Stories are how we make sense of our lives, sell our ideas and remember our history. London Real has sat down with screenwriting teachers, novelists, podcasters, documentary makers, poets and comedians to ask how a good story works. These conversations cover structure and conflict, writing fiction, telling true stories of war and history, spoken word and the power of a single voice. Some guests teach the craft, others have simply lived extraordinary stories. Every full interview is free to watch.
From Story Seminar creator Robert McKee and Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk to Trainspotting novelist Irvine Welsh, Hardcore History creator Dan Carlin, war reporter Sebastian Junger, astronaut and novelist Chris Hadfield and spoken word poet Suli Breaks: the people who tell stories for a living.
Robert McKee, the creative writing teacher behind the Story Seminar, explains why moral conflict fascinates us and why he sees story as equipment for living. Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, returns to talk about acts of rebellion and his book Not Forever, But For Now. Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh discusses Skagboys, the film of his novel Filth and the lasting impact of Trainspotting. BAFTA-winning writer Geoff Thompson talks about forgiveness, and John Cleese argues that modern culture has changed what we are allowed to find funny.
Dan Carlin, creator of the Hardcore History podcast, explains how he turns history into long, immersive narratives. Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, War and Tribe, joins his co-director Nick Quested to discuss Hell On Earth, their documentary on the fall of Syria and the rise of ISIS. Astronaut Chris Hadfield talks about his novels The Apollo Murders and The Defector. Wes Watson tells his own story of ten years in California prisons and the routine he says changed his life.
Suli Breaks, a spoken word poet from London, first came to London Real as an ambassador for Surviving Our Streets, a violence prevention group. He talks about his hit video Why I Hate School But Love Education, why he sees spoken word and rap as different art forms and how he looks to Michael Jordan for inspiration. Ice-T looks back on a career in hip hop and acting and shares his advice on freedom of speech.
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Who has London Real interviewed about storytelling? Brian Rose has interviewed Robert McKee, Chuck Palahniuk, Irvine Welsh, Dan Carlin, Sebastian Junger, Nick Quested, Chris Hadfield, Geoff Thompson, John Cleese, Suli Breaks and Ice-T, among others.
What makes a good story, according to the guests? Robert McKee puts conflict at the centre, especially moral conflict. Dan Carlin shows how detail and pace can make history feel alive. Suli Breaks shows how much a single voice and a few honest lines can carry.
How is Storytelling different from Literature? Storytelling covers every way of telling a story, from screenplays and podcasts to documentaries and spoken word. The Literature page focuses on books and their authors.
Are the full storytelling episodes free to watch? Yes. Every full-length interview on this page can be watched free on londonreal.tv.
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