The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 8 - Hypothetically Speaking
Release Date: 03/13/2026
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...
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The Smarter Artist Show: Episode 20 - The Thing We Haven't Written Yet
The Smarter Artist Show
Dave opens by holding up five completely filled journals to the camera, all devoted to a fantasy novel he's been building in his head for at least five years. That kicks off an hour-long conversation about the creative project you haven't written yet: the idea that's too big, too personal, or too risky to touch until you're ready. Sean's version is the very first book he ever wrote in 2007, a 600-page narrative nightmare with, in the words of Cindy's professor friend, "long passages of staggering genius." Both projects are alive, neither is finished… yet. Timestamps 00:00 — Cold open:...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of The Smarter Artist Show we’re answering hypothetical questions. Would we write in just one genre if we were guaranteed success? If we had to swap bodies with one of our co-hosts for just one day, who would we choose and what we do? What book or series would you like to be remembered for?
So join us for a fun episode with zero useful information but lots of laughs.
0:00 — Cold open, intro
6:00 — Somethings Cool
14:00 — Talking about reality shows
19:00 — “Value is coming”
20:00 — HYPOTHETICALS
21:00 — GUARANTEED SUCCESS
You are guaranteed success, but you have to ONLY write in one genre. What would you choose? What genre would you NOT write in?
26:00 — THE OFFER!
You are offered $5 million dollars to NEVER CREATE AGAIN. Would you take it? What if you could create but you couldn’t take credit for it?
28:00 — LIVING IN YOUR OWN WORLD
Which fictional world that you’ve created would you want to live in?
32:00 — WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
The three of us are offered one million dollars not to bathe. Which of us wins?
35:00 — SLIDING DOORS
What if we never met and hadn’t become writers, what would we be doing today?
40:00 — REALLY FREAKY FRIDAY
If you had to wake up tomorrow and live in the body of one of your co-hosts for 24 hours whose life would you choose?
44:00 — WORST REALITY SHOW EVER
A streaming service offers us a reality show, what would you pitch?
48:00 — COMFORT SHOW
If you could only watch one comfort show for the rest of your days, what would it be?
52:00 — LEGACY BOOK
What book or series would you like to be remembered for?
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