The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 4 - Creation Evolved
Release Date: 02/13/2026
The Smarter Artist Show-30 (Alternate Endings: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
The Smarter Artist Show
This week’s podcast is another Alternate Endings, a show we recorded in 2021 and never released… until now, where we each make the others watch a movie we loved. Think of it like Oprah’s Book Club, if she chose books to piss off the others in the club. This week’s pick was from Sean. And it was his hero, Quentin Tarantino, and his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Sean LOVES Tarantino. Dave does not. Let the arguments begin! Sign up for our Dispatch, a weekly column to inspire your creativity at
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The Smarter Artist Show-29: What Should I Write?
The Smarter Artist Show
This week we responded to a recent conversation I had with a struggling writer. Which led me to ask Sean and Johnny what made them start writing, why they chose the books they wrote as their first books, and how do they decide what to write next. Despite knowing one another for 15 years, this is the first time we actually talked about our early inspiration. And, oddly enough, we all share one common writer in common as being the most influential on us. Can you guess who? We also talked about discovering your voice versus imitation of your favorites, how to decide between commercial...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 28 - Alternate Endings: Train to Busan
The Smarter Artist Show
This week we bring you the third episode of Alternate Endings, the show between the Smarter Artist episodes, where we force each other to watch a show or movie and then talk about it. These episodes were recorded in 2021, then promptly hidden in a vault for reasons unknown, never before aired. This week we talk about my pick, the zombie thriller Train to Busan. Additionally, we argue about Stephen Kind and Quentin Tarantino.
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The Smarter Artist Show 27: Alternate Endings - Gone Girl
The Smarter Artist Show
Sean’s out of town this week, so time to dig into the archives of unreleased episodes of Alternate Endings. This week we talk Gone Girl, what we liked, what we didn’t like, and then compare it to another author who attempted to write their own screenplay with wildly different results. Want more Smarter Artist delivered every week to your inbox? Sign up free at and never miss an episode.
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The Smarter Artist Show-26: The Future of Story
The Smarter Artist Show
There’s never been a better (or more difficult) time to be a creator it seems. With existential threats of AI, a population that isn’t reading as much, and cost cutting at the studios, what does the future of story look like? In today’s episode we look at the landscape of books, film, and video games, and give our guesses as to what’s next, what we’re worried about, and what we look forward to. TIMESTAMPS 6:00 — Johnny gets annoyed 6:30 — Johnny’s talks about his upcoming thriller, Terminal, and the Kickstarter he’s doing for it. 11:40 — Dave talks about...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 25 - Alternate Endings - Tenet (Bonus Podcast)
The Smarter Artist Show
Remember when Brandon Sanderson revealed a bunch of books he’d written? Well, this is our version of that. We’re revealing a podcast we recorded in 2021 or 2022 called Alternate Endings. A show that we recorded a year’s worth of episodes! It’s a show where Sean, Johnny, and I (Dave) force each other to watch a different show or movie each week and then get together and talk, argue, and discuss. Up first, the super easy to understand Tenet. If you like this episode, let us know. We’ll release more bonus shows like this every so often when we’re in a pinch. Or...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 24 - The Books We'd Build Different Now
The Smarter Artist Show
In this episode Sean, Johnny, and Dave go back through four of their own series (Available Darkness, Karma Police, Cursed, and Robot Proletariat) and ask what they’d do differently now. Not with the stories themselves, but the surrounding architecture, to ensure that each series had a better shot at success. SOMETHING COOL 9:00 — Johnny finally created an Instagram account (@johnnybtruant) 14:40 — Sean talks about when Quentin Tarantino appeared in a Muppets movie. 18:00 — Topic of the show — Dave talks about he and Sean’s first book together, Available Darkness, and what...
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The Smarter Artist Show 23: Hypotheticals 2: Electric Boogaloo
The Smarter Artist Show
In this week’s episode of The Smarter Artist Show, Sean, Dave, and Johnny take turns answering Dave’s latest batch of hypothetical questions. Dave also talks about how one of the questions inspired a script idea. Join the guys for an assortment of amusing, weird, and intriguing hypothetical questions which you can play along at home! Note: In efforts to get to the nonsense sooner, we shortened the intro. The outro full song is still there for your listening enjoyment. 0:00 — Intro 14:00 — Question 1: You have a difficult neighbor. How do you deal with it? 24:25...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 22 - 20,000 Covers, One Lesson.
The Smarter Artist Show
In this episode, Sean, Dave, Johnny, and guest Matt Stone of 100 Covers talk about the number one thing successful books have in common. Spoiler: it has to do with the cover! Stay tuned to the end, or just go to the show notes, for a limited time offer from 100 Covers. **Special Promotion:** Special 50% offer at using the coupon code ASS from Friday June 19, 2026 to 11:59 PM EST Monday June 22, 2026. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guest Matt Stone 00:26 - The importance of showing your work and applying experience to your brand 02:30 - Something Cools: Johnny...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 21 - The $800 Movie
The Smarter Artist Show
This week Sean, Dave, and Johnny dig into the indie horror moment happening right now in Hollywood, two breakout films, Obsession and Backrooms, both made by filmmakers who came up on YouTube with almost no budget. They trace the path from Curry Barker's $800 film to a theatrical release that's earned around $250 million (at press time), and talk about why horror rewards resourcefulness in a way most genres don't. Sean talks for the first time on air about the horror script he and Dave have been developing, and the conversation he had with a friend that talked him out of a $5 million budget...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of The Smarter Artist Show, Johnny is missing in action. Which leaves Sean and I to discuss the controversial topic of AI and how it is affecting creativity and creatives.
We explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI.
Listen or watch at our website:
SOMETHINGS COOL
In our Something Cool segment Sean talks about the TV show Landman and I talk about the movie Groundhog Day. Does it hold up for Dave or his Gen Z son?
THE TOPIC — CREATIVITY EVOLVED
Then we talk about how AI is affecting creation in the creative fields — from writing to art to film to music to video games.
Technology is changing things, whether we like it or not. So if we can’t put the genie in the bottle, what CAN creators do to survive without getting lost?
There are no easy solutions or answers. And shit is bad for a lot of people, especially in the area of video games where the past year has seen a bloodbath in layoffs, thanks to AI.
So how can creatives evolve and survive, maybe even thrive?
Is there a way to use AI to enhance creativity without replacing it?
How do you keep your soul in today’s market?
What opportunities does AI offer people who used to lack access to creative tools?
We also discuss why we don’t use AI for our stories, but can see areas AI could be useful for writers (like making story Bibles of books already written and to track things.)
Then we discuss an area where Sean does enjoy playing with AI — in creating music. It began as an adversarial curiosity, but then he started spending hundreds of hours actually writing lyrics for the songs and engineering the music in his head with AI to make something fun.