Podcasts about Writing

The UK Midlands is a region steeped in history and folklore, from the ancient Kingdom of Mercia to the birthplace of Shakespeare. But on a freezing, misty day in December 1993, a peaceful village right off the M1 motorway became the backdrop for a living nightmare. While driving past a dirty station wagon parked on a grassy verge near Junction 20, a local witness noticed a passenger sitting bolt upright in the backseat wearing a jet-black dress. It was a sight that made her blood run cold; she knew with absolute certainty that the woman was already dead. What followed was a massive police hunt for a transient predator who used England's motorways to hide in plain sight, Alun Kyte, the Midlands Ripper. Join Jen and Cam as they discuss 'Monster on the M1: The Murders of Samo Paull & Tracey Turner.' Our team: Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inky Pawprint⁠ Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7_M0eU6pVk&t=7s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1hGFRvWqyo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alun_Kyte https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-48254878 https://crimeimmemorial.com/2024/09/15/yvonne-coley/ https://murderpedia.org/male.K/k/kyte-alun.htm https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/crime/janine-downes-death-police-appeal-b1796190.html https://crimeimmemorial.com/2024/10/15/gail-whitehouse/ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-12297341 https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news/2021/february/detectives-continue-to-appeal-for-information-into-womans-murder-on-30th-anniversary/ https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/unsolved-murder-revisited-after-34-31844795 https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/missing-coventry-sex-workers-victims-22984273 https://lolly-truecrime.medium.com/natalie-pearman-was-16-years-old-when-her-body-was-found-in-a-lay-by-on-ringland-road-norwich-8ba882b288ca https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/child-abusing-double-killer-suspected-of-other-murders-7t2pjsm73 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-65556070 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ac7a330a-afe6-4247-a106-10e59fba8651/episodes/7e1fe6a3-895f-452d-9512-b307a319fbb5/they-walk-among-us---uk-true-crime-midlands-ripper-alun-kyte---part-1 (and also part 2)https://www.newspapers.com/image/719963897/? match=1&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/259073041/?match=2&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/867605363/?match=2&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/808440223/?match=1&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/822427249/?article=a4f38430-aabb-4708-a3fb-f982c5af9186&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/822427249/?article=a4f38430-aabb-4708-a3fb-f982c5af9186&terms=Alun%20Kyte https://www.newspapers.com/image/719023877/?match=1&terms=Samo%20Paull https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsall_Heath https://www.newspapers.com/image/866507468/?match=8&terms=Samo%20Paull https://www.newspapers.com/image/865864192/?match=1&terms=Samo%20Paull https://www.newspapers.com/image/865864423/?match=6&terms=Samo%20Paull https://grokipedia.com/page/Alun_Kyte#:~:text=The%201994%20Murders,December%201993.%20%5B9%5D%20Her%20body https://www.newspapers.com/image/878164808/?article=3ed5a862-86a9-47e0-9de9-0bfce9a53075&terms=%22Tracey%20Turner%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murdered_sex_workers_in_the_United_Kingdom   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday this summer. But native people are often left out of America's founding narrative. Does uncovering that history change how we think of the country? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Ken Marino and David Wain join Mark and Sam to talk about writing and directing movies, Party Down, Wet Hot American Summer, The State, New York in the '90s, movie theaters making a comeback, comedy careers, and the making of their new film, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sexpass. Plus, Knicks heartbreak, mugging stories, favorite films, and plenty of classic comedy tangents. Sponsored by: Text DRUNK to 64000 for 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Order now at https://drinkwillies.com and use code WMBD for 20% off your first order + free shipping on orders over $95. Try Quo free plus get 20% off your first six months at https://quo.com/WMBD. To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/DRUNK.

Elizabeth Svoboda shares expert tactics for finding the right pace to sustain your energy for the long haul.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The subtle warning signs you're overpacing 2) How to structure your day for maximum energy 3) How to streamline your day with selective mediocrity Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1164 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT ELIZABETH — Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons.• Book: The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving• Instagram: svobodster• Website: ElizabethSvoboda.com• Newsletter: “The Art of Pacing”— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Technique: Resonance frequency breathing• App: Elite HRV• Study: “Long-term follow-up of residual symptoms in patients treated for stress-related exhaustion” by Kristina Glise, Lilian Wiegner, and Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir • Instagram: Dr. Whitney Casares• Book: Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum• Past episode: 014: Emotional Mastery with Dr. Marcia Reynolds• Past episode: 1005: How to Feel Energized Every Day with Dr. Michael Breus— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Preview for Later Today: Deborah Lutz. Deborah Lutz also explores the writing of Wuthering Heights, noting it took Emily Brontë two years of hard work and revision. While inspired by real houses, the novel's dark, violent nature initially unsettled her sisters.1845 BRANWELL BRONTE

Gracie Abrams sat down with Joe and Jon for an in-depth conversation ahead of her third album, "Daughter From Hell," out July 17. She discusses the inspiration behind the album, her new single "Look At My Life," collaborating with boyfriend Paul Mescal and longtime friend Audrey Hobert, opening for Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, navigating the internet as a young star, and more. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?In this episode, I sat down with Packy Lundholm - songwriter, producer, guitarist, and longtime member of I Fight Dragons, Theo Katzman's band, and collaborator with artists like May Erlewine, Woody Goss, and Kory Quinn. We talk about his move from Chicago to Nashville, how he built a recording life out of his home studio, and the unexpected freedom that comes from producing across wildly different genres.Packy shares how looping and improvisation shaped his musicianship, why writing too many verses is part of his process, and how he trims songs back to their emotional core. We dig into the art of collaboration, arranging for different artists, producing folk vs. rock vs. synth-driven pop, and why he still chases the power-pop/psych/Americana blend that first inspired him. We also get into the Track Sabbath series, his shift toward co-producing for May Erlewine, and what it means to build a career where playing, writing, and producing all feed each other.Whether you're a home-studio songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist juggling bands, or a producer trying to define your sound, Packy's journey is packed with real-world insight, humility, and a ton of creative encouragementGet access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.comTHANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.comhttps://usa.sae.edu/ https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!https://www.spectra1964.comhttps://gracedesign.com/https://pickrmusic.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academyhttps://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusicListen to this guest's discography on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4N94WlerjWFUHllHe60cU7?si=11GbwseDSOm1By1MR6PeWwIf you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/ReviewCLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/564

Host Jeff Goldsmith talks to writer-director Derrick Borte about his new film - The Get Out. Download my podcast here Copyright © Unlikely Films, Inc. 2026. All rights reserved. For more great content check out Backstory Magazine @ Backstory.net

As promised, we welcome Jason, aka Kilgore Trout, to the podcast to spend far too long talking to Shane about one of the best games of 2024: Metaphor: ReFantazio. We get into the mechanics, the gameplay, the writing, the themes, and even spend some time talking about our favorite fast food meals. Contemporary? Kinda. Thorough? Definitely. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - CamelStan 4:21 - Who is this guy? 6:10 - This week's episode 13:37 - So what is Metaphor: ReFantazio? 18:04 - How does this compare to Persona? 32:24 - How we played it 35:09 - Plot takes 38:50 - The Archetype system 44:50 - The combat 53:39 - Friendships 1:01:40 - Writing good 1:03:40 - Using guides and managing your calendar 1:11:30 - Politics & religion 1:25:28 - Grief 1:30:31 - What a twist! 1:34:00 - Quick topics 1:43:24 - Where this game ranks in our RPGs, and comparisons to other RPGs 1:50:08 - Public comments: Our favorite fast food meals 1:52:10 - SPOILER ZONE BEGINS 1:59:46 - What's next? 2:01:42 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: TenSquare3's amazing Metaphor guide: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox-series-x/409958-metaphor-refantazio/faqs/81526/introduction Buy Metaphor for PS5: https://amzn.to/4g2nQZJ Buy Metaphor for XBOX: https://amzn.to/4gEacMv Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

**Jeep Talk Show: Anthony Dreyer - "Moonchild" | AC-130 Avaiator, Combat Missions, PTSD & Recovery** In this powerful episode, we sit down with Anthony Dreyer — former U.S. Air Force Special Missions Aviator and **AC-130 Gunship Avaitor ** with over a decade in special operations aviation. Anthony flew high-risk missions around the globe as a gunner on the legendary Spectre and Spooky gunships, earning multiple accolades including the Air Force's Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year in 2018. From growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of Sylva, North Carolina, to orbiting battlefields at night delivering devastating close air support, Anthony shares his raw and honest story of service, trauma, addiction, and ultimate recovery. **Topics Covered:** - Life as an AC-130 Avaitor– malfunctions, miniguns, 105mm howitzer, and combat operations - Combat search & rescue missions (including the intense June 8, 2018 mission) - PTSD, prolonged exposure therapy, and choosing better over bitter - The brotherhood of special operations and the real cost of service - Writing his memoir "Moonchild" – turning pain into purpose - Military humor, call signs, and why freedom isn't free Anthony's memoir **Moonchild** is a gripping, emotional look at war, family, loss, and healing — must-read for veterans, first responders, and anyone wanting to understand the invisible battles many service members face. **Grab the book here:** - Amazon → https://amzn.to/4gxVK8O - Barnes & Noble and major retailers **Connect with Anthony:** - Instagram: @marco_brolo21 - Facebook: Moonchild - Signed copies: anthonyp.direcjmo.com If you're a veteran or struggling, remember: It's okay not to be okay — but it's not okay to do nothing about it. Reach out and get help. Thanks for watching Jeep Talk Show! Drop a comment below — what part of Anthony's story hit you the hardest?

Jed Alexander is the author of The Fairy Tale Color Collection, a series of children's books that begins with the wordless 2018 book Red, the follow-up 2022 book, Gold, and the third book in that series, Olive. His clients have included SpongeBob Comics, Cricket Magazine, Writer's Digest and The Children's Book Council. His new book is The Black Market, a Middle Grade book which he wrote and illustrated recently published by Union Square Kids. The QWERTY podcast is brought to you by the book ,The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life. Read it, and begin your own journey to writing what you know. To learn more, join The Memoir Project free newsletter list and keep up to date on all our free webinars, instructive posts and online classes in how to write memoir, as well as our talented, available memoir editors and memoir coaches, podcast guests and more.

Strip away the frustration, the missing updates, and the months without an arrest, and one question remains in the Nancy Guthrie case: if investigators handed everything they have to a prosecutor, what would actually hold up?Joining this legal breakdown are former prosecutor Eric Faddis and retired FBI agent Robin Dreeke.Tony Brueski runs through the state's hand. There's the physical evidence pulled from the home of the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie — blood, a disconnected pacemaker, the doorbell footage of a masked figure at the door. There's the backpack traced to a single national retailer. And there's a note, sent to a Tucson TV station through a server built to bury its origin, that may carry more weight in a courtroom than anything else on the list.This conversation is about leverage — what a prosecutor builds around first, how circumstantial evidence becomes proof a crime even happened, and why felony-murder law could quietly remove the hardest thing the state would otherwise have to prove. If Nancy died in the course of a kidnapping, prosecutors may never need to show anyone intended for her to die. They'd only need to show she was taken.It's also about timing: the reasons a careful prosecutor stays silent, and the very different reasons a stalled one does the same. Tony separates the two, and explains how you'd tell from the outside which one is really happening here.Somewhere in that house, on that porch, and in that note is a case. Whether it's a winnable one is the whole conversation.Full episode inside.END_LINKS:Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodDisclaimer:This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.Hashtags: #NancyGuthrie #SavannahGuthrie #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #NoBodyHomicide #FelonyMurder #Tucson #PimaCounty #RansomNote #ColdCase

At the Hay Festival, Misha Glenny and guests discuss the impact of the Norman invasion on the people and land of Wales and across the modern border with England in what became known as The Welsh Marches, march being a term for a militarized borderland. Hay was one of the first Marcher lordships. Even before 1066, William the Conqueror knew that he would have to subdue the Welsh if he were to control the English and he allowed more and more Norman warlords to establish virtually their own private kingdoms in these Marches. Later some of the Lords were to use these bases to invade Ireland rather than conquer the rest of Wales. Marcher Lords built numerous castles such as the one at Hay and many new towns would then grow up alongside these where there was one law for the English and another for the Welsh and, though the Acts of Union under the Tudors brought an end to much of the Marcher Lords' powers, the distinct identity of these Welsh Marches continued.With Rhun Emlyn Lecturer in the Department of History and Welsh History at Aberystwyth UniversityHelen Fulton Professor of Medieval Literature at the University of BristolAnd Huw Pryce Emeritus Professor of Welsh History at Bangor UniversityProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:R. R. Davies, The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063-1415 (Oxford University Press, 2001)R.R. Davies, Lordship and Society in the March of Wales 1282-1400 (Oxford University Press, 1978)John Fleming, The Welsh Marcher Lordships II: South-West (Logaston Press, 2023)Ben Giles, The Welsh Marches: 40 Town and Country Walks (Pocket Mountains, 2012)Philip Hume, The Welsh Marcher Lordships I: Central & North (Logaston Press, 2021)Max Lieberman, The March of Wales, 1067–1300: A Borderland of Medieval Britain (University of Wales Press, 2018)Max Lieberman, The Medieval March of Wales: The Creation and Perception of a Frontier, 1066-1283 (Cambridge University Press, 2010)D. Huw Owen, The Lordship of Denbigh 1282-1543 (University of Wales Press, 2024)Mike Parker, All the Wide Border: Wales, England and the Places Between (HarperNorth, 2024)Dewi Roberts, Both Sides of the Border: An Anthology of Writing on the Welsh Border Region (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch/Eagle Rock Press, 1998)Christopher Somerville, The Welsh Borders (Philips, 1991)David Stephenson, Patronage and Power in the Medieval Welsh March: One Family's Story (University of Wales Press, 2021)David Walker, Medieval Wales (Cambridge University Press, 2008)In Our Time is a BBC Studios ProductionSpanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.

Will we help or hinder? Will we support or stab in the back? Will we open doors or close them?

We got to know Michael Allio as a contestant on Katie Thurston’s season, but he’s lived a lot of life since his time in the Bachelor Mansion, and it’s time to check in!Michael opens up about life as a single dad, blending his family with his girlfriend Jade, and the complexities of grief and how it evolves with time.Plus, Michael is talking about his incredible new children's book "Where The Wild Heart Grows," and its important message! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz and Sarah discuss their recent Bad Trip writing marathon in Santa Barbara. The highlight? Writing outside at Godmothers in Summerland. Then they interview Rina O'Malley, a writer who's breaking into the industry, about how she managed to do the impossible — get representation! This week's Hollywood Hack will improve your next meeting: have a preliminary call. Finally, Sarah recommends the Stray Kids Survival Show. LINKS: Rina O'Malley: https://blcklst.com/profile/Rina-OMalley Rina's recs: 1. Darcy Fowler's TV & Film Writing Workshops https://www.tvwritersrefuge.com/ Darcy is very good at helping writers find the actual story beneath the story they think they're writing, and is also a truly amazing human. Generous, brilliant, and intuitive. 2. Script Anatomy https://scriptanatomy.com/ I'm a big fan of their instructors (all working writers) and their curriculum. I especially love the draft intensive classes, which are a great structured way to get a draft written fast. 3. Jen Grisanti https://www.jengrisanti.com/ Jen's annual workshop is magical. She brings in incredible guests, showrunners you can pitch and get feedback from. She also has free interviews online where you can learn a lot about story. 4. Lee Jessup https://leejessup.com/ One of the best people to learn from about the industry -- where you fit in it, your brand, your strategy, and how to think about your career like an actual career. You can work with Lee directly, but she also has a great YouTube channel where she breaks down the state of the industry and interviews reps: https://www.youtube.com/@leejessup5299 5. Roadmap Writers https://www.roadmapwriters.com/ A great place to learn about both craft and career, and connect with other writers. Tons of events, webinars, and classes. The team really cares about helping emerging writers. Bonus: Events where you can learn and network Storytelling360 https://storytelling360.com/ In-person panels and networking events in LA, NYC, and London. Austin Film Festival Writers Conference https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference-aff/conference/ Definitely worth going if you can. Thousands of screenwriters packed into downtown Austin for panels, roundtables, tacos, drinks, and mild chaos. Basically spring break for screenwriters. Stray Kids Survival Show:  https://strayksubs.com/videos/survival-show/ Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Sign up for Liz & Sarah's free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com and Sarah's Chickening Out Substack at https://happierinhollywood.substack.com. They'll come right to your inbox! Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,' a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, 'S please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Semiotician Uklan Tel, the discovery of the object in the vaults of the New Archives was a gift he could scarcely have hoped for. The Holy City, walled and impenetrable, had fascinated him for so long. He'd pored over the Marieldan documents and artifacts that the Archives had collected over the years so many times that his name repeated in the access cards like a prayer . But here was something new - misfiled, overlooked - that had evaded his eye all this time. He was starting to take notes for a book. We could not be more excited to unveil the Marielda 10th Anniversary Vinyl Soundtrack edition in all its unfolding, kaleidoscopic color, and let you know that it is now available to preorder at lostincult.co.uk/marielda. A very limited number of signed copies still remain, to be followed by a second, unsigned run. This extra-special edition, which began in early ideas and sketches six long years ago, is based on concepts by Annie Johnston-Glick and illustrated by Elemei, and is created in collaboration with the British publisher and designworks Lost in Cult. The centerpiece, alongside the full Marielda soundtrack, is the "star book", an unfolding, layered diorama showing four scenes from that fateful High Sun Day, secured by a red ribbon. This object exists in-fiction and tells a story, discovered in the cavernous vaults of The New Archives by Semiotician Uklan Tel, and shipped (much to the chagrin of the Archives' Exceptional Loans division) to a friend in Velas. In addition to the vinyl and star book, contained inside are two enamel pins showing coinage of ancient Hieron, as well as five bone-white d6 dice emblazoned with the sigil of the second god to rule the holy city. Alongside Tel's covering letter, you can also find eight pieces of Marieldan paper ephemera: an undelivered postcard bought by a holidaymaker at a pleasure garden, a double-sided broadsheet of Marielda's newspaper "The Charioteer", and six other mysterious pieces from the City of First Light at a time of great change. Oh, and there's also a 7" vinyl with a plain red label, and we'll say no more on that for now. We've already been blown away by yesterday's response to this project from our Patrons, which has really helped demonstrate that there's an audience for physical media projects from Friends at the Table. It has been an absolute joy to return to this world in collaboration with such incredible artists and designers. Writing in character as gods, citizens, and tourists to the holy city (as well as people thousands of years later, trying to make sense of what they hold in their hands) has been a real treat and we are so excited to finally - finally! - get to share it with you.

We're celebrating 10 years of Awesome with another great episode from the archives! This time, we're going all the way back to 2018 with Chris Westfall for an unforgettable conversation on communicating like a leader =]—Communications expert and pitch champion Chris Westfall illustrates how leadership is a language of the heart and how to achieve it through a perspective change.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The three ways that people listen to each other 2) Two ‘you' phrases that will help you get what you want3) The thought that makes the impossible possibleSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep361 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT CHRIS — Chris is national pitch champion and an award-winning MBA instructor at a top-20 program, He's the official ‘pitch coach' at the fifth-largest university in the USA – where his strategies have helped raise over $30 million for student start ups. Originally from Chicago, Chris resides in Houston, TX with his wife and two daughters, and is an avid supporter of the performing and visual arts.• Website: WestfallOnline.com• Book: Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication to Drive Results• YouTube: WestfallOnline— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Study: Two-Thirds of Managers Are Uncomfortable Communicating with Employees• Book: The Mindlessness of Ostensibly Thoughtful Action: The Role of “Placebic” Information in Interpersonal Interaction by Ellen Langer• Book: Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss• Book: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek• Book: To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel Pink• Book: Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions by Carmen Simon• Book: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss• Tool: vCita• Previous episode: 005: Pitching Like a Champion with Chris Westfall• Previous episode: 237: Crafting Memorable Stories with Dr. Carmen Simon• Previous episode: 311: Communication Secrets from FBI Kidnapping Negotiator Chris Voss— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contactㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out June 9, 2026).All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206ㅤSubscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletterㅤRegister for Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.comㅤRegister for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.comㅤConnect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/askㅤLeave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!ㅤListen to Kipp's podcast Marketing Against the Grain, and pre-order his new book with Kieran Flanagan, Loop: Outlearn. Outmarket. Outgrow.ㅤJay Schwedelson wanted Kipp Bodnar on the show since day one, and it's easy to hear why once the two of them get going on the one thing keeping marketers up at night: whether AI has quietly torched the playbook everyone spent fifteen years building. HubSpot's CMO makes the case that content isn't dead, it just has a brutally short shelf life now, and the marketers who win are the ones who treat originality and taste like the scarce resources they've become. Along the way they get into why the new robots reward writing for actual humans, what a real content engine looks like when you're starting from zero, and the reasoning behind Kipp's new book in a year when four million others got published.ㅤBest Moments:(02:01) Why AI didn't kill content marketing but did break the old playbook and slash content's shelf life(04:16) The T-Swift theory of content, why being good isn't enough anymore and you have to be prolific too(05:56) Writing for the new robots, how AEO flips twenty years of SEO into a human-first game(08:48) Why Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube quietly became the sources AI search trusts most(10:53) The one content engine Kipp would build first if he were starting with nothing today(13:18) Why he wrote a book in the middle of the short-form video era, and who it's really for(16:17) The journalism-school lesson that beats a business degree, repetition doesn't ruin the prayer

Join us for this lovely episode in which Emily Wood talks about the magic of using a different format (scriptwriting!) for unlocking stuckness, as well as sharing about the best launch day ever! Emily Wood was born and raised in rural Southern Ontario, Canada, where her days were spent as a stereotypical horse girl and her nights as the quintessential bookworm. The former journalist and newspaper editor now works in library services by day, and spends her evenings spinning stories that will make you blush, filled with heat, humour, and found family. Her superpowers include having full conversations in movie quotes and responding to any text message with the perfect meme, and when she's not writing she enjoys reading, hiking with her husband and golden mountain doodle, and being lakeside with a blank page and a cup of tea. Just My Luck is her debut novel. ⚙️ Writing in the Junkyard: July 11 & 12 - click HERE!

This week, Brent Leuthold joins me to review the Pixar film, Toy Story 5 in a feature review. Then we review the Hulu comedy, Never Change! in this week's secondary review. We also discuss recent news, Indianapolis movie events, AI dumbassery, and more. Video Version on YouTube Timestamps Show Start - 00:28 Introducing Brent - 02:40 Indianapolis Film Events - 10:04 Backhalf Blindspots on Patreon - 11:40 News: Criterion's Stanley Kubrick Box Set - 23:40 News: A24 and AI - 38:34 Feature Review Toy Story 5 (2026) - 1:05:45 Spoiler - 1:39:51 Secondary Review Never Change! (2026) - 2:01:17 Closing the Ep - 2:25:20 Related Links The Complete Kubrick | The Criterion Collection Google Invests $75 Million in A24 to Develop AI-Powered Filmmaking Tools Short Bites Podcast - 018 - Kim C. on The Last Rung on the Ladder (Plus Jason's Top Ten Sad Stephen King Short Works)   Follow the IFJA on Letterboxd Brent's Letterboxd Brent's Writing on Awake in the Dark   My 2026 Podcast and Writing Archive The Long Walk Book Reactions on Patreon The Gotham Project on Patreon Immediate Reaction - Scary Movie (2026) - Jun 18, 2026 Immediate Reaction - Power Ballad (2026) - Jun 13, 2026 Patreon Companion Episodes Collection Indianapolis Theaters Alamo Drafthouse Indy Kan-Kan  Living Room Theaters Keystone Art  Flix Brewhouse Ways to Support Us Support Us on Patreon for Exclusive Content Official OV Merch Buy Me A Coffee Obsessive Viewer Obsessive Viewer Presents: Anthology Obsessive Viewer Presents: Tower Junkies As Good As It Gets - Linktree Start Your Podcast with Libsyn Using Promo Code OBSESS   Follow Us on Social Media My Letterboxd | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | TikTok | Tiny's Letterboxd   Mic Info Matt: ElectroVoice RE20 into RØDEcaster Pro II (Firmware: 1.7.3) Brent: Earthworks ICON Pro in Riverside Episode Homepage: ObsessiveViewer.com/OV509 Next Week on the Podcast OV510 - Supergirl (2026) & Voicemails for Isabelle (2026)

Discover entrepreneurship, innovation, business growth, scaling, and intellectual property strategies from successful founders and industry leaders. Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, co-hosts of the Passage to Profit Show have this discussion with TV & film actor, Romaine Waite. What does a high school play, a decade-old screenplay, and a Hollywood acting career have in common? Romaine Waite shares how faith, persistence, authenticity, and relationships helped him build a successful career in film and television. From Star Trek: Discovery to creating his new movie His Namesake, this conversation is packed with lessons every entrepreneur and creative can apply. Listen now and discover why your biggest opportunity may already be waiting for you. Read more at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4582495/ Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, startup founder, inventor, or small business owner, the Passage to Profit Show is a leading podcast for insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property and business strategy. Hosted by Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, the show features industry leaders, investors, and founders who share real-world lessons on scaling companies, protecting ideas, building generational wealth, and navigating today's evolving business landscape. Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/ for the latest episodes, expert interviews, and resources designed to help you grow, protect, and profit from your ideas. Chapters (00:00:00) - Entertainer Romaine Waite on Passage to Profit(00:02:40) - What Is Authenticity in Your Acting?(00:03:44) - "The Acting Piece"(00:05:05) - In the Elevator With Jay-Z(00:06:26) - Tom Holland in 'Redemption'(00:06:55) - Writing the Script for '(00:07:30) - How Did You Pick The Cast For ''(00:10:21) - Car Shield(00:11:31) - Better Health Insurance for You Now!(00:12:31) - Entertainment Star Romaine Waite on Business(00:15:17) - How Did I Get My First Acting Role?(00:17:21) - Interviewing Romain

Jared sits down with comedian and roast joke writer Nicole Becannon, who shares how the biggest comedy roasts are written behind the scenes.Writing jokes for the Kevin Hart RoastHow roast writing actually worksThe art of making jokes landThey play: Roast Joke Draft!Jared is on tour!

Joe List joins Greg Fitzsimmons for a hilarious deep dive into comedy, Boston comics, Catholic guilt, road stories, Louis CK getting COVID in 2026, Skankfest chaos, Mike Donovan legends, Nick DiPaolo memories, and the strange reality of making a great living in stand-up while watching your friends headline arenas. They swap stories about opening acts gone wrong, growing up in Massachusetts, drinking disasters, comedy careers, race, religion, family, and why some of the funniest people alive never become household names. Plus: Bill Burr, Tom Papa, Colin Quinn, Joe DeRosa, Tim Dillon, Matteo Lane, Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat, Sean Penn, and plenty more. Joe List is a stand-up comedian, co-host of Tuesdays with Stories, co-host of The Regz, and one of the sharpest comics working today. Subscribe for new episodes every week. This show is produced by Gotham Production Studios and part of the Gotham Network. https://www.gothamproductionstudios.com/studios/ Follow Greg Fitzsimmons: Facebook: https://facebook.com/FitzdogRadio Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregfitzsimmons Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregfitzshow Official Website: http://gregfitzsimmons.com Tour Dates: https://bit.ly/GregFitzTour Merch: https://bit.ly/GregFitzMerch “Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons” Book: https://amzn.to/2Z2bB82 “Life on Stage” Comedy Special: https://bit.ly/GregFitzSpecial Listen to Greg Fitzsimmons: Fitzdog Radio: https://bit.ly/FitzdogRadio Sunday Papers: http://bit.ly/SundayPapersPod Childish: http://childishpod.com Watch more Greg Fitzsimmons: Latest Uploads: https://bit.ly/latestGregFitz Fitzdog Radio: https://bit.ly/radioGregFitz Sunday Papers: https://bit.ly/sundayGregFitz Stand Up Comedy: https://bit.ly/comedyGregFitz Popular Videos: https://bit.ly/popGregFitz About Greg Fitzsimmons: Mixing an incisive wit with scathing sarcasm, Greg Fitzsimmons is an accomplished stand-up, an Emmy Award winning writer, and a host on TV, radio and his own podcasts. Greg is host of the popular “FitzDog Radio” podcast (https://bit.ly/FitzdogRadio), as well as “Sunday Papers” with co-host Mike Gibbons (http://bit.ly/SundayPapersPod) and “Childish” with co-host Alison Rosen (http://childishpod.com). A regular with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel, Greg also frequents “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Lights Out with David Spade,” and has made more than 50 visits to “The Howard Stern Show.” Howard gave Greg his own show on Sirius/XM which lasted more than 10 years. Greg's one-hour standup special, “Life On Stage,” was named a Top 10 Comedy Release by LA Weekly. The special premiered on Comedy Central and is now available on Amazon Prime, as a DVD, or a download (https://bit.ly/GregFitzSpecial). Greg's 2011 book, Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons (https://amzn.to/2Z2bB82), climbed the best-seller charts and garnered outstanding reviews from NPR and Vanity Fair. Greg appeared in the Netflix series “Santa Clarita Diet,” the Emmy-winning FX series “Louie,” spent five years as a panelist on VH1's “Best Week Ever,” was a reoccurring panelist on “Chelsea Lately,” and starred in two half-hour stand-up specials on Comedy Central. Greg wrote and appeared on the Judd Apatow HBO series “Crashing.” Writing credits include HBO's “Lucky Louie,” “Cedric the Entertainer Presents,” “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” “The Man Show” and many others. On his mantle beside the four Daytime Emmys he won as a writer and producer on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” sit “The Jury Award for Best Comedian” from The HBO Comedy Arts Festival and a Cable Ace Award for hosting the MTV game show "Idiot Savants." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writing a book is a goal that many people talk about for years, but very few actually follow through. We convince ourselves that we'll get started when life slows down, and before you know it, years have gone by with a great idea just sitting on the back burner. As someone whose life was completely transformed by writing The Miracle Morning book series, I truly believe a book can become one of the most valuable assets you ever create. It can amplify your impact, preserve your legacy, and open doors that would never have opened otherwise. Today, I'm joined by my good friend Chandler Bolt, the founder of SelfPublishing.com and author of Published.: The Proven Path From Blank Page To 10,000 Copies Sold. Chandler has helped thousands of authors write and publish their books and, in the process, has scaled his company into an eight-figure business. In our conversation, Chandler explains why writing a book can become the best business card you'll ever create, how to leverage your book to grow your business, and how he's using AI to help authors write better books and build better companies. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why Chandler Wrote His First Book The Tragedy That Changed Chandler's Life Just Get In The Room And Get Started Why Everyone Can and Should Write A Book How A Book Preserves Your Legacy Your Book Can Grow Your Business Exponentially How Chandler Scaled An Eight-Figure Company The 4 Ps Of A High-Converting Offer Decide What You Want Your Business Looks Like Hire People Who Compliment Your Skills Chandler's Goal To Publish 100,000 Books How AI Is Changing Book Writing How Chandler Uses AI To Scale His Business  Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/642 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Get Access to Hal's Books and the Miracle Morning App For access to Hal's Miracle Morning books, CLICK HERE.  To upgrade your morning routine, CLICK HERE to download the Miracle Morning App.  Book Hal to Speak At Your Event! If you'd like to book Hal to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok   Copyright © 2026 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC  

What if a writing retreat didn't require a plane ticket to Ireland?This week, we explore what makes writing feel spacious, playful, and alive. From Julie's memoir retreat on the Irish Sea to Melissa's fiction experiments with point of view, we talk about how atmosphere, community, sensory detail, and low-stakes exploration can help writers of every age drop beneath the noise of daily life.We also share practical ways to create a mini writing retreat at home for your kids, complete with snacks, freedom, feedback, and delight.Join us as we reimagine writing as nourishment for the intellect and the spirit.Resources:Catch the replays of our free Brave Writer training webinarsShop our June sale!Find our favorite readalouds and nonfiction in the Brave Writer Book ShopBrave Writer class registration is open! Visit Julie's Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!) Purchase Julie's new book, Help! My Kid Hates WritingFind community at the Brave Learner Home Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that's sure to grab and keep your child's attentionSubscribe to Julie's Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa's Catalog of EnthusiasmsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to media@bravewriter.comConnect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterBluesky: @bravewriter.comFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterwith Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksBluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.socialProduced by NOVA

Dana Loesch has some questions after reports that Qatar is helping sculpt American foreign policy. Dana exposes some of the crazy stuff the Communists in New York have said including Darializa Avila Chevalier wanting to eradicate Western civilization.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Concerned Women For Americahttps://ConcernedWomen.org/DanaFor a donation of $20 or more, Concerned Women of America  will send you their book: A Woman's Guide: Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life.  Ghost Bedhttps://GhostBed.com/DANAGhostBed has the cooling luxury mattress you need for the best summer sleep. Use code DANA for an extra 10% off sitewide.Jones Road Beautyhttps://JonesRoadBeauty.comGet a Free Full Size Mascara with first purchase using code DANA.Webroothttps://Webroot.com/DanaMake the switch and feel the difference of truly fast, modern antivirus protection — for a limited time, you can save 60% with code DANARelief Factorhttps://ReliefFactor.comDeclare your independence from pain with Relief Factor—start the 3-Week QuickStart for just $17.76Prebornhttps://PreBorn.com/DanaDonate today to help another Mother and Father experience hope. $28 sponsors one ultrasound and can help save a baby's life. Or Dial  #250 and say BABYByrnahttps://Byrna.com/DanaTrusted by law enforcement, security professionals, and everyday Americans—defend yourself and your family with Byrna.HumanNhttps://Humann.com/DanaSave $5 on HumanN Cholesterol Health Daily at Sam's Club. Head to your local Sam's Club and do more to support your cholesterol health with the science-first brand. Patriot Mobilehttp://PatriotMobile.com/DANAVisit online or call 972-PATRIOT and use promo code DANA for a FREE month of service.Pocket HoseText DANA to 64000For a limited time, get two FREE gifts—a 360° rotating pocket pivot and thumb drive nozzle when you buy a new Pocket Hose Ballistic; just text DANA to 64000, message and data rates may apply.Subscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore InfoWebsite

A client hires you for a “VIP day.” Suddenly, you're tasked with: Kicking off the projectWriting a creative briefComing up with a strong conceptOutlining the copy Writing the copy (for how many deliverables is another question …)Getting feedback on that copyIncorporating that feedbackGetting final sign off  … all in the span of 8 hours. And let's be real: no one has 8 good hours of work in them every day. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, Kate and I are digging into why VIP days make 0 sense—for you and especially for your clients! Just the thought of this task list stresses me out. And, I know some copywriting “gurus” tout the benefit of VIP days, but these days are reputation ruiners, my friend. Here's why… --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Copywriting Is Only 1/3 Writing—Here's Why That Affects How You ChargeCopywriting Rush Fees: When and How to Charge ThemWhat Do You Bill For? (And What Don't You?)The Case for Slowing Down: Fast Copywriting Doesn't Equal Better Copywriting Related Links How Can You Know if a Copywriting Deadline is Doable?5 Easy Tips for Maximizing Your Time --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

 In this Homeschool 101 episode, Andrew Pudewa sits down with Jonathan Brush to learn more about the Unbound program, a Christian hybrid education company that prepares high school students and graduates to launch through hands-on projects, practical skills training, and professional development. Listen to this episode to hear Andrew's excitement for Unbound and to be inspired by Jonathan's passion for helping the next generation. Referenced MaterialsUnboundJonathan BrushUnbound's YouTube channel If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.comPerhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - Alcohol, Motherhood and Me - By EmilyEvery Thursday, we're handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year's Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you're sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you're not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we've hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it's considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn't require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week's Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.

This week on the podcast, Zach Kazan welcomes Kat Shoulders to the show to explore a topic first covered here: watch writing cliches. Zach and Kat run through some of the cliches mentioned in Zach's original article and discuss whether these ideas hold up and why they happen in the first place. It's actually an interesting conversation, and gets to the heart of how watches are covered in the media, and what approach should be taken. We'd love to know your thoughts, so let us know what cliches need to be permanently retired in the comments below.  Before that, Zach and Kat also cover a handful of big new releases, including new watches from Fears, Doxa, and J.N. Shapiro.   To stay on top of all new episodes, you can subscribe to The Worn & Wound Podcast on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and more. You can also find our RSS feed here. If you like what you hear, then don't forget to leave us a review. If there's a question you want us to answer you can hit us up at info@wornandwound.com, and we'll put your question in the queue. If you'd like to learn more about our presenting sponsor Hamilton and their America 250 Roadshow, please visit their website by clicking here. Show Notes  J.N. Shapiro Introduces the Radiant, a Monopusher Chronograph and an Expansion of their Infinity Series Doxa Introduces the Long Awaited Sub 200 T.Graph II Ming, Fleming, and J.N. Shapiro Form the Alternative Horological Alliance Introducing the Doxa SUB 200 T.Graph Five Watch Writing Cliches that We Need to Retire Cape Fear Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso    

HITM: We are joined by auditor Hannah to chat about keeping pigs and monkeys as unusual pets, and catch up with author Gayle Stewart in our "Where are they now" segment. Plus, we dive into boarding barn etiquette with a look at 10 mistakes you might not realize you are making.Auditor Post Show: In our “Meet the Auditor” segment Marie joins us.HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3980 – Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm & Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StoreTitle Sponsor: Chewy EquinePremier Sponsor: CareCreditPicture Credit: Auditor HannahGuest: Auditor HannahGuest: Gayle Stewart of 100 Horses in History: True Stories of Horses Who Shaped Our World Spalding Labs Fly Predators Coupon: HRN10 for 10% off your first order.Additional support for this podcast provided by: , Equine Network and Listeners Like YouTime Stamps:00:00 - Intro & episode overview00:48 - Giraffe escape & bee truck crash05:16 - Auditor birthday & Ashley's Montana barn09:27 - Montana weather & outdoor adventures13:36 - Auditor Hannah's pet pigs21:19 - Hannah's vet school & horse Zane21:41 - Hannah's pet monkey in Nicaragua28:13 - “Where Are They Now” with author Gail Stewart34:26 - Writing 100 Horses in History40:43 - This Day in Equine History segment44:04 - Boarding barn etiquette mistakes discussion52:36 - Episode wrap-up & Ashley's other shows

Just in case you were ever to forget: Megan, Lia and Amy all do write romance novels. Today we take on the second part of our kissing challenge by writing fan fic kissing scenes... did you ever expect a Doona and Mister Sunshine mashup? Neither did we. Also keep an eye out for Weak Hero Class and My Youth, Romantics Anonymous (kinda), and What Comes After Love...Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial.*Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast*Are your family and friends sick of you talking about K-drama? We get it...and have an answer. Join our AfterNoona Delight Patreon and find community among folks who get your obsession. And check out www.afternoonadelight.com for more episodes, book recs and social media goodness. And don't forget about the newest member of our network: Afternoona Asks where diaspora Asians living in the West find ways to reconnect to Asian culture via Asian/KDramas.Last but CERTAINLY not least....love BTS? Or curious what all the fuss is about? Check out our sister pod Afternoona Army for takes on Bangtan life. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Erica Schultz has worn a lot of different hats throughout her 25+ yr career in the comic industry (including writer, letterer, colorist, teacher, editor), and she's not shy about sharing the ups & downs of that journey. In this interview, the award winning writer talks about what it takes to succeed in comics, lessons she learned from Neal Adams, working on early Marvel Motion Comics, craft and career tips for aspiring writers, leaving her mark on characters like Rogue and Laura Kinney X-23, Vampirella's upcoming Summer Special, and how she made history as the first woman to write SpawnWatch the uncut video version of this episode: HERELINKS: Get access to COVRPRICE for $1: HERETake your comic shopping experience to the limit, by shopping online at Gotham City Limit!Join our Patreon Community, and get access to bonus episodes, free comics, and other rewards! Try a FREE 7-day trial: HEREThe Schiller Kessler GroupClick here to text us Fan Mail! Support the showREACH OUT AND FOLLOW FOR MORE

In this episode, Autumn and Noah talk with Kevin Hartnett about why mathematicians are willing to spend years reducing an idea to a level of detail a machine can check, whether formal verification can catch an AI that's technically correct but fundamentally misaligned, the cold-start problem that kept earlier theorem-provers niche, and what it means for the future of mathematical trust once AI can generate proofs faster than any human community can read them.Timeline:00:00 Introduction to Lean and Its Significance03:18 The Journey of Writing the Book05:13 Human Element in Mathematical Formalization06:57 Understanding Formal Proofs in Mathematics11:21 The Origins of Lean and Its Purpose13:03 Misalignment in Software Specifications14:39 Building Mathematical Libraries in Lean17:23 Ensuring Accuracy in Mathematical Foundations22:00 Overcoming the Cold Start Problem in Lean Adoption24:36 The Future of Mathematical Proofs30:26 AI's Role in Mathematics38:29 Expanding Beyond Mathematics41:40 The Long-Term Impact of LeanThe Proof in the Code is out now from Quanta Books. (https://amzn.to/3SuNlJm)Follow Kevin Hartnett onX (https://x.com/KSHartnett) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kevinhartnett.bsky.social)Follow Breaking Math onSubstack (https://breakingmath.substack.com/)X (https://x.com/breakingmathpod)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/breakingmathmedia/)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/breakingmath.bsky.social)Website (https://www.breakingmath.io/)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingMathPod)Follow Noah onInstagram (https://www.instagram.com/profnoahgian/)X (https://x.com/ProfNoahGian)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/profnoahgian.bsky.social)Follow Autumn onX (https://x.com/1autumn_leaf)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/1autumnleaf.bsky.social)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/1autumnleaf/)Substack (https://substack.com/@1autumnleaf)email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com

HITM: We are joined by auditor Hannah to chat about keeping pigs and monkeys as unusual pets, and catch up with author Gayle Stewart in our "Where are they now" segment. Plus, we dive into boarding barn etiquette with a look at 10 mistakes you might not realize you are making.Auditor Post Show: In our “Meet the Auditor” segment Marie joins us.HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3980 – Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm & Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StoreTitle Sponsor: Chewy EquinePremier Sponsor: CareCreditPicture Credit: Auditor HannahGuest: Auditor HannahGuest: Gayle Stewart of 100 Horses in History: True Stories of Horses Who Shaped Our World Spalding Labs Fly Predators Coupon: HRN10 for 10% off your first order.Additional support for this podcast provided by: , Equine Network and Listeners Like YouTime Stamps:00:00 - Intro & episode overview00:48 - Giraffe escape & bee truck crash05:16 - Auditor birthday & Ashley's Montana barn09:27 - Montana weather & outdoor adventures13:36 - Auditor Hannah's pet pigs21:19 - Hannah's vet school & horse Zane21:41 - Hannah's pet monkey in Nicaragua28:13 - “Where Are They Now” with author Gail Stewart34:26 - Writing 100 Horses in History40:43 - This Day in Equine History segment44:04 - Boarding barn etiquette mistakes discussion52:36 - Episode wrap-up & Ashley's other shows

Before D. L. Moody became the greatest evangelist of the 19th Century, he ran a storefront Sunday School to reach some of the street kids of Chicago. The story is told of one tough little guy who was seen on Sunday after Sunday. He lived a long way from his destination. Well, on one brutally cold and snowy Chicago day, one man saw the boy walking into the wind, making his usual Sunday morning journey to Moody's Sunday School. He asked the boy why he would make that effort every Sunday, even on a day when no one else was out, especially when he passed by a lot of churches that were a lot closer to his home. The boy's explanation was pretty clear and pretty simple, “I go there Mister, because they really make a fellow feel loved there.” I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “A Leader's Real Assignment.” The first portrait of Jesus I can ever remember seeing as a child was one that portrays Him as the Good Shepherd, with His sheep following Him closely and this one little lamb cuddled in His arms. Interestingly enough, now that I'm in Christian leadership, I realize that picture is also what I'm supposed to be about. And you, too, if God has entrusted you with any kind of influence or direction in people's lives. Your template is supposed to be that of a shepherd of whom people say, “He or she sure makes a person feel loved.” Listen to 1 Peter 5, beginning with verse 2. It's our word for today from the Word of God, and it's a picture of leadership worth planting deeply in your heart. Writing to those in leadership God says, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers...” OK, quick timeout here! Notice whose sheep your people are—your children are. They're God's; they're not yours. Don't ever start acting like they're yours. And notice, too, that they are given to you to be under your care, not under your thumb. Peter goes on: “Not because you must, but because you are willing…not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” OK, what's the Biblical picture of being a leader? Right, shepherding. Leading the sheep, not lording it over them. Loving the sheep, not using them for your own ends. Modeling more than demanding. So if you're a shepherd, what should you be doing? Well, a shepherd always leads the sheep to what they need. If you've been entrusted with people to lead, it's your job to gently direct them to what they need emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, and to know when they need encouraging, and when they need correcting, and when they just need loving. Christian leadership is all about you meeting their needs, not them meeting yours. Shepherding also means keeping your sheep from wandering—establishing clear boundaries and pulling them back at the first sign of wandering. Being a shepherd also means protecting your sheep from the enemy. A few verses later in this passage, Peter talks about resisting the roaring lion who's looking for someone to devour. It is the Christian leader's job to keep his eyes open for where Satan might get in and then to defend his flock from the stalking of the lion. And Jesus taught us one other thing the “good shepherd” does. He said, “He calls His own sheep by name” (John 10:3). I love that! In other words, if you're a good shepherd, you will give each of His sheep individual attention, the kind that street kid in Chicago must have felt at D. L. Moody's Sunday School. Make each one feel like the most important person in the world when they're with you. There's nobody else for you right now, than them. Don't treat them just like another nameless face in the flock. Jesus was a shepherd, and now He's called you to be one, trusting you with some of the sheep that He died for. Your children, your grandchildren, your church, your Bible study. All those people under your leadership. Is leadership worth the price you pay? Is it worth the sacrifices you make? Listen to the bottom line in 1 Peter 5:4 - “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory, that will never fade away.”

This week, NüVoices podcast cohost Chenni Xu interviews M Lin, author of the recent short story debut, Memory Museum, out everywhere where books are sold. Chenni met M at her NY book tour stop at McNally Jackson Seaport where she read to a packed audience of friends, family, and new fans.The Beijing-born, US-based writer joins NüVoices Chair Chenni Xu to discuss how distance (from home, from language, from certainty) became the engine of her fiction. They also get into writing characters whose lives look nothing like your own, what "daughter" and "mother" mean for Chinese women today, and writing techniques.

Today's guest is one of the most recognizable faces of her generation — an actor whose voice you'd know in a single frame. But her real story isn't the one you've watched. It's the one she kept secret: for 20 years she's been a songwriter, and barely anyone — even people who know her — knew it.This is one of the more honest conversations we've had about being underestimated — as an actor who "couldn't" really be a musician, and as a woman the industry assumed didn't write her own songs — and about what it costs to keep making things purely because you love them.And The Writer Is... Zooey Deschanel of She & Him!In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:Why she erased social media off her own devicesThe "industry plant" myth — why the industry "can't make anything happen" anymoreBeing told "you'll never make a record, no one will take you seriously" as an actorHer "secret agent" identityThe misogyny she goes to bat againstHer North Star she chasesAnd much more...Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.Join our Patreon for special access, bonus conversations, demo playing opportunities, and guest hangs!patreon.com/andthewriterisFollow us on socials: @andthewriterisA special thank you to our lead sponsor NMPA for making these conversations possible.NMPA is the National Music Publishers' Association. They fight for songwriters and they fight for this podcast, too.Chapters0:00 Intro1:00 Meet Zooey Deschanel1:51 Writing alone — and erasing social media to do it4:49 Why the "industry plant" is a myth6:37 "You'll never be taken seriously as a musician"7:25 Her secret identity as a songwriter11:15 How She & Him released with no name attached13:01 "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today" — never a single, now #1 on TikTok15:35 The story behind writing "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today"17:24 Her dad, the records, and growing up musical22:44 Brian Wilson, Gershwin, and the Great American Songbook26:13 Five desert island albums28:21 Why "A Hard Day's Night" beats the White Album30:16 Teaching herself piano at six32:46 Writing her first song at ten38:42 "I identify as a songwriter, not an actor"42:15 Dropping out of Northwestern45:59 A word from our lead sponsor, NMPA49:23 Finding her voice in the studio — the mic chain51:56 Recording with Brian Wilson & the gifted mic55:57 Why she never sold out — turning in finished records67:03 The lonely sets where her first two records were written69:35 Almost Famous & Cameron Crowe72:50 "I'm allergic to selling myself"76:19 Nobody believes a woman writes her own songs79:00 Writing for other artists & how publishing splits really work82:07 Why she loves writing Christmas songs84:24 500 Days of Summer & music in film88:36 The songwriting trick: "What if I am her?"93:21 Dyslexia, reading scripts & why melody sticks94:56 Why she doesn't do more theater98:38 Staying clean through party-era Hollywood100:50 M. Ward — 20 years, never one fight109:57 Writing alone when everyone's afraid to111:43 The biggest misconception about her114:18 Finding your North StarCredits:Hosted by Ross GolanProduced by Joe London & Jad SaadEdited by Jad Saad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing a book is powerful.But writing a book is not enough.In this episode of Inside The Vault, Ash Cash sits down with author, speaker, book coach, publishing powerhouse, and co-founder of Book Rich Profits Club, Taurea V Avant, to break down how authors can turn their books into authority, visibility, stages, media, coaching programs, communities, and real income.Taurea has helped over 11,000 authors, speakers, coaches, and entrepreneurs publish books and use their message to create multiple streams of income.Inside this episode, we break down:• Why a book is the #1 authority asset• Why most authors write the wrong book• The difference between selling books and using a book to sell• How authors become six and seven-figure experts• Why publicity, media, magazines, and stages matter• How to turn your book into coaching, courses, events, communities, and certifications• Why speaking can create more money on the backend than upfront fees• How to build authority beyond social media• Why your story must serve the reader, not just youIf you're an author, speaker, coach, entrepreneur, or someone with a story that can help others, this episode is the blueprint for turning your message into a movement.⸻

What if the feelings you've been most afraid to feel are the exact ones keeping you from the pleasure, the magic, and the life you most desire? In this episode of Why Isn't Everyone Doing This?, Emily Fletcher sits down with Dr. Laura Berman, PhD scientist, sex and relationship therapist of 30 years, and author of 10 books including Sex Magic and her newest, Crying Out Loud: A Path Through Grief into Life Reimagined. Dr. Berman's story is one of the most remarkable Emily has ever shared on this show. After losing her mother to breast cancer and developing the same cancer in the same breast within a year, Laura recognized the connection between unexpressed grief and physical illness. Then, five years ago, her 16-year-old son Sammy was killed by an accidental fentanyl poisoning sent to him through Snapchat. What happened next, a week alone in the Redwoods, a voice at the beach, and a complete surrender into the pain, led to the discovery that changed everything: there is a bottom. It takes about three minutes. And going all the way into grief does not take you under. It sets you free. This conversation directly illuminates what Emily teaches inside Ziva Magic: all feelings come through the same channel. When you suppress grief and rage, you suppress pleasure and ecstasy. The willingness to stretch your emotional capacity is the same thing as stretching your capacity for magic. In this episode, they explore: – Why all feelings come through the same channel, and what you lose when you block the ones that hurt – The science of emotional inflammation and its direct connection to physical illness – Quantum entanglement and why the people closest to you energetically match your state in real time – The "home frequency" of coherence, how to recognize it, lose it, and return to it – Why going all the way into grief does not break you, and what waits on the other side – How Dr. Berman continued a relationship with her son across the frequency divide after his death – What spiritually bypassing grief actually costs us, and what embodied alchemy looks like instead – The grief retreat model she built for other parents and the Grief Healing Collective she runs today – Why one person holding a higher frequency counteracts 70,000 people in darkness Key Moments: 00:00 – All feelings through the same channel: the conversation begins 01:53 – Introducing Dr. Laura Berman 04:10 – From 3D relationship work to quantum and metaphysical 07:37 – Her mother's death, breast cancer, and the reawakening 09:13 – Quantum entanglement and real-time energetic matching 12:51 – Home frequency: what it is and how to return 19:13 – Reality expands and collapses based on state of consciousness 24:25 – Why we resist grief 29:06 – The science of emotional capacity and the single channel 31:07 – Sammy's death and what came next 33:23 – The voice: "Do you want to live or die?" 35:29 – Into the Redwoods: discovering there is a bottom 39:28 – Raising her frequency to meet her son in the middle 43:16 – Writing the book and building the retreat model 48:37 – The fear of opening a bottomless pit 51:15 – There is a bottom. Three minutes. You will not lose yourself. 54:45 – Why we apologize for crying and what Crying Out Loud reclaims 01:01:40 – One person holding higher frequency counteracts 70,000 01:04:30 – Where to find Laura and how to get the book About Dr. Laura Berman Dr. Laura Berman is a PhD scientist, sex and relationship therapist, researcher, and author of 10 books. Her newest, Crying Out Loud: A Path Through Grief into Life Reimagined, is available for pre-order now and releases October 20. She runs the Grief Healing Collective and grief retreats for parents, and her free resources are available at healwithlaurea.com. Social Media: @drlauraberman and @griefhealingcollective for grief healing related content Pre-Order Dr. Laura's book: Crying Out Loud If this conversation moved you, the work of feeling it to heal it, of alchemizing emotion into fuel rather than suppressing it into static, is what's opening this summer at Ziva. Get on the list to be first to know.

From AI-generated filmmaking and documentary storytelling to action shorts, horror competitions, relationship dramas, and artistic documentaries, these creators share how they brought their unique visions to life and what it takes to succeed in today's rapidly changing film industry.Featured conversations include:• The opportunities and challenges of creating films with artificial intelligence• How filmmakers are using emerging technology to tell deeply personal stories• Producing documentaries that take years to complete and follow real-life subjects across continents• Building proof-of-concept films that grow into feature-length projects• Creating compelling action films on student and independent budgets• The realities of film festivals, distribution, and audience discovery• Writing and producing independent films inspired by modern dating culture• Documentary filmmaking focused on art, creativity, and the human experience• Winning film competitions and creating professional-quality work under extreme deadlinesGuests also discuss the importance of collaboration, perseverance, creative problem-solving, and finding new ways to connect with audiences in an increasingly digital world.Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, producer, writer, actor, or film enthusiast, this episode offers practical insights into the creative process and the future of independent storytelling.Subscribe to Best in Fest for more interviews with filmmakers, creators, and industry leaders from around the world.

In this week's episode, we're taking a little break from our usual career and business conversations for a more personal discussion. After sharing on Instagram that I don't use certain products in my own home, I received a flood of questions about the products we do use and how I've approached reducing our family's overall toxic burden. I'm not a medical professional, and I certainly don't have all the answers, but I wanted to share what has worked for me, where I started, and why I believe small, intentional changes can add up over time.I talk about my philosophy on low-tox living, the apps I use to research products, ways to support your body's natural detoxification systems, and some of my favorite swaps for hair care, skincare, makeup, deodorant, sunscreen, and more. Most importantly, I share why I believe this journey doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't have to throw everything away overnight. Sometimes the best approach is simply replacing products one at a time as they run out and making choices that feel realistic and sustainable for your family.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:Click here for all product recommendations from this episodeEpisode 85: Journey to Wellness with Jenna OchsnerEpisode 138: Girl Talk (with Jena Oschner): Rethinking “Healthy,” Part 1Join The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at hello@ofthewest.coSubscribe to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The West

In this encore episode, Kemi challenges the hustle culture belief that you have to work yourself to exhaustion to succeed. Instead of a typical productivity lecture, we are looking at how to use strategic procrastination to your advantage.  Procrastination gets a bad reputation, but it can actually protect your creativity and reduce unnecessary stress. This is not an excuse to put everything off. It is about knowing exactly when to wait so you can break the cycle of last-minute panic without dropping your high standards.  Tune in to learn how to handle talk slides, abstract submissions, and SOPs without sacrificing your sanity or your standards. Applications for the July 2026 Get That Grant® cohort have been extended through Tuesday, June 23 at 11:59 PM PST. If you've been considering GTG, this is your final opportunity to apply for the July 2026 cohort. Participants also receive immediate access to Writing for Excellence: Persuasive Scientific Writing, Kemi's newest training for writing clear, persuasive, and competitive grant proposals and manuscripts—giving you a repeatable process you can use throughout your career.  Submit your application here. Not quite ready? Join the waitlist for the January 2027 cohort: www.kemidoll.com/gtgwaitlist If you'd like to learn more foundational career navigation concepts for women of color in academic medicine and public health, sign up for our KD Coaching Foundations Series: www.kemidoll.com/foundations. Text Dr. Kemi directly.

Today's Headlines: Oh boy, what a weekend! Trump deployed the National Guard to the reflecting pool, where they arrested a 67-year-old former Olympic cyclist who stopped during a bike ride and touched the water to feel the liner — charging him with destruction of government property. Trump posted that "multiple individuals" were arrested for vandalism and threatened "years in jail." The algae situation is now worse than ever, and we now know that the no-bid contract was awarded to a company owned by a Trump donor and Mar-a-Lago member named John Cafaro whose firm Greenwater Services was clearly not equipped for the job. Trump also got into a feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after claiming she "begged" him for a photo at the G7, which Italy responded to by canceling a planned state visit and Meloni posting a video saying "Italy and I do not beg," and Trump doubled down anyway. He also posted a photo of a random woman captioned "great daughter, my honor!!" who turned out to be a Clinton-era businesswoman whose actual daughter is the chairwoman of the Manhattan Republican Party. On the war beat, less than a day after signing the memorandum of understanding, US intelligence warned Trump that Netanyahu would likely undermine the deal — which he immediately did by continuing strikes in Lebanon, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz again. JD Vance made it to Switzerland for negotiations on Sunday with Tweedles Dee & Dum (Kushner & Witkoff), and Trump promptly torpedoed the meeting by posting threats of "harder strikes" against Iran while it was actively happening, causing Iran to walk out and demand an apology. As of Sunday night talks were back on, and Trump announced that if everything falls apart he's blaming JD Vance. The Pentagon also told Congress it needs $80 billion to cover the cost of the Iran war and replenish depleted ammunition supplies, Republicans need 60 Senate votes to pass it, and it's not looking great. Meanwhile, the Qatar-gifted $400 million plane has completed modifications and is ready to join Trump's Air Force One rotation, and the DOJ refused in a court filing to put in writing that they won't create the Traitor Fund, calling a written promise "unnecessary" because they already said so verbally, which is exactly what someone planning to do it anyway would say. Resources/Articles mentioned: Newsweek: Cyclist Arrested at Reflecting Pool Speaks Out as National Guard Deployed NYT: Firm Tied to Trump Donor Got No-Bid Contract to Clean Reflecting Pool NPR: Trump claims vandals damaged D.C. Reflecting Pool, and says it will be drained again  AP News: Trump deepens the dustup with Italy's Meloni, who says his 'unprovoked attacks are senseless' Newsweek: Trump Late-Night Post Sparks Scramble to ID Mystery Woman in Photo WaPo: White House says goodbye to an Air Force One as it prepares for Qatar jet The Independent: Trump's DOJ refuses to supply signed statements saying ‘slush fund' is really dead WaPo: U.S. intelligence warns Israel is likely to undermine Iran peace deal, officials say The Guardian: Iran says it is closing strait of Hormuz over Israeli strikes in Lebanon  AP News: US-Iran negotiations expected through the night after Trump shakes talks with threats WSJ: Pentagon Tells Lawmakers It Needs $80 Billion for Iran War and Other Bills Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wrote “Visit Pixar Studios” in my goals for five years, and this year, that dream came true. In this episode, I'm sharing the story behind getting invited to Pixar for Toy Story 5, but really, this is about dreams, faith, motherhood, and learning to keep showing up even when not everyone understands what you're carrying. I talk about borrowing belief, fear that sounds like wisdom, safe friendships, and what I hope my tiny queens learn from watching me dream out loud. If your belief feels tired today, you can borrow mine.00:00 The Pixar Invite I Didn't Know Was Possible00:33 Welcome Back, Boo01:03 I Got Invited to Pixar02:15 Writing the Dream Down for Five Years03:17 Why This Is Bigger Than Pixar05:12 Dreams Have Fingerprints06:11 When People Don't Get Your Dream08:08 When Fear Sounds Like Wisdom12:11 Borrowing Belief16:07 Medicine Cabinet Reminders19:00 What I'm Teaching My Tiny Queens24:12 Maybe Belief Is the Better Gift

Ron Friedman reveals the science behind unlocking extraordinary team performance. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The three strengths that separate superteams from average teams 2) Why managing energy and attention matters more than working harder3) The feedback approach that encourages lasting behavior change Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1163 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT RON — Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist and the founder of ignite80, a learning and development company that teaches leaders science-based strategies for building high-performing teams. His research has been featured on NPR, Bloomberg, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, as well as in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail (Toronto), Fast Company, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review. He is the author of The Best Place to Work, an Inc. Magazine Best Business Book of the Year, and Decoding Greatness. He lives in Pittsford, New York.• Book: Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams• Website: SuperteamsMasterclass.com• Website: SuperteamsInc— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: The Award: A Novel by Matthew Pearl— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mastering the Daily Mood Log Small Details, Life-Changing Results Episode Summary The Daily Mood Log might seem simple—even boring—but its impact can be profound. In this episode, David and Kevin break down how to use this powerful CBT tool effectively, highlighting the most common mistakes people make and how to avoid them. They explain why focusing on a single specific moment is the key to emotional transformation, how to accurately identify feelings, and how to uncover the exact thoughts driving distress. This practical deep dive shows how small shifts in technique can lead to dramatic improvements in mood, confidence, and even what David calls "enlightenment." Step 1: Upsetting Event / Moment Identify one specific moment in time (not a general problem). Include details: Where were you? Who was there? What exactly happened? Common Mistakes: ❌ Being too vague: "My life is a mess" ❌ Writing thoughts instead of events: "I'm not good enough" ❌ Describing ongoing situations instead of a moment Example: ✔️ "At 3pm today, my boss criticized my report in a meeting." Step 2: Emotions Circle or list all emotions you felt Rate each from 0–100% intensity Examples: Sad / Down – 60% Anxious / Nervous – 70% Ashamed – 50% Common Mistakes: ❌ Skipping this step ❌ Not rating intensity ❌ Thinking feelings can't be measured Why It Matters: Helps track progress Improves emotional awareness Increases accuracy and empathy Step 3: Negative Thoughts Write short, specific thoughts (1 sentence each) Focus on what you were telling yourself Examples: "I'm a failure." "There's something wrong with me." "I'll never succeed." Common Mistakes: ❌ Writing long paragraphs ❌ Including events ("She rejected me") ❌ Including feelings ("I feel terrible") ❌ Writing questions ("Why am I like this?" → convert to statement) Tip: Work through emotions one at a time: "What thought caused my sadness?" "What thought caused my anxiety?" Step 4: Positive Thoughts Generate thoughts that: ✅ Are 100% true ✅ Reduce belief in the negative thought Examples: "I made a mistake in that meeting, but that doesn't define my entire ability." "One criticism doesn't mean I'm a failure." Common Mistakes: ❌ Cheerleading ("I'm awesome no matter what") ❌ Irrelevant truths ("At least I can cook") ❌ Statements you don't fully believe Key Insight: Truth alone isn't enough—it must directly challenge the negative belief. Step 5: Re-evaluate Belief in Negative Thought After generating positive thoughts, re-rate how much you believe the original thought Example: "I'm a failure" Before: 90% After: 0% Goal: Reduce belief as much as possible (ideally close to 0%) Why It Matters: Emotional change happens when belief in negative thoughts decreases The greater the reduction, the greater the relief Core Principle Change one moment → understand the pattern → apply it everywhere. Memorable Quotes "We're not fishing for small improvements—we're going after the big fish." "I can't help you with your whole life, but I can help you with one moment." "The truth—not positive thinking—is what sets you free." "Without measuring feelings, therapists are mostly guessing." Practical Exercise Try this today: (Download a blank Daily Mood Log at this link) Write down one upsetting moment Rate your feelings (0–100%) List 3–5 short negative thoughts Challenge one thought with a 100% true alternative Who This Episode Is For Therapists using CBT or TEAM-CBT Anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or self-doubt Listeners who want practical, structured tools for change Connect & Learn More Read Dr. Burns' latest articles on Psychology Today Explore more tools and resources at FeelingGood.com Learn about TEAM-CBT training and techniques If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, sharing the podcast, or leaving a review. It helps more people discover tools for overcoming depression and anxiety. Let Us Know What You Think of This Episode Please use this link to take a very brief survey and share your opinion with us about this episode Contact Information Kevin Cornelius, LMFT is a Level 5 Certified Master TEAM-CBT Therapist and Trainer and the Clinical Director of Feeling Good Institute--Silicon Valley. He specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship problems and insomnia. You can reach Kevin at kevin@feelinggoodinstitute.com and visit his website at www.tools4change.me. You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com. Feeling down in these turbulent times? Take a ride on our Feeling Great app. Feeling Great feels wonderful! You owe it to yourself to feel GREAT! Give the Greatest Gifts of ALL--Love and Happiness!

What if the real secret to a lasting writing career isn't talent or luck, but learning to thrive in the mess? Why are in-person events worthwhile even if the maths doesn't add up? How do you protect your creativity when the machines never sleep and the community is at one another's throats? With Mark Leslie Lefebvre In the intro, Has AI Already Killed Non-Fiction [Tim Ferriss]; 9 ways that AI would disrupt authors and the publishing industry over the next decade; Pivoting towards The Transformation Economy; and Who do you serve? This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why print and in-person events are making a comeback for indie authors The case for (and against) licensing your voice clone through ElevenLabs Why we keep selling books in person when the numbers rarely add up Measuring success by creative satisfaction rather than money Being honest about author earnings and the fear of being truly seen Managing stress, divisiveness, and the noise around AI You can find Mark at MarkLeslie.ca. Transcript of the interview with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Jo: Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Welcome back to the show, Mark. Mark: Oh, hey, Jo. It's always an awesome time chatting with you. Jo: You've been on the show lots of times over the years, but the last time was in September 2024, when we talked about selling books in person. So give us a bit of an update. What does your writing and publishing business look like at the moment? How do you manage it alongside the day job and everything else you do? Mark: Oh my God. Well, sleep is—no rest for the wicked, maybe. I'll sleep when I'm dead. It's so funny, it was just this last weekend in Waterloo. I was at Waterloo Book Fest, and somebody came up to my table—another author from one of the other tables—and said, “I heard you on the The Creative Penn Podcast. And then when you mentioned something about Waterloo, I said, ‘He can't be from Waterloo.' And then when you mentioned the skeleton, I said, ‘I know where he lives.'” Jo: That's scary. Mark: So I love the fact that there are so many of your listeners all over the world, and that's usually how people know me. No matter what else I've done, it's like, “Oh, you've been on Joanna Penn's podcast.” I'll say, “Yes, I have.” You know what's really funny? The last time I was on the podcast, we were talking about A Book in Hand, which I was supposed to release that year. Jo: Yes. Mark: I just added another 5,000 words to it this morning. Jo: Wait, it's still not published? Mark: No, and it's so funny. I actually have the first 60,000 words of it with an editor right now, and I told her I'd get her the rest of it, which I thought would be another 20,000 words, by the end of June. But I think it's going to hit 100,000. Here's the weird thing that happened with this. This is trying to accumulate my life of book selling, as well as doubling down on doing in-person events in the last several years. I thought I was going to have the book done in 2024. I ran into some issues where I didn't back it up properly. It was an old version, and I accidentally overwrote the only version I had. Jo: So, for everyone listening, Mark—how many decades have you been an author and a publisher? How come you're still missing deadlines and still not backing up your work properly? Mark: Yes, this is a lesson: no matter how long you've been doing something, you can still make boneheaded errors. So if you, dear listener, have made mistakes, just know that this old guy who's been doing this since the mid-'80s still makes mistakes like that. Don't beat yourself up. I probably did something worse. Anyway, that book I thought was going to be maybe 40, 45,000 words, it's going to be bigger than Wide for the Win—close to 100,000 words. Here's a really important lesson I learned in that, Jo. I thought the book would be something. It became something else. Through my own experiences of doing more in-person events, book signings, and library event. Also in talking to awesome folks like Johnny B. Truant, Katie Cross, Todd Fahnestock, and so many other authors I know, and seeing what Ben Wolf is up to, and a whole bunch of different people who are doing in-person events. In creating case studies for how they interact specifically with a bookstore or library, or how they do in-person selling—I really think the book wasn't ready then. It's like the recipe wasn't ready. I still needed to play with some things. I do sincerely have faith, since I got it into the editorial process, that this will be the year the book actually gets released. Jo: As you said, there are some really good lessons there around sometimes the book not being quite ready. I'd bought an early version from the StoryBundle, which is how I got this book as well, actually. Mark: Yes. Jo: That's another tip for people—storybundle.com. You can go and find some great bundles there. I was also thinking, as you were talking, that maybe one of the reasons this book about in-person events has got so big is because that's a real trend in the community. It feels like indies, we've moved… Back in the day, I said, “I'm not doing print. No way.” This was the early days of digital, because print was really hard back then. So I was like, “Oh, and we've got all the advantages doing digital, so I'm just going to focus on that.” It feels like the pendulum has swung, perhaps even more with the ease of mass production of digital with AI. The focus on print and in person is getting stronger and stronger. Do you think that's happening? Mark: Oh, yes, 100%. I did print in 2004. It was really hard back then, so that's gotten easier. I think there are a few reasons. One of the reasons is, yes, digital made it so much easier for indie authors to get out there and break into the community. But the reality is that print books still outsell e-books in general—overall—despite the fact that indie authors can make six and seven figures a year from selling e-books alone on a single platform. So print has never really gone away. It was just never something indie authors attended to. They were in a different business than traditional publishers were in. And second, obviously I've got these gorgeous books that you've created on Kickstarter, because I like the beautiful books. I've never stopped buying print books. I actually buy more print books. I read more because of audiobooks and e-books, but I buy more print books, especially when I can get a nice signed copy. Then the other reason comes back, again, to your advice—something I've been following for the longest time, and you've long been saying. I do repeat this, and I try my best to offer attribution to you every time I use it: to double down on your humanity, particularly in this age of digital generation and the ability for even non-writers to leverage tools to create content. I think it's so much more important for me, as a creative who will never be able to catch up with the machines, to exploit my humanity. I mean, we both have digital voices of ourselves, right? There's a digital Mark Leslie Lefebvre voice that people can use, and I'm making money off it because people are able to license it through ElevenLabs. But when I'm there in person, so far the holograms aren't good enough to fool people. I think I'm not just selling a book to somebody; I want to create an experience where, “Oh, I'm talking to the author, and we're signing a book together, and we're taking a selfie together.” For me, there's that tactile experience that's really enriching. And it may not be something that lines my pockets as easily, because the investment is more significant. For every $10 I make, it costs me six or seven dollars, as opposed to an e-book, where the cost is amortised in the most beautiful way over millions of copies. Jo: There are a few things there. First of all, let's talk about that ElevenLabs voice licensing, because, as you say, I also have a voice clone. Bones of the Deep, the latest book, that's my voice clone. I haven't gone with the licensing, partly because you don't have control over what someone can do with it. So, for example, someone could create Nazi content, or content that I might not agree with, in my voice. So how have you got over that? Because part of me really does want to license my voice, and the other part doesn't. Mark: This is a great question, Jo, and I'm glad you asked it. It's the same reason I don't worry about people stealing my books—adding DRM onto my e-books and things like that. I may as well make some money off it, because let's be honest: you and I, our voices are out there. Thousands of hours of our voices, right? In your podcast, my podcast, in various interviews we've done over the years. The technology exists for someone to make a copy of my voice themselves anyway. The tools exist. They can do it easily, so why not do it myself and at least make money? I'm actually getting money deposited into my account. Not a lot—maybe $30, $18, something like that every week. Again, I've taken a lot of my non-fiction books that I haven't had the time to record myself, as I like to do, and I can at least load those to ElevenLabs and make my voice the default voice. But wouldn't it be great to be able to listen to my book in your voice? It would sound so much better. Because you can do that. When you listen to a book on that platform, you can choose my voice if you'd rather hear it in my voice, or you can choose Burt Reynolds' voice, or some other folks who've licensed theirs. Again, for me, the whole concept of wide publishing has always been important. It's another small revenue stream that's adding to my numerous revenue streams. So I guess that's how I've justified just licensing the voice. If someone's going to do something with my voice that I can't control, they can do it regardless of whether or not I put it out there myself. Jo: I agree with you. That could happen, and neither of us is famous enough that it's likely to happen anyway. I do quite like the idea of people using our voices, say, for other books for authors, because that would make sense—that's where we fit in the niche. I will rethink that, because I think it's interesting. I wanted to come back to print books. You said sometimes there are easier ways to line your pockets, and I think that's funny. So, getting into the book, this leapt out at me quite near the beginning: Why do we keep doing this when the maths almost never adds up? Mark: Oh, I have a perfect example of that from an event I did a couple of weekends ago in Burlington, Ontario. I think it was a $60 table fee. It was a new event. I believe I made $90 or $95 in sales. So even after the costs of printing and all that stuff, I really didn't make money. I made my table back, which is always a good thing. There were a few encounters I had with people who were really excited to find my Canadian Werewolf series of books, and just so thrilled to get started. Among the four of them, they bought one copy, but they were going to pass it amongst each other. You know what? Okay, they bought a single copy, and I was like, “Well, the e-book is permanently free online. You don't even have to buy a copy”—which is anti-selling. I just want them to read the book and enjoy it. But if they read it and pass it along and start talking about it, they could become readers for a long time. It's an eight-book series, with the ninth book coming out later this year. There was another encounter I had that day. A woman and her teenage daughter came in, and they were looking at my traditionally published books that I buy at a reduced price from a local bookstore and resell. They were looking at these true ghost story books I had, and they were pointing: “Do you have that one?” “Yes, I have this one, I have that one.” And the mother's like, “Well, she collects all your books, and she wants to make sure she has them.” We had this conversation, and she was so excited to meet me in person and to get a signed copy of the book. That experience was such a vanity moment for me as an author. We're lonely. I'm a big loser. Nobody's buying my books. We're always down on ourselves. So that investment of time and energy, in order to get that little pat on the back or that feeling of, “Wow, I really connected with someone who likes my stuff”—those moments are really precious. They're difficult to explain if you only look at the world in a financial way. I guess I'm fortunate enough that I do have enough income from numerous streams, including the consulting I do part-time, that it's okay if not every bookish endeavour leads to more money in my pocket at the end of the day. I can still have these authentic connections with people, which I think is one of the reasons I'm a storyteller. Yes, it's the stories I have to tell, but it's also putting the story into somebody else's hands and eyes and heart and mind. Jo: You're very giving like that. You have that sense about you, whereas I'm just a curmudgeon in the corner. Mark: That is not true. Jo: It is, generally. I don't do events like you do for readers. Mark: But that's because it takes a lot out of you. Jo: Yes, but that doesn't matter. Why do I write? I write for me. Mark: Ah, very good. Jo: At the end of the day—just being entirely selfish about this—when people say, “Oh, if you won the lottery, what would you do?” I'm like, “Well, I'd do pretty much what I'm doing now.” Mark: Yes, I'd just do the same. Of course, I'd write more books. Jo: I'd write more books. So this is where I'm trying to get to for people as well: measuring success in a different way. You were talking about measuring success by how that girl loved your books, and how you feel when someone says they love your books. With Bones of the Deep, this thriller I've just done, I feel like I had the benefit of that book before anyone even read it. As soon as it was finished, I made a nice proof copy from BookVault, and I held it in my hand and said, “I made this. I'm proud of the story, I wrote the story, and it's outside my head now.” I feel like I'm creatively satisfied in that moment. Then, of course, the Kickstarter was great, and I love that the books are going out around the world, but— I think the happiest I felt was that moment of finishing—that creative satisfaction of holding the book in my hand. You know what I mean? Mark: 100%, Jo. I cannot agree with you enough. I love so many aspects of writing. Yes, the connection with people is amazing. But I often say this when I'm doing my one-on-one consulting with authors: focus on the projects that mean the most to you, those passion projects. The process of writing, and the painful rewriting and editing and all the things you go through—when you finish that book, like you said, you hold it in your hands and it is a thing of beauty. It's a huge achievement. You've won. Whether or not you sell a single copy, you've won by doing it. Everything else is gravy: the sales, the money in your pocket or not, the reviews, positive or not, the people who say, “Oh my God, Bones of the Deep, thank you for writing this book. I'm so glad you introduced this into the world and into my life.” Anything beyond the creation itself, which is a pure joy—I love it so much. It's just why I get up at 5:30 every morning and write for hours before the rest of my day begins. I try to get stuff done before the rest of the world wakes up. I want to get the writing done first, when I have the most energy to give myself to the page. Then the rest of the day is kind of gravy for me too. Jo: You talk there about giving yourself to the page, but in Stark Realities— You talk about the fear of truly being seen. What do you mean by that, and how do you manage that feeling? Mark: For anyone who has written anything—fiction, non-fiction, memoir in particular, since it's a bit more closely tied to reality—it's exposing yourself to the world. I'll never forget an interview I did with Canadian science fiction author Julie E. Czerneda, who, before being a fiction writer, was writing biology textbooks, but her real passion was science fiction and fiction. When her first novel came out, she said, “It's like standing naked on the front lawn.” When you release a book, even a novel, people look at it and they're going to judge you and rate you. I remember early on, Jo—we knew each other through Twitter, I think, where we initially met, and then interacted with and finally met in person at London Book Fair. I think you and I have a very similar reaction. When people know us as positive and upbeat and out there helping authors in the community, and then they read our fiction, they go, “Well, Jo, you burned a nun alive on page one.” Or, “Mark, what kind of… they're drinking from the skulls of dead people? What the heck is going on with you two?” We are exposing parts of ourselves in our fiction and non-fiction. That's a fear I embrace, but also never get over, if that makes any sense. I write scary stories because I'm a big chicken. So maybe the entire process is just cheap therapy for me. Or not cheap, because it's an expensive pastime, isn't it? Jo: It certainly can be, but I agree. I struggle with fear of judgment still. I think it's also because we do this in public, which comes back to the financial side of things. We do a lot of this in public, and then people judge us on our author businesses too. You could look at Bones of the Deep, which was just on Kickstarter, and compare my Kickstarter to another author's Kickstarter for a fiction book, and judge one or the other person based on numbers. I feel like this is because you and I have done so much in public—for me, almost 20 years, and for you, like 40 years or whatever. Maybe 30 years. You look that old. Mark: Listen there, dearie. Get off my lawn. Jo: Yes, get off my lawn—with those skeletons you have on your lawn. Mark: Yes. They're no longer in my closet. Jo: They're not in your closet. I wonder if that also plays a part of it—the pros and cons of doing this business in public. Mark: Yes, that is a part of it. One thing I try to be very clear about, because there's so much FOMO and so much out there about people thinking that everyone else is making a million dollars from their books and “I'm the only loser who's not”—I try to be clear that I have never made more than a mid-five figures as an author from my author earnings, ever. I haven't yet hit six figures. One of the reasons I try to be transparent in sharing that is I don't want people to think that everyone else is a six- and seven-figure success story, and they're the only one who's only made $100 last year on their books. The reality is, 90 to 99% of the people who are writing and publishing are not going to earn a significant amount of money. I realise I'm also very, very lucky that I've earned this much, and it's taken a long time. I just shared this in a Substack post I posted yesterday: it was 10 years of rejections before I got $5 for my first short story that was published in '92. It wasn't until 2001 that I finally made pro rate, six cents US a word, for a short story that, ironically, Julie Czerneda bought from me back in the day. For me, I've been lucky that it's always been a long, slow slog. It's been a marathon, and I've never instantly sprinted across any dramatic finish line. I've had some really phenomenal moments—doing a book signing in a Costco, walking into Walmart and seeing my books there. Even last night at the Burlington Public Library, going, “Wow, they have eight of my books here—four of my self-published books and four of my traditionally published books, in two different sections.” I was like, “That's kind of cool.” So I've had these amazing moments as a writer, but I've never had the blockbuster—the Brandon Sanderson, or even the Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman, kind of moments. I still think I've had a very fortunate and lucky journey. Even if I wasn't making the money I'm making, I'd still be writing, and I'm sure you would be too. Jo: Oh, yes, for sure. I actually think the thing most of us would probably let go is the marketing. If we won the lottery, we'd carry on with all the creative stuff, the writing, the community stuff, and we'd just literally do no marketing at all. Mark: Well, yes, of course. Or potentially say, “Oh, here, ad agency, here's some money. You just run it, whatever. Let me know if it works or not. I don't care.” Jo: That's a much better idea. Mark: At least I've got the extra disposable income, so I may as well, because I'm helping the world when my books are out there. I know my books will help people. I really honestly think that as storytellers—whether it's fiction or non-fiction, we're still storytellers—what we do in writing and podcasting and all the things we do, the re-sharing on social media, is really helping connect people. I think that is one of the most profound things we can do as writers. And I mean that the writing, in and of itself, is a reward. Jo: Like you said, we met on Twitter when Twitter was what it was back in the day. I do very, very little social media now. But you just mentioned your Substack, and you also have your podcast, Stark Reflections. So how are you balancing what you put on each? I only do this podcast now. I don't even blog. I write books, obviously, and then I do the podcast. So what are you doing differently on Substack to the podcast, and what part do they play in income and marketing? Mark: Great question. I realise most people have never heard of me, or read or listened to the things I put out into the world. And I've been a longtime fan of “reduce, reuse, recycle my IP.” My podcast is not as long-running as yours, but I'm in my ninth year, and I've not missed a single Friday in the full eight years, or eight and a half by now, that I've been doing this. Every week I reflect on what I learned from an interview, or I'll reflect on something you've posted and say, “This episode is not an interview, but Jo said this last week, and I'm going to talk about it.” The podcast itself takes a lot of work. I still do all of it myself, and I know I probably shouldn't, but I like doing it, so it's one of those tasks I enjoy. I also have reflections that aren't going to come out vocally but might come out in writing. Sometimes in the morning I'm not in the mood to write the novel or the non-fiction book I'm writing, but I'm writing some tangent. I just let the creative monster go. I find that re-sharing… I might have reflected on something for a couple of minutes at the end of an interview, but I really want to expand upon it, so I write the Substack article. I try to reuse some of that content. Someone's going to enjoy seeing it on a short video clip I share on YouTube, or whatever the platform is. Someone else is going to listen to it on a podcast, wherever they listen to podcasts, and someone else is going to want to read it. It could be the same information, just shared in a slightly different way, to potentially get it out to other people. So for me, it's part of that wide publishing mentality. I'm trying not to completely duplicate the work, although I am duplicating some of it. I'll give you an example. Hey, Canadian listeners—if you have not registered for Public Lending Right in Canada, please put something in your calendar for February 2027, because the deadline's over. It was May 1st of 2026. Put it in your calendar for next year. I even had somebody at this writers' event I was at this last weekend say, “You mentioned something in a presentation you did for the Canadian Authors Association about Public Lending Right, and thank you, because now I get thousands of dollars a year from this.” So just look up Public Lending Right. I've been saying stuff about Public Lending Right for at least 10 years now. Every time I get my beautiful multi-four-figure cheque from them in February every year, I post on social media and remind authors to check it out. I know it exists in the UK, and it exists in 36 countries in the world—just not the US. Jo: Not the US. Mark: They don't have a programme like this, probably because the big publishers—and probably one of the authors' associations—think that libraries are cannibalising book sales, which is not true. It's been proven time and time again, and that lobbying has prevented it from happening. Whereas here in Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers' Union of Canada worked hard to make this happen. Anyway, I talk about something like Public Lending Right and I feel like I must have said this so much that people are sick of it, but every single time I mention it, someone goes, “Oh my God, thanks for saying that. I never heard it.” That's a good reminder, especially for folks like you and me. We know the basics. We know what an ISBN is. We know KDP Select means you can't put the e-book on any other retailer, or even sell it on your own website. We know all these things, but it's hard for us to remember that there are folks coming to this for the very first time who've never heard it, even though we feel like, “Oh my God, I've said this till I'm blue in the face.” I think I got that from retail. When I worked in retail, I recognised that somebody's going to come in and ask for “that blue book that Reese Witherspoon was talking about,” or Oprah was talking about, or whatever. And you do your darn best to help them figure it out rather than mock them. I try to take the same approach when people ask me those questions, because I'm trying to remember what it was like when I honestly did not know the answer, and having someone take the time to help me. I've been very, very lucky that I've had a lot of people take the time to help me. I'll never forget—God rest her soul—Nancy Kilpatrick, a horror writer here from Canada who passed away a few years ago. She gave me a blurb for my very first book in 2004 because she'd acquired one of my short stories for an anthology she'd edited. I was trying to call my short story collection an anthology, and she very kindly took me aside and said, “It's not an anthology if it's a single author. An anthology is a…” Jo: I didn't know that until, like, last year. I got that wrong as well. There are lots of words like that. I want to circle back, because you didn't really answer earlier about the time management. You just mentioned YouTube, on top of Substack and all the things you do. You also have a day job at Draft2Digital—it's part-time, right? You also do part-time at the university, teaching publishing, right? You do all kinds of things. How do you manage your time with all of that? Mark: Well, I mismanage my time more than I manage it, Jo. That's the God's honest truth. Fortunately, most of the things I have that aren't scheduled—like, scheduled to do this lecture at this time, or scheduled to have this meeting at this particular time with Draft2Digital—most of my work is very flexible. I do not work a regular 9:00 to 5:00, Monday to Friday. Well, I never did. I always worked way more. But I have a very flexible schedule. Every single day is a work day, and every single day is a play day for me. So I'm very, very lucky. I do schedule in the very important things, particularly where somebody else is reliant upon me—meetings and connections and stuff like that. Then I make the time first thing in the morning to get the writing done. Everything else is not as important, and it's part of… I guess it's part of playing. You know, like the social media sharing. I don't look at social media as marketing. I just look at it as another way to connect with people, with other creatives, and with readers potentially, all six people who read my stuff. I probably could do a better job of managing my time. I've tried several times over the years to adapt processes to make it better, but I consistently default back to what I do, and so far I guess I've been getting away with it. So I was like, “Do I want to waste more time trying to come up with a process, or do I just want to roll with it?” Because so far I haven't killed myself doing it, and I've been enjoying the journey. So, if it ain't broke… Jo: I think that's the point, if it doesn't feel like it's broken. Having known you for a long time now, and we work together—obviously we co-wrote The Relaxed Author—you do work very, very differently to me. You definitely are a little bit more chaotic. I'm chaotic in some ways too. Mark: Oh, you're very generous. “A little bit chaotic.” Thanks. That was generous, Jo. Jo: You're chaotic in your work practices and scheduling and all that, which I couldn't cope with very well. Even though I feel like a part of my brain is very chaotic—the creative side, I guess, can be quite chaotic—I think I'm actually quite controlling and very scheduled in my work practices. As you say, for someone else on the outside, it might feel to me like you have too many balls in the air. But if you don't feel that, then that's the way of working that works for you. So this is another important thing, isn't it? You can't adapt to what other people say your life should look like. It's what feels good to you. Mark: Oh, for sure. One thing I know about my procrastination tendency is that panic and fear motivate me. So, a deadline—”I have to get this into a publisher by this date, I have to get this manuscript to an editor by that date”—I'm motivated by fear. And I'm afraid of everything, so I guess I'm always motivated. Jo: But I also know that when you hear the word “deadline”—and I know a lot of people who do this—the deadline means you get it in on the deadline, or the day before the deadline. To me, a deadline means I have it ready a month earlier. Mark: I love that. I've done that a few times and shocked myself. I actually had a pre-order up—with the audiobook, the print, and the e-book—a month in advance, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was like, “Well, what am I going to do now in the next month?” Jo: Work on the next thing. Mark: But I'm so used to working on it up to the last second that I was kind of like, “What do I do?” That actually caught me by surprise, and I honestly felt weird. I was like, “I've never felt this before.” I'm really lucky. I know you have a very supportive and amazing partner, and so do I. My partner, scarily enough, is maybe a bigger procrastinator than me, so she never gives me a hard time. She supports me, and I do the same thing with her own work. I'm up all night with her at the last minute so we can get something turned in. So, fortunately, we really understand one another, and we don't give each other a hard time. We just go, “Well, got away with it again. I guess I'm not going to change my ways.” Jo: We made it. And again, that's the point. You and I could stand up in front of people, both hold up the last book we wrote, and say, “We made this,” and our processes are completely different. Our brains are completely different. We come from different countries. There are lots of things that are different, and yet we both made a book. So hopefully that encourages people. You don't have to do anything that we're telling you, or anyone else tells you. But if you want to be an author, at some point you have to produce a book. Mark: Exactly. As Brian in the classic Monty Python film gets them to say: “Yes, we are all different.” Embrace that difference. I think that's such a powerful reminder that there is no one process for getting anything done. Jo: Given that we co-wrote The Relaxed Author back in 2021—and we did that because we had another show, and we were talking, and we said, “Oh, everyone's stressed and the anxiety levels are really high, and we think there's a better path”—we co-wrote that book, which I think is still a very good book. Definitely people should get it. Interestingly, I think the stress and anxiety might actually be higher now than it was. So what do you think the main stresses are in the community now? You also see a lot with Draft2Digital, I guess, as well. Mark: Oh, for sure. Honestly, Jo, I'm so glad we wrote that book, because I actually pick it up every once in a while to remind myself of the things we tried to help others with. Again, it's therapy for me as well, so I'm so glad we did it. I think we're 10, if not 100, times more stressed. The world events and things going on, the divisiveness—not just in the world in general, in politics and everything else, but the divisiveness in the author community. The witch-hunting that happens, people trying to tear down other authors either because they're successful, or because, “Oh my God, you dared use a new technology.” All of these things are happening, and everyone's at one another's throats. I need to pick that book up and reread it. I'm a lot more stressed than I was. I'm just getting over shingles, which is… Jo: Oh. Which is actually related to stress as well, isn't it? Mark: It is, yes. I was in LA for Writers of the Future—I'm a judge for that science fiction and fantasy conference. I went right from LA, like a week in LA, which was a phenomenal experience getting to mentor the winners. And I mean, come on, it's a free trip to Hollywood, hanging out with Kevin Anderson, having beers and stuff like that. Then I came back to the Toronto Indie Author Conference, run by Tao Wong, here in Toronto. I went right from the airport—didn't even go home—straight to the hotel, because I kicked into another conference. We did a display on how to set up an in-person booth, so I ended up having to hand-bomb boxes, blocks down the street from where I was parked. My chest was really sore when I got home on the Monday, and I thought it was because I hadn't used these muscles, because I'm not in the best shape. Then I took my shirt off and went, “Oh, there's a rash there.” Liz goes, “You have shingles.” Because the pain in my chest, which I thought was the muscle, was actually underneath. I'm one of those lucky people that it's taken the full five weeks, and I'm still in pain even afterwards. So, again, public notice: if you're an older person like me, and there's a vaccine available for shingles, you may want to consider it. Jo: Yep, get it. Mark: Oh my God, it hurts. But, yes, the stress, I think, is higher—even though I didn't know I was feeling it. It was happy stress, right? I was stressed out because I'm there in Hollywood, helping people and doing some good things, and then I'm doing the same thing, interacting with some amazing authors at the Toronto Indie Author Conference. I didn't feel anxious stress. I was happy stress. Is that a thing? Jo: I think possibly… your physical body masks stress, physical stress, because you enjoy all of that stuff. Whereas someone like me, I'll feel it quicker and withdraw. Although I say that, back probably a decade ago, Jonathan would say to me, “You're going too fast, and you're going to hit the wall. And when you hit the wall, it's not going to be fun.” And I did hit the wall. Then, probably in 2021—I mean, that was when I just started going into menopause, and obviously we had the pandemic, and I wrote Pilgrimage, and I was doing all those walks, which I think really helped me. I learned a lot about maybe stopping that before it happened. Becca Syme obviously talks a lot about this too. But I find it interesting with you, because I think you're so positively happy with these events you do that it might mask your physical symptoms in a different way. That's really hard to watch out for. I'll give a tip to you and everyone else listening: schedule the calendar, and look at your calendar and go, “I can't go back-to-back-to-back. I have to put in some rest days.” Mark: Well, thank you. You know, Jo, you and Becca Syme are two of my best unpaid therapists. I appreciate that. Jo: You just don't listen, Mark. Mark: Or sometimes I do. Jo: Just coming back to the community, and the divisiveness there is primarily over AI at the moment, I think that's one of the biggest things. And the arbitrary lines as to what you're allowed to use it for and what you're not allowed to use it for, which is just kind of crazy. Obviously, you know I've opted out of that whole discussion now. How do you think we can move through this [divisiveness over AI], move on? We remember when it was trad versus indie, and then it was wide versus KU. So this will pass—it's just hard, when you're in it, to know when it might pass. Mark: Yes. I think the more generic advice—for whatever may come, whatever has come—is: why are you doing this? Why are you a writer? Heads down, focus on what gives you pleasure, and do that, because everything else is noise. All the marketing tactics and strategies, and all the people yelling at one another. Write your books. Do the things that motivate you. Do the things that give you that intrinsic reward. It's hard to ignore. I get it, it is hard to ignore. I have difficulty ignoring the haters and the yelling and the screaming that happens, but I do my best. Like this morning, when I was in the throes of my manuscript and I looked up and went, “Oh my God, I've got to shower. I'm going to be talking to Jo soon, I should comb my hair”—which I have none of. Because I was so in my book that everything else melted away. That, for me as a storyteller, as a writer, is one of the most beautiful places to be. Jo: I think you're absolutely right. I have a little thing that pops up in my calendar sometimes which says, “If you're feeling all of these things, just go create something.” The moment you refocus on creation—whatever that means to you—things change. It changes the energy. That, or go for a walk. That's my other tip. Mark: Outside. And I have to say, Jo, Pilgrimage is still one of the most profound and powerful books you've written, and you've written a lot of amazing ones. Jo: Oh, you're very sweet. Mark: That one really resonates, not just for me, but with Liz. Because one of the things we often do when we get stressed is go for a walk, ideally in nature. The vitamin N. I think there's something really profound in that, and it really helps me a lot. And again, sometimes going for a walk listening to your podcast, or an audiobook, or sometimes just attending to the environment. A tip I picked up years ago from Brooklyn author Denis Hamill was: go for a walk with your character. Listen to what they see. What do they comment on? How do they approach this environment that you've seen a million times? How do they see it? What do they notice that you don't notice? That's such an incredible experience of creativity—when you're not writing, but writing. That really helps me a lot. Jo: Oh, nice one. Okay, so your latest book is Stark Realities, but you have so many more. Where can people find you and your books and your podcast online? Mark: Jo, you can find everything you want to know about me—and stuff you don't want to know about me—over at MarkLeslie.ca. It links to all the other places from there. Jo: Brilliant. Thanks again for your time, Mark. That was great. Mark: Thanks so much, Jo. Bye-bye. The post Creative Satisfaction, In Person Print Book Sales, And Author Mindset With Mark Leslie Lefebvre first appeared on The Creative Penn.

When Joseph's brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin, everyone receives unexpected gifts. Text: Genesis 43:11-44:2Players: YahwehJacobJosephAsenathReubenJudahSimeonLeviBenjaminRachelThe sons of JacobWhat's Spooky: Not much in this oneCredits: Research, Writing, Narration, Sound Design: Justin GerhardtManuscript Editing: JL GerhardtProduction: Hazefire StudiosLinks:—Join the team of listeners who give to make Holy Ghost Stories possible—Sign up for The Latest, an email Justin sends twice a month with behind-the-scenes info about each episode and interesting things from around the internet. —Find out about Holy Ghost Stories or contact the Hazefire Studios team at holyghoststories.org