Latest Posts

Uncovering Forgotten Histories with Rahna Reiko Rizzuto

Rahna Reiko Rizzuto

Author Rahna Reiko Rizzuto wrote the way many of us do as a child and teen, but didn’t truly turn to writing until she discovered, at the age of 30, that her Japanese-American mother, and her family, had been stripped of everything and put in an internment camp during World War II. The book she […]

Creative Pep Talk #65: Mr. Twinkletoes

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What can a simple choice from actor David Tennant tell us about creative freedom? I’ll tell you in this short episode. Check out my new newsletter, The Spark! It’s free, and I hope you’ll join us! Get in Touch I’d love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note […]

Creative Pep Talk #64: Stop Making It So Hard

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Odds are good you’re making things harder than they need to be—and that’s getting in your way more than you realize. Check out my new newsletter, The Spark! It’s free, and I hope you’ll join us! Get in Touch I’d love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note […]

Empowering Authors with Michael Dolan

Michael Dolan

Writer, editorial director, and publisher Michael Dolan was a math whiz before he fell in love with writing and journalism in high school. After a career in magazine publishing and working as a professional writer, he decided to start Winding Road Stories, which aims not only to publish new authors, but to help those authors […]

Creative Pep Talk #63: Slow Down

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It sounds counterintuitive, but the fastest way to get things done is to slow down (and stop multitasking!). I’ll tell you why in this short episode. Check out my new newsletter, The Spark! It’s free, and I hope you’ll join us! Get in Touch I’d love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these […]

Music and Mental Illness with Caroline Whiddon

Ronald Braunstein and Caroline Whiddon

Caroline Whiddon thought she was going to play French horn professionally, but panic and anxiety had other ideas. Fortunately, orchestra administration turned out to be her true home, ultimately leading her to co-found the Me2/ orchestra with her husband, conductor Ronald Braunstein. Braunstein’s bipolar diagnosis left him unable to find work, and Me2/ is the […]

Creative Pep Talk #62: Follow Your Energy

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Which project should you work on next? And what should you do when you feel downright compelled to work on something, even if it’s not the next thing on your list? I’ll tell you in this short episode. Check out my new newsletter, The Spark! It’s free, and I hope you’ll join us! Get in […]

“The Femme Fatale Hypothesis” with David Roth

David Roth

My guest this week is author David Roth, who spent thirty-five years as a professional writer of documentaries, corporate communications, multimedia, and more before turning to creative writing. He completed his MFA in 2017 and published his debut novel, The Femme Fatale Hypothesis in 2019. That book just received the American Book Fest’s 2023 International […]

Creative Pep Talk #61: Unless…

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Last time we talked about how sometimes, quitting is the smartest thing you can do. This week, I’m sharing one crucial way to make sure you don’t waste time on a project you should abandon. Get in Touch I’d love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at […]

“The Wisdom of Morrie” with Rob Schwartz

Morrie and Rob Schwartz

My guest this week is Rob Schwartz—journalist, music/film producer, entrepreneur, and son of the late Morrie Schwartz of Tuesdays with Morrie fame. Rob has founded a number of companies, both in Japan and the US, and has produced numerous film and music projects with international teams. Rob and I talk about his experiences in Japan […]