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What did I actually learn in 2025? Not the highlight reel. The real stuff.Burnout. Reflection. Health. Creativity. Letting go of old identities. Rebuilding new ones.This isn’t a “look what I achieved” post. It’s a personal inventory of the 10 biggest things that reshaped how I live, create, and think about my work.If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, lost in the noise, or wondering if your creative spark is still there, maybe this one’s for you. 1. I Don’t Love Vlogging… And That’s Okay In theory, I love the idea of capturing moments of my life and creating stories from them. In practice, vlogging pulled me out of the moment. I love photography, love capturing things, love documenting projects but I realized I thrive with intentionality. 2. Consuming Without Reflecting Doesn’t Make Me Better I consumed a ton this year, intentionally so. Films, books, performances, all in the effort of rekindling a creative spark. Turns out, it doesn’t mean anything unless I actually sit with it. Write something down. Infer meaning. Input without reflection is just noise that my brain quickly discards. Art is too precious to be discarded into the content heap. I want to take the time to let the stories I engage with actually resonate. 3. My Body Wasn’t Broken. It Was Burned Out Years of bad sleep, stress, and “grind” disguised as momentum finally caught up with me. I had to rebuild my physical health from the ground up. And what shocked me was how fast my body responded once I stopped punishing it and started listening. I feel better than I have in a decade and it wasn’t because I achieved anything. It was because I stopped trying to do everything and focused on giving myself what I needed. Proper nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and creative play. 4. Consistency Beats Inspiration The unsexy truth is that showing up and doing the freaking thing is 90% of the game. The boring stuff usually has the largest ROI. You may not feel it for a long time, but even mediocre consistency over time will be bouts of genius. 5. Saying Yes to Everything is a Form of Self-Abandonment Trying to be everything, on every platform, in every project, left me fragmented. I had to start saying no to find my voice again. And in doing so, I remembered what I actually love to make. 6. Photography Made Me More Present Photography helped me see again. Not just aesthetically, but emotionally. It reshaped how I think as a filmmaker, as an actor, as a storyteller. It’s not about monetizing or content. It’s about presence and the power of telling a story in one single frame. 7. Sleep is the Foundation Sleep wasn’t optional. It was the missing piece. For years I told myself I didn’t need it because I am able to function on a very little of it. But functioning isn’t the same as thriving. Once I started prioritizing real rest, everything changed. Focus. Energy. Creativity. All of it. I’m the very last person to learn this very obvious lesson but hey, I got here eventually. 8. Pursue Creative Authenticity I am letting go of the desire to be seen and replacing it with the intent to go deep. I want to talk about creativity, about characters, about stories. If fewer people care, so be it. I’d rather be honest than optimized and know that I can stand by what I put put out there. 9. I Thought I Was Done But I Was Just Running on Empty There were moments this year I truly thought the spark was gone. But what I needed wasn’t a breakthrough, it was a better fuel source. I didn’t need to quit. I needed to recharge. 10. I’m More Alive, Creative, and Lit Up Than I’ve Been in Years I don’t know exactly what’s coming in 2026. But I feel clear. Present. Focused. Alive. Recommitted to the path and genuinely loving the idea of what it means to be an artist and live the creative life day in and day out. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters deeply to me. And I’m freaking lucky to be doing it. As part of this reset, I’m doing a 30-day creative shift series over on TikTok, IG, and YouTube. One small video a day, each focused on a tiny perspective shift that’s helped me get unstuck. No heavy lifting. Just simple, doable resets that might help you reconnect with your own spark. If that sounds like something you need right now, it’s all up on my socials. If you’d rather watch than read or listen, there’s a video version of this here: 👉 Thanks for reading Story Matters by Curt Mega! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Jon Matteson joins me here on Story Matters to talk about what it’s like returning to the role of Paul in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals nearly seven years after the original Starkid production. We get into the process of stepping back into a character after so much time has passed, how the fandom has shaped the show’s legacy, and what Jon is doing to prepare for the physical and emotional demands of the remount. We also get real about burnout, overcommitment, and the myth that you have to destroy yourself to make good work!If you prefer to watch a VIDEO version, you can check it out here: Check out Team Starkid’s newest Kickstarter project, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals: Reprised! (Trailer shot by yours truly!) -Curt Mega CONNECT WITH ME: Join my Patreon community!Follow me on Twitch!Follow me on Instagram!Follow me on Twitter!Follow me on Bluesky! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners might be one of the boldest and most interesting movies I’ve seen in a long time. I loved it so much that I had to have my friend James Tolbert on to talk through all the details we couldn’t stop thinking about. We dive into how Coogler blends horror, music, drama, and emotional storytelling, while still keeping the film a total blast to watch. We also discuss the sound, the style, that insane juke joint musical sequence, and why Coogler has officially landed on the “I’ll watch anything he makes” list.You can find and follow James on Instagram and BlueSky:James Tolbert on InstagramJames tolbert on BlueSky This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

In this episode of Story Matters, Bryce Charles (Ella Ashmore) joins me to talk about the creative whirlwind of bringing Starkid’s Cinderella’s Castle to life. From developing Ella’s emotional journey to exploring the dynamic between Ella and Tadius, Bryce shares what it was like to take on the lead role in a brand-new Starkid musical, all while building the show from scratch in record time. We dive into: • How the tone of the show was discovered • The pressure and joy of creating something this fast • Behind-the-scenes stories from the rehearsal room • The process of shaping a fairytale heroine with modern heart 👑 Cinderella’s Castle was written by Nick and Matt Lang, directed by Nick Lang, with music and lyrics by Jeff Blim. 🎵 Get the album on iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/cinderellas-castle-original-starkid-cast-recording/1801909042 🎙️ Story Matters is a show about the stories that shape us, hosted by Curt Mega. Join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/curtmega Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/curtmega Follow me on Bluesky: @curtmega.bsky.social  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

We're back with the only Academy Award discussion you need! Joey Richter returns to talk all things Oscars 2025! Join us as we dive into the year's best films! Join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/curtmega Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtmega Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/curtmega Follow me on Bluesky: @curtmega.bsky.social   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

On this episode of the podcast, I had the absolute joy of chatting with the brilliant and delightful Meredith Stepien. We dove into our shared love for VHS Christmas Carols, the art of crafting cinematic vibes that radiate coziness and calm, and the beauty of embracing imperfection. Meredith also shares her perspective on releasing the weight of ambition and rediscovering joy in the creative process. You can check out VHS Christmas Carols right now at https://starkid.vhx.tv/products/vhs-christmas-carols-2024-digital-rental.  Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on BlueSky, IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Janaya Mahealani Jones, star of the newest Starkid musical 'VHS Christmas Carols', joins me to chat about the show! Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch.TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Director James Tolbert joins me to chat about directing the newest Starkid musical, VHS Christmas Carols!  Check out the VHS Christmas Carols digital ticket, available now through the end of 2023! For live episodes, join me on Twitch at Twitch.TV/curtmega Join my Patreon.com/curtmega Follow me on IG, TikTok, Twitter (X), and Threads: @curtmega    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Joey Richter joins me for our annual Oscars roundtable as we talk about the films that marked the surreal, bizarre and crazy year that was 2020.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

In this special installment of the podcast, my Warbler bros, Riker Lynch, Dominic Tracy, Jon Hall, Telly Leung, Eddy Martin, Brock Baker and Tim Davis join me to reflect on our time working on Glee, how the experience has impacted out lives and what we've been up to since then!  Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Joey Richter (from Tin Can Brothers, Team Starkid, Jesse on Disney Channel and more) joins us for the 4th year in a row for our 2020 ACADEMY AWARDS OSCAR SPECTACULAR! We dive into each of the nominated films along with the main categories. So put on your best tux or gown, hop in a limo and join us on the RED CARPET for this year's STORY MATTERS OSCARS PODCAST! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Vijay Nazareth, creator of Pixel Playhouse and AVbyte , joins us on this week's episode to talk about the FUTURE OF THEATRE! How does theatre adapt for the digital age in a way that's both accessible and relevant? Vijay's mission is to bring theatre TO THE INTERNET, to make it more accessible and break down the barrier between creator and audience. LINK: Check out Pixel Playhouse on Twitch! Find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com Follow the show on Instagram Follow the show on Twitter Email your feedback for the podcast by emailing [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Ty Simpkins (Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 3, Jurassic World, Insidious, The Nice Guys and more) joins us to talk about his experience as a young actor working in a slew of major franchises and creating characters that are part of a global phenomenon. We also talk spoiler culture, water-cooler conversations, and what it's like to know the end of a story years before the world gets a chance to see it. You can listen to all episodes of Story Matters at www.storymatterspodcast.com!  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Story Matters alum Joey Richter returns for the 3rd year to take a deep dive into THE ACADEMY AWARDS! We break down the wins and losses, the snubs and successes, and we ask the question... what sort of impact will this year's awards have on future generation of filmmakers and artists? You can find all episodes of the podcast at www.storymatterspodcast.com and leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com

Jon Cozart joins the show to take a deep dive with us into the world of Amadeus, the 1984 Academy Award winning musical biopic directed by Milos Forman about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as we cap off our exploration of the musical biopic genre with what is considered by many as the greatest biopic of all time! We also examine how this film speaks directly to our culture today (specifically us as artists), our own personal struggle with jealousy, ego, the fear of not being good enough and the madness that is the creative process.  You can find all episodes of the show at www.storymatterspodcast.com!  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtmega.substack.com