Coming of Age Stories

I welcome back the wonderful Tom Christophersen to talk about Ron Howard's documentary film 'Jim Henson: Idea Man'. We explore the life and career of Jim Henson, and along the way talk about what we sacrifice to make art, discuss the comparisons between Henson and David Lynch, and whether Disney+ and Ron Howard were the best people to tell this story. But also, how can you capture

She rose to stardom as a teenager and has stayed at the top for almost twenty years. In this episode, I dive into the career trajectory of Taylor Swift and explore what her journey has to say about growing up as so many of us have watched her do so in the public eye. I also discuss why she appeals so much to teenage girls, and what's the potential dark side to such popularity. You

An incredibly special episode! I talk to the talented, intelligent and passionate Tom Christophersen about one of our seminal childhood films, the 1986 Jim Henson classic 'Labyrinth.' We really get INTO IT in this episode. We talk about the incredible technical achievements in this movie, the magic of puppetry and practical events, and the underrated genius that is Jim Henson. Beyo

In which I dig into the newest element of the Santa Claus story, and how a picture book and toy written by a mother/daughter team has become a global phenomenon. I discuss the history and origins of Elf on the Shelf, and explore some of the critcisms of it. Spoiler alert: this thing makes people MAD. If you want to support the podcast and get monthly bonus episodes, you can subscri

In 1999, one of the most authentic portrayals of adolescence to ever be depicted on television went to air. It was praised by critics for its realism and unique blend of comedy and drama. Its creators and stars would go on to become some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Yet at the time, no one watched it, and it was cancelled without all of its episodes going to air. Join me for

And we're back! At the moment just with a little mini episode, but full-length deep dives into all things growing up return next month! In the meantime, enjoy this little chat about the origins of Halloween in honour of this spooky season. You can also support me on Patreon if you like: https://patreon.com/WildeandDarling Podcasts: You're Wrong About: Urban Legends American Hysteri

The story of Peter Pan has been around for over a hundred years, and is well known as one of the most beloved children's tales of our culture. But how did author James Barrie's greatest tragedies inspire him to write it? What does it really have to say about getting older? And why is Peter not the character we should be focusing on? The answers to these questions and more are all d

In this episode, I interview Sylvia Morris, a freelance children's illustrator from Adelaide, currently working in Melbourne. You can find her work in the NSW Dept of Education School Magazine, and on the covers of the middle grade books The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor, and The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel by Nicki Greenberg - both published by Melbourne pu

How did a Greek bishop from the third century become the jolly North Pole dwelling Christmas icon? Did Coca Cola really design his modern appearance? And is it okay to lie to kids about him? In this episode I tell the history of Saint Nicholas and how collective cultural traditions came together to give us the contemporary Santa Claus. I also discuss whether telling the Santa story

Under what conditions do we learn best? In both fiction and real life, there is an argument to be made that greatness thrives under pressure, fear and adversity. I make the case for the ineffectiveness of such teaching methods, and reject the notion that sacrificing kindness is worth it to create a genius. This episode really serves as an introduction of a number of different conce