Story Secrets - Every Choice Leads to Adventure

Story Secrets - Every Choice Leads to Adventure

Author: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen January 31, 2025 Duration: 17:45

What if the story you were reading wasn’t just about someone else’s journey, but yours? That’s the magic of Choose Your Own Adventure-style books. I recently discovered a Dutch fantasy author, Dianne Arentsen, who’s keeping this unique genre alive with her interactive books, Fort Enigma and Mystanica.

These aren’t ordinary stories. Instead of following a single narrative, you make choices that determine the outcome. In Fort Enigma, you solve riddles and puzzles to navigate different chambers, while Mystanica lets you steer the plot with every decision you make. Each choice creates a unique reading experience—no two readers will have the exact same adventure!

Why these books are fascinating:

  • Immersive storytelling: You’re part of the story, solving challenges and shaping the outcome.
  • Replay value: You can read them multiple times and experience entirely different paths.
  • Creative design: QR codes in the book even lead to online games for added interactivity!

These books bring back the nostalgia of old-school adventure games and classic Choose Your Own Adventure books while adding a modern twist. In my latest podcast, I interview Dianne and dive into her creative process. If you love fantasy or interactive storytelling, you won’t want to miss this.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full story and learn why these books might just inspire your next great read.

Read more about Dianne Arentsen on her website: https://www.diannearentsen.nl/
Order her books here: https://www.diannearentsen.nl/webshop/


Ever notice how a great film or television show can linger in your mind long after the credits roll? There’s often something more happening beneath the surface, a resonance that feels almost spiritual. Story Secrets is where we pull on those threads. Hosted by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, this podcast sits at a unique crossroads, weaving together discussions on faith, popular culture, and pure entertainment. Each episode takes a familiar story-whether from a beloved movie, a gripping TV series, or even a timeless tale-and gently uncovers the themes of meaning, purpose, and humanity hidden within. You won’t find dry lectures here; instead, Fr. Roderick brings a conversational and insightful perspective, revealing how narratives we enjoy in our leisure time can unexpectedly illuminate deeper questions about life, virtue, and connection. It’s for anyone who loves a good story and has ever wondered why it sticks with them. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful friend for a coffee after seeing a fantastic film, where the conversation naturally drifts from plot points to the profound. You’ll come away with a richer appreciation for the craft of storytelling and, perhaps, a new lens through which to view your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Story Secrets
Podcast Episodes
Story Secrets - The Rock and the Pebble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:31
Did you know that during archaeological excavations beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica, researchers discovered not only human remains believed to be those of Saint Peter… but also the perfectly preserved skeleton of a tiny f…
Story Secrets - The Great Cheese Roll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:31
🧀 The Great Cheese Roll is here! One wheel to roll them all — and in the laughter bind them Today is the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Race, where brave souls chase a 7lb wheel of cheese down one of the steepest hills i…
Story Secrets - The Lamb and the Catacombs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:20
Today’s story is about a lamb. But not just any lamb. He kicked over jars. He chewed expensive sandals. He absolutely did not want to be a model. Until he met a quiet boy. A boy who carried him—not just for a statue, but…
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
In this second and final part of my fantasy homage to The Empire Strikes Back, we return to the snowy peaks, haunted forests, and sacred ruins of a medieval Irish world where story itself is magic—and belief can shape re…
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
When I was 12 years old, I sat in a dark cinema and watched The Empire Strikes Back for the first time. I never recovered—and I mean that in the best possible way. It became my all-time favorite film, and it’s shaped the…
Story Secrets - A Little Piece of Heaven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:11
New Story: A Cup of Hope and a Slice of Heaven The cozy tavern where no brew will ever be the same, and neither will you. Somewhere along an old pilgrimage road in the Irish hills, there’s a crooked little cottage with a…
Story Secrets - The Prelate, the Poodle and the Pizza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
In today's episode, I share the original version of a children's story I made up about a poodle and a chihuahua in Rome. The poodle's owner is a tradition-loving cardinal, whereas the chihuahua is the dog of a chef who o…
Story Secrets - Nothing's Supposed To Live Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
There’s a moment in The Ballad of Phil and Phyllis—a TikTok song about an immortal groundhog and his mortal love—when the music quiets, and Phil sings of watching everything fade while he stays the same. The fame, the cr…
Story Secrets - The Boy Who Cried Dragon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:27
He Feared the Worst. The Worst Listened. What if your imagination had power? Not metaphorical power—the real kind. The kind that calls lightning when you expect rain. That conjures monsters when you picture danger. That…
Story Secrets - The Mouse Who Wanted to Be a Saint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:30
What does it take to become a saint? That’s the question at the heart of today’s story—and one very small mouse is determined to find out. Born behind a cabinet in the sacristy of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Topolino has a d…