What If Story Didn’t Require Conflict? Donald Conley on Empathy, Tension Without Trauma, and Stories Without Villains

04/17/25 • 56 min

What if the point of a story wasn’t conflict—but something more subtle, more layered, and more human? In this episode, award-winning director and producer Donald Conley joins Mishu to talk about the evolving shape of story, the language of tension, and how Nonviolent Communication changed the way he writes characters, builds scenes, and approaches collaboration.

Donald Conley is a filmmaker whose work orbits themes of justice, memory, and emotional honesty. He’s produced documentaries distributed by Netflix, PBS, and Max—including Dallas, 2019, a 5-part socio-political series for Independent Lens. His short documentary Matriarch and narrative short About Time have screened at major festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival. He’s currently directing a feature doc on the 1970 Syracuse 8 boycott and its legacy in college football.

In this episode, we talk about Tension vs. trauma: how Donald builds story without defaulting to conflict

Redefining narrative structure with empathy at the center
Recasting the role of the antagonist
The cost—and value—of slowing down the creative process
Directing intimacy with care, conversation, and consent

Follow Donald on Instagram @meekley for updates on About Time, his current doc project, and more.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

In this episode, we talk about Tension vs. trauma: how Donald builds story without defaulting to conflict

Redefining narrative structure with empathy at the center
Recasting the role of the antagonist
The cost—and value—of slowing down the creative process
Directing intimacy with care, conversation, and consent

Follow Donald on Instagram @meekley for updates on About Time, his current doc project, and more.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Previous Episode

The Film Stalled—Then We Started Over | Cassidy Tee & Kristina Mercado on First Chair

What does it look like to grow into a role you didn’t expect to take on—and do it with someone who trusts you, even before you trust yourself? In this episode, Cassidy Tee and Kristina Mercado talk about their collaboration on the short film First Chair, navigating setbacks, building momentum from scratch, and making decisions in real time with creative instincts as their compass.

Cassidy Tee is a filmmaker and screenwriter whose work blends suspenseful world-building with grounded character drama. Based in Chicago and drawn to the psychological thriller space, she’s directed a variety of indie projects and is currently deep in pre-production on First Chair, a tech-meets-orchestra short film with Black Mirror energy. Kristina Mercado is a producer and teaching artist who co-runs the production company Tide on Topic, and brings a sharp sense of logistics and community to the table—often jumping into roles she never imagined for herself.

We chat about:
→ Reigniting a project after a stall-out
→ Creative trust between director and producer
→ Running a female-led team on an indie budget
→ Letting momentum lead (even if it’s messy)
→ What it means to define success beyond just “finishing”

Check out Cassidy’s fundraiser for First Chair at crowdfundr.com/firstchair and follow her at @cassidytposts.
Learn more about Kristina’s production work at tideontopic.com and on IG at @kristinamvlg14.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Next Episode

You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Professional | Madelynn Wierda on Trusting Yourself Before They Tell You You’re Ready

What does it mean to call yourself an actor before the industry gives you permission? In this episode, Madelynn Wierda talks about navigating the awkward in-between of student and professional, how she chooses roles based on instinct, and why setting your own tone on set can make all the difference. We explore the mental side of auditioning, asking questions before you arrive, and letting go of “aspiring” in favor of actually doing the work.

Madelynn is a Chicago-based actor who’s extensively trained in both theatre and film, currently pursuing her BFA at Columbia College Chicago. She’s played lead roles in award-winning short films, performed in commercials and stage work, and continues to train at studios around the country. Known for her grounded performances and sharp preparation instincts, she brings presence and intentionality into every space—on and off camera.

In this episode:
→ Shifting from “aspiring” to I’m already doing it
→ Booking more once she stopped clinging to auditions
→ How to prep when there's no rehearsal
→ Knowing when to say no, even when you’re early in your career
→ Reframing the idea of professionalism from the inside out

Follow Madelynn on Instagram at @madelynnwierda.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.