Podcast Summary
Exploring the complexities of trauma through a new Showtime series and managing money internationally with Wise: Discover authentic portrayals of trauma's impact on life with 'Yellowjackets' and simplify international money management with Wise's real-time exchange rates and no hidden fees.
Wise is a money transfer service that allows users to send and spend money in different currencies at the real-time mid market exchange rate, without any hidden fees. It's a convenient solution for managing money internationally and eliminating the need for airport currency exchange desks. Meanwhile, Viator is a travel platform where users can book guided tours and excursions in one place, with over 300,000 travel experiences to choose from and free cancellation and 24/7 customer support. In the world of storytelling, there's been a trend of labeling shows and movies as being "about trauma," but some critics argue that this can be a cliche and even insulting if not done well. The new Showtime series "Yellowjackets" stands out as it authentically explores the complex ways trauma can shape and reshape a person's life. The show follows a soccer team of teen girls whose plane crashes in the wilderness, leaving some of them to survive and deal with the aftermath in adulthood. The ways in which they are not okay closely mirror the ways trauma can impact a person. So, whether you're managing your money internationally or looking for a thought-provoking TV show, Wise and "Yellowjackets" offer unique solutions to make your life a little easier and more meaningful.
Exploring Trauma in Adolescent Storytelling: A Collaborative Process: The fascination with trauma in storytelling, particularly in adolescent stories, arises from our collective need to process and understand challenging experiences.
Trauma is a compelling subject for storytellers, particularly in stories about adolescents, due to its heightened dramatic potential and the human desire to process and understand difficult experiences. Bart Nickerson, one of the showrunners for Yellowjackets, shared how the idea for their show about a girls soccer team stranded in the woods and dealing with trauma came about through a collaborative brainstorming process with his cowriter and life partner, Ashley Lyle. They started with the concept of a lost sports team and the idea of telling the story in two timelines quickly followed, leading to the addition of cannibalism as a survival mechanism. The fascination with trauma in pop culture may stem from our collective need to explore and make sense of challenging experiences, much like how fairy tales have been retold throughout history to work out recurring ideas.
Exploring the depth of characters through hikes in Griffith Park: Intuitive discussions on hikes led to a visceral and enriching exploration of the human experience, reflecting the PTSD state of mind
The creators of the show "96 Souls" discovered the depth of their characters and crafted their story through intuitive discussions on hikes in Griffith Park. They didn't force the narrative to be about trauma but instead followed their curiosity and excitement. This approach led them to create a story that mirrors the PTSD experience, with the story beats intuitively replicating the state of mind of the characters. The process was not mysterious but rather a natural progression of discussing story ideas and following the physiological response to exciting story beats. The creators, who are not mental health professionals, approached the topic of trauma with curiosity and a desire to learn and change perspectives. The result is a visceral and enriching exploration of the human experience.
Exploring survival in a socialized society through genre elements: The creators used genre elements to immerse viewers in the characters' experiences and find enjoyment in their subjective craziness, creating an emotionally engaging and intensive show
The creators of the show intended to provide a subjective and immersive experience for the audience by exploring the horrors and excitement of survival in a highly socialized and constricted society. They used genre elements to heighten the story and create a sense of distance from the real-world stakes, allowing viewers to be more engrossed in the characters' experiences and find enjoyment in their subjective craziness, rather than being overwhelmed by the human cost and guilt. The creators aimed to make characters that viewers could relate to, even in their exaggerated forms, and hoped that the heightened quality of the genre would enable a more felt experience for the audience. Overall, the show is intended to be emotionally engaging and intensive, with elements of terror, exhilaration, and humor.
Creating emotional connections through universal truths: Uncovering characters' perspectives and acknowledging their flaws can create relatable and resonant stories, even in unconventional genres. Universal truths and human experiences form deep emotional connections with audiences.
Creating an emotional connection with audiences, especially in unconventional stories like teen survival cannibalism, requires focusing on the universal truths and human experiences rather than the specifics. The creators of "Yellowjackets" aimed to make their characters relatable by giving them distinct points of view and acknowledging their flaws, even if they were not always likable. The show's teenage girls, despite their dark actions, remind viewers of their own experiences and emotions, making the story more relatable and resonant. The ultimate goal is to uncover the truth of the characters' perspectives and form a deep connection with the audience. Mint Mobile's "secret sauce" is offering affordable wireless plans by selling services online, allowing them to pass savings directly to customers. The creators of "Yellowjackets" strive to find the human truth in their characters, even in the darkest of stories, to create a universal emotional connection with their audience.
Wise processes over $100 billion in transfers, half in record time: Financial service Wise facilitates fast, fee-free international money transfers, processing over $100 billion in 2023 with half completing faster than ad listen time.
Wise is a financial service that allows users to send and spend money in different currencies at the real-time mid-market exchange rate, with no hidden fees or markups. The company processed over $100 billion in transfers in 2023, with over half reaching their destination faster than the time it takes to listen to this ad. The creators of the TV show "The Girl From Plainville" used the premise of a traumatic situation to heighten the feelings of betrayal and survival, drawing on the idea that adolescence can be a significant trauma for some people. They also explored the depths of human rage and how it manifests differently in various social contexts, specifically focusing on girls' interactions. The creators, who are not experts in PTSD or trauma, use research to inform their storytelling, allowing them to explore these complex themes authentically.
Exploring Inspiration and Authenticity in TV Writing: In TV writing, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and research leads to authentic and universal stories, while avoiding reducing complex experiences into a checklist of symptoms.
The creative process in a TV writer's room often involves drawing inspiration from various sources, including personal experiences and research. These inputs may not directly translate into the script but can lead to meaningful conversations and new ideas. It's essential to avoid reducing complex and traumatic experiences into a checklist of symptoms while creating fictional narratives. Instead, the goal is to craft authentic and universal stories that resonate with audiences without flattening out the depth and complexity of the human experience. The writer's room is a magical place where deep discussions and exploration lead to the creation of stories with significant weight and impact.
Focusing on characters and experiences, not just trauma points, creates authentic stories: Effective storytelling about trauma prioritizes rich character development and exploration of the human condition, allowing trauma to naturally emerge and shape the narrative.
When creating a story that explores traumatic experiences, it's crucial to prioritize the narrative above rigid adherence to specific trauma points. According to the discussion, if a writer focuses solely on the trauma points, the story may feel flat and inauthentic. Instead, the story should be driven by the characters and their experiences, allowing the trauma to naturally emerge and shape the narrative. Alice Munro and "The Sopranos" are given as examples of effective storytelling about trauma, as they prioritize rich character development and exploration of the human condition. The discussion also touches on the cultural phenomenon of trauma being a default lens through which stories are viewed, and while it can be frustrating for creators when their work is criticized for not adequately addressing trauma, it's important to remember that a story's value isn't solely determined by its handling of traumatic themes.
Exploring deeper themes in TV: Television is reflecting and catering to a growing audience interest in complex narratives, leading to a surge in demand for shows that resonate on a personal level, like 'The Yellowjackets'.
The entertainment industry, specifically television, is currently reflecting and catering to a growing audience interest in exploring deeper, often traumatic themes. This isn't a new phenomenon, but rather a result of a developing landscape where many creators work in isolation without full knowledge of each other's projects. The audience's increased engagement and willingness to delve into these complex narratives has led to a surge in demand for stories that resonate on a personal level. Shows like "The Yellowjackets" have tapped into this trend, resulting in a dedicated fanbase that eagerly engages with the characters and their journeys. This shift towards more meaningful and introspective storytelling is a testament to the evolving relationship between audiences and the entertainment industry.
Possible connection between Misty's pet bird and infamous Roman Emperor Caligula: Creators of 'Yellowjackets' explore fan theories, including one about Misty's pet bird's name potentially being inspired by Caligula's cannibalistic tendencies, and discuss the impact of wilderness on the show's characters in season 2.
The creators of the show "Yellowjackets" have discussed various fan theories surrounding the show, including one about a favorite theory that Misty's pet bird, Caligula, may be named after the infamous Roman Emperor Caligula due to his reported cannibalistic tendencies. While this connection may not have been intentional, the creators believe that such associations can add meaning to the show. Looking ahead to season 2, the focus will continue to be on the growing influence of the wilderness and the reemergence of its pull in the present day, with the potential for more exploration of the apparent cult that was kidnapping Natalie in the season 1 finale.
Exploring Lottie's Story in the Upcoming Season of Dirty John: The creators of Dirty John are excited to delve deeper into Lottie's character in the upcoming season, revealing more about her present day activities.
The upcoming season of "Dirty John" is expected to reveal more about the mysterious Lottie, with the creators expressing their excitement about exploring her character in the present day. The podcast "Vox Conversations" featured a conversation between the show's creators and critic Emily Vanderwerth, discussing the upcoming season and the intrigue surrounding Lottie. They hinted that her appearance in the present day is definitely part of the plan. The team behind the show expressed their enthusiasm for diving deeper into Lottie's story and what she has been up to. Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas for future guests, and feedback at VoxConversations@vox.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, rate, and review, and tune in for a new episode every Monday. "Vox Conversations" is produced by Eric Janikos, edited by Amy Drosdowska, mixed and mastered by Paul Robert Mounci, and themed by BRAKEmaster Cylinder. Special thanks to Emily Vanderwerth for her assistance on this episode.
