They battle sleep deprivation, the flu and a never-ending chorus of crickets but they do it in the name of friendship… or they would if they were in one of the stories discussed in this first episode of the new theme cycle. Daniel and Jon take a look at what the friendships between characters mean for the stories they exist in.

Listen to a reading of Daniel’s short story, Heavy Void, by Blake and then a follow-up discussion. They take a look at how the concepts discussed over the previous three episodes manifest in the story and why Daniel made certain decisions about the plot

Daniel and Blake turn their attention to the horror video game, Corpse Party, originally released in 1996 before spawning many sequels, remasters and remakes in the years since. They explore how to use gore in a way that is more than just spectacle, how to use mundane terrors to great effect and the strengths and weaknesses of the game’s storytelling.

Daniel is joined by Blake Pingleton and a relentless chorus of crickets to discuss Drew Goddard’s 2011 comedy/horror film, The Cabin in the Woods. Together, they take a look at how the movie carefully balances two very different genres and uses audience expectations to its advantage.

Daniel is joined by a new guest, author and voice actor, Blake Pingleton. Together they take a look at a favourite genre of theirs - horror. What makes things scary? Is gore horror? Why do franchises become less scary over time? They discuss that and more.

Jon reads Daniel’s magic-focused short story, The Orchard. Afterwards, Daniel and Jon discuss The Orchard and take a look at how it incorporates or subverts the various conventions in magic systems discussed in the previous episodes of the cycle and examine what that might mean for the world of the story.

Daniel and Jon, with a healthy degree of trepidation, take a look at another youth-defining series of stories as they continue the cycle of episodes on magic. They discuss where the Harry Potter franchise’s loose worldbuilding and vague soft magic system fail and where those traits work to the story’s advantage - all while trying and failing not to discuss their personal feelings about the author.

Daniel and Jon take a walk down memory lane, revisiting a favourite book series from when they were growing up: Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. They discuss the inspirations behind the series and examine how books that are very derivative on paper can meld concepts together into something that still stands on its own.

The next themed cycle of episodes begins. Daniel is joined by returning guest, Jon Coenan, to discuss magic and magic systems in fiction and how they can be integrated into a story.

In the final episode of the first theme cycle, we open with a reading of the prologue of Daniel’s book, Domino. Then, Daniel and Jon discuss the book itself and how Daniel’s approach to it relates back to previous discussions on disaster stories.

This episode is for the weebs. In the third episode focused on disaster stories, Daniel and Jon take a look at Vanillaware’s 2019 video game, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and how mixing disaster stories with other genres and exploring different methods of telling a story can elevate a work beyond a mash-up of different homages and references.

In the second episode of the first cycle, the discussion on disaster stories continues. This time, Daniel and his returning guest, Jon Coenan, are putting a twist on things. Episode Two is focused on Adam McKay’s satirical disaster movie, Don’t Look Up (2021).

Stories Across Borders kicks off with a bang. The first cycle begins with “disasters” as its theme. Daniel Radford and guest, Jon Coenan, discuss just what makes a good disaster story and why these tales are so compelling.