Tom Knoblauch isn’t your typical teacher. By day, he guides students through the intricacies of literature and film. By night, he’s an accomplished filmmaker, an NPR podcast host, and an experienced author.

For him, storytelling is at the heart of everything he does, whether he’s standing in front of a classroom, sitting behind a microphone, or working behind a camera.

One of Knoblauch’s most ambitious projects is his upcoming book on filmmaker Céline Sciamma, best known for her critically acclaimed “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”, currently under peer review.

The idea for the book started when he watched the movie in March 2020, just as the world began shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He described how he discovered the movie on a whim, often seeing new films after work without knowing much about them.

“‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ happened to be one of those but also what I thought might be the last movie I ever saw in theaters,” Knoblauch said. “Surely as a result of that, it lingered, but also, it was a fascinating movie in form, content, and influence.”

The film’s impact stayed with him, eventually inspiring a seminar paper during his Ph.D. studies. That paper evolved into a peer-reviewed article published in the “Academic Journal Film & History.” As one of the first scholars to write extensively about the film, Knoblauch’s work became foundational for future research.

The movie’s growing popularity led Bloomsbury Academic to reach out to him about turning his article into a book, which he worked on extensively this past summer.

Knoblauch explains that the film is deeply concerned with authenticity, authorship, and cultural traditions.

“Sciamma…is largely tied to discussions around “the gaze.” I think it is through normalizing unconventional gazes, through challenging conventions in ways that I think are healthy for artistic standards,” Knoblauch said. “Why we value one kind of storytelling over another is largely arbitrarily determined anyway. I enjoy when authors–cinematic or literary–run with that idea.”

Furthermore, his storytelling instincts are also evident in his podcast Riverside Chats. A flagship program for Nebraska’s NPR station KIOS, the show has around 10,000 weekly listeners, but its journey to success wasn’t always smooth.

The podcast started as a series of live events at Benson Theatre in 2018, focusing on cultural discussions in the Midwest. However, the events struggled to draw large crowds, leading Knoblauch to do some problem-solving.

“Nobody showed up, essentially. It’s embarrassing to have a space and a guest and then only eight people in the audience. So, I switched it to a podcast for about a year and more people would listen than would go to an event,” Knoblauch said.

One of his proudest moments came during an interview with comedian Tim Heidecker, who performed in Omaha as part of his Two Tims tour.

“He’s built a career out of playing a caricature of himself, so I didn’t know what I’d get—if I’d be talking to a character or the real Tim,” Knoblauch said. “Instead, I think I got the most open and in-depth public conversation he’s ever had.”

For Knoblauch, storytelling is central to podcasting success. He believes that momentum and rhythm drive compelling conversations.

“There has to be some kind of rhythm that signifies movement of some kind, and there are a million ways to establish that. Rather than having strict rules about it, I go into each episode not sure what exactly that rhythm will be,” Knoblauch said. “I want to listen to the answers and see where that takes us. Then you have to make sure that rhythm is sustained. Sometimes a guest has plenty of rhythm just with a mic.”

Knoblauch’s fellow English teacher and friend Alycia Gutierrez describes how his instinct for rhythm carries into his teaching, demonstrating his natural ability to draw people in.

“He knows the right inflection, the right cadence to take when giving information, and it’s shown in his teaching style when he lectures or leads a discussion. He keeps students interested,” Gutierrez said. “But, additionally, to do what he does outside of school—with his radio show and his academic research—he also has to be very adept at listening and knowing what will appeal to his audience.”

His passion for storytelling extends into filmmaking as well. Knoblauch has worked on a variety of microbudget films, short projects, and music videos, often taking on multiple roles such as writer, director, producer, editor, and occasionally actor.

Outside of these roles, in the classroom, Knoblauch emphasizes momentum, keeping students actively involved in discussions and analysis.

“One of the things that makes Mr. Knoblauch so good at what he does is that he has passion and enthusiasm for everything he does, and that has to be the most inspiring thing, both for his students and also for his coworkers and friends,” Gutierrez said.

Furthermore, for his aspiring storytellers, Knoblauch emphasizes the importance of consistency and deadlines to fuel productivity.

“I think the biggest impediment to people who want to pursue professional and creative projects but feel like they don’t have the time is that they don’t have consistent deadlines,” Knoblauch said. “Deadlines get you moving, and I like to keep moving.”

Looking towards the future, he is already beginning to explore a second academic book and fit in editing his newest short film. For Knoblauch, storytelling isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of life.