5AM StoryTalk

Cole Haddon

Why does art matter in our chaotic world? Join screenwriter and novelist Cole Haddon for 5AM StoryTalk, a deep dive into 21st century culture and global issues through the lens of storytelling. Main episodes feature screenwriting deep dives, cultural analysis, and intimate conversations with artists and thought leaders like John August (Scriptnotes), Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange), Dr. Kevin Hand (NASA), and Sen. Fatima Payman (Australian politician). Bonus eps offer craft and arts industry insights and "mini masterclasses'"breaking down seminal pieces of art from guests’ lives.

5AM STORYTALK

Exclusive bonus episodes with my guests!

$4.99/mo or $39.99/yr after trial

  1. 4d ago

    Musician Tim Rogers | Redefining the Measure of Success

    How do you survive 35 years in rock 'n' roll when the music industry's definition of success is a trap that can destroy you? Musician TIM ROGERS—front man of iconic Aussie band You Am I—looks back with an unvarnished eye at a career that includes hit albums, acting for stage and screen, a memoir, and, most recently, getting inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He breaks down his early days in the trenches of the 90s music scene, the heavy toll of chasing other people's measure of success, and discovering that the greatest, most enduring joy for an artist is still writing a song just for yourself. Learn more about Tim here: https://tim-rogers.com.au/ JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: BULL DURHAM (1988) Tim returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his own life. What would make an Aussie fall so in love with a film about America’s Favorite Past Time? UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/tim-rogers-breaks-down-bull-durham UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: TIP JAR: Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA: 5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EMAIL: ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com CREDITS: 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast’s music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tin Rogers cover photo by Jason Rosewarne.

    Musician Tim Rogers | Redefining the Measure of Success

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus · Subscribers Only

    Tim Rogers Breaks Down ‘Bull Durham’ (Subscriber Exclusive)

    Australian musician TIM ROGERS (You Am I, The Hard-Ons) returns to to break down a seminal piece of art from his life — the iconic baseball film BULL DURHAM, written and directed by Ron Shelton and starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins. What would make an Aussie fall so in love with a film about America’s Favorite Past Time? Check out the trailer for 'Bull Durham': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yOGtD5fuDU EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE This episode is exclusive to my paid subscribers at Apple and Substack. Help me keep the lights on here – in addition to getting access to a ton of exclusive content – by becoming one. If you become a paid subscriber of the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter/podcast at Substack instead of going the Apple route, you'll get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources. https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ DID YOU MISS THE FEATURE EPISODE? Don't forget to check out my feature episode with Tim Rogers: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/tim-rogers-you-am-i-redefining-success TIP JAR Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at… ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com - 5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/

    Tim Rogers Breaks Down ‘Bull Durham’ (Subscriber Exclusive)

  3. Oct 20

    Finally Getting It Right as a Storyteller | The Brew

    What happens when a screenwriter finally catches a break? In this personal check-in, I discuss the sudden return of creative momentum after some major life changes, the hidden costs of building a life around storytelling, career volatility in film/TV today, what I’ve been watching that’s blown me away (like ‘Digger’), and much more. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠ LINKS: ▪︎ Learn more about Cole Haddon's 1-on-1 Mentorship Opportunities for Screenwriters, Authors, and Substack Creators (and book your own!): https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/1-on-1-story-mentorship-5am-storytalk ▪︎ Read "'Digger': How to Make a Film About How Terrible Your Audience Is": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/digger-how-to-make-a-film-about-how-terrible-your-audience-is ▪︎ Read "How ‘Digger’ Controls the Narrative (And What Screenwriters Can Learn From It)": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-digger-controls-the-narrative TIP JAR: Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing): https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA: 5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL: ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com⁠ CREDITS: 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast’s music is by Cary Brothers: ⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠

    Finally Getting It Right as a Storyteller | The Brew

  4. Oct 19 ·  Bonus · Subscribers Only

    Why Pitching Public Domain Ideas Can Get You Screwed (Subscriber Exclusive)

    Have a great idea based on history, myth, or a public domain book? Before you take it into a development meeting, listen to this 5AM StoryTalk bonus episode. Screenwriting veteran Cole Haddon shares the true story of how an American super-producer stole his public domain project—not behind his back, but to his face. Discover the hidden IP trap in and how to protect your takes before it's too late. EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE This episode is exclusive to my paid subscribers at Apple and Substack. Help me keep the lights on here – in addition to getting access to a ton of exclusive content – by becoming one. If you become a paid subscriber of the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter/podcast at Substack instead of going the Apple route, you'll get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources. https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ▪︎ Read "The Untold Horror Story of My First Screenplay Sale": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-untold-horror-story-of-my-first ▪︎ Listen to or read "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-of TIP JAR Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at… ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com - 5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/

    Why Pitching Public Domain Ideas Can Get You Screwed (Subscriber Exclusive)

  5. Oct 14

    'Digger': How to Make a Film About How Terrible Your Audience Is

    Hollywood and critics alike want you to believe Alejandro González Iñárritu’s DIGGER, starring Tom Cruise, is a failure in every respect—a satire with nothing to say that audiences were right to ignore. They’re completely missing the point. Beneath its glossy Hollywood exterior lies a relentless Russian nesting doll of a film designed to challenge the very role of cinema in our corporate-fascist state. It isn't just taking aim at billionaires; it’s setting a deliberate trap for the exact culture-goers sitting in the theater seats. In today's episode, we unpack why 'Digger' may be one of the most important and dangerous films of the 21st century, why film critics were so quick to bury it, and what its structure reveals about our relationship to modern art. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠ EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: "How ‘Digger’ Controls the Narrative (And What Screenwriters Can Learn From It)" I break down 'Digger’s' unique, six-layer Russian nesting doll structure to show how Digger weaponizes narrative control and stages a dangerous conversation between artists, corporate gatekeepers, and the audience about "who controls the narrative". UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-digger-controls-the-narrative UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-digger-controls-the-narrative-and-what/id1807437928?i=1000796609345 LINKS: ▪︎ Read "Cinema of Denial: Arrested Development in 21st-Century Film": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-tension-of-becoming-at-the-end TIP JAR: Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing): https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA: 5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL: ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com⁠ CREDITS: 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast’s music is by Cary Brothers: ⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠

    'Digger': How to Make a Film About How Terrible Your Audience Is

  6. Oct 13 ·  Bonus · Subscribers Only

    How ‘Digger’ Controls the Narrative (And What Screenwriters Can Learn From It) (Subscriber Exclusive)

    Say what you will about Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger—the Tom Cruise-starring film is a structurally ambitious piece of cinema that deserves to be studied by both its admirers and detractors. In this episode, we break down the film’s unique, six-layer Russian nesting doll structure. From its deceptively simple opening to a shocking twist that indicts its own audience, we explore how Digger weaponizes narrative control and stages a dangerous conversation between artists, corporate gatekeepers, and the audience about "who controls the narrative". EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE This episode is exclusive to my paid subscribers at Apple and Substack. Help me keep the lights on here – in addition to getting access to a ton of exclusive content – by becoming one. If you become a paid subscriber of the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter/podcast at Substack instead of going the Apple route, you'll get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources. https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ BE SURE TO CHECK OUT PART 1 OF THIS 'DIGGER' ANALYSIS "'Digger': How to Make a Film About How Terrible Your Audience Is": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/digger-how-to-make-a-film-about-how-terrible-your-audience-is TIP JAR Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at… ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com - 5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/

    How ‘Digger’ Controls the Narrative (And What Screenwriters Can Learn From It) (Subscriber Exclusive)

  7. Sep 22

    Director Paul Weitz | The 'Kamikaze' Approach to Hollywood

    How do you forge a successful Hollywood career when every project you write or direct takes chances that could blow it up? Filmmaker PAUL WEITZ looks back across a 30-year 'distressingly diverse' career that has gone from generation-defining sex comedy ('American Pie'), to Oscar-nominated drama ('About a Boy'), to creating genre-defying sci-fi TV ('Murderbot'). He’ll break down his secret origin, kamikaze approach to storytelling, and the creative machinery behind the upcoming 'Murderbot' Season 2 – all while pulling back the curtain on the actual mechanics of the screenwriting and directing crafts, navigating the unpredictable business of the studio system, and sustaining a fearless, long-haul career that actually pays off. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: "THE HEFTY NEIL STORY" from 'SCTV" (1977) Paul returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his life — an iconic episode-long sketch from “SCTV” called “The Hefty Neil Story”, starring John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, and many others. Hefty Neil helped define his sense of comedy! UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/paul-weitz-john-candy-sctv-hefty-neil-story UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-weitz-breaks-down-the-hefty-neil-story-from-sctv/id1807437928?i=1000791050799 TIP JAR: Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA: 5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EMAIL: ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com CREDITS: 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.

    Director Paul Weitz | The 'Kamikaze' Approach to Hollywood

  8. Sep 21 ·  Bonus · Subscribers Only

    Paul Weitz Breaks Down ‘The Hefty Neil Story’ from ‘SCTV’ (Subscriber Exclusive)

    PAUL WEITZ returns to to break down a seminal piece of art from his life — a brilliant episode-long 'Rocky' parody from 'SCTV' called 'The Hefty Neil Story', starring John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, and many others. This sketch helped define his sense of comedy and his analysis of it should help anyone looking to explore comedy on the big and small screens. Check out 'The Hefty Neil Story' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srbVwH2q4g EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE This episode is exclusive to my paid subscribers at Apple and Substack. Help me keep the lights on here – in addition to getting access to a ton of exclusive content – by becoming one. If you become a paid subscriber of the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter/podcast at Substack instead of going the Apple route, you'll get access to this podcast episode and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources. https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ DID YOU MISS THE FEATURE EPISODE? Don't forget to check out my feature episode with Paul Weitz here: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/paul-weitz-murderbot-hollywood-career TIP JAR Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at… ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠ Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠ ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠ EMAIL ⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com - 5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present. This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/

    Paul Weitz Breaks Down ‘The Hefty Neil Story’ from ‘SCTV’ (Subscriber Exclusive)
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Trailer

5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Why does art matter in our chaotic world? Join screenwriter and novelist Cole Haddon for 5AM StoryTalk, a deep dive into 21st century culture and global issues through the lens of storytelling. Main episodes feature screenwriting deep dives, cultural analysis, and intimate conversations with artists and thought leaders like John August (Scriptnotes), Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange), Dr. Kevin Hand (NASA), and Sen. Fatima Payman (Australian politician). Bonus eps offer craft and arts industry insights and "mini masterclasses'"breaking down seminal pieces of art from guests’ lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Cole Haddon
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cole Haddon
  • Show Website
    5AM StoryTalk
  • Provider
    BROKEN COMPASS PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD

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