PODCAST

Almost Plausible

Thomas J. Brown, Emily, F. Paul Shepard

Join Thomas, Emily, and Shep each week as they try to come up with stories based on everyday objects.

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Almost Plausible Trailer

Almost Plausible Trailer

Jan 20 2022

30 seconds

Garden Hose

Our pitches this week are anything but garden variety as we come up with a movie where a garden hose plays a big role. A couple of our ideas are all wet, but luckily the three of us are flexible. Thanks to Emily's decisiveness, we quickly choose one idea, which turns out to practically write itself. The story is built on tropes, but constantly subverts expectations, and in the end our hero overcomes his greatest enemy... With a garden hose.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

5d ago

39 mins

Bread Maker

Who doesn't love the smell of warm, freshly baked bread? We certainly do, which is why this week we're cooking up a story about a bread maker. Among several ideas for movies about bread based businesses, we come up with a tasty business venture of our own. We battle furiously to set ourselves apart from both common expectations and movies that already exist. And along the way we learn that Joseph Lee, the inventor of the commercial bread machine, was a fascinating guy.Also, we throw down a challenge for the audience to take a clip from the movie Encanto and... Er... Improve it? Perhaps the most amazing part of the episode is when we learn just how old one celebrity really is.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

May 10 2022

57 mins

Flashlight

On this week's episode, we shine a light on a group of people living in the dark in more ways than one. They have only a single beacon to illuminate their world, and our story begins as their source of light is in peril. An unexpected answer is brought to light by a small faction, and it's up to them to help their compatriots see the light of day.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

May 3 2022

49 mins

Paper Clip

This week, you may ask, "What's Cooking?" Well, "Today's Special" is nothing short of a "Big Night" for us when we come up with an "Off the Menu" story about a paper clip. There will be no "Waiting..." as we choose a pitch faster than we ever have.It's a fairly simple premise, but as we get "In the Weeds" we end up with a lot of "Spinning Plates" in fairly "Short Order." Things get "Heavy" fairly quickly, tensions rise, and pent-up frustrations become "Uncorked" as the story reaches its "Boiling Point." In the end, everyone gets their "Just Desserts," and realizes that "A Rising Tide" will, at least in this case, lift all ships.We're really happy with how this one turned out, and we don't think you'll feel "Burnt" after you listen to it. "No Reservations" are needed to enjoy this "Delicious" episode, just download, listen, and raise a "Toast" to our story about a paper clip.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

Apr 26 2022

48 mins

Lunch Box

We had to think outside the box this week, as we came up with ideas for a movie about a lunch box. There was some initial concern about lunch boxes being a container, and despite the issues we've faced with containers in the past, we manage to come up with an assortment of interesting ideas.If this movie were to be made, we think the box office numbers would probably be pretty good. So grab a box seat and get ready for a power lunch of an episode, filled with a cast of wacky characters. We know who we would cast for each role, but who would you like to see in the film?References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

Apr 19 2022

40 mins

Jelly Beans

Easter is a few days away, so to celebrate we're putting our own spin on a classic English fairy tale. It's a tale of magical candy, giants, talking mice, and the return of the reluctantly benevolent government. You might say we have our heads in the clouds, but give it a listen and remember what the dormouse said!References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramRedditDiscord

Apr 12 2022

50 mins

Newspaper

Extra, extra! The latest issue of Almost Plausible is hot off the press and available now! This week's headline is "newspaper," and our talking heads have created a story where the old fish wrap really shines. That's the good news. The bad news is... Well, it may not be quite all the news that's fit to print, so to speak. There's no fake news here, so download this episode that focuses on the fourth estate, and... Uh... Wow. That is a lot of newspaper references for one paragraph, huh?References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Apr 5 2022

40 mins

Penny

This week on Almost Plausible, we attempt to decide which story to develop through a literal coin toss. Our protagonist finds a penny, but will it bring her luck, or is her penny dreadful? And minor spoiler alert: We finally tackle a story about time travel. Join us for an episode full of excitement, insights, and a ton of references.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Mar 29 2022

42 mins

Paper Bag

Pack your lunch in a paper bag because on this week's episode, we explore ideas for a movie about a paper bag. It's time for another quirky romantic comedy from your favorite fake screenwriting trio. How can a paper bag be romantic? And what problems will our protagonist face along the way? Does she have everything in the bag, or does she end up getting sacked? (Insert Shep grumbling here...) The only way to find out is to listen!References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Mar 22 2022

45 mins

Toilet Brush

You probably don’t think much of your toilet brush. Oh sure, you may be grateful it gets shoved into your toilet to do the cleaning so you don’t have to stick your hand down there, but no one would ever make an entire movie about a toilet brush right? Well…On this week’s episode, we get down and dirty with the idea of a toilet brush playing a central role in a film. What could our toilet brush movie even be about? How could it be anything but gross? And how does Denny's fit into it all?References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Mar 15 2022

47 mins

Printer

Printers have come such a long way in our lifetimes. Forty years ago we had noisy dot matrix printers that frequently jammed. Today we have mind-boggling 3D printers that frequently jam. Progress!As we explore a printer-centered plot, we discuss… Well, killer printers, mostly. It’s interesting that all three of us came up with killer printer pitches. But were any of those ideas worth the paper they were printed on? You’ll just have to listen to find out.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Mar 8 2022

44 mins

Pillows

This week’s theme is one you probably know very well. Most of us spend several hours every day with our pillow, but have you ever thought about how a pillow would play a crucial role in a movie?Our pillow talk on this episode includes a Western set in a pillow world, a fortune-telling pillow, and a boyfriend pillow that comes to life, but don’t worry, you won’t lose any sleep over this one!References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Mar 1 2022

47 mins

Ceiling Fan

Are you a fan of this show yet? Well perhaps after this episode you will be, because this week we tackle ceiling fans. This was a tricky subject for us, and all three of us had a hard time coming up with pitches. We went around and around for a bit, but once we finally settled on an idea, coming up with the rest of the story was a breeze.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Feb 22 2022

46 mins

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

What’s more comforting than chicken noodle soup? Whether it’s homemade or out of a can, there’s just something about it that we all love.In this week’s episode, chicken noodle soup steps into the spotlight. Once again we accidentally pitch a few existing movies, but we don’t chicken out, and eventually settle on an idea that we all feel is just as comforting as the soup at the center of the plot.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Feb 15 2022

39 mins

Pockets

Is that a new episode of Almost Plausible in your pocket, or are you just happy to see us? Probably both! Have you ever thought about how weird pockets are? They’re like little pouches that live inside your clothes. And why don’t more women’s clothes have pockets? Seems silly to us.In this episode, we explore magically linked pockets, pickpockets, and how pockets were invented in the first place as we work out a movie plot based around a pocket.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Feb 8 2022

44 mins

Calculator

Welcome to Almost Plausible! We're three friends who love movies and making up stories. On this podcast, we have less than an hour to take an everyday object (in this episode, it's a calculator) and create a story where that object takes a central or critical role in the story.Join us as we create characters, work out the plot, solve some problems (ha!), and have fun along the way.References and TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Feb 1 2022

43 mins

Almost Plausible Trailer

Almost Plausible Trailer

Welcome to Almost Plausible! The podcast that takes ordinary ideas and turns them into stories. Join Thomas, Emily, and F. Paul Shepard as they come up with an entire movie plot in under an hour, all centered around some everyday object.TranscriptSubscribe to the show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherRSSConnect with us:TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeRedditDiscord

Jan 20 2022

30 seconds