About Folktellers Studios
Folktellers Studios was founded on a bold vision: to create a transformative world of storytelling rooted in myth and legend.
Our Story
Twenty five years ago, writer and instructional systems designer Josef Bastian envisioned an ambitious story-driven universe. In 2017, he partnered with Stephen Sadler, a fellow writer, engineer, and technology innovator whose work had been successfully acquired by Walt Disney Studios and other major entertainment companies in Los Angeles. Together, they combined their complementary expertise in creativity, technology, and storytelling to build a groundbreaking transmedia platform.
At Folktellers Studios, we believe that a story, well told, can change the world. Our team of experts and artisans from film, music, television, gaming, literature, and digital media crafts immersive tales of ancient lore and wonder. We invite audiences to engage with our stories on a deeper, experiential level.
Drawing inspiration from our Detroit roots—where tangible innovation has long produced V8 engines, automobiles, and industrial breakthroughs—we specialize in transforming intangible creative “vapors” into solid, enduring realities. Since launching our vision in 2009 with the successful book series The Legend of the Nain Rouge (Detroit’s Red Dwarf and harbinger of doom), we have steadily expanded our canon around the power of storytelling.
Over the past decade, we have developed a rich transmedia universe designed for accessibility across books, film, television, gaming, live concerts, and more. Through persistent development, strategic partnerships, and substantial investment, we have progressed from conceptual ideas to tangible, market-ready properties. Today, Folktellers Studios stands at the threshold of releasing a new slate of studio projects in collaboration with leading partners across the entertainment industry.
Awards and Recognition
Our commitment to meaningful, family-oriented entertainment has earned significant acclaim:
- Pilot Series Release of Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook - Phases of the Moon
- Two-Time Children’s Moonbeam Book Award for Young Adult Fantasy
- Five-Time Mom’s Choice Gold Medal for Fantasy Fiction
- American Book Fest Gold for Pre-Teen Fantasy
- National Indie Book Award Finalist for Best New Fantasy Series
Folktellers Studios continues to build a compelling catalog of stories that entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences worldwide. We are the alchemists of modern mythology—turning dreams into shared experiences that endure.
Folktellers: Stories to Shared Podcast
Welcome to Folktellers: Stories to Be Shared, the podcast where the one who holds the story commands the power.
What do crafting marketing tech for Hollywood blockbusters, suiting up for professional basketball, and penning award-winning young-adult novels have in common? Stories—far more than you might ever envision.
Join hosts Kurt David, Stephen Sadler, and Josef Bastian as they spin captivating tales, share genuine laughter, and engage in insightful interviews with remarkable guests, all while delving into the profound mysteries and enduring wonders that lie at the heart of every extraordinary story.