Audio Signals Podcast

Drawing from Empathy: Storytelling, Mythology, and Cartooning with Mythtickle Creator Justin Thompson | Audio Signals Podcast With Marco CiappelliGuest: Justin Thompson, Senior Artist at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-thompson-91a47339/ On Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mythtickle/ _____________________________ Host: Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli _____________________________ This Episode’s Sponsors Are you interested in sponsoring an ITSPmagazine Channel? 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/sponsor-the-itspmagazine-podcast-network _____________________________ Illustrator and cartoonist Justin Thompson returns to Audio Signals for a creative deep-dive into storytelling, teaching empathy through art, and the mythological mischief behind his comic strip Mythtickle. From working with Peanuts to staging a children’s book play, this is a heartfelt, hilarious, and highly visual journey into the art of emotional storytelling. ⸻ 🖍️ Drawing from Empathy: Storytelling, Mythology, and Cartooning with Justin Thompson By Marco Ciappelli ⸻ It’s always a good sign when you know a conversation is going to go longer than planned. This is my second time sitting down with the incredibly talented and endlessly creative Justin Thompson, and—just like the first—we could have talked for hours. You may know Justin from his long-standing work with the iconic Peanuts universe. Yes, that Peanuts—Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the unmistakable world built by Charles Schulz. But what makes this conversation truly special is the other side of Justin’s creative journey. His comic strip, Mythtickle, blends humor, mythology, and heartfelt emotion into something that is both whimsical and quietly profound. From Egyptian underworlds to Norse gods in detention, it’s a storytelling playground built for meaning and mischief. ⸻ ✍️ From Snoopy to Schulz to Something Personal Justin’s professional path is a story in itself. He spent years as an actor and stuntman before pivoting into illustration and landing at the Schulz Studio in Santa Rosa, California. There, he reviewed merchandise, traveled to Japan as the studio’s liaison, and eventually contributed original creative content for the Peanuts brand—including authoring and illustrating several books. One of those books, If I Gave the World My Blanket, is now being adapted into a musical stage play for children. Yes—his book about empathy, kindness, and Linus’s iconic blanket is literally being brought to life. And somehow that still wasn’t the most exciting thing he had going on. ⸻ 🎭 Mythtickle and the Mythology of Emotion Justin’s comic strip Mythtickle, published on GoComics since 2007, is what happens when you throw mythological characters from every culture into middle school together—and then ask, “What if they actually had feelings?” There’s Karma, a Japanese girl. Ziva, an African goddess. A mischievous pre-teen version of Thor. A dragon. A knight. All interacting in one bizarre, beautiful mytho-universe that’s as educational as it is hilarious. Justin doesn’t just write jokes—he teaches emotional storytelling through art. Literally. He teaches kids in Brooklyn, in Tanzania, and through The Mentor Project. His method starts not with technique, but with empathy: “What is that character feeling? And how can you show that with no words?” Because, as he says, “A good cartoon can be funny. A great cartoon can speak to anyone—anywhere—without needing translation.” ⸻ 📚 Paper vs. Pixels: The Emotional Layout We spent part of this episode reflecting on something I think about a lot—the difference between digital and analog storytelling. “I want people to see the whole page,” Justin told me. “Composition, balance, flow—it hits you all at once. On a phone, it’s just frame by frame. You lose something.” He’s right. Comics, like music or visual art, are a full-body experience. You don’t just scroll through them—you step into them. You feel them. And Justin’s work is full of that layered, emotional resonance. ⸻ 🔄 Teaching Through Comics (Without Saying It Out Loud) Perhaps the most powerful thread in this conversation is how Justin teaches cartooning to middle schoolers—not by focusing on punchlines or technique, but by embedding lessons in emotional intelligence. Empathy. Attunement. Compassion. He doesn’t label it that way, of course—because kids would roll their eyes. But it’s there, in every facial expression they draw. Every emotion they map from observation to page. “It’s humanity training,” he says. “They just think it’s cartooning.” ⸻ 🎯 The Mythtickle Takeaway If you’ve ever wondered how silly jokes and ancient mythology could collide to form something deeply human, Mythtickle is your answer. And if you’ve ever wanted to see what a creative life looks like when it’s lived with intention, compassion, and more than a few dragons… then spend some time with Justin’s work. You’ll laugh. You might cry. You’ll definitely want to draw something. ⸻ RESOURCES Listen to the episode on Audio Signals 👉 https://www.audiosignalspodcast.com Watch the video on Youtube: 👉 https://youtu.be/9Yl4quXCkc8 📚 Explore Justin’s work and order his book 🔗 https://mythtickle.com 🔗 https://maddolphin.com 🔗 https://www.facebook.com/p/MythTickle-100057584344635/ 🎨 https://www.gocomics.com/mythtickle Keywords: Justin Thompson, Peanuts illustrator, Mythtickle comic strip, Charles Schulz Studio, empathy through art, teaching cartooning to kids, GoComics comic artists, mythology and storytelling, emotional storytelling, Linus blanket children’s book, drawing without words, Audio Signals Podcast _____________________________ For more podcast stories from Audio Signals: https://www.itspmagazine.com/audio-signals Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS0aVY7qlwHxX3uiN7tqqsy Are you interested in sponsoring an ITSPmagazine Channel? 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/sponsor-the-itspmagazine-podcast-network Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The Medium is the Reality: Immersive Storytelling through Augmented and Virtual Reality | A Conversation with Thibault Mathieu | Audio Signals Podcast With Marco CiappelliGuest: Thibault Mathieu, Founder and CEO, Wilkins Avenue AR On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaultmathieu/ On Twitter | https://x.com/thibaultmathieu _____________________________ Host: Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli _____________________________ This Episode’s Sponsors Are you interested in sponsoring an ITSPmagazine Channel? 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/sponsor-the-itspmagazine-podcast-network _____________________________ Episode Introduction Hello, everyone. I'm Marco Ciappelli, and you’re tuned into another episode of the Audio Signals podcast. If you're familiar with the show, you know that storytelling is at the heart of what I do—exploring how we communicate, how we connect, and how stories evolve to reflect the world around us. Today, I’m particularly excited because we’re diving into a whole new dimension of storytelling: augmented reality (AR). Our guest is Thibault Mathieu, a pioneer in immersive storytelling from Paris, whose journey took him from dreaming of directing movies to designing AR and VR experiences that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. In our conversation, we explore not only the how but the why behind AR storytelling—why it captivates us, why it challenges traditional narratives, and why it’s starting to become a game-changer in entertainment, marketing, and even our daily lives. Note about the title The reference in the title is to Marshall McLuhan’s famous concept, “The medium is the message,” from his 1964 book, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McLuhan argued that the medium through which content is delivered profoundly shapes and influences the way we perceive and interpret that content. His idea suggests that the characteristics of each medium (such as television, radio, or print) are just as impactful as the actual message conveyed, because they transform the way information is received and understood by an audience. In the context of AR and VR storytelling, this idea resonates because these technologies aren’t just new ways to tell stories—they actually redefine the experience itself. With immersive reality, the medium (augmented or virtual reality) becomes an interactive space that the audience can inhabit, creating a new form of engagement where the "message" or story is inseparable from the experience of being in an altered or enhanced reality. A New Dimension in Storytelling We’ve all seen storytelling evolve through the ages, from spoken words to books, radio, and film. But with AR, we’re stepping into a realm where stories don’t just exist on a page or a screen—they inhabit our physical spaces. Thibault’s work in immersive storytelling lets us experience narratives in a way that feels tangible, as if the digital world is blending with our own surroundings. Imagine walking into a scene where elements of a story appear around you, transforming the way we relate to both the story and the space we occupy. The Role of Technology in Crafting Emotional Connections Thibault and I discussed how new tech like Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3 is closing the gap between reality and digital experience. The "uncanny valley"—that uncomfortable place where things look almost real but not quite—is beginning to fade. These advancements mean that creators can build worlds where the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined are blurred. And with that, storytelling gains an emotional weight that goes beyond passive viewing; it becomes something you can feel, something you can be part of. Redefining Storytelling on New Platforms Thibault's latest project, Out There, takes advantage of AR’s unique qualities by immersing audiences in a musical experience designed for this latest wave of AR headsets. Imagine not just listening to music but feeling surrounded by the narrative and emotions of the song, like the soundtrack of your own adventure. The technology lets us dissolve the usual boundaries, putting the audience right at the heart of the story and letting them interact with it in real-time. This is more than just a new way to tell stories—it’s a step towards storytelling as an experience you live. Transforming Brand Experiences Through AR The conversation wouldn’t be complete without touching on the power of AR in branding. Thibault has been working with luxury brands like Lancôme to create experiences that go beyond showcasing products. These projects aim to weave a brand’s identity into an interactive, immersive experience that people can feel a part of. When done well, it’s not just marketing—it’s storytelling that resonates on a deeper level, connecting audiences to brands in ways that can be more meaningful than traditional advertising. Embracing the Future, One Story at a Time Looking forward, Thibault sees a world where AR isn’t just for niche experiences but is integrated into our daily lives, enhancing tasks, entertainment, and social interactions. Yet, as he and I agree, while the technology is fascinating and transformative, the story itself remains paramount. No matter the medium—whether a simple conversation, a song, or an augmented reality experience—a powerful story is what captivates us, resonates with us, and, ultimately, stays with us. Thanks for joining me on this journey through the future of storytelling. Thibault, thank you for bringing your insights and passion to today’s discussion. For those curious to dive further into this world, check out the links to Thibault’s work and Out There below. As always, remember: We are made of stories. So let’s keep telling them, in every dimension and every medium we can imagine. _____________________________ Resources _____________________________ For more podcast stories from Audio Signals: https://www.itspmagazine.com/audio-signals Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllQvnJ8eHUlVX8AuyhehtexA Are you interested in sponsoring an ITSPmagazine Channel? 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/sponsor-the-itspmagazine-podcast-network Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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