Badlands Story Hour Ep. 120: Big Fish

In this episode of Badlands Story Hour, Chris Paul and Burning Bright dive deep into Tim Burton’s Big Fish, unpacking its emotional and philosophical resonance with the storytelling lens they apply to today’s political and cultural narratives. They explore the central father-son conflict through the metaphor of narrative trust, examining how intention shapes perception, and how storytelling itself can be a form of deeper truth. Drawing parallels between the film’s protagonist Edward Bloom and figures like Donald Trump, the hosts argue that exaggerated tales, when rooted in good faith, may reveal more than literal facts ever could. The conversation seamlessly connects themes of myth, memory, verisimilitude, and the psychological need for narrative coherence in a world awash in psyops. It’s a poignant meditation on identity, legacy, and the power of fiction to shape our reality.