
Stolaroid Stories
I have this podcast to help writers and creatives improve their craft. You'll find conversations with brilliant thinkers like Seth Godin and Derek Sivers, interviews with authors, unscripted rambles, unedited reflections, tips, stories, rants -- anything to help you become a better writer, artist, and creative thinker.
Latest episodes

Mar 7, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Science of Humanity & Lithuania: with Paulius Juodis
What's anthropology? How can it change the way we perceive other cultures? And what's Lithuania like? I invited Paulius Juodis, a Lithuanian teacher with a degree in anthropology, to tell us more about these subjects.
You can watch the episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/SZNe0RKcPsE
Links
Get in touch with Paulius: https://linktr.ee/pauliusjuodis
My interview with Paulius on his podcast: https://youtu.be/Yr4Zstn3T9w?si=rlr2QNMEnN2yAo4s
Resources Mentioned
Timothy Snyder's work: His book "The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569–1999" and his free lecture series on Ukrainian history are available on YouTube.
Videogame: Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition
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www.fabiocerpelloni.com

Mar 4, 2024 • 9min
Building English Writing Confidence
Some suggestions on how to deal with grammar mistakes when you're writing in English. I hope this is helpful.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GbJsW9rKyz0
Check out my 3-week writing program -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/writing-program/
Consider joining my private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

Feb 29, 2024 • 4min
Is 'Non-native English Speaker' an OFFENSIVE term?
If English isn't your first language, do you get offended if someone calls you a "non-native English speaker"? Is "non-native English speaker" a derogatory term? Let me know what you think :)
Watch on YT -- https://youtu.be/Rfi2kMBBrgc
www.fabiocerpelloni.com

Feb 26, 2024 • 9min
3 Tips to Improve Your English Punctuation “-(,.!;:?
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/fua7ian-Qgk
"English punctuation is a nightmare for me. I can't understand the logic of it," said a writer I interviewed last week. Many non-native English writers struggle with punctuation. It also used to be a problem for me. So here are my 3 tips.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:32 Book
03:20 Exercise
05:15 Writer Brain
7:40 Conclusion
I mentioned:
"The Best Punctuation Book, Period" by June Casagrande
My 3-week writing program https://fabiocerpelloni.com/writing-program/

Feb 20, 2024 • 7min
A Book on the 99 Most Common Thinking Errors We Make
Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/qndgsE7k2Zo
Here's a book that could help you develop critical and clear thinking skills. It's called "The Art of Thinking Clearly" by Rolf Dobelli. In this episode, I'll share what I learned from it.
www.fabiocerpelloni.com

Feb 15, 2024 • 1h 3min
Writing in English to Build a Small Online Business: with Alberto Cabas Vidani from Italy
Watch this episode on YouTube -- https://youtu.be/ZbO7WegbCnE
I discovered Alberto on Medium.com and was impressed by the quality of his writing. Alberto is an Italian writer and blogger who helps aspiring content creators become prolific by building custom systems that fit their busy lives. He started blogging in Italian in 2010 but then boldly stepped into the world of English writing to reach a wider audience.
In this conversation, you'll hear him talk about:
His early beginnings in digital content creation
His transition from writing in Italian to writing in English
Recommended resources for non-native English writers
Writing on Medium.com
His writing process and approach
Using ChatGPT
...and other things related to writing, content creation, learning English, and digital entrepreneurship.
If you find this useful, please email me to let me know. All my contacts are on my website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:38 - Switching to English
13:08 - Gaining Confidence
16:30 - Loving English
24:38 - Writing on Medium
35: 26 - Getting Better at Writing
43:30 - Writing & ChatGPT
52:08 - Books for writers
55:10 - Alberto's course
01:01:44 - Conclusion
Links & Resources:
- Medium: read Alberto's articles on Medium.com -- https://albertocabasvidani.medium.com/
- The Unstoppable Creator (Alberto's newsletter + free email course) -- https://albertocabasvidani.ck.page/052d7c645d
- The Tilt for content strategies and business insights -- https://www.thetilt.com/
- Ali Abdaal and Nicolas Cole -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIfEgvpEufU
Books we mentioned:
- "Storyworthy" by Matthew Dicks
- "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
- "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser
- "The Art and Business of Online Writing" by Nicolas Cole
- "The 4 Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferris
Find out more about me and my work on my website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

Feb 12, 2024 • 10min
You Don't Need Follow Every English Teacher Out There
Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/his4qaunSmA
You don't need 127 teachers, YouTubers, or creators. One or two are enough. Choose one you trust and then get on with your learning without getting lost in a sea of contradicting voices.
Links
The only YouTube channel I used to learn English -- It was great in 2011. Imagine how great it is in 2024 -- https://www.youtube.com/user/engvidenglish
My book: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-language-you-want/

Feb 8, 2024 • 20min
The Best Way to Learn a Language: All You Need to Know About It
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4kfYRqxYtqA
What's the best way to learn a language? My first language is Italian but I've spent the past decade teaching English, a language I started learning in my 20s. I've also studied and researched second language acquisition as part of my MA in Language Education.
Without bragging, I know the answer to "What's the best way to learn a language?" But I can't reveal the secret without first addressing a bigger question.
I hope what I say in this episode is helpful.
***
My book: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-language-you-want/

Feb 5, 2024 • 16min
Don't Use English Idioms to "Sound Advanced"
Do you use English idioms in speaking or writing to sound advanced? To impress someone? To look cool?
Don't.
Episode links
Watch this episode on YouTube -- https://youtu.be/zW1x9ydBwHA
Book: 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost
My book -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-language-you-want/
The video I mentioned -- https://youtu.be/P_AZvuGjS0w?si=kqiGQneeDh-8zcm8
My website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

Feb 2, 2024 • 1h 27min
The Power of Thinking about Thinking & Learning Journals: with David Loewen (Doctor of Education)
David Loewen, a writer and Doctor of Education, discusses the shortcomings of traditional education, the importance of thinking about thinking, learning journals, bears, Australia, and creativity. They explore the concept of learning journals, personal development, emotional intelligence, conflict management, and the power of sharing authentic writing. They also touch on the concept of self and bias in learning journals, encounters with wildlife, freemium products, and free educational email courses.