New from Spoke Media: Untitled Dad Project
Janielle Kastner examines the father she didn’t know
Spoke Media is proud to announce the launch of Untitled Dad Project: one writer’s meta-narrative quest to tell her own story, reckon with her Dad Character, and find a meaningful narrative resolution. Upon learning about the death of a father she never knew, host Janielle goes on a four-year quest for narrative closure. Enlisting the help of a director, she interviews a slew of creative experts and characters who knew her father. Each episode explores a narrative theme (Genre, Plot, etc.) and extends herself the same honesty and dignity she would to any of her protagonists.
“I knew I wanted to make something absurdly intimate, incredibly vulnerable, and most importantly: deeply honest,” said host Janielle Kastner. “I chose to make a podcast because it’s a medium that demands intimacy, and while words can be manipulated, voices don’t lie. The show demands vulnerability, carving out space for radical honesty in all the bullshit and performance of how we’re “supposed” to grieve. I’m thrilled to share something so rooted in the deep love of friendship, the beauty of bearing witness to each others’ stories, and the joy of making something meaningful and beautiful out of senseless loss.”
Spanning four years in 10 episodes, Untitled Dad Project is a surprisingly funny and unflinchingly intimate investigation into the grieving process by-way-of the creative process. Therapy meets writing workshop meets thoughtful interviews, the show ultimately explores how we make meaning from tragedy, what we’re supposed to do with our Dad Characters, and the power of reclaiming our own stories.
“I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Janielle and producer Carson work to make this show over the last couple of years and I am continually astounded by their boldness, courage and willingness to be vulnerable,” said Alia Tavakolian, Spoke Media co-founder. “Untitled Dad Project is unlike anything I’ve ever heard and I am so excited to share it with the world.”
