S:4 E:16 What It’s Like to be a fit model with Heather Mathes, author of Paid to be Perfect

Books That Make You Uncover the Reach and Power of Influencers

Most of us know of influencers, and have some understanding of how the entertainment world, celebrities, and philanthropical institutions and brands all intersect. If you’re in one of these realms, this knowledge can help you and your company get ahead by generating influencer‐based, cause campaigns that tap into the Influencer Effect’s exponential power.

And even if you’re not connected to these realms, aren’t you even a little interested to peel back the curtain and get a peek at how it works?

Chock full of case studies, entertaining stories, and professional insights, Good Influence by Paul M. Katz is based on his five-part D.R.E.A.M. method.

The CEO of Entertain Impact, Katz has spent over three decades as a leader in both the entertainment industry and philanthropic worlds, bringing a unique perspective to more than 100 cause marketing campaigns he’s created with celebrities and cultural influencers like Usher, Kevin Bacon, Ziggy Marley, Desmond Tutu and more.

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Books That Make You Elevate Your Mental and Physical Health with an Innovative Approach

For those tired of one-size-fits-all solutions to mental health, Dr. Paul D. Corona, a California-based physician with over 30 years of medical experience, has constructed a revolutionary approach that treats mental health not with quick fixes but a carefully calibrated, holistic method, one that includes off-label medications, amalgamated treatment methods, and aggressive strategies that have seen marked results.

Beginning his career in family medicine, Dr. Corona then transitioned into psychiatry, ultimately pioneering his own method which he’s referred to as "Mind and Body Healing."

Thus far, he’s authored three books in the series, “My Mind & Body Healing”. The Corona Protocol, the latest volume, addresses these comprehensive and innovative insights into mental health treatment, challenging conventional methods that have been stagnant for decades.

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Books That Make You Find the Spark for Your True Story

Writing a memoir involves far more than just listing your life experiences in order. It requires addressing a significant and poignant section of life, and delivering a story that caters more to the reader than to you.

At times, writers—from the aspiring to veterans—need to find a spark to pursue the complicated work of self-exploration. Sue William Silverman’s Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul offers that spark for memoirists seeking mentor-based instruction and inspiration.

An award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry, Sue’s previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the Clara Johnson Award for Women’s Literature, and a gold star in Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Award.

Sue’s other works include Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction, adapted into a Lifetime TV movie; Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, winner of the AWP Award; and The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. She is faculty co-chair at Vermont College of Fine Arts, in the MFA writing program.

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Ways Humans Can Write Better, in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This episode is a follow-up to the one where we discussed how AI—or artificial intelligence—is affecting the writing and reading community.

That first episode came out just a few months ago, eons ago in terms of this technology. Yet there is something very timeless about the act of writing that we believe will never be surpassed by machines, and that is indeed the very important topic we’ll dive into deeper today: ways humans can write better.

Dave Duffy serves as the Head of The BookFest®, a free, biannual online literary event that captivates readers and writers alike.

The BookFest, in turn, is part of the Black Château Enterprises family, where Dave also helms operations for Black Château, a marketing firm specializing in authors and personality brands, as well as Books That Make You. And in case you’ve ever wondered about these brands, Dave is part of the reason they all work together so seamlessly. A data expert at heart, he uses quantitative analysis to inform strategy and promotional campaigns, and facilitates cross-functional literary experiences and event productions.

His unique skill set positions him at the intersection of technology and operations, enabling him to deliver stimulating and memorable experiences for our literary audiences. It also gives him a front-seat view of the ways large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and image-creating software like Bing and Midjourney or Dall-E, are disrupting things at an alarming rate.

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Books That Make You adventure Through Fifties-Era of Rock and Roll, and Get Hound Dogged

The coming-of-age story is universal, enjoyed by every generation. The main reason: we older folks remember it fondly—or not so fondly—and younger folks are in the throes of experiencing it.

Author Rebecca Hendricks’s Hound Dogged is about growing up in a turbulent time—the 1950s—and has been compared to SE Hinton’s The Outsiders.

In Hound Dogged, we meet five friends: Patrick, Jerry, John, Stu and the talented newcomer Danny. As social and cultural upheaval takes center stage, these young musicians seek to find harmony amid chaos.

Though Rebecca has spent her career in accounting and Judicial Assistant work, her passion has always been writing. When not writing or spending time with her husband, dog and two cats, she enjoys restoring and giving new life to old dolls. She is a Colorado native.

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Books That Make You Romp with Hysterical Rhymes—and Introduce You to a Great Children’s Book Author

Rhyming can help immensely in the learning process, especially for children, who may also love a good scary story. And they certainly would have fun with the offerings of Whimsical World, an innovative children's brand seeking to entertain and educate children of all ages, all while planting seeds of self-esteem and high achievement.

Not only is he the author of The BookFest Award-Winner Hysterical Rhymes, Derek Taylor Kent is also known for his four-book middle-grade series Scary School, published by HarperCollins.

El Perro con Sombrero, his bilingual children’s book, was published by Holt-Macmillan. Other popular picture books include Dinosaur Derby, The Grossest Picture Book Ever, and his latest, Ka-Boom!

He and his wife, children's author Sheri Fink, are the founders of Whimsical World, and spread their joy of literacy and learning through live events, speaking appearances, school visits and pop-up shops all over the world.

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Books That Make You Understand Better How to Deal with Grief and Loss

Probably the cruelest aspect of getting older is losing loved ones. How can we understand our grief and help others, while in the throes of their own?

The award-winning author of Witnessing Grief; Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective, Holly Margl is a name in the coaching realm. She's a beacon for those navigating the waters of grief, trauma, and the Enneagram.

With the prestigious titles of International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Advanced Certified Mentor Coach (ACMC) to her name, Holly's expertise is recognized globally.

Her adventure began at the University of Minnesota, where she studied Alcohol and Drug Counseling and Psychology. However, while teaching at a local college, a fateful intersection with coaching and the Enneagram in 2011 transformed her path. With an impressive array of coaching and Enneagram courses under her belt, Holly never stops growing.

Books That Make You Consciously Adventure with Your Child, or the Child In Your Life

Whimsical stories have a place in many a child’s—and, by extension, grown-up’s—heart, helping to inspire us and nurture a sense of wonder. Nowadays, however, that sense of wonder is compromised by the intensifying emphasis on screen-time, structured learning, timelines, and the chronic pressures of school and success.

Such things are intense for us adults. So what must they be like for kids growing up today?

Laura Leone’s new book, Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane: Imagine & Create, features an author-led audio meditation and engaging coloring book activities, all designed to nurture children's well-being.

Motivated by a desire to provide a mindful activity for her young child during COVID lockdowns, Laura is passionate about bringing metaphysical awareness to our youth, and so established Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™️ and authored the “Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane” series.

Laura Leone, M.B.A., M.A. is the founder of Starseed Metaphysical Shop LLC, which covers the brands Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™ and Starseed Cosmetics™. A mom, stepmom, and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Laura is also an Air Force veteran, and has been in public service for over twenty years as a certified fraud examiner.

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Books That Make You Go from a Blank Document to an Influential Author in 30 Days

Readers often get the call to write. When we have our creativity sparked, our imaginations expanded, we might realize that we, too, have something profound and powerful to say, and it’s perhaps one of the greatest moments in the life of a writer.

How can we make that happen, though? What if you don’t particularly like writing, or have all those fancy credentials that so many authors seem to have nowadays?

A proud military veteran, Jeremy C. Jones is also a family man and entrepreneur who lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona. His accomplishments include being a four-time #1 bestselling Author on Amazon, hosting the popular podcast “Ideas That Make an Impact,” and serving as CEO at Jones Media Publishing, the top-rated, veteran-led book publishing company in Arizona.

His book is called Your Book BluePrint, and he is here to share his unique process for how you can answer the call to write, publish and promote your book.

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Books That Make You Step into the Shoes of a PTSD Soldier

After over half a decade of military service that’s left him traumatized, Christian returns home and struggles with civilian life, and to readjust to the normalcy of his family ranch. Such is the premise of 48 Hours to Home, by CJ Ives Lopez.

Men and women in the armed forces often face incredible burdens when returning from service. We’ve heard about the impact of PTSD, the shock of segueing from a regimented life to one of relative freedom, and how difficult it can be for these brave men and women to find the support they need as they readjust.

A best-selling, multiple award-winning author across various genres—including heartwarming children's stories under her pen name Auntie Nann—CJ Ives is also a decorated Air Force veteran. With a loyal canine companion by her side, CJ's journey represents the transformative power of pursuing dreams.

Real personal experiences inspired the co-authored 48 Hours to Home.

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