Why Do We Love the Hero’s Journey?

Why does the same basic story keep appearing throughout human history?

In this episode of The M. Gardner Show, novelist M. Gardner explores the enduring power of the Hero’s Journey — from ancient mythology and The Epic of Gilgamesh to The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, and the stories we create ourselves.

Together, we explore why audiences connect with characters who face impossible odds, endure suffering, confront their darkest fears, and ultimately become someone different from who they were.

M. Gardner also looks at the psychological side of storytelling, including transformation, courage, the Shadow, narrative transportation, and why stories can sometimes help us make sense of our own struggles.

And in the Writer’s Corner, he brings the discussion into his own novels, including Anrith, Epic of L, and The Last Exorcist, examining how the Hero’s Journey has shaped his characters and their transformations.

Because maybe we don't love heroic stories simply because they're entertaining.

Maybe we love them because, deep down, we recognize ourselves in them.

Pull up a chair around the campfire. The journey is about to begin.

🔥 The M. Gardner Show
Keep questioning. Keep telling stories. Keep creating.

What drives someone to keep writing when the odds are terrible and the outcome is uncertain?

In this extended episode of The M. Gardner Show, novelist M. Gardner explores the deeply personal origins of his writing life. Beginning with a mental health diagnosis in 2017 and the chaos that followed, he shares how therapy, journaling, and imagination gradually transformed into a commitment to storytelling.

The conversation moves beyond autobiography into the psychology of narrative itself: why writing can create a sense of agency, how flow state affects the brain, and why stories have the power to transport us into other lives. M. Gardner also examines the different psychological drives behind fantasy, horror, thrillers, and romance, and reflects on what famous writers such as Stephen King, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Maya Angelou believed was the true purpose of writing.

This episode is ultimately about one question: What is the question your story is trying to ask?

Whether you’re an experienced author, a new writer, or someone with a story you’ve never dared to finish, this episode offers an honest look at the drive behind the page—and why that drive may be the rarest thing a writer possesses.

We stopped calling them myths. We started calling them blockbusters.

This week: how Superman is just Hercules in a cape, how George Lucas built Star Wars directly on Joseph Campbell’s research, why the MCU might be the most sophisticated mythology ever constructed, and why stadiums function like temples. Then things get darker — the eerie structural overlap between ancient myths and modern conspiracy theories, and where they part ways.

Plus, a Writer’s Corner breakdown on why the “reveal” in your story should never be the ending.

Pull up a chair. 🔥

Is being "chosen" actually a curse? Mike Gardner traces the Chosen One trope from ancient Egyptian god-kings and Moses to Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, and Paul Atreides — unpacking why the best stories aren't about destiny, but about the choice to act anyway. Plus: a Writer's Corner look at why Mike wrote his own hero to reject the trope entirely.

Can one book really change your life?

Out of the millions of books ever written, only a handful stay with us forever. In this first episode of The M. Gardner Show, author M. Gardner explores why certain stories become unforgettable, how books shape who we are, and what separates a good story from one that changes a life. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, we’ll look at the power of storytelling and why the right book can arrive at exactly the right moment.

So pull up a chair, and let’s start at the very beginning.