EducationSelf-Improvement

Becoming The Main Character

Jameson Olsen

We're going to discover the world's greatest stories and the important lessons they hold. Each episode will take you on a journey, transforming how you see life through literature's most powerful narratives.

Hamlet will teach you why you shouldn't put off making that big move. Jo March exemplifies committing to your business idea when no one believes in you. Captain Ahab’s struggle with Moby Dick is a warning to not let future relationships be ruined by the memories of your exes.

Fiction for your non-fiction life.

Tune in, be changed.

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21 episodes
Avg 1 hr 31 min
English

Episodes 21

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Tuesday · 44 min
The Regret of Achilles
Achilles, the greatest warrior in Greek mythology, knew his fate: stay and fight at Troy and die young with eternal glory, or go home and live a long, forgotten life. He ended up with the glory and the early grave. Then, in the land of the dead, he told Odysseus it wasn't worth it. It's one of the most powerful scenes in Homer's Odyssey, and Christopher Nolan left it out of his film. This episode goes back to the Iliad and the Trojan War to find out why Achilles ended up there. He thought he was making reasoned choices, but his passions were deciding for him the whole time. Most of us live the same way: sure of what we want in theory, hedging in practice, and letting our worst days settle the questions we never answered. Achilles shows what that costs, and what it takes to make a choice that's truly your own. --------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes, access to all the Character Analysis episodes, and early access to the next book. Sign-up link below: Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ BTMC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingMain FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
August 11 · 50 min
Why A Nation Creates Its Own Mythology (Pt. 2)
In a continuation of our series on why mythologies and folklore are useful to the identity of a culture, we continue diving into the stories that have cemented themselves in the American mind. Even if these particular stories are unfamiliar, their essence will resonate with the stories you think of as foundational to what it is to be "An American", the same way the stories of Hercules or Perseus defined what it was to be "Greek". This episode is fascinating as you realize how much the idea of the frontier was a building block to our identity as a country even now, when the frontier wilderness has all been mapped and populated. ------------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes, access to all the Character Analysis episodes, and early access to the next book. Sign-up link below: Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM"Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ BTMC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingMain FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
July 16 · 1 hr 44 min
Huckleberry Finn (pt 2) \\ Making the Hard Choice
We've been floating down the river having a pretty good time so far, but the events of the last chapter have sobered Huckleberry Finn up a bit to the uglier side of life. But we're back on the raft with Jim, with more people to meet, more life lessons to be experienced, and more dangers to be faced. Let's settle in to the rest of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn------------------------ Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes, access to all the Character Analysis episodes, and early access to the next book. Sign-up link below: Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM"Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ BTMC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingMain FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
July 8 · 1 hr 33 min
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (pt 1)
What happens when you take a story that is controversial enough to be frequently banned from libraries and mix it with an author who doesn’t care what you think about his writing? You get Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. But why is a story about a boy floating down a river so scrutinized? Some reasons are obvious, but others are less so. All I know is I found the character of Huck to be a great study in choosing what matters to you. So come on in, the water is fine...for now. DONATE TO BEN'S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ben-fight-cancer-support-his-treatment Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes, access to all the Character Analysis episodes, and early access to the next book. Sign-up link below: Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM"Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ BTMC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingMain FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
July 3 · 23 min
Why a Nation Creates Its Own Mythology (Pt. 1)
Why does a culture need its own stories? Can't it just borrow someone else's? The USA is too young to have formulated a mythology like classic civilizations did, and yet from our early years we still ended up creating fictional stories that are inherently ours. Why? In this special episode to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation I grew up in, I explore a couple of reasons for this, and I share examples of stories so baked into our belief system of what it is to be "American" that we largely consider them to be true. Because, as I'm discovering, it's not enough to have a belief system...it needs to be ours. ---------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
June 3 · 1 hr 48 min
The Scarlet Pimpernel (pt 2)
In Part 2 of our coverage of The Scarlet Pimpernel we are waiting to see what Chauvelin will discover in the dining room. Marguerite feels sick for being a spy for the villain, but it was the Pimpernel, or her brother Armand, and she has made her choice. How will this play out? Will the Pimpernel escape? Will Marguerite be able to live with her choice? Let's find out together. ---------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
May 26 · 1 hr 48 min
The Scarlet Pimpernel (pt 1)
Before the acronyms MCU or DCEU ever existed, superheroes were illustrations on the page of comic books. But before comic books came to be, there was another story that first gave us a hero with a secret identity. The original superhero who risked it all to save others, while wearing a 'mask' in his day-to-day life to protect himself and those he loved. In this episode, we begin coverage of Baroness Orczy's adventurous historical drama, "The Scarlet Pimpernel". A novel that set the foundation for a genre. ---------------------------------- BTMC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BecomingMain ---------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/---------------------------------- FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------- Becoming The Main Character is a podcast that asks: what if fiction was so much more than just "fake" stories? What if every story was a simulation in the matrix? A chance to understand more of the world without having to live the experiences ourselves? Here at BTMC, we examine the greatest fiction ever written through a lens that pays attention to the character choices and how they ultimately lead to our heroes and villains getting what they want or being defeated. Subscribe and follow along!
May 4 · 41 min
The Ancient Story Structure Hollywood Keeps Ignoring \\ Kishōtenketsu
What if I told you that you have been deprived of one of the best forms of storytelling for most of your life? The "The Three-Act" story structure has dominated Western storytelling for centuries. Hero has desires, Hero encounters conflict, Hero overcomes conflict in order to achieve desires. Easy Peasy. But the Four-Act structure, aka Kishōtenketsu proposes an entirely different take on why we tell stories. Once in a while, a Four-Act breaks out into western culture like Bong Joon Ho's Parasite. But what felt like a complete curveball to our Western minds is simply a perfectly executed Four-Act story to those in the know. Let's learn how it works, see how it differs from Three-Act, we'll see it in action as I retell the ancient Japanese myth of Urashima Taro, and we'll discuss where it's valuable in your life. ---------------------------------- Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://schoolofprotagonism.substack.com/ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
April 14 · 1 hr 47 min
Project Hail Mary (part two) \\ Courage Is Not Optional
You ready for part 2, question? Grace is now teamed up with his alien friend Rocky, and they have worked together to the point of creating a theory that might save both of their planets. But can they find out the answer in time? Grace also remembers a dark secret about himself... Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
April 6 · 2 hr 36 min
Project Hail Mary (part one) \\ The Science of Not Giving Up
I woke up in space without a clue of what's going on...how's your day been? Andy Weir has carved out a niche for himself that you could call "lone man lost in space". This time, the creator of The Martian dives into even deeper space as he explores interstellar travel, extinction-level events on earth, unexpected friendship, and self-discovery. I have never heard someone say they read this book and didn't love it. So settle in, because this story is literally out of this world. Part 2 is out next week. For full access now: Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
March 18 · 1 hr 13 min
True Grit \\ A Quest To Fix What Is Broken (part 2)
How Did I End Up Here? Mattie Ross finds herself out on the frozen hillsides of Oklahoma. Body aching from being on horseback all day, she just witnessed the gruesome killing of two bandits... It's enough to make her ask 'what am I doing out here?' Part 2 of True Grit will lead to what I believe is the very relatable answer to that question. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
March 11 · 1 hr 45 min
True Grit \\ Forge Your Own Path (part 1)
"I was born game, sis, and I hope to die in that condition." When the government-appointed lawmen aren't quick to hunt down the murderer of Frank Ross, his teenage daughter, Mattie, takes things into her own hands and hires a one-eyed US Marshall known for his rough treatment of outlaws. In Charles Portis's classic western novel, we find a beautiful example of how to push through even when everyone is telling you you're not up to the task. So saddle up, we're heading out to find ourselves a desperado. Part 2 releases next week. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get the full story the day it releases, plus EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
February 19 · 1 hr
The Minority Report \\ Future vs. Fate
Felonies are down by 99.8%. There hasn't been a murder in 5 years because the police know what will happen before it takes place. There couldn't possibly be any side effects to arresting people who haven't yet committed a crime...right? This sci-fi classic short story from the 1950's comes to us from the same author who wrote "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (aka Blade Runner) and is a great dip into the world of "what if?" Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story, plus bonus character analysis episodes and early access to the next novel so you can read along. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
January 29 · 2 hr 57 min
Crime and Punishment (Part 2)
"It’s as well that you only killed the old woman. If you’d invented another theory you might perhaps have done something a thousand times more hideous." Raskolnikov was a young man with a theory. A theory that led to a choice, and now he doesn't know how to deal with the consequences. Who will condemn him first, the police, or his own conscience? Tune in to see how Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov's bold and violent story will play out. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
January 16 · 3 hr 10 min
Crime and Punishment (Part 1)
"Would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds?" The Russians are coming...Fyodor Dostoevsky's unique brand of psychological thriller has reached BTMC, and I was delighted to dive deep into the intellectual madness of the deeply flawed main character, Raskolnikov. We've never covered a book like this before. This story was too big for one episode. So, jump in the deep end with part one, and come back soon for part 2. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Dec 31, 2025 · 46 min
8 Lessons For Protagonists in 2026
Launch into the new year with the best ideas learned from the stories of 2025. I've gone through 70+ lessons that I took from the stories of the last 12 months and picked the 8 that I think are the most powerful for you to apply in your life. Listen, and then go forth and conquer the year. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Dec 18, 2025 · 21 min
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Ho, Ho, Ho! here's a little holiday treat for you. In classic BTMC fashion, I took my lesson as serious as a car accident and found much more depth to the moral of this children's story than you may think was possible. Was the Grinch truly a meany, or just misinformed on what happiness looked like? Enjoy! Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Dec 15, 2025 · 44 min
The Power of Story: Fiction vs Non-Fiction
On this show, I cover the greatest ficton ever written, but my larger goal is to get you to start looking at ALL stories as tools to understand how to live a better life.So I got two of the most prolific readers I know, "Alex & Books", and Dylan O'Sullivan) to sit down and discuss the unique strengths of both Fictional stories and Non-Fictional stories to help you on your way to becoming a Protagonist.Special Thanks to O'Shaughnessy Ventures (OSV) for hosting this panel discussion.Edited by: Dilan Garcia Lopez (@brutal_dilan)--GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM"Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Nov 24, 2025 · 3 hr 18 min
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a masterclass in how confidently we can be wrong about people. The story of two people who mistake their first impressions for objective truth, until the story forces them to confront who the other person really is. This episode digs into Austen’s brilliance at showing how believing you have infallible judgment isn’t wisdom...it’s a trap. Most of the art used in this episode is from Hugh Thomson's 1894 illustrated edition of the book. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Nov 11, 2025 · 47 min
The Sword In The Stone \\ King Arthur Origin Story
Disney did you dirty. Because you probably think Arthur becoming king was as easy as pulling the sword from the stone. But the actual myth is way more complicated (and therefore, realistic?). Before Camelot, before the round table, there was just a boy who didn't know what he was destined to be, and with no idea the struggle he would have to survive in order to claim his crown. Sign up for 'BTMC: Protagonist Edition', where you get EXTENDED VERSIONS of the episodes to take you even deeper into the story with more scenes, more lessons, and more of everything that makes the show what it is, as well as access to all of the Character Analysis episodes. Sign up link below: --------------------------- Get BTMC: PROTAGONIST EDITION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingmain.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER: "THE SCHOOL OF PROTAGONISM" Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@schoolofprotagonism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW BTMC FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/becomingmain⁠⁠⁠⁠

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