX.

We explore what makes characters truly resonate, why believability ma... more

Martial arts expert and author Carla Hoch joins me to talk about writing fight scenes that actually work. How do you write a knife fight scene? What do you need to remember? What would (or should) your character do? Is it better to fight on the groun... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

JD Barker
New York Times and International bestselling author; specializes in suspense thrillers with elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural
Author
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 30: J. D. Barker
Douglas Preston
Co-author of Paradox; author of numerous thrillers and non-fiction works
Self
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 29: Douglas & Aletheia Preston
Aletheia Preston
Co-author of Paradox; former prosecutor; writer of thrillers and science fiction
Self
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 29: Douglas & Aletheia Preston
Carla Hoch
Award-winning writer, world champion jujitsu player, educator on writing fight scenes
Author and instructor, Writers Digest University; fightright.net
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 28: Carla Hoch
Zena Dell Lowe
Screenwriter, storytelling consultant, podcaster
The Storytellers Mission
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 27: Zena Dell Lowe
Mark Phillips
Author of My Father's Cabin
Author, My Father's Cabin
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 26: Mark Phillips
Gregory Poirier
Screenwriter, director, and producer; author of A Thousand Cuts
Author, Screenwriter
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 25: Gregory Poirier
T. J. Payne
Author of Intercepts, The Venue, In My Father's Basement
Author
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 24: T.J. Payne
Bethany Jett
Literary agent and marketing expert discussing pitching, publishing, and the industry
Literary Agency (Bethany Jett)
Episode: Season 10 - Episode 23: Bethany Jett

Host

Steven James
Host of The Story Blender

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Mark greaney episode

    Despite my crazy user name, I am a real person. 😬. Loved the episode with Mark Greaney. I learned a lot. This podcast is fantastic for writers and readers. Thanks for hosting it SJ.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    !! jnknsjsnrjne d
    United States2 years ago
  • An absolute inspiration

    I go away from each episode so inspired.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FBis1203
    Singapore3 years ago
  • Valuable insights!

    This show is brilliant! I highly recommend to listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Claribelleee
    Philippines4 years ago
  • You’ll love this author to author behind-the-scenes!

    Steven James is a world-class entertainer yet his magic as an interviewer is allowing his guests to shine. I love the authenticity in these author to author talks, five stars high!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goodbye Orchid, a novel
    United States6 years ago
  • Great interviews with great authors

    I especially enjoyed the Orson Scott Card interview. Every time he apologized with, ā€œI’ve been rambling too much, but can I keep going?ā€ I was glad Steven James chuckled and said ā€œOf course!ā€ Exactly how I felt. Thanks, Steven, for letting us hang out with you and many other wonderful writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Clark L. Zeuss
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging host who lets guests shine and shares insightful commentary.
Guests offer diverse perspectives across genres and publishing paths.
Practical, actionable advice for writers at any stage.
Thoughtful author-to-author conversations that really pull back the curtain on craft.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#247
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#94
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#145
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#231
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#240
Finland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season 10 - Episode 28: Carla Hoch
Q: What led you to start writing fight scenes and teaching writers about them?
I began fighting training while writing a book with many fight scenes, and I realized I needed to understand the mechanics to write believably, then I translated that into teaching other writers how to convey authenticity without getting bogged down in jargon.
Season 10 - Episode 26: Mark Phillips
Q: So how would you explain plot to someone who isn't a writer, and is there a difference between plot and story?
Plot is the thread that makes a reader want to turn the page, a forward thrust that keeps the reader engaged by weaving a coherent path through events, even in nonfiction, while story includes the deeper meaning and themes that give those events lasting significance.
Season 10 - Episode 25: Gregory Poirier
Q: How important is it to have a rigid structure when writing a screenplay versus a novel?
Structure is essential, but its rigidity differs by format. In film, structure guides economy and pacing, while in a novel there is more room to explore tangents and backstories, as long as they feed the central theme.
Season 10 - Episode 17: Emily Carpenter
Q: So you have a new book, A Spell For Saints And Sinners. What drew you to this story in particular?
The story follows Ingrid, a Savannah-based psychic who inherits her grandmother's business and a crumbling townhouse, drawing her into a wealthy family's secrets and a dangerous form of magic grounded in ritual and tradition, which she must navigate without losing herself.
Season 10 - Episode 17: Emily Carpenter
Q: So how important is location in your story setting, and how do you create that atmosphere?
Location is as important as character and plot; the Southern setting with its humidity, weather, vegetation, food, music, religion, and history becomes a three-legged stool together with character and plot, guiding tone and shaping how readers feel the world.

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 The Story Blender

What is The Story Blender about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, craft-first interview show where seasoned writers, agents, and educators share practical insights on storytelling, publishing, and building a writing career. Episodes often center on character development, point of view, genre expectations, and real-world processes like pitching to agents, navigating market realities, and balancing craft with audience needs. Listeners get actionable tips—from loglines and submissions to constructing immersive worlds and authentic dialogue—plus behind-the-scenes anecdotes from successful authors and industry professionals. The format tends to feature author-to-author conversations and expert guidance, making it a valuable resource for aspiring writers, editors, and agents seeking deeper understandi... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Story Blender?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Story Blender. 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 The Story Blender and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Story Blender get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Story Blender, 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 The Story Blender?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Story Blender, 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 The Story Blender have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Story Blender 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.

How many episodes of The Story Blender are there?

The Story Blender launched 7 years ago and published 336 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 The Story Blender?

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 The Story Blender?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Story Blender 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 The Story Blender?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Story Blender. 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 The Story Blender?

Recent guests on The Story Blender include:

1. JD Barker
2. Douglas Preston
3. Aletheia Preston
4. Carla Hoch
5. Zena Dell Lowe
6. Mark Phillips
7. Gregory Poirier
8. T. J. Payne

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days