What if your biggest challenge at work, whether it’s a bad boss, a chaotic brain, or burnout from building your own business, was really the doorway to something better?
In my latest episode of the Writing & Influence podcast, I sat down with Jake Brown: author, speaker, coach, and self-proclaimed ...
Walk into any bookstore in 2015, and you’d see books that made it through a very narrow funnel. Traditional publishing still ruled the day. Self-publishing was often treated like the wild west – risky, unpredictable, and not “serious.” And hybrid publishing? Most people hadn’t even heard of it.
Now...
Elaine Acker sits down with Bruce Rosenthal, author of Mastering Association Corporate Sponsorships, to talk about what’s changing in the association world and how associations can unlock game-changing opportunities with the right approach to sponsorship.
Elaine Acker: Bruce, what are the biggest c...
Not many of you know this, but when I was studying for my master’s degree in liberal arts at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, I completed 12 hours in creative writing and poetry. Those courses were some of the best hours I’ve ever spent, because poetry teaches you to listen. It teaches you t...
When bestselling author Susan Wiggs joined me for a conversation, it felt like catching up with an old friend—because it was. We met years (and years) ago while both nurturing our storytelling dreams, and since then, Susan has gone on to write over 50 novels that have touched millions of readers aro...
In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, I believe posting on LinkedIn is essential when it comes to maximizing your nonprofit’s influence.
It’s not just about updates or announcements; it’s about leveraging your words to build trust, spark conversations, and mobilize support.
With this i...
I met Wyman Meinzer, the State Photographer of Texas, nearly thirty years ago when I was writing magazine features and ad campaigns for Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. Wyman was out in the field, chasing light across forgotten corners of the state with his camera. H...
From the newsroom to the boardroom, Kristi Piehl has built a career on the power of storytelling. As the founder and CEO of Media Minefield, she’s redefining PR and showing leaders how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and heart. In this episode, we sat down to talk about leadership in a cris...
When I attended GROW 2025 earlier this year, I realized something: for a few reasons, I needed to rebrand and relaunch my podcast. The decision wasn’t dramatic, but even a small shift like that came with a surprising number of moving parts. At the same event, I had the chance to reconnect with Sarah...
In the first episode of Writing & Influence under our new name, I sat down with Scott Ballard—a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and as many know him, “The Confidence Coach.” Scott’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose, and he’s helped everyone from CEOs to NFL players rediscover ...
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Building a brand isn’t just about having great products or services; it’s also about establishing trust and authority in your field. As competition increases across various industries, embracing thought leadership becomes critical for success. Through insi...
Q: Jeffrey, let’s start with your book, Cravable Obsessed: Journals of a Food Addicted Chef. What led you to share such a personal story?
Jeffrey Schlissel: It all started with a tragic catalyst. In 2018, when Chef Anthony Bourdain completed suicide, it shook me. He was someone we all admired—a cul...
