Authors Who Lead - Learn to write a book from bestselling authors and leaders
If you want to know how bestselling authors find the time to write their books, the methods they use to be productive and how they find their ideas you will love this podcast. Writing coach Azul Terronez shares interviews with clients such as Pat Flynn, of the Smart Passive Income, Jon Vroman, of the Front Row Factor, and Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom, Jadah Sellner of Simple Green Smoothies. Learn from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling authors. Want to get behind-the-scenes insights about how first-time authors overcame their fears and found the courage to write? Are you curious about how successful bestselling authors write or learn how to publish and market a book? Have you thought, "I'd like to write a book," but I don't know where to start? I explore authors' journeys, how they craft their stories, become published, and share their art of writing books with the world. You are meant to write the book now and be inspired by those who have done it.
Episodes
383 episodes
Stop Agonizing Over Words: Focus on Your Unique Message | Azul Terronez
Behind every aspiring author I meet is a burning question: “Does what I have to say really matter?” I want to shine a light on this today, urging you to look beyond the mechanics of writing and toward the deeper reason you write at all. Writing...
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Episode 382
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14:35
Why Authors Sometimes Hate Their Own Book, And What To Do Next
I often feel we take communication for granted, assuming it’s just about relaying information. Yet, in my latest conversation, I sat down with Sage Hobbs—author of Naked Communication—to explore how communication rooted in authenticity...
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Episode 381
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35:24
From Ideas to Manuscript: How True Human Evolved Through Writing and Honesty | Samantha Sweetwater
In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Samantha Sweetwater to discuss how her book True Human: Reimagining Ourselves at the End of Our World evolved from scattered ideas into a cohesive manuscript through patience, humility, and h...
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Episode 380
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39:20
How to Find Confidence to Start Writing Your Book | Azul Terronez
If you’re waiting for a surge of confidence before you start writing your book, you’re not alone. I’ve spent years hosting the Authors Who Lead Podcast, talking with authors at every stage of the journey, and one belief comes up again and again...
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Episode 379
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11:40
Memoir Writing Tips from Film and Television Executive Barbara Caver
In this episode, I sit down with Barbara Caver, a film and television production executive, passionate traveler, and first-time memoirist. Her debut memoir, A Little Piece of Cuba, weaves together Cuban heritage, family memory, and a life-chang...
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Episode 378
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38:55
Kathryn Henry: Why Clarity Comes Through Writing, Not Before It
What if grief wasn’t something to get over, but something that could teach us how to live?In this deeply moving conversation, Azul Terronez sits down with executive, speaker, and author Kathryn Henry to discuss her memoir, A Dime to Say ...
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Episode 377
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32:50
How Writing a Book Transformed My Life | Azul Terronez
In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I return with a heartfelt update and an honest call to action for anyone dreaming of writing a book. This episode isn’t just an update—it’s a raw exploration of why telling your story truly matters, how the ...
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Episode 376
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16:45
Why Writing Your Book Feels Like a Battle with Julia Packwood
Julia Packwood has the idea. She feels the call. She even has deadlines and bylines. Yet when she sits down to write, it feels like a battle.In this episode, Azul reframes that struggle: the hard feeling is not a problem to be fixed, but...
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Episode 375
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47:04
How to Build TEDx Talks That Actually Move People, with Alexia Vernon and Kaia Vernon-Oliveira
What does it really take to deliver a TEDx talk that resonates? In this episode of Authors Who Lead, communication expert Alexia Vernon and TEDx speaker Kaia Vernon-Oliveira share what authors need to know about developing a powerful big idea, ...
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Episode 374
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34:42
Loving Life & Living Your Genius Zone with Dr. Gay Hendricks
After eight years of hosting Authors Who Lead, Azul finally sits down again with the man who inspired the show from the very beginning: Dr. Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap, Conscious Loving, and his new memoir, Lovin...
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Episode 373
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36:32
Why Your Book Isn’t a Side Project — And Why You’re Still Stuck | Azul Terronez
You’re a coach, entrepreneur, or leader with a powerful message. You know a book would expand your influence, elevate your authority, and open doors. So why does it still feel impossible to start?In this solo episode, Azul breaks down wh...
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Episode 372
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8:48
Hollywood Legacy Meets Real Writer’s Work | Carla Malden
Novelist Carla Malden joins Azul to discuss her latest book, Playback—a nostalgic, time-traveling story about reconciling past ideals with present reality. They explore the character of Mari Caldwell, Carla’s cinematic writing style, and the em...
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Episode 371
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35:28
Why Books Still Matter in a World Full of Noise | Rob Walling
In a world where everything online disappears in 24 hours, why are books still the thing we remember? I recently sat down with Rob Walling — a serial entrepreneur who has started six companies, bootstrapped five of them, and written multiple be...
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Episode 370
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53:38
How to Work with an Editor (and Why It’s a Creative Partnership) | Azul Terronez
Writing a book isn’t just about putting words on a page — it’s about letting others help you shape your message into its most powerful form. Azul Terronez explains the stages of editing, how to find the right editor, and how collaboration turns...
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Episode 369
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13:06
How Neuropsychology Can Accelerate Your Results | Dr. Shannon Irvine
In this episode of the Authors Who Lead podcast, I welcome Dr. Shannon Irvine, an accomplished neuropsychologist, entrepreneur, and founder of the SINC Neurocoach Models. This riveting conversation peels back the curtain on Dr. Shan...
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Episode 368
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34:22
How to Write a Book | Azul Terronez
Writing a book is a dream for many, but not every idea deserves 200 pages. In this solo episode of Authors Who Lead, I unpack one of the most common questions I hear from aspiring authors: How do I know if my idea is big enough for a book—or if...
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Episode 367
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19:06
Breaking the Status Quo | Amy Cerny Vasterling
What does it really mean to be yourself in a world that rewards conformity and disconnection?In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Amy Cerny Vasterling—a public speaker, author, and intuitive—to discuss her powerful new bo...
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Episode 366
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37:47
Start Before You’re Ready | Azul Terronez
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but find yourself stuck in “prep mode,” you’re not alone. In this solo episode of Authors Who Lead, I delve into the real mindset blocks that prevent aspiring authors from taking that crucial first step....
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Episode 365
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13:59
How Signature Frameworks Turn Book Ideas Into Impactful Businesses | Charlotte Crowther
For so many authors, writing a book feels like the pinnacle of their work—the culmination of years of learning, creativity, and leadership. But when the final chapter is written, there’s often a gap. Those powerful ideas don’t always leap from ...
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Episode 364
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37:18
Embracing Authenticity | Azul Terronez
In today’s world, where knowledge is abundant and AI can churn out answers in seconds, readers crave something deeper—authenticity.On this episode of Authors Who Lead, I share lessons I’ve learned working with authors who want to lead wi...
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Episode 363
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17:36
The Long Haul Leader: Redefining Success and Burnout | Chris Ducker
When we talk about leadership and entrepreneurship, the conversation often veers toward hustle culture, 80-hour workweeks, and the kind of relentless, sleep-when-you’re-dead mentality that’s glorified on social media. But what’s the real cost?<...
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Episode 362
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50:25
Turning Expertise Into Authorship | Dr. Amy McMichael
When I think of someone too busy to write a book, Dr. Amy McMichael immediately comes to mind. She juggles her roles as a professor in the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, a practicing dermatologist, and a mentor to ...
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Episode 361
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40:05
Why Small Ideas Make Great Books | Dan Andrews
In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Dan Andrews—writer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Dynamite Circle—to dig deep into what it means to write and lead in today’s creative landscape. Our conversation is a goldmine for aspirin...
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Episode 360
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57:58
Family Stories to Fiction | Azul Terronez & Steve Vannoy
When the world slowed during the pandemic, Steve Vannoy and I found an unexpected gift in that stillness. We began recording stories from his father, Smokey Vannoy—vivid tales of a bygone West Virginia filled with cinder-bottom towns, red-light...
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Episode 359
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29:49
The Last Book Written by a Human | Jeff Burningham
What does it mean to be human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? This existential question pulses at the heart of episode 358 of the Authors Who Lead podcast, where I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and now author ...
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Episode 358
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46:11