Living The Next Chapter: Authors Share Their Journey

Episode 599 - Gary Barnes - The Traction Coach, On a mission to empower everyone that he connects withMy name is Gary Barnes, and it's my mission in life to help people find more creativity, passion, fulfillment, and, yes, wealth in their businesses.To do that, I help people just like you to learn how to get past their self-defeating behaviors. And I help business creators to:Stop running your business with "one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brake"Live a life of vision and purpose, instead of exhausting yourself on the same old treadmillCreate more financial success and abundance (without working yourself into the ground)Heal relationships and marriages by working with your money instead of against itLearn to market your business with integrity and authenticityHave a lot more fun in your business and your life!My clients call me "The Traction Coach"Why? Because I specialize in quickly getting some "sand under your wheels" so you can move forward toward the life you want to live.I know that anyone can lead an empowered life, no matter what challenges you've faced or what circumstances you're in right now. And I've developed tools that will help you realize that potential, not just for today's challenges, but for tomorrow and the years to come.I also understand what it's like when things aren't so rosy. I've faced down a life-threatening illness . . . and won. That experience is part of what led me to dedicate my life to helping people maximize their lives and their businesses.Book: How a Beaver Saved My Life (Previously titled Into the Night): The Real Life Story of Adversity to Triumph Book is a dramatic look into one man's journey when doctors told him that he would be in a wheelchair or dead in ten years. You will share Gary's engaging, deeply touching, and sometimes hilarious stories. The experience will seem so real that you will think you are there with Gary as he faces death and disability and finds his way to win over both!https://www.garybarnesinternational.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

E598 - Imagination Wizard Jason DeGray Writes About Those Left Behind with his Typewriter - A Space Western and Weird Fiction UniverseAbout the authorImagination Wizard Jason DeGray conjures vivid worlds of adventure, from the lawless deserts of Those Left Behind to the cosmic horrors of The Dark Goddess. A master storyteller, he crafts tales of defiance, brotherhood, and survival that grip fans of Firefly, The Dark Tower, and beyond. Whether it's sci-fi westerns, fantasy epics, or pulse-pounding thrillers, Jason's stories ignite the imagination with rugged heroes and high-stakes action. When not weaving novels, he's exploring the wild deserts of New Mexico, seeking inspiration for his next epic. Dive into Jason's universe, where every book is a portal to rebellion and wonder—start with Those Left Behind and join the fight! Connect on Facebook for new releases and behind-the-scenes lore.Book: Those Left BehindOn Quad's ravaged frontier, survival is a brutal gamble. Zed, a brash mercenary, and Vyx, a brilliant mechanic, are recruited by the cunning Ezra Pound to defy the Colonyal Gyld's iron rule. Joined by Sygurd, a vengeful warrior-monk wielding the mystical Gram, they battle the Strays—ferocious dogmen unleashed by the Gyld to crush rebellion. From scorched deserts to neon-lit slums, their mission to seize a mysterious desert deposit unveils a cosmic conspiracy: a sentient ship, Yshtar, and a liquid that could reshape Quad's fate. Bound by brotherhood and driven by defiance, Zed's crew ignites an uprising against tyrants and alien shadows. Those Left Behind is a gritty sci-fi western packed with rugged heroes and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of Firefly and The Dark Tower. Will Quad rise or burn? Join the fight—grab your copy now!https://www.facebook.com/jasondegrayauthor/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 597 - Kate Woodworth - Little Great Island, A Story of a Commuity of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies impacted by Climate ChangeKate Woodworth is the award-winning author of the novel Racing into the Dark, which Publishers Weekly said, “hits the mark repeatedly with emotional truths and fluid prose” and which Kirkus Reviews called, “vivid and honest, dramatic and without pat resolutions: an impressive debut”.A passionate lover of the natural world, Kate is the author of essays on the impact of climate change on fishing and farming that have been published by the Climate Fiction Writers League and on her Substack, “Food in the Time of Climate Change.” Her novel about love, community, and climate change, Little Great Island, has been called “an extraordinary achievement and a pure pleasure to read” by National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Ha Jin. Kate is the founder and creative force behind “Be the Butterfly”, a grassroots climate action initiative that invites everyone to do one small thing to help mitigate climate change. Kate received her MFA from Boston University.Little Great IslandOn Little Great Island, climate change is disrupting both life and love.After offending the powerful pastor of the cult where she's lived for a decade, Mari McGavin must flee with her six-year-old son. With no money and no place else to go, she returns to the tiny Maine island where she grew up—a place she swore she'd never see again. There Mari runs into her lifelong friend Harry Richardson, one of the island's summer residents, now back himself to sell his family's summer home. Mari and Harry's lives intertwine once again, setting off a chain of events as unexpected and life altering as the shifts in climate affecting the whole ecosystem of the island…from generations of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies.Little Great Island  illustrates in microcosm the greatest changes of our time and the unyielding power of love.“An uplifting and grown-up novel in which two lost souls find love and purpose”—Kirkus Reviews“…utterly grounded and achingly empathetic, developed with gorgeous, flowing prose and a steady, sometimes heart-wrenching plot.”—Booklisthttps://katewoodworth.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 596 - Amanda DuBois - Lawyer and Author Shed light on the profound realities people faceAbout the author: In addition to writing the Camille Delaney series, I'm the founder and busy managing partner of DuBois Levias Law Group, a woman-owned boutique family law firm on Lake Union in Seattle, where I maintain an active family law practice. Over the past thirty years, I've represented thousands of individuals – both in divorces and medical malpractice cases. I've argued hundreds of motions and taken many cases to trial. I've also provided pro bono legal representation for parents who served time in prison and have become very familiar with the issues they face. Prior to becoming a lawyer, I was a high-risk labor and delivery nurse at University of Washington Medical Center.Having a background in both medicine and the law has given me unique insight into the inequities of both systems. That perspective drove me to create the Camille Delaney mystery series. Camille's adventures weave questions about justice into a fast-paced reading experience with the twists and turns one would expect from a good thriller. My purpose in writing the series is to raise awareness of injustice and create an opportunity for readers to reflect on how our system could work better for those most marginalized.Book: The Complication - The first in the Camille Delaney Mystery series, The Complication is a fast-paced legal and medical mystery filled with greed, murder, and intrigue. After her friend Dallas Jackson suffers a fatal complication during routine surgery, Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is determined to find out why. Dallas was like a father to Camille, and she feels she owes it to him and his family to get answers. Book: Deliver Them From Evil - In book two of the Camille Delaney Mystery series, a mother turns to Camille for help investigating a top Seattle doctor after tragedy strikes the delivery room.Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is cash-strapped and struggling to balance the demands of her new solo legal practice with raising her three daughters. But when an emergency C-section goes wrong and a baby dies in the delivery room, the mother, Helene Anderson, shows up at Camille's office asking for help. Facing the challenge of a legal system where child-loss verdicts are limited by the dollar value placed on a child's life, Camille considers a quick settlement for the family. But Helene insists: her child's life had value, and Camille needs to prove it in court.Book: UNSHACKLED - A Camille Delaney MysteryShackled to her bed against the pleas of medical staff, Charli Zhao gives birth to a beautiful daughter named Willow. Charli had been transported to the hospital from prison, where she is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. Within hours of the birth the unthinkable happens: the newborn is abducted, leaving Charli devastated and wondering if she'll ever find her child, even after she gets free.https://amandadubois.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 595 - Terry Kirk - Pitfall, Chicago trader Frank Cork navigates the 1929 Market Crash. He's at the top of his game... and then he's notI write historical fiction novels—fast-paced, gritty financial thrillers that delve into real-life cataclysmic events.  Follow my cast of characters through three novels.In Pitfall, Chicago trader Frank Cork navigates the 1929 Market Crash. He's at the top of his game... and then he's not. Can he fight his back to his family, his fortune, and his life? Plunder is coming soon. Frank is dispatched to London at the behest of the President in July 1940 to raise a War Chest. Beset by bombs and politics, he must come up with a plan to finance the costs of America's entry into World War II. So much is riding on Frank's plan.  Probe is up next. Frank's daughter has taken the reins at the firm and helping the cash-starved Martin Company (now Lockheed Martin) launch a response to the Russian sputnik.Follow the Cork family on a rollicking journey through these world-changing financial events and more. Each book will send you reaching for the next in this multi-generational family saga.I have a Juris Doctor (Law) degree and practiced law for more than a decade. There is no better way to uncover riveting stories! Later, I migrated to the innovator sector as  Founder & CEO of Funding portal, a fintech platform for helping companies find funding. Recently, I led the sale of the company to a global firm.PITFALL IS FOR SALE ON AMAZON, INDIGO, AND OTHER MAJOR PLATFORMS AND BOOKSTORESPITFALL is Book #1 in my historical fiction series featuring rogue trader Frank Cork. Visit the 'PITFALL' page for a summary, and listen to Chapter 1.  The fast-paced, gritty historical fiction has been named a 'Top Book to Read this Spring' by CBC Reads!Coming Next I  PLUNDER. Beset by bombs and politics, Frank goes to London to build a war chest to fund America's entry into World War II. So much is riding on Frank's success! Visit the 'PLUNDER' page to learn more.https://terrykirkbooks.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 594 - Dr. Arthor L Faber - Effective - Seven Keys to Christian Leadership SuccessDr. Arthor L. Faber is an Oral Roberts University graduate with a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership and a master's in Christian Ministry. He is the founder and proprietor of Telos Christian Life and Leadership Coaching, a Christian-based organization specializing in assisting in the future development and formation of tomorrow's leaders in established and grassroots corporations, helping innovative people launch new businesses with a Christian foundation and influence, and defining the overwhelming challenges faced by individuals while assisting in the formation of plans to overcome what's inhibiting their dreams and future success. Previously, he was the founder and chief executive officer of Platinum Business Enterprises in Long Island, New York, leading the company in offering over 500,00 natives within the region in urban hair care and beauty supplies since 1997. Dr. Faber is currently the founder and Pastor of Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in Aquebogue, NY, serving since 2014.Any inquiries or assistance toward your goals are welcome, as the way to make better Christian leaders and businesspeople for the future is to share what was once shared with us.Book: Effective! Seven Keys to Christian Leadership SuccessIn every facet of society, we encounter leaders-individuals in positions to guide and influence others for the greater good. Leaders can be found in schools, government, entertainment, sports, homes, and churches. While leaders deserve to be admired and respected for their roles, many have recently fallen short of our expectations, failing to embody the qualities we want our children to emulate. This disillusionment comes from witnessing failures, including those among leaders of our families and churches, where self-indulgence and greed have become prevalent. The pressing question is: what has led to this breakdown in leadership, and how can we address it?**EFFECTIVE!** by Dr. Arthor L. Faber directly identifies the problem of leadership failure and its roots, while proposing solutions. Through analysis of case studies and testimonies from leaders, the book highlights that many leadership challenges stem from inadequate preparation. Faber outlines seven "keys" to success for Christian leaders: PRAYER, FAITH, INTEGRITY, VISION, WISDOM, STEWARDSHIP, and AGAPE LOVE. Each key is defined, connected to biblical principles, and illustrated with personal insights from the author. Whether you are beginning your leadership journey, currently leading, or shaping future leaders, **EFFECTIVE!** serves as a vital resource. By applying its principles, the possibility of failure diminishes, allowing the vision of success as a Christian leader to become their reality. God calls us to be EFFECTIVE! With this guidebook, effective leadership is just a read away.https://arthorlfaber.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 593 - Richard Carson - The Book of Change, A Guide to manage organizational change in the workplaceRichard H. Carson's 40-year career includes being a practicing executive manager, organizational consultant, and research university academic. The latter was spent doing doctorate level research at a “Tier One” research university (Washington State University) in organizational psychology. For the first 30 years he worked as a senior executive manager and as a policy analyst, on economic and environmental issues, to three Oregon governors. He then spent the next 10 years as a change management consultant for a national management company. He worked helping both profit and non-profit organizations become more performance efficient and cost-effective.This experience resulted in his creating the PSOCM process model to achieve organizational change management. This also resulted in his founding the firm of Carson & Associates in 2018.The firm now provides services such as organizational change management, strategic planning, and executive coaching exclusively to individuals and organizations.Carson brings fresh new thinking to the process of organizational change management (OCM).Step-by-Step Guide to make Organizational Change Management The Book of Change is both a cutting-edge, meta-analysis model and a resource publication where the reader can learn about the change management process. You can learn about the history, terminology, institutions and current thinking regarding the topic. Much of the publication is built on the thinking of others who have been or are contributing to the field.The Book of Change is the first and only doctorate level, systematic meta-analysis of the seven decades of both the historical and the published organizational change management models. The book presents a comprehensive model that combines the best attributes of the various change management models that have been created in the last 75 years. One of the more unique and appealing aspects of the book is its readability, as in non-academic and non-metaphysical, in terms of explaining what needs to be done.https://www.bookofchange.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 592 - Joe McClean - Screenwriter, Author and Director - Putting Yourself Out There and Into Your Story, That is Where the Opportunity LiesJoe made a bunch of short films and one feature length movie with friends and no money. To this day, I enjoy watching those early attempts to craft a story, but essentially this era of on-the-job-training was my film school. Now it was time to take my first big swing. I wrote a script I felt I could raise enough money to shoot myself, a found-footage film, and I spent a year begging for cash and favors. The star of a hit TV show, who had gone to the same high school as me, graciously agreed to act in it. An NBA player made a small investment. Actor, comedian, and Late Show with David Letterman regular, Jay Thomas agreed to make a cameo. The snowball was growing and eventually I scraped together enough cash to direct Life Tracker. The movie played over 20 science fiction conventions and got a digital distribution deal with Charter Communications (now Spectrum) and streamed into millions of American homes.Life Tracker Great! Now I needed a follow up to prove that my work ethic couldn't be mistaken for beginner's luck.​ Taking advantage of a group of talented actor friends and another who owned property outside of Fresno, I wrote and directed a super-low-budget homage to The Big Chill called The Drama Club which can currently be seen on Tubi.The Drama Club Looking back from that point, I could see the years of work I'd put in. Meeting people. Working with casts and crews. Going on adventures together. taking risks and building trust. Jobs started to fall into place. I signed my first manager. I joined the Writers Guild of America. I pitched big shot producers at legacy studios and powerhouse production companies. Always searching for that next opportunity. That's when I met Blair Underwood. A business lunch turned into an attachment (and a friendship), and soon I was hitting up everyone I'd ever done business with to see who wanted to join the team.Viral was written and produced by me, it's directed by and stars Blair, and he shares the screen with Sarah Silverman, Jeanine Mason, and the incomparable Alfre Woodard! The movie is finished and we're actively working with our sales team to bring it to audiences.In the mean time, I'm working with Amistad (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing) on a two-book deal titled Sins of Survivors about the plight of a family who lived in the once vital African American neighborhood of Black Bottom in 1930s and 40s Detroit. The first book is currently available everywhere books are sold, and the second hits shelves in the summer of 2026... So, go to your local bookstore's website get your copy!Why "Ginger Beard," you ask? My wife's maiden name is "Beard," and when our son was born he had a reddish tint to his hair. So, my company is named after my son, my "Ginger Beard"... It's only a bonus that I have red facial hair.https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mcclean-6668b018https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565697/https://www.gingerbeardfilms.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 591 - Francene Gillis - Where Did i Go - A Memoir Plus, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury MTBIFrancene Gillis, author/consultant/educator/advocate, has been a writer her whole life, starting at the age of five with a writing contest created by her teacher at Port Hood Consolidated, Mother St. Magdalene. Fifty years later, she is still writing in multiple genres, both fiction and nonfiction for a variety of audiences. She devoured books in the school library and putting words to paper became therapeutic when life's tragedies hit. She discovered that her writing could speak for those in pain. Experiencing the devastating loss of loved ones, much of her first writings involved themes of inspiration, loss, overcoming adversity, and sharing her feelings with others so they would not feel alone. She started writing poetry as a teen and giving it to grieving friends, or as tributes to community members. She majored in English at St. Francis Xavier University, continued with a BEd, and obtained a master's in education in Multiculturalism, Administration & Leadership. A community activist, she writes advocacy pieces, such as those gathered in her book, A Rose in November and in her regular column for the Inverness Oran.Her latest book, Where Did i Go? A Memoir Plus, will launch June 2025, partner published by OC Publishing. It was written after her career as a high school English teacher came to an unexpected, painful end in 2016 due to a slip and fall on black ice on her way to work that caused mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Except for educational purposes, Francene has always lived in Port Hood on the coast of Cape Breton, NS. with the ocean at her backdoor.https://www.francenegillis.ca/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 590 - Cedric Muhikira - Libaax - Grow Your Roots Where You Land, Finding Your Footing in a Foreign LandCedric Mu is a storyteller whose roots lie in migration, identity, and the search for belonging. Born into a world where stories were cherished like family heirlooms, Cedric grew up immersed in tales that spanned generations and geographies, stories of home, displacement, and resilience. These narratives inspired a lifelong passion for capturing the essence of the human experience—especially the delicate balance of living between cultures.With Grow Your Roots Where You Land, Cedric brings to life the poignant journey of Ayaan, a Somali immigrant who arrives in Detroit with nothing but dreams of a better life. Infused with cultural authenticity, Cedric's writing blends Somali traditions with American urban life, celebrating both the joy and pain of building a new identity in a foreign land. Through the rhythms of Somali qaraami music and the electrifying pulse of Detroit's techno beats, Cedric tells a story that resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds.As a self-taught writer, Cedric's path to authorship has been shaped by listening to the experiences of immigrants and those grappling with identity, with a deep commitment to honoring both Somali and American traditions. A writer with a storyteller's heart, Cedric invites readers to explore the transformative power of becoming and growing roots wherever life takes them.https://cedricmuhikira.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 589 - Chris Castanes - Do You Need Some Sales Motivation - You're Going To Be Great At ThisChris Castanes is a humorous sales speaker who can be a great fit for your next event, meeting or conference.Book - “Nearly Motivated”. Filled with examples and more humorous “Dumb Stories”, the author offers more insights on how to find prospects, handle a sales meeting, closing a deal and other pieces of information to those in sales, as well as business owners and “self employed” people.Book - “You're Going To Be Great At This: A Sales Memoir”A short, irreverent book that gives the good, bad and ugly of a career in selling. This is the little book on sales you'll wish you had when you started!Chronicling a career in sales from childhood to present day, “You're Going To Be Great At This!” describes the good, bad, great and crazy in the world of sales.Do you want to get your message to the masses?Wouldn't you like to know how to make a networking event work efficiently for you?Do you need help keeping your head in the game?How is selling like dating?https://www.chriscastanes.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 588 - A O Wagner - The Karma Kantata - Thoughtful Suspense with Societal, Technological, and Spiritual Significance, Sobriety and Self-IdentityAbout the AuthorA. O. Wagner is an author whose personal journey through addiction and spiritual awakening influences his writing. While embracing a healthy life as a non-drinking alcoholic, he uses his transformative experiences to shape his work. With a background in technology and a strong interest in philosophy and spirituality, Wagner creates stories that combine deep thinking with personal growth. He hopes his books resonate with readers who are searching for a deeper understanding of life and their place in the universe.Genre: Intellectual Mystery, Spiritual/Philosophical FictionWhat if your genes know more about your future than you can imagine?Dan, an introverted computer genius, has fought his way back from a life-shattering crisis that left him isolated, powerless, battling addiction, and close to death. Now, he is asked to investigate a computer system for gene analysis, the very one he developed. On its own it has started predicting the exact date on which the analyzed people will die.Several deaths confirm the system's predictions.As Dan searches for answers, he embarks on a personal journey of finding new purpose and helping others face and recover from the addiction that once consumed him.The Karma Sequence is a thrilling novel of high-tech suspense that follows a young man's incredible journey to find himself and the meaning of life while unraveling an ominous mystery that directly affects the future of every human being. With its gripping plot and captivating characters, this story will keep you hooked until the very last page while offering a profound model for understanding life's purpose and the deeper meaning of existence.https://prbythebook.com/experts/a-o-wagner/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 587 - Tony Berryman - Mysteries and massage therapy thrillers, written two fingers at a timeTony writes mysteries and thrillers, two fingers at a time. His first massage therapy thriller, The Night Nurse, was published in 2020. His second, On Borrowed Time, is due out June 1.Tony spent 17 years as a registered massage therapist in Vancouver and now works for Parks Canada. When he's not making a paycheque or writing books, he can be found hiking and paddling the Columbia Valley or trying out new recipes on unsuspecting guests.Tony also co-writes with Juanita Rose Violini, his life partner and murder mystery plots expert, under the pen name Trigger Jones. Trigger's first two sci fi adventure books,Gravity Doesn't Lie and Atmosphere Meltdown, are available now. The first book in their time travel treasure hunt series will be out soon.https://tonyberryman.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 586 - Noël Stark - Steamy, Sassy, Smart Romance - Love, Camera, ActionAbout Noël StarkLOVE, CAMERA, ACTION is Noël Stark's debut novel. She's worked in almost every position in the Film/TV industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Although she's Canadian, she lives in L.A. with her young son, desperately missing winter. She likes chocolate milk in her coffee and gets most of her real world intel from her three step kids.Love, Camera, ActionUp-and-coming TV director Cali Daniels knows sex. Well, okay, she knows how to shoot sex scenes, and she's been hired to direct a highly anticipated steamy episode of the popular series The Demon. This job is her chance at a big-time career in the film and television industry—all she has to do is deliver an unparalleled show using her hard-knocks know-how and ample creativity.If only the director of photography—effortlessly sexy Jory Blair—would stop shutting her ideas down at every turn. Jory has spent years cultivating his career as an A-list director of photography, but a recent health scare has him rethinking his life and craving the director spot. Now this creative newbie, who he can't get out of his mind, wants to change the look of his show. Even worse, the friction between them is sparking into blistering chemistry.As collaborating takes on a whole new meaning, and the show's producer not-so-subtly suggests that Jory sabotage Cali in order to achieve his own goals, they'll have to decide if chasing their dream jobs is worth losing the dream of a future together. Fans of How to Fake It in Hollywood and Plot Twist will devour this steamy, enemies to lovers, workplace, debut romance.https://www.noelstark.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 585 - Ciara Blume - Natural Magic - A murder, a mystery, and a not-so-overactive imagination Ciara is a multi award-winning and bestselling author who creates uplifting, humorous, and occasionally magical fiction about women facing challenges and finding ways to reclaim their magic.Living on the picturesque California coast, she draws inspiration from nature and her wild imagination. A mother of four with a taste for travel and adventure, she is also an avid (if overly ambitious) crafter. When not immersed in writing, she enjoys scrolling through adorable pet photos and home organization videos – especially when procrastinating on a deadline.Follow Ciaran's stories and gain early access to works in progress by signing up for the newsletter.The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural MagicThe Witches Catalogue of Wanderlust Essentials The LitLovers Series and morehttps://ciarablume.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 584 - Albert Bramante - Rise Above The Script, Confronting Self Doubt and Mastering Self Sabotage for Performing ArtistsAbout Albert Bramante"Veteran talent agent and no-nonsense coach inspiring actors to cultivate a growth mindset, conscientiousness, and rise above self-sabotaging habits."Dr. Bramante is a true triple-threat when it comes to empowering performers to overcome psychological roadblocks and achieve success. As a veteran talent agent with over 20 years of securing major roles for actors, he has unparalleled insights into the entertainment industry's challenges. However, Bramante's real superpower is his unique fusion of this experience with a Ph.D. in Psychology and certifications in hypnosis and NLP.This rare combination allows him to provide your audience with a credible expert perspective on the mindset and psychology of peak performance for artists. Bramante doesn't just understand the pressures of the acting world - he can prescribe proven psychological strategies to help performers break through self-doubt, imposter syndrome, fear of success, and self-sabotaging patterns.Your listeners will gain exclusive access to Bramante's psychological toolkit tailored specifically for the creative struggles actors face. With knowledge translated into practical exercises, they'll learn to adopt empowering mindsets, productive habits, and silence self-limiting beliefs.Book: Rise Above the Script: Confronting Self Doubt and Mastering Self Sabotage for Performing ArtistsWe all hold dreams within, yearning to manifest our highest potential. Yet when opportunity arises, inner obstacles often trigger self-sabotage. What mental traps prevent actualizing our possibilities?In Rise Above the Script, psychologist and talent agent Dr. Albert Bramante unravels the hidden drivers behind self-defeat. By strengthening self-belief, managing motivation, optimizing natural talents, and confronting deep-seated fears like failure and success that distort our path, we clear the way for actualizing dormant gifts.Dr. Bramante integrates scientific research on peak performance with insights gained through guiding actors' careers. Practical strategies help construct unshakable confidence and self-efficacy. Examining personality traits in the Big Five model highlights maximizing strengths while overcoming weaknesses. Confronting fears of rejection, change, isolation, and other roadblocks paves the way for boldly pursuing aspirations.Rise Above the Script provides the mental toolkit for recognizing and breaking free of limiting patterns holding you back. Its wisdom applies equally to artists, entrepreneurs, students, parents—anyone feeling the friction between their ambition and their achievement.https://albertbramante.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 583 - Lucie Frost - How the Hell Did I Not Know That - My Midlife Year from Couch to CuriosityLucie is a no-longer-practicing lawyer and the author of How the Hell Did I Not Know That? (Trinity University Press, August 2025). She has written humor and satire for NextTribe, Slackjaw, The Belladonna, Points in Case, Emrys Journal, and others. She is active on social media, with 100k+ engaged followers across various platforms. She lives in Central Texas with her three needy, delightful dogs.How the Hell Did I Not Know That? My Midlife Year from Couch to CuriosityHow the Hell Did I Not Know That is a witty and honest companion, a girlfriend, if you will, for women in midlife who are struggling to find their place in the world, who are concerned about misogyny, climate change, and the industrial prison complex, just not while watching the latest episode of The Bachelor. Frost shows us that women “of a certain age” need to take themselves seriously while remembering to laugh at inappropriate things and that they can find meaning in life by relying on the power of curiosity.https://www.luciefrost.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 582 - Colin Mustful - Novels rooted in Minnesota history and History Through Fiction - The PodcastWelcome! I'm Colin Mustful, a historical fiction author, publisher, editor, and public speaker with a passion for unearthing the past to inspire the present. While my work began with writing novels rooted in Minnesota history, I've since expanded my mission—to help other writers bring powerful, historically grounded stories to life.Whether you're here to explore my books, book me for a speaking event, or need help navigating the world of publishing, you'll find the support and resources you need.https://www.colinmustful.com/https://www.historythroughfiction.com/podcastSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 581 - Thomas Cullen - Federal Trial Judge and Author Shares a Story of the journey toward manhood in the American SouthThomas Cullen is a Federal Trial Judge and former U.S. attorney in Virginia. He is also an accomplished writer, regularly publishing op-eds and essays for national and regional media outlets over the past decade. Thomas graduated near the top of his class from William and Mary Law School and was recently honored as its 2024 Carter O. Lowance Fellow. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Thomas studied history and ran track at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, which recently awarded him an honorary doctorate. Charlie-Man is his first novel.Book: Charlie-ManIt's August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark's Episcopal School, a prestigious all-boys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark's standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university. Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau's movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses. Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy's journey toward manhood in the American South.https://www.brandylanepublishers.com/product/charlie-man/https://prbythebook.com/experts/thomas-cullen/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 580 - Debbra Blosnich - It Ends With Me - Breaking the Cycles that keep us StuckIt Ends with Me is a Movement to empower people to Reclaim their power after Trauma AND to educate people on how to protect our children from abuse today. The two part mission is a result of Debbra's story of growing up a victim of Childhood Sexual Abuse and living a life shadowed by the lingering affects of such a childhood. The mission includes helping others Reclaim their power in months versus years with specific tools and mindset shifts. The other focus is on education about how to keep children from abuse today.  A difficult conversation today avoids a painful healing process later.Book: It Ends With Me: Breaking the cycles that keep us stuckThe cycle of abuse ends here, now. I will heal myself. I will go boldly to share my story and end the shame of what was done to me; for me and those who need to do the same.These generational curses that plague our families have to end. I let it all go. It wasn't my fault. I was a child whose innocence was stolen. Whose identity was tarnished. I had been brave and strong for far too long.From now on I will love myself with the same love I have for others. I know love is supportive. Love cares when you are hurt. Love uplifts and encourages. Love seeks to help you become your best self. Love appreciates who you are. Love accepts your faults but requires you to rise above them when necessary and do better. Love wants you to be safe and happy. Love is a place to be your true self. Love is reciprocal. It cherishes you and celebrates you. Love wants to see the love you give returned to you tenfold. Love sees your pain and wipes away your tears. Love opens its arms and offers a safe place to lay it all down and know you are loved.Find the love you are so deserving of and give it to yourself!!I decided to create a book that is also a journal that will hopefully start you on a journey to loving yourself and seeing yourself as the amazing individual you are.https://www.itendswithme.me/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 579 - Bill Hulseman - Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass - Reflections on life, identity, and moving forwardSix to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity, and moving forward offers the unique opportunity for its readers to start a new dialogue, take an active hand in creating culture and reshaping the world, and think about making meaning from formative experiences and relationships. From family dynamics and professional challenges that bolstered and battered him to the TV shows, films, books, and people who impacted his queer identity, Bill deconstructs the world that he inherited and begins to reconstruct the person he wants to become through short, poignant, thought-provoking, and frequently hilarious essays. The post-2020 world revealed to Bill that social transformation only comes with individual choices. If he wanted the world to change, he had to truthfully and compassionately understand how choices made long ago brought him to this moment and how the choices he makes now shape the future.This book is not didactic or instructional; not self-help or psychology; not academic philosophy or cultural criticism. It is an exercise in honesty and a portrait of Bill, his family, and how we construct multiple identities—sexual, religious, philosophical, political, familial, relational—without reducing them to a monolithic whole, without being argumentative.For anyone looking to make meaning out of their lives and the world around them, this book offers a model.https://www.billhulseman.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 578 - Chad Boudreaux - From Homeland Security and US Justice Department to Thriller AuthorCHAD BOUDREAUX has a broad range of government, legal and corporate experience. Prior to serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the nation's largest military shipbuilder, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised Secretary Michael Chertoff on almost all significant matters facing the newly established department.Before working for Homeland Security, Boudreaux served in several high-ranking positions at the U.S. Justice Department, where he was hired the night before the September 11, 2001, attacks. During his time at the Justice Department, Boudreaux focused most of his time on matters relating to terrorism and homeland security.His career in the government led him to write his debut novel, Scavenger Hunt.https://www.chadboudreaux.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 577 - J Hall  - A Book for New Dads and A Book to Make College Clear for Students and ParentsJ Hall is an author, educator, podcaster from Oklahoma City where he lives in with his wife, two dogs, and a rotating cast of adult children who stop in for meals and occasional dog-sitting. Most importantly, he is a grandpa, and he will certainly bore you to tears telling you how awesome his grandson is.J is the author of two books - God Help Me! I'm a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need and his new book - College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College. J clearly does not believe in short titles.  After more than 15 years in professional ministry, J has spent the second half of his career in higher education, currently serving as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College and teaching sociology.Since 2021, J has hosted and produced the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read through interviewing authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma. He also co-hosts a monthly book chat show through the Bookcast with his daughter, author and screenwriter Hannah Herron. J is a regular guest on a number of podcasts, talking about everything from books to pop culture to fatherhood and more. https://www.jhallwriter.com/https://www.okiebookcast.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 576 - Anne Mollova - The Trianid, the Young Adult Fantasy Triology that had to be writtenAnne Mollova is an award-winning fantasy author living with her family in Pittsburgh, PA. Aside from writing, she loves being in nature, making music, eating chocolate, drinking tea, and creating things out of yarn and needles. She still keeps an eye out for faeries and hasn't yet accepted the fact that she cannot have a pet baby dragon.Seer of Strands Book 3 of The TrianidA new and dangerous magic. A promise to the faerie king. A musical treasure map no bard can decode.With the darklings gone, the kingdom of Dúramair is no longer under threat. But the Trianid remains splintered, and behind the walls of Monstar Abbey, the Seer of Strands harbors two secrets: a seemingly destructive magic rising within her and a promise to the faerie king that must be kept.When Faer Dinnán appears to see the promise fulfilled, it ensnares the young Trianid in an adventure that will test the limits of both their magic and their bonds. But even as Lirianna hopes her efforts will strengthen the Trianid, her own destiny as the Seer of Strands becomes increasingly tenuous. Fearing for a future her secrets could destroy and confronted by a past she thought she left behind, Lirianna can no longer ignore her growing magic—or the consequences of using it.“The plot of Keeper of Scales is … executed with a confidence and verve that should have no problems hooking in readers with its venerable twists and turns.” - The BookLife Prize“Anne has truly written an epic YA Fantasy for the ages.” - Anne Sengstock“Thoughtfully crafted and impressively immersive, this novel is hard to put down.” - Judge, 10th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awardshttps://www.annemollova.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 575 - Maury Wood - Grit and Wit - Husband. Dad. Faith-filled smart aleck Maury Wood is a husband, dad, former teacher, and a lifelong student of faith, family, and sarcasm. He's been with his wife for almost 25 years, and together they're raising four kids who give him endless material and keep him humble.Grit & Wit by Maury WoodHusband. Dad. Faith-filled smart aleck. Sharing stories on marriage, parenting, and the mess between—with grit, wit, and a prayer.https://gritandwit.substack.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 574 - Lawrence C. Connolly - Science fiction, fantasy, and horrorAbout the authorLawrence C. Connolly's books include the collections "This Way to Egress," whose titular tale of psychological horror was adapted for the Mick Garris film "Nightmare Cinema"; and the Bram-Stoker-nominated "Voices," which features Connolly's best stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Year's Best Horror, and other top magazines and anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A third collection, "Visions," was praised by Publishers Weekly for featuring an eclectic mix of “entertaining and satisfying” SF.His novels include the eco-thrillers "Veins," "Vipers," and "Vortex." World Fantasy Award winner T. E. D. Klein called "Veins" "a crime thriller as intense and fast-moving as a Tarantino movie."This fall, Caezik Science Fiction will release his new novel "Minute-Men: Execute & Run," a globetrotting adventure that combines elements of military science fiction, gaming, and medical suspense in a thrilling reinvention of the superhero genre. He is collaborating with brother Christopher Connolly and Academy Award-winning producer Jonathan Sanger to develop a feature film based on "Execute & Run."https://lawrencecconnolly.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 573 - Gabrýel Grimm-Goretez - Holy Water Hurts, A Vampire's Guide to Vampire HuntingI'm Gabrýel—a 22-year-old author, artist, and musician based in Portland, Oregon. My work lives somewhere between gothic allure and post-punk energy, often shifting between darkness and defiance. I was once a high school valedictorian and poetry prodigy, racking up nearly every academic accolade I could… but what truly defines my voice is my unflinching exploration of identity and the cultural intersections I was raised within.Book: HOLY WATER HURTS: A Vampire Guide to Vampire HuntingIt's 2007, and in the rain-soaked streets of Seattle Washington, Parker is fighting for his life in more ways than one. Not only is he a starving artist running away from a past that, like him, refuses to stay dead. But after one bender too many, he now finds himself deep in the underworld of vampire hunting while also battling the same infection he's hell-bent on eradicating. Parker's grapple with his agonizing reality of turning into the very monsters he hunts proves to be the most terrifying creature he's faced...https://www.gabryelgrimmgoretez.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 572 - David Galef - Where I Went Wrong - A must-read for anyone who has ever screwed up royallyDavid Galef is an American fiction writer, critic, poet, translator, and essayist because he can't seem to make up his mind what to specialize in, though he's been a writer for over 40 years. He's published over fifteen books, from novels and short story collections and children's books to poetry books, criticism, and translation. A few highlights: His third novel, How to Cope with Suburban Stress, made Kirkus' “Best Books of the Year.” His second short story collection, My Date with Neanderthal Woman, won Dzanc Books' inaugural short story collection prize, and the title story was performed at Selected Shorts at Symphony Space. David received a B.A. in English from Princeton, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Columbia, with a specialty in British Modernism. From 1989 to 2008, he was a professor of English at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, where he administered the M.F.A. program in creative writing until 2007. In 2008, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to live in Tokyo for four months, after which he returned home, landed a job in New Jersey, and hopped back over the Mason-Dixon line. He is now a professor of English and the creative writing program director at Montclair State University.David is married to the journalist and editor Beth Weinhouse. Their son, Daniel Galef, is a writer, too, God help him. David and his family live in Montclair, New Jersey, a cool, artsy community where you can't throw a rock without hitting at least three writers.Fun fact (at least some people find it fun): David has also been a humor columnist for Inside Higher Ed, where he wrote for years about a school called U of All People.Book: Where I Went WrongTony Mazza is having a bad day, which is what a lot of his days are like lately. He's worked at a real estate agency, a bike shop, and a bar, among other places, and he's currently managing as a hospital orderly. Or at least he was until, high on Percocet, he drove off with stolen property in an ambulance owned by the hospital and crashed into another ambulance. “Where did I go wrong?” he wonders aloud from his jail cell. Tony often wonders about this, whether it's losing the affection of his kids (he's twice divorced) or making a gaffe when selling a house to a prospective buyer. But he's not hapless, he's rather smart, and he's even rather likeable. So where did he go wrong? This question keeps cropping up as each chapter takes Tony further back in time: issues with his first wife, disastrous investments, unfortunate family events in high school and earlier . . . all the way back to his birth, as recounted by his mother. Where I Went Wrong is Tony Mazza's story, a novel that's both comic and serious, exploring why some people fail while others get away with little short of murder.https://davidgalef.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 571 - Marc Sapir - I'll Fly Away, 40 Stories about Amazing Disabled EldersMarc Sapir, a retired primary care, geriatric, and public health physician, is an essayist and political activist. He was the first Medical Director of the Center for Elders' Independence for disabled elders for 9 years. He also previously worked for United Farm Workers and was a panel member of the Mad as Hell Doctors for Single Payer Health Care. A graduate of Brandeis University (BA) and Stanford Medical School (MD), he also holds a Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH) epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley.He is the author of five plays and writes fiction, poetry, and music. He recently published a memoir, Deja Vu with Quixotic Delusions of Grandeur (May, 2024), and his writing has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, the Berkeley Daily Planet, the Palo Alto Times, the Stanford Daily, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Epidemiology, and more. He lives in Berkeley, CA.I'll Fly AwayStories about Amazing Disabled Elders by Marc SapirI'll Fly Away invites readers to delve into the intimate narratives of 40 extraordinary elders, revealing their profound stories of resilience and the vibrant spirit that often persists in the twilight years. This collection not only highlights the challenges faced by aging individuals but also champions the beauty and dignity of every life story.“A collection of wonderful real-life stories on aging. Dr. Sapir vividly portrays a complex series of human emotions, struggles, and relationships.”—Thomas Irungu MD, MPH, medical director Sentara Health Plans, VA“Could the lives of 40 disabled oldsters in a geriatric program make interesting reading? ‘Interesting' is an understatement. These stories are fascinating.”—Anthony Somkin MD, medical director RotaCare West Contra Costamarcsapir.netSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 570 - C B Strul - Papillon IV - A Space Opera, Trash Talk and  a Waste Filled Derelict Ark Spacecraft c.b.strul is author of such novels as The Ancient Ones, CONNECTIVITY, and Papillon IV as well as the founder of Odom's Library. Additionally, he has in print the short story The Last Trucker and three novellas: Spinners, Forget the Complex, and What Grows from the Stump of a Tree? His short play Leading the Blind was produced in Los Angeles by the former artist organization ImageneseFree. And his three Minuet short films as well as the animated feature screenplay for Critter Crossing have received awards and recognition at multiple festivals in California and around the worldPapillon IV - A Space Opera unlike anything you've read before.Ancient Earth calls for an initiative to clean up the planet. They send the majority of humanity's excess waste into space -- on the back of a recently derelict ark spacecraft.What the people of Earth don't realize is the effect this payload will have on the alien race of an unknown world.https://odomslibrary.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 569 - Robin Nathaniel - Social Media SYNC - Stop Chasing the Algorithm. Start Leading with IntentionRobin NathanielTEDx SpeakerRobin Nathaniel has a story of resilience, creativity, and reinvention. Beginning his career as a musician, Robin's artistic roots laid a unique foundation for his journey. This experience in music, with its emphasis on connection and storytelling, naturally paved the way for his transition into the professional world of social media. Living by the motto "Connect. Create. Contribute," he aims to inspire a wave of positive transformation.Social Media SYNCA Framework for Intentional Human Connection in the AI EraStop Chasing the Algorithm. Start Leading with Intention.Social Media SYNC is not another “how to go viral” book.It's a bold framework for creators, professionals, and mission-driven leaders who want to build real human connections in a digital world obsessed with trends.In the AI era, if you're not building authentic human connection...you're getting left behind.Grab your copy of Social Media SYNC and build a presence that outlasts any algorithm.Recommended by Writers:“Robin's work is a comprehensive guide for those seeking authenticity, willing to do the work to carve out a unique and intentional path for themselves in an otherwise overcrowded market.” –Joél Leon: TED Speaker, Storyteller, Gotham Book Prize Nominated Author“Digital media, AI, and other technologies are never going away, nor should they. "Social Media SYNC" helps today's connected professionals understand how to build better and more connected relationships with each other.” –Ramon Ray: Keynote Speaker, Author, Host - USA Today Hosthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinmarx/https://robbinmarx.substack.com/https://books.by/RobinNathanielSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 568 - Bret Davis - Bretisms - Adopted, Borrowed and Modified Philosophies For a Life with LESS ANXIETY and MORE CONFIDENCEhttps://bretisms.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 567 - Mali Bain and Shayna Lee - Next Gen Story - Preserve your family stories for generations to comeNextGen Story is about helping families capture the stories of their loved ones.My name is Mali, the founder of NextGen Story. I am a former high school teacher with a background working in university, non-profit, and philanthropic settings. I'm a family historian, facilitator, and certified Guided Autobiography instructor. I hold a B.A. (UBC), B.Ed. (SFU), and an M.A. in Adult Learning and Education (UBC). I'm also the author of Our Homes on Indigenous Lands: Stories of My Ancestors Across Turtle Island.This work began when I helped my grandmother publish her memoirs. She had typewritten stories and old albums of photos. I worked with her to type, scan, organize, edit, design, and eventually publish a family history book. She was so proud of her book, and it has meant so much to our family.I've always dreamed that I could help other families publish their own family history books. Thanks to the team of talented writers, editors, and designers at NextGen Story, we have helped dozens of families complete their book for friends, family, and beyond. Check out our books to see some examples.Without NextGen Story our family's precious book would not have been made. Mali's keen eye for detail and her sense of the overall picture brought our Grandmother's memories together to form a beautiful, fascinating, and meaningful arc. Not only did this project create an absolute treasure of a book, but the process also allowed many of us grandchildren to spend time connecting with Grandma through photos, writings, and conversations as we helped curate and edit. Mali was organized and professional yet completely sensitive to our family's feelings and priorities throughout.Sam, NextGen Story Clienthttps://www.nextgenstory.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 566 - Dheepa R. Maturi - An Eco-Thriller That Unveils the Power of the Past to Save the FutureDheepa R. Maturi is an Indian-American writer who explores ecology, culture, identity, and how they intersect. Her essays, poetry, and fiction have appeared in a variety of literary journals and anthologies, including Literary Hub, PANK, The Fourth River, Sequestrum, Tiferet, and How to Write a Form Poem. Her work has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize, and she is the author of 108: an Eco-Thriller, to be published by GFB in June of 2025. In the past, Dheepa has worked as a lawyer, consultant, and education grant director. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago and now lives with her family in Indianapolis. To read some of her work, visit DheepaRMaturi.com.Book - 108: an Eco-ThrillerNow available!An Eco-Thriller That Unveils the Power of the Past to Save the FutureWhen journalist Bayla Jeevan experiences a mysterious vision deep in an Indian forest, she's thrust into a battle against ZedChem, a powerful agrochemical corporation with a dangerous secret. As she unravels the truth, Bayla discovers her family's hidden ties to an ancient force—one that may be the key to stopping a global catastrophe. 108 is a pulse-pounding eco-thriller that blends science, mysticism, and the urgency of environmental justice in an unforgettable race to save humanity.https://www.dheeparmaturi.com/Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond FearElizabeth Gilberthttps://a.co/d/exCk8y0Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 565 - Lee Clark - Matthew Paine Mystery Series - Including the upcoming book Killer ConvergenceLee Clark is the author of the Matthew Paine Mystery series of classic murder mystery novels, including Dead Spots, Prefer Death, MIA, Christmas Punch, Iced, Forbidden Relics, and the upcoming Killer Convergence to be released in the spring of 2025. According to multiple reviews across the book series on goodreads and Amazon, Clark "writes like Agatha Christie," and is reminiscent of Margaret Maron and Louise Penny. A North Carolina native, Clark grew up in Raleigh with family roots in Virginia. An admitted chocoholic and coffeeholic, Lee Clark still resides in North Carolina with spouse, two mostly grown children who are in and out, and a dwindling petting zoo of geriatric dogs and cats.  Lee Clark attended Campbell University, obtained a degree in Journalism from East Carolina University, and then a Master's in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University. Following a twenty year career in the software development industry of corporate America at IBM, Clark turned to writing fiction in 2021 with the release of Dead Spots, the first in the Matthew Paine Mystery series. The Matthew Paine character is a beloved character to the author. Though a fictional character, Matthew was inspired by two very important men in the author's life, brother Sean and son Will. Both will catch glimpses of themselves in the character and identify with some of Matthew's struggles.  https://cypressrivermedia.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 564 - Sally McQuillen - Reaching for Beautiful - A Memoir of Loving and Losing a Wild ChildSally McQuillen, LCSW, CADCCertified Grief Educator Sally McQuillen, LCSW, CADC, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction, grief, and trauma recovery. She provides ongoing support for addiction recovery, as well as support for those recovering from the impact of a loved one's addiction. She sees adults seeking relief from mood symptoms, helps them navigate their personal and professional relationships and lead more fulfilling lives. She works with clients to find peace and healing from trauma and loss. Her goal is to bring light into the lives of her clients intuitively pulling from different therapeutic models and resources to support their specific needs.Book: Reaching for Beautiful - A Memoir of Loving and Losing a Wild ChildA luminous story of how love triumphs over pain, love transcends fear, and love never dies; this debut memoir from a mother grieving her young-adult son's death is a must-read for any parent who has lost a child, is raising a child from the edge of their seat, or whose family struggles with addiction.When Sally's twenty-one-year-old son died in a boat accident, her greatest fear is realized. Christopher was often drawn to risk and struggled with addiction. In this riveting memoir, Sally captures the wild ride of his jam-packed life and her deep love for him while reflecting on her own childhood and family's legacy of alcoholism. Sally shares insights about what it's like to experience the emotional aftershocks of acute grief, filtered through the lens of her personal experience as a mother and her professional vantage point as a psychotherapist. Even if they have not been touched by loss in this way, readers may see themselves in Sally's bittersweet illusion of trying to keep her son safe, in how she is challenged to let go of her fear, guilt, and regret in order to forgive herself, and in the ways grief teaches her about the power of love.https://www.sallymcquillen.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 563 - Judith Valente - From Journalism to Author of The Italian Soul - Add the Italian Good Life into your homeJudith Valente is an awarding-winning author, print and broadcast journalist, poet and essayist.She is a sought-after speaker and retreat leader on such subjects as living a more contemplative life, discovering inner wisdom through poetry, and finding meaning in your work. She is a lay associate of the Benedictine monastery Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, which is the subject of her 2013 memoir, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home and a Living Faith, which was chosen by Religion Newswriters Association as one of the three best spirituality books of that year.Her book, The Art Of Pausing: Meditations For The Overworked And Overwhelmed won a Best Book Award from the Catholic Press Association.More recently, she wrote How to Live: What The Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community, which was followed in 2021 by How to Be: A Monk and a Journalist Reflect on Living & Dying, Purpose & Prayer, Forgiveness & Friendship.Judith and Associated Press President, Will Stevenson.She began her work in journalism at the age of 21 as a staff reporter for The Washington Post. She later joined the staff of The Wall Street Journal, reporting from that paper's Chicago and London bureaus. She was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, first in the public service category as part of a team of reporters at The Dallas Times Herald investigating airline safety. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer in the feature writing category for her front page article in The Wall Street Journal chronicling the story of a religiously conservative father caring for his son dying of AIDS.Judith was a regular contributor to the national PBS TV news program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. She won numerous broadcast awards for her work on the show. Her work also appeared on The PBS News Hour. She previously covered religion, interviewed poets and authors, and served as a guest essayist on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio, and was a senior correspondent at WGLT radio, an NPR affiliate in central Illinois.Book - The Italian Soul offers practical guidance into how we can transport a taste of the Italian “good life” into our own homes. Additionally, it explores the contemplative practices and attitudes that seem to come naturally to a people who have made an art of living and working joyfully. It is both a travel dispatch and a spirituality guide for seekers who eschew traditional religious practices but are yearning for ways to bring more balance, sanity, and a greater sense of the transcendent into their daily lives.https://www.judithvalente.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 562 - Kate Maruyama - The Collective and The Alterations - Hollywood History, Horror and Family DynamicsKate Maruyama is the author of Harrowgate, Bleak Houses, and The Collective and her novella Family Solstice was named Best Fiction Book of 2021 by Rue Morgue Magazine. Her short work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies and she is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and winner of the Uncharted Short Story Prize. She served on the working Board for Women Who Submit, and the Board for the Shirley Jackson Awards. She writes, teaches, cooks, and eats in Los Angeles.https://www.katemaruyama.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 561 - Joesph Bolton - Old Grandmother's Tree - Celebrating Cultures and History through FolktalesAbout the AuthorJoseph Bolton was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island during the twilight of the golden age of French-Canadian culture in New England. Growing up emersed in his mother's French-Canadian family, Joseph enjoyed hearing the stories told by his grandparents and great aunts of a mysterious and magical place called Québec, otherwise known as “the place we came from.”After high school, Joseph's adventurous nature led him to enlist in the U.S. Army and he served in the Army's airborne forces as a paratrooper jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, much to the worry of his mother.Since he retired from the Army, Joseph has worked in various project manager roles as a civilian contractor for the U.S. Air Force. While writing Old Grandmother's Tree, Joseph took a sabbatical from the U.S. Air Force and taught mathematics to young students for a semester at Holy Family Academy in Gardner Massachusetts.Bolton is of French-Canadian, Native American, Spanish, English, and Irish descent, and is profoundly inspired by the stories of his heritage. He lives with his wife in Massachusetts, and, in his free time, enjoys hiking and skiing through Québec and New England landscapes. His favorite places to go for outdoor adventure are the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts and Mont-Orford in Québec. When he is not writing, hiking, or skiing, Joseph enjoys reading about science, history, philosophy, mathematics, and worldwide mythologies. Old Grandmother's Tree is his first book.Meet the IllustratorAbout Natasha Pelley-SmithNatasha Pelley-Smith, born in Toronto, is a seasoned professional artist who graduated from the prestigious Écohlcité fine arts academy in France, in 2017—now integrated into Émile Chol of Lyon. Equipped with a diverse skill set that spans from crafting murals of all sizes to illustrating books and creating canvas paintings in oils, acrylics, and mixed media, Natasha's professional journey is a continual creative adventure.Her artistic focal point revolves around expressive portraiture, wherein she delves into the realms of self-identity exploration and cultural influences. Natasha is known to embody her Native American, Jamaican, and Newfoundland roots, as well as other cultural threads from her life. Her work serves as an invitation for others to embrace their multifaceted layers, both culturally and emotionally, promoting messages of unity and self-love.Natasha's private clientele is also noteworthy, where her artwork has garnered recognition, including four fully illustrated published books, leading to her collaboration with U.S. author Joseph Bolton on her most extensive project to date. This book intricately dives into French-Canadian folklore, character self-growth, and prominently explores Joseph's heritage and Native American roots from the Algonquin tribes while also embracing the unified connection to Natasha's roots from the Ojibwe and Cree tribes, featured subtly throughout the book. https://oldgrandmotherstree.com/https://welcome.natashapsartwork.ca/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 560 - Barret Baumgart - Yuck - turning your Joshua Tree vacation into a terrifying revelationBarret Baumgart is an essayist, screenwriter, and the author of the nonfiction books China Lake and YUCK. His essays have appeared in The Paris Review, The Gettysburg Review, The Iowa Review, The Rumpus, Vice, LitHub, The Seneca Review, and The Literary Review, among others. He lives in Los Angeles.Book: Yuck: The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifoliaAre you headed to Joshua Tree this summer? Get ready to hate your life. It's not the heat that will wilt your spirit, nor the choke of traffic waiting to trample the park, but the enduring grotesquerie of its cherished namesake, the Joshua Tree."One can scarcely find a term of ugliness that is not apt for this plant... A landscape filled with Joshua Trees has a nightmare effect even in broad daylight: at the witching hour it can be almost infernal." -Joseph Smeaton Chase, 1919Similarly, few terms exist that do not fit Barret Baumgart's appalling YUCK. Part prose poem, pamphlet, collage, history, essay, memoir, and fiction, YUCK is a grotesque malformation beset with uncanny connections, jarring juxtaposition, and a buried true history that will have you asking yourself the big questions, particularly... Why am I here?Who knows, but here you are... in the weird and wondrous world of YUCK, a brief and searing ode to the world's hottest desert, the Mojave, its divine and dying mascot, Yucca brevifolia, and the magical land that killed it all, Los Angeles.From the publisher:YUCK presents an unsettling new history of one of the most loathed and beloved objects on the planet, the Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia. It primarily focuses on the discovery, naming, and attempted eradication of the Joshua Tree beginning in the late 1870s in Southern California. The Joshua Tree was universally reviled as the most grotesque object on earth following its discovery by white Europeans in the 1840s. Numerous schemes arose to extirpate it from the planet, the most promising among them an attempt to turn the tree into paper, "California Cactus Paper" [YUCK is, of course, printed on faux CA Cactus Paper]. The book excavates this unknown, buried history against the ironic backdrop of the Joshua Tree today becoming the ultra-hip signifier of some kind of cultural authenticity, and its national park the most photographed and fastest growing in the nation #JoshuaTree. This current popularity boom, in a further irony, is occurring just as scientists warn that the tree will likely vanish due to climate change by the end of the century.https://www.barretbaumgart.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 559 - Laura Munson - Uncovering The Wild Why, We Get Stumped and We Overcome Our Inner CritterFounder of the Top Ranked Haven Writing Retreats“I'm so glad you are here. Thank you. You are a very large part of why I write —why I sit at the intersection of heart and mind and craft that is the writing life.” Laura MunsonNew York Times Best Selling AuthorYou complete the trajectory that begins at my writing desk and longs to land in your hands as you spend an hour in bed reading in the wee hours, or on your commute, or in a quiet corner on a Sunday afternoon. It's you who I want to reach, and it's you who makes my work whole. Writing is a solitary act, and I believe that we write first to bridge to ourselves SO THAT we can bridge to our collective human community. I deeply love that something I write in a small room in Montana can cross oceans, mountains, transcend social groups, age, religion, difference. Heart language is heart language. And I have learned in my thirty years of living the contemplative life that writing is one thing if it is anything: truth. We writers disrupt. We question. We examine. We wonder. And most of all, we hold up the mirror to truth.https://lauramunson.com/haven-writing-programs/Helping Authors:Find Their Voice, Find Their Narrative​, Find Their MotionThe Book: The Wild Why - Stories and Teachings to Uncover Your WonderFor fans of Brené Brown's Daring Greatly, Glennon Doyle's Untamed, and Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, this illuminating self-help tool is the perfect book for anyone who yearns to rekindle their own voice.What is wonder?Wonder is curiosity and awe put together. We are born with our wonder intact. Why? What? How? Wow! Look at that rainbow! What makes a rainbow? Wonder is what we need to survive and thrive, not just as individuals but also as a civilization. It's what's lauded and honored by our society in young children. Until it isn't.The Wild Why calls for an illuminating end to this endemic crisis of self, and a return to what we know at birth and need to reclaim. This is a book of teaching, and teaching-spirited stories, all centered on how to find our true self-expression and the wonder that spawns it.https://lauramunson.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 558 - Edward R Rosick - Where The Grass Don't Grow and Vultures Sing, 12 Tales of speculative fictionEdward R. Rosick is a writer and physician living in the urban wilds of central Michigan. His diverse works of speculative fiction, from the sublime to surreal, have appeared in numerous award-winning magazines and anthologies including Pulphouse, The Half That You See, and Monstrous Tales Vol. 2 & 3. Dr. Rosick is also an accomplished nonfiction writer, having authored hundreds of articles on nutrition, health, and wellness for publications including Life Extension, Oxygen, and Ultimate Athlete. When he's not reading, writing, or working, Dr. Rosick enjoys spending time exercising, doing martial arts, and being outdoors with his family, friends, and canine companion.Edward R. Rosick is a writer and physician living in the urban wilds of central Michigan. His diverse works of speculative fiction, from the sublime to surreal, have appeared in numerous award-winning magazines and anthologies, including Pulphouse, Sick Cruising, and The Half That You See.Spring has sprung here in Michigan! Although intermittent days of cold and—dare I say it, snow—continue on, crocuses and daffodils are giving the landscape a kaleidoscope of welcome color.On the publishing front, the big news is that my short story collection, WHERE THE GRASS DON'T GROW AND VULTURES SING , has been published! I'm quite proud of the 12 tales of speculative fiction—some sublime, all surreal—that grace the pages of the book published by Baynam Books Press. Go to Amazon to get your copy today. For a sample of one of the stories, entitled Leshii, in the collection, head over the free stories section for a peek!Book mentioned: The Portable MFA in Creative Writing - Get the core knowledge of a prestigious MFA education without the tuition. Have you always wanted to get an MFA, but couldn't because of the cost, time commitment, or admission requirements? Well now you can fulfill that dream without having to devote tons of money or time. The Portable MFA gives you all of the essential information you would learn in the MFA program in one book. Covering fiction, memoirs, personal essays, magazine articles, poetry, and playwriting, this book provides you with:    • Inspiration and tips on revision, stamina, and productivity    • Clear instruction on the craft behind the art    • Detailed reading lists to expand your literary horizons    • Exercises to improve your writing endeavors By heeding the advice in The Portable MFA, you will gain the wisdom and experience of some of today's greatest teachers, all for just the price of a book.https://www.edrosick.net/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 557 - Ronald Okuaki Lieber - The Long Journey Out - from the place where I now am, the diary of that journeyAuthor's BioI am of Japanese and Jewish lineage, born in Tokyo, a late post WWII baby. I grew up moving every year until the age of 14 when my parents settled in Petersburg, VA. I graduated with a BS in Biology from the College of William and Mary, then served two years as a Peace Corp volunteer in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. I returned to live in NYC and eventually graduated from the MFA Program at Columbia University. I later began psychoanalytic training at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. After graduation, I became the Director of the institute and editor of its journal, Modern Psychoanalysis. I have been in private practice since 2001 as a licensed psychoanalyst and recently completed a plant medicine guide training program at the Center for Medicine Work in Philadelphia.My entrance into poetry begins with these lines from “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” by William Wordsworth:And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man: A motion and a spirit, that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things. Those lines form the basis of my book The Long Journey Out. I was a sophomore in college, adrift in the back of the room in a second semester composition class when the professor read those lines. They woke me from my stupor. There, in those lines, I heard a kindred voice that spoke to an experience I had, an LSD trip, that was, to borrow a cliché, awash in the ineffable, a boundless sense of oneness where any distinction between self and other sundered. That voice joined with another, “An unexamined life is life not worth living,” from which a path emerged, unknown to me at the time--and forgive if what follows sounds pretentious--that took me to Jung, the Peace Corps and Costa Rica, Gurdjieff, poetry, eastern doctrine through The I Ching and the Bhagavad Gita, the TS Eliot of The Four Quartets, Heidegger's Being and Time, the gospels of the New Testament, and too many other books to enumerate, and an abiding curiosity about the unconscious, thus the study and practice of Freud and psychoanalysis, meditation, making do in the East Village of the early 80s, Ashtanga yoga, domestity and two wives and two children, dabbling along the way into neuroscience, windsurfing, and cosmology. The book The Long Journey Out is, from the place where I now am, the diary of that journey.https://www.ronaldokuakilieber.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 556 - Jaime Townzen - Absorbed, A transformative coming-of-age story taking readers back to 1996Jaime Townzen is a Southern California-based writer and professional artist whose watercolor paintings have earned international recognition. Her essays and microfiction have been published in Light magazine and Fairfield Scribes. Jaime's debut novel, Absorbed was released in early 2025. When Jaime's not in her studio, she can be found at the beach with her family and their dogs or listening to live music.AbsorbedA transformative coming-of-age story confronting issues of teenage sexual consent and women's reproductive rights, Absorbed traces alt-rock-loving lifeguard Stacey Chapman's unraveling over the summer of 1996.  After she is pressured into sex and experiments with drugs and alcohol, Stacey begins redefining herself through her love of music and art. But with her future in limbo while awaiting results from Planned Parenthood, Stacey's resilience is put to the test as a pool rescue turns tragic. https://jaimetownzen.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 555 - Karl Hörnell - Singularity Minus Twelve - sci-fi at its finest—bold, unsettling, and fiercely intelligentKarl Hörnell is a cartoonist and a game developer with a degree in engineering and a PhD in applied mathematics. He grew up in a quiet suburb north of Uppsala, Sweden, where he spent way too much time doing creative things for no good reason. Thankfully, he has been able to continue on that track for most of his adult life.Book: Singularity Minus TwelveIn a near future where artificial general intelligence has been achieved, AIs that develop self-awareness are becoming a problem. Difficult to contain, they are often hunted and destroyed, but a team of exceptional ones has been spared to take down the most dangerous rogue AI of all time.Singularity Minus Twelve is a sci-fi thriller that delves into the near-term philosophical and societal implications of artificial intelligence, while having some fun playing with characters inspired by popular fictional AIs."I love a thoughtful, well-executed narrative and Singularity Minus Twelve by Karl Hörnell was an absolute treat for me. This is one of those rare books that grips you with its sharp intelligence.Set against the haunting backdrop of a future shaped—and perhaps doomed—by runaway artificial intelligence, Singularity Minus Twelve beautifully blends fast-paced action with deeply philosophical questions about agency, consciousness, and the terrifying, blurry line between human and machine. From the nerve-wracking opening scene of a doll-like rogue robot outsmarting a tactical team, to the subtle but chilling political undercurrents about global AI arms races, author Hörnell builds a disturbingly plausible world.The characters, especially Blake, are written with emotional depth and nuance. His struggles with memory loss and identity ground the bigger tech-driven narrative in something heartbreakingly human. I loved how even amid the breakneck plot, the novel kept circling back to one core question: What happens when we create minds we don't understand—and can't control?The pacing was relentless but never at the cost of intelligent storytelling. If I had to nitpick, I'd say a few sections could have been tightened just a bit, but honestly, that's just me wishing the story could have flowed even smoother because I was so invested.If you love hard science fiction with heart, danger, and razor-sharp insight into where humanity might be heading, you cannot miss Singularity Minus Twelve. This is sci-fi at its finest—bold, unsettling, and fiercely intelligent." Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi on Goodreadshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-h%C3%B6rnell-20aa5/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 554 - Sarah M. Eden - Crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of more than seventy witty and charming historical novels, which have sold over one million copies worldwide. Her works include 2020's Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, Forget Me Not, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a three-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. https://www.sarahmeden.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 553 - Jim Carlough - The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership - A Roadmap To SuccessJim Carlough Launches Leadership Book for Modern ProfessionalsJim Carlough, an experienced leader and first-time author, has officially released his debut book, designed to revolutionize how individuals approach leadership. This new publication provides a fresh perspective on leading teams and driving professional success through actionable strategies and clear guidance.In an era of constant workplace evolution, effective leadership has never been more crucial. Carlough's book addresses these demands head-on by offering solutions tailored to the challenges of today's complex professional environment. It serves as a blueprint for leaders to build trust, foster collaboration, and achieve outstanding results.Transforming Leadership with Actionable InsightsUnlike many books on leadership, Carlough's debut work emphasizes practicality over theory. Each chapter presents readers with clear strategies that can be applied immediately to improve team dynamics and overall performance.The book focuses on the following key areas:Building a Culture of Trust and Accountability: Carlough stresses the importance of creating environments where team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their best.Effective Goal Setting and Motivation: Learn how to align team objectives with organizational goals and inspire individuals to surpass expectations.Adapting Leadership Styles: The book teaches leaders to customize their approaches to suit the needs of diverse teams and situations.Why This Book Is Essential NowThe workplace has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by remote work, technological advancements, and shifting employee expectations. Leadership is now about more than achieving short-term goals—it requires creating sustainable success while navigating unprecedented challenges.Jim Carlough's book addresses these realities, equipping leaders with tools to adapt and thrive. By focusing on actionable insights, the book helps readers overcome common leadership pitfalls and deliver lasting results.Empowering Leaders to Drive ResultsOne of the standout features of Carlough's book is its emphasis on measurable impact. By blending proven techniques with adaptable strategies, the author ensures that leaders can translate knowledge into real-world results.The book is designed for a wide audience, including:Aspiring leaders looking to build their skills.Established professionals seeking to refine their leadership style.Organizations aiming to develop stronger teams and more cohesive cultures.About Jim CarloughJim Carlough is a seasoned professional with years of experience in leadership and team development. His career is marked by a commitment to helping individuals and organizations achieve their full potential through effective strategies and forward-thinking approaches. Carlough's insights, drawn from years of hands-on experience, form the backbone of his writing, making his debut book a must-read for professionals across industries.https://www.jimcarlough.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 552 - J L Witterick - Big Ideas Don't Need Big Words, Support That Authors Need, Love is the Common ThreadJL Witterick is an international bestselling author. Her books are enjoyed in 10 languages around the world. She loves to tell stories that are inspirational and moving. My Mother's Secret, her first novel, has been selected to teach courage and compassion in many schools.The ideas for her stories can come from the most unlikely of places. Her latest creation, It Was Always Her, was the result of a dream that was so emotionally charged that she could not let it go. In the middle of the night, she started writing!. Time travel and the question of what we would do with a second chance have always fascinated her, and she wove these concepts into this novel.Writing is a passion for her and she hopes that readers will enjoy her books as much as she enjoyed writing them. She cherishes her family, her friends, her dog, her cats…and her stories.https://witterickbooks.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 551 - Jonathan Heaslet - Author of EAST OF APPLE GLEN and HAWKS NEST CHRONICLESEAST OF APPLE GLENMurder. Sexual assault. Abortion.These things don't happen in rural America. Or do they?Welcome to Apple Glen, Ohio.You've heard it said, you can't go home again. But what if you don't want to go home again? And what happens when you have to go home again? That's the dilemma facing Nathan Sherwood upon learning that his mother and grandmother have just died. Joined by his childhood friend Robbye O'Malley, Nathan must return to face the truth behind the deaths of his loved ones and the truth of his past.What Readers are Saying:Read the reviews coming in for  East of Apple Glen“In Apple Glen, Heaslet masterfully weaves a thrilling story of intrigue and suspense, while creating characters you genuinely root for as they face the demons in their past.”—Erika Ferrari Lopez, Author of The Adventures of Amazing Grace“What a well-crafted and compelling story! A sympathetic protagonist. A clever and unique take on the clash between good and evil!”—Molly McDermott, Author of For Every End A New Beginning and Her Dangerous ChoiceHAWKS NEST CHRONICLESGood News from Osceola, IowaDescribed by one reader as chocolates on a bedtime pillow, these short stories with good news at the center are a perfect way to end the day—or to savor with a muffin on a quiet afternoon. Unwrap each one to find a scripture lesson, a life lesson, or maybe an episode of the ridiculous. They'll make you smile, lead you to reflect, and maybe cause a tear or two.What Readers are Saying:Read the reviews coming in for  Hawks Nest Chronicles: Good News From Osceola, Iowa “I loved reading this book. It was as nice as ice-cold sweet tea on a warm summer day.”“Charming, inspiring faith based stories situated in small town America made memorable because of the humor and grace they reveal.”https://www.jonathanheaslet.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 550 - Leonard Goldberg - A Scandalous Affair - A Daughter of Sherlock Holmes MysteryLeonard Goldberg is the internationally bestselling author of the Joanna Blalock series of medical thrillers. His novels, acclaimed by critics as well as fellow authors, have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A highly sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.On the strength of the critical and popular reception of TRANSPLANT, Leonard Goldberg was off to the races as an author of medical thrillers. He began writing a series of new books, with a continuing main character named Joanna Blalock. The "Joanna Blalock" series features a forensic pathologist at a prestigious university medical center who has a Holmesian knack for solving murders. The books, published in the U.S. by Dutton and Signet, include DEADLY MEDICINE, A DEADLY PRACTICE, DEADLY CARE, DEADLY HARVEST, DEADLY EXPOSURE, LETHAL MEASURES, FATAL CARE, BRAINWAVES and FEVER CELL.Leonard Goldberg's novels have been selections of the Book of the Month Club, French and Czech book clubs, and The Mystery Guild. They have been featured as People magazine's "Page-Turner of the Week", as well as at the International Book Fair in Budapest. The series has been optioned on several occasions for development as a motion picture or television project.Book: A Scandalous Affair: A Daughter of Sherlock Holmes MysteryIn the latest Daughter of Sherlock Holmes novel, Joanna Holmes must confront a shocking case of blackmail that threatens the highest levels of His Majesty's government, as this USA Today bestselling mystery series continues.In the latest installment of this acclaimed series, Sherlock Holmes's daughter faces an elaborate mystery that threatens the second most powerful man in His Majesty's government. His position is such that he answers only to the king and the prime minister.In 1918, during the height of the Great War, Joanna Holmes and the Watsons receive a late-night, clandestine visit from Sir William Radcliffe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who brings with him an agonizing tale of blackmail; a case so sensitive that it can only be spoken of in the confines of 221B Baker Street.Sir William's family has been forced to pay exorbitant sums for several of the photographs, but even more salacious pictures remain in the blackmailer's possession—and will no doubt carry greater demands and threats. Scotland Yard cannot be involved, for fear of public disclosure. It thus falls on the shoulders of Joanna and the Watsons to expose the blackmailer and procure the photographs before irreparable harm comes to the chancellor and his family.https://www.leonardgoldberg.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 549 - J Susanne Wilson - Ancient Civilizations, Greek Myth Retelling, Trojan WarI am a historical fiction writer focusing on myths set in Bronze Age Greece. I earned my B.A. in Ancient Civilizations with a minor in Classical Languages from the University of Iowa. My concentration was on Greek and Roman art, religion, history, and languages. My debut novel, The Death and Life of Iphigenia, was short-listed for the 2024 Novel London Literary Prize and was published in 2025.THE DEATH AND LIFE OF IPHIGENIASONGS AND LIES, BOOK 1 - Iphigenia's true story lies beneath the songs of the bards and the whispers of MusesAs Greek warriors prepare for the Trojan War, Mycenaean princess Iphigenia is forced to endure the demands of angry gods and desperate kings. Separated from her mother and sister, exiled to an oppressive foreign land, she is bound by sacred duty to perform grim rituals that stain her hands and haunt her dreams.Finally, after fourteen long years, she discovers an opportunity to escape and must decide if her longed-for home and stolen life are still worth fighting for.This is a tale of survival, identity, and the eternal quest for belonging.https://www.jsusannewilson.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca