§ PODCAST / EPISODES
Secrets and Clues
2 episodes · Apr 2026 – May 2026
"The way those secrets were hidden, revealed, and discovered were all rooted in the characterization."
— Mel Killingsworth | DZ-126: Secrets and Clues
DZ-126: Secrets and Clues
How can Secrets and Clues motivate characters?
“Getting information puts your character in danger. And danger rewards your character with information." — One of three ideas we steal from game design in this episode. In this two part series, we talk about how secrets, clues and hidden information motivate characters and may (or may not) help you plot from a character perspective. Part One (this episode) looks at WAKE UP DEAD MAN; while Part Two looks at SIDE EFFECTS, and the pilot episode of SHRINKING… →
Listen if you want to understand how hidden information drives character motivation and plot structure!
DZ-127: Secrets and Clues 2 - The Cost of Revelation
What does it cost a character to find something out, or to say it?
In this episode Stu, Chas and Mel apply the Landmark–Hidden–Secret framework (from DZ-126) across two very different genres: the thriller SIDE EFFECTS (2013) and the tragicomic pilot of SHRINKING… →
Listen to learn the emotional impact of revealing sercrets vs discovering them.