Beyond our Stories

AlefCine Stream

Every person has a story. Some are filled with joy. Others with heartbreak, resilience, hope or unexpected change. But every story has the power to teach us something about ourselves. Beyond our Stories is a podcast where meaningful conversations begin after the story ends. Hosted by Ali Schmahl and Stefanie Schmahl, each episode explores the experiences, emotions and life lessons that connect us all. Through honest conversations inspired by remarkable stories, we go beyond the surface to talk about relationships, mental health, resilience, personal growth, creativity and the moments that shape who we become. This isn't a podcast about movies. It's a podcast about people. Because sometimes, someone else's story helps us better understand our own. If a conversation inspires you, continue the journey by discovering the stories behind these conversations on AlefCine Stream. Welcome to Beyond our Stories.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    What If the Voice Holding You Back Is Your Own? | Beyond Our Stories with Jessica Pressler

    In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Jessica Pressler, therapist, author and creator of The Traitor Within, to explore why we sometimes ignore our instincts, repeat painful relationship patterns and struggle to trust ourselves, even when something doesn't feel right. Jessica shares something deeply personal: despite years of helping others understand unhealthy relationships, she found herself caught in the same patterns again and again. It wasn't until she stepped away and began looking inward that she discovered what she calls the traitor within, a part of ourselves that once helped protect us but may now be holding us back. Our conversation also turns to I Love You My Narcissist. Drawing on her professional knowledge and personal experiences, Jessica reflects on the movie's portrayal of narcissistic manipulation, why leaving an unhealthy relationship can be so difficult, and why we should never assume that someone who stays simply doesn't know better. If you'd like to experience the movie behind this conversation, I Love You My Narcissist is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com. Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  2. Oct 8

    How Do We Know When It's Time to Let Go? | Beyond Our Stories with Jennifer Van Gessel

    What happens when the answers you're searching for may never come? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Jennifer Van Gessel, writer and director of Water Horse, to explore our need for answers, the difference between persistence and obsession, and one of the hardest questions of all: when is it time to let go? In Water Horse, Diane has spent years searching for answers about her mother's disappearance. What begins with love and grief gradually becomes something much harder to escape. For Jennifer, the question at the heart of Diane's story is deeply human: sometimes not knowing can feel even harder than knowing something painful. Jennifer also reflects on her own determination while making the movie, the years she spent determined to finish it, and the difficult side of persistence that we don't always talk about. As she puts it, “Persistence can burn you out, and it can hurt you a lot.” But the conversation becomes more personal when Jennifer talks about the unanswered questions in her own life. She shares how relationships and friendships have sometimes ended without the explanation she wanted, leaving her wondering what happened and why. We also talk about what really frightens someone who makes horror movies, why the people Jennifer loves matter more to her than anything else, and how one movie unexpectedly changed the way she thinks about life, death and how lucky we are to be here at all. If you'd like to experience the movie behind this conversation, Water Horse is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com/products/water-horse Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  3. Oct 1

    How Much of Who We Become Comes From Our Family? | Beyond Our Stories with Caroline Bourg

    What happens when you've spent so much of your life being there for everyone else that you forget to ask what you need? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Caroline Bourg, who plays Salomé in Belle Enfant, to explore how family and childhood shape us and what it can take to become our own person. In Belle Enfant, Salomé has spent years trying to hold her family together, often at the expense of herself. For Caroline, that journey became unexpectedly personal. She shares how she had been estranged from her own mother when she began working on the movie, and how playing Salomé became part of a personal journey that eventually helped her make peace with her own family. We also talk about the roles we can take on inside our families, the experiences from childhood that continue shaping us as adults, and what can happen when we finally allow ourselves to say: I have needs too. Caroline reflects on a realization that came much later in her own life: her childhood and adolescence helped make her who she is, but they don't have to decide how she lives today. As she puts it, “My childhood made me, but now I can have control of my life.” Ultimately, this is a conversation about family and reconciliation, but also about something more personal: learning that being there for the people you love doesn't have to mean forgetting yourself. If you'd like to experience the movie behind this conversation, Belle Enfant is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com. Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  4. Sep 24

    Can Thinking About Death Change the Way We Live? | Beyond Our Stories with Constance Brenneman

    What if thinking about what happens after we die could change the way we live while we're here? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Constance Brenneman, director and producer of Afterlife: Beyond the Light, to talk about death, near-death experiences, the possibility of an afterlife and what all of these questions can teach us about living. Constance shares how an out-of-body experience early in her life changed her relationship with the unknown and eventually led her on a much deeper journey of curiosity and exploration about life and what could come after. But this isn't a conversation about proving what happens after we die. Instead, Constance shares how years of thinking about death and the afterlife have affected her relationship with fear, conflict, kindness, authenticity and the things we often allow to consume our attention. Ultimately, this is a conversation that begins with one of life's biggest mysteries, but leads somewhere much closer to home: If our time here is limited, how do we want to live it? If you'd like to experience the movie that started this conversation, Afterlife: Beyond the Light is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com. Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  5. Sep 17

    Can Leaving Help You Discover Who You Really Are? | Beyond Our Stories with Giada Joys

    What if leaving isn't only about getting away from someone, but also about discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Giada Joys to talk not only about losing yourself in a relationship, but more importantly about finding the courage to leave and slowly discovering who you can become afterward. Giada takes us back to the person she was before the relationship, including arriving in New York with what she describes as a "luggage full of dreams." She shares how experiences from her childhood shaped what love felt like to her, and how that understanding followed her into a relationship where affection gradually became manipulation, humiliation and fear. We talk about why recognizing an unhealthy relationship can be so difficult when you're living inside it, why leaving is rarely as simple as it appears from the outside, and what happens when you have spent so long questioning yourself that trusting your own voice becomes difficult. Giada also shares what it was like watching I Love You My Narcissist. Certain moments brought her back to experiences from her own relationship so strongly that she needed to pause the movie and take breaks. Through Emily's story, she recognized emotions and dynamics that felt deeply familiar. Ultimately, this is a conversation about what can happen when leaving something that made you lose yourself becomes the beginning of discovering who you are. Watch the movie I Love You My Narcissist on AlefCine Stream via the link below: https://ac-stream.com The movie ends. The conversation begins. Beyond Our Stories is presented by AlefCine Stream. New episodes every Thursday.

  6. Sep 10

    Can Becoming Someone Else Help Us Understand Ourselves? | Beyond Our Stories with Cybèle Villemagne

    Why do we sometimes feel the need to apologize for taking up space? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Cybèle Villemagne, actress in Belle Enfant, for a conversation that begins with the characters we play and gradually becomes something much more personal. As an actress, Cybèle gets to temporarily step into other people's lives. But what can becoming someone else reveal about who we are ourselves? Cybèle talks openly about the qualities she recognizes in the women she plays. She also shares why playing a character can feel like being "on holiday" from herself, and why she prefers understanding a character through empathy rather than searching through her own painful experiences. But the conversation takes us beyond acting and into family, relationships and the things we sometimes struggle to say to the people closest to us. Through her character Cheyenne in Belle Enfant, we explore what can happen when everything looks bright on the outside while something very different is happening underneath. Cybèle also shares how making the movie unexpectedly influenced the way she communicates with her own family. Ultimately, this is a conversation about the different versions of ourselves we carry, the people who help us see them, and what can happen when we allow ourselves to be a little more honest about who we are. If you'd like to experience the movie that started this conversation, Belle Enfant is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com. Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  7. Sep 3

    Can Our Regrets Change the Way We Live? | Beyond Our Stories with Henk Pretorius

    If you could live forever, would you? In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Henk Pretorius, director of Forever Young, for a conversation that begins with a seemingly simple question about getting older and gradually becomes something much more personal. When Henk first began thinking about Forever Young, the idea of living forever appealed to him. Years later, his answer has changed. So what happens to the way we see time as we get older? Would having more of it actually make our lives more meaningful? Henk talks openly about ambition, relationships, the choices we make and the things we sometimes understand only after time has passed. He also shares a deeply personal connection between Forever Young and his relationship with his father, and why looking back changed the way he understood both his father and the story he wanted to tell. But the conversation also takes us beyond Forever Young and into Henk's own life as a storyteller and director. Knowing what he knows today, would he choose the same career again? What would he have done differently? And what does he regret? Ultimately, one question remains: If there is something you already know you might regret, do you still have time to change it? If you'd like to experience the movie that started this conversation, Forever Young is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com. Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  8. Aug 27

    Why We Need to Stop Sugarcoating Difficult Experiences | Beyond Our Stories with Livi North

    Why do we feel the need to make difficult experiences sound better than they actually are?   In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Livi North, creator and host of U****k Your Coparenting, and talk about what happens when you stop sugarcoating the things you've been through and start naming them for what they are.   Livi shares why she deliberately chose such an unapologetic name for her work, why cussing can sometimes express what polite language simply can't, and why difficult experiences don't always need to be made more comfortable for other people. But our conversation goes much further.   What happens after you finally choose yourself and leave a relationship that has changed you? What if leaving doesn't actually mean the difficult part is over? And what do you gain by going through the most difficult parts of it all?   The conversation was inspired by I Love You My Narcissist, and Livi also shares her reaction to the movie and what she recognized in Emily's gradual transformation. The movie becomes the starting point for a bigger conversation about something stories don't always show us: what happens after someone leaves?   If you'd like to experience the movie that started this conversation, I Love You My Narcissist is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com.   Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  9. Aug 20

    Why You Have to Experience Life to Truly Grow | Beyond Our Stories with Marine Bohin

    Can we truly grow without allowing ourselves to experience life?   In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we sit down with Marine Bohin, lead actress of Belle Enfant, for an honest and personal conversation that begins with a movie about family, unresolved conflicts and the complicated ways we try to reconnect with the people closest to us.   Marine shares some of the experiences that stayed with her from making the movie, including how its story unexpectedly opened up deeply personal conversations about family among the people working on it.   But our conversation goes far beyond the movie. How much do the people we meet and the experiences we have shape who we become? Why should we allow ourselves to change instead of holding on to an old version of who we are? And can we truly grow without going out into the world and experiencing life?   Marine talks openly about uncertainty, relationships, rejection and the pressure of being chosen, but also about why she believes we need to keep meeting people, experiencing new things and allowing ourselves to evolve.   We also talk about something much quieter: how little we sometimes know about what another person is carrying. Behind the person we see may be experiences, struggles and stories we know nothing about. Sometimes simply remembering that can change the way we treat one another.   If you'd like to experience the movie that started this conversation, Belle Enfant is available on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com/products/belle-enfant.   Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins. New episodes every Thursday.

  10. Aug 13

    Why Who You Let In Has Consequences | Beyond Our Stories with Kimberly Weeks

    Who we let into our lives can change us in ways we may not recognize until much later. In this episode of Beyond Our Stories, we welcome Kimberly Weeks for a deeply personal conversation about narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation, identity, healing, and finding your voice after experiences that changed you.   Why do people stay in relationships that are hurting them? What happens when someone else's words slowly become the way you see yourself? And how do you begin finding yourself again? Kimberly Weeks is a Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Coach, Trauma Recovery Practitioner, and co-founder of the Global Trauma Institute. Through her work, she helps survivors heal from narcissistic, psychological, and spiritual abuse by combining trauma-informed education with biblical wisdom. Kimberly is the founder of the StandFirm Healing Community and the creator of programs that empower women to rebuild their lives, trust their discernment, and establish healthy boundaries. She shares what she has learned through her own experiences and through speaking with survivors. You can find her on Instagram and her website via the links below: https://www.instagram.com/iamkimberlyweeks https://www.kimberlyweeks.com/   The conversation is inspired by the movie "I Love You My Narcissist". Kimberly reflects on watching the movie herself and why viewers have told her: “I saw myself in this character.”   This is a conversation about the damage people can leave behind.  But more importantly, it is about what they cannot take from us. Our voice. Our compassion. Our ability to understand. And our capacity to heal.   And if you would like to experience the movie behind this conversation, I Love You My Narcissist is available exclusively on AlefCine Stream at www.ac-stream.com.   Beyond Our Stories The movie ends. The conversation begins.   New episodes every Thursday.

  11. Aug 6

    How 1 Story Changed Everything | The Beginning of Beyond Our Stories

    The movie ends. The conversation begins.   Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll. They make us reflect, challenge the way we see the world, and sometimes even change how we understand ourselves and the people around us.   Every person has a story.   Some are filled with joy. Others with heartbreak, resilience, hope, or unexpected change. But every story has the power to teach us something about ourselves.   That is where Beyond Our Stories begins.   Hosted by Ali Schmahl and Stefanie Schmahl, Beyond Our Stories explores the people behind remarkable stories and the conversations they inspire.   Together with actors, film directors and other inspiring guests, we explore the experiences, emotions, and life lessons that connect us all. We go beyond the surface to talk about relationships, mental health, personal growth, creativity, and the defining moments that shape who we become.   This is not a podcast about movies. It is a podcast about people. Because behind every great story is a person. And sometimes, someone else’s story helps us better understand our own.   If a conversation inspires you, continue the journey by discovering the movies behind these conversations on AlefCine Stream. Watch our movies on AlefCine Stream: https://ac-stream.com Every story begins on the screen. But it continues within us.

  12. Aug 5

    Beyond our Stories | Introduction

    Welcome to Beyond Our Stories. Every person has a story that shaped who they are. Some stories inspire us. Others challenge us. Many remain untold. Beyond Our Stories is a podcast where we go beyond the screen and beyond the headlines to discover the people behind the stories. Through honest conversations with actors, filmmakers, artists, experts, and inspiring guests, we explore the experiences, emotions, challenges, and defining moments that make us who we are. This is not just a podcast about movies. It's about life, human connection, resilience, creativity, and the stories that connect us all. In this introduction, host Ali Schmahl shares the vision behind Beyond Our Stories and what you can expect from future episodes. Whether you're passionate about storytelling, independent cinema, personal growth, or simply enjoy meaningful conversations, you're in the right place. Subscribe and join us as we discover the extraordinary stories behind extraordinary people. New episodes coming soon. #BeyondOurStories #Podcast #Storytelling #HumanConnection #PersonalGrowth #IndependentCinema #AlefCineStream #ConversationsThatMatter #BehindTheScenes #Actors #Filmmakers #Creativity #Inspiration #LifeStories #MentalHealth #AuthenticConversations

  • 1 Trailer
    11 Episodes

Trailer

About

Every person has a story. Some are filled with joy. Others with heartbreak, resilience, hope or unexpected change. But every story has the power to teach us something about ourselves. Beyond our Stories is a podcast where meaningful conversations begin after the story ends. Hosted by Ali Schmahl and Stefanie Schmahl, each episode explores the experiences, emotions and life lessons that connect us all. Through honest conversations inspired by remarkable stories, we go beyond the surface to talk about relationships, mental health, resilience, personal growth, creativity and the moments that shape who we become. This isn't a podcast about movies. It's a podcast about people. Because sometimes, someone else's story helps us better understand our own. If a conversation inspires you, continue the journey by discovering the stories behind these conversations on AlefCine Stream. Welcome to Beyond our Stories.

Information

  • Creator
    AlefCine Stream
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AlefCine Stream
  • Show Website
    Beyond our Stories