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 - Saint Brendan's First Voyage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:00
This week, on May 16, we celebrated the feast of Saint Brendan the Navigator, the Irish monk whose sea voyages became the stuff of both Christian devotion and mythic imagination. He’s often remembered for his legendary j…
Story Secrets - The Hollow Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:32
Why I came up with this story. I worry about what we’re handing our children. Not just phones and tablets, but the digital realms they open: worlds that begin by adding to life, but slowly start to replace it. Curated, a…
Story Secrets - Bello and the Colossus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
Remember Pico, the fluffy seagull chick who crash-landed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel during the Conclave? This story takes us back in time—way back—to ancient Rome, during the reign of Emperor Nero. Meet Bello, one…
Story Secrets - The Druid and the Fogmaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:27
Two rival druids. One village. A battle between enchantment and healing. This week’s story takes us deep into a misty glen in early medieval Ireland, where a kind old druid brews gentle potions to help the sick and sorro…
Story Secrets - Bob's Roman Holiday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:43
In times of transition, it's often the smallest voices that carry the clearest songs. I created this short story in the days following the election of Pope Leo XIV, inspired by the quiet courage and gentle presence of Ca…
Story Secrets - The Sisters of the Forbidden Fruit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:39
What happens when faith becomes a hunger strike? In today’s story, we follow the journey of a young nun who enters a monastery dreaming of a different life—one rooted in silence, simplicity, and God. But as she rises thr…
Story Secrets - The Hunter and the Angel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:15
What would you do if you stumbled on a sign warning you not to pass? Not a flimsy warning—but one carved in stone, written in Latin, perched above a crumbling gate that leads deep into a dark and ancient forest. Would yo…
Story Secrets - The Magician’s Cat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:19
In today’s story, a quiet monastery hides a restless hunter—and a secret dream of claws, courage, and transformation. “The Magician’s Cat” follows a feisty orange tabby named Magnus who’s not content with the peaceful li…
Story Secrets - The Lion, the Bridge and the Wardrobe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:32
What happens when the Room of Tears hides more than just vestments—and opens into a world of snow, silence, and saints? In this magical and deeply symbolic short story, “The Lion, the Bridge, and the Wardrobe,” I reimagi…
Story Secrets - A Tale Of Soot And Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:34
What if the black and white smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel weren’t just symbols… but sentient? In this short story, I reimagine the smoke of the papal conclave as two ancient beings—mystical smoke-spirits locked i…