What happens when a centuries-old healing tradition collides with Western ideas of medicine, science and proof?

In this edition of Author Conversations, broadcast journalist Chris Dabbs speaks with Dr Scott M Taubold, author of The System of Healing Used by the Filipino Espiritistas.
He discusses the history of what Western observers came to call “psychic surgery”, the role of trance and spiritual belief and the place traditional healers can occupy alongside conventional medicine.

Originally developed from Dr Taubold’s doctoral research, the book explores the healing practices of Filipino Espiritistas — practitioners whose traditions combine indigenous approaches, spirituality, cultural belief and influences including Christianity.
During the conversation, Dr Taubold explains how his interest began after moving to Hawaii, becoming immersed in Filipino culture and later travelling regularly to the Philippines.

The conversation also examines the difficult boundary between observation, belief and scientific evidence. Dr Taubold describes experiences he says he witnessed personally but acknowledges the challenges involved in scientifically proving or disproving such phenomena.

Chris and Dr Scott discuss:
• Why Filipino Espiritista healing became internationally known as “psychic surgery”
• The influence of indigenous Filipino traditions and Christianity
• Scott’s doctoral research and experiences in the Philippines
• Folk healers and their role within local communities
• The relationship between belief, placebo effects and mind-body medicine
• Claims of unusual healing experiences and the limits of scientific investigation
• Why traditional healing practices can disappear as cultures change
• Whether conventional and complementary approaches to health can coexist
• What Scott hopes readers will take from his research

This conversation explores the subject as a cultural, historical and personal account. Experiences and medical or healing claims discussed by the guest should not be interpreted as medical advice or as a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

ABOUT THE GUEST Dr Scott M Taubold is the author of The System of Healing Used by the Filipino Espiritistas, a work developed from his academic research into Filipino healing traditions.

His interest grew through his experience of Filipino culture, family connections to the Philippines and research into complementary, alternative and mind-body approaches to healing.

🌐 Scott Taubold: psychicsurgery.net

CONTENT / MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This programme discusses traditional, complementary and spiritual healing practices and includes personal experiences and opinions expressed by the guest. These claims have not necessarily been established through conventional scientific evidence. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical advice and listeners should consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding medical conditions or treatment.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME Author Conversations with Chris Dabbs is a long-form interview programme featuring authors, writers and thinkers discussing the stories, ideas and experiences behind their work.

Hosted by Chris Dabbs, a broadcast journalist, interviewer and university lecturer with experience including BBC Radio and Times Radio, Author Conversations goes beyond the standard book promotion interview to explore the ideas behind the page.

🎥 Watch Author Conversations on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorConversations

🌐 Author Conversations:
https://www.author-conversations.com

 🎙️ Hosted by Chris Dabbs:
https://www.chrisdabbs.online  

• 00:00 – Introduction: Dr Scott M Taubold and Filipino Espiritista healing
• 00:38 – What is “psychic surgery”?
• 01:52 – Charlatans, sleight of hand and the placebo effect
• 03:31 – How Scott first became interested in the subject
• 04:39 – Hawaii, Filipino culture and the beginnings of his research
• 06:40 – Turning the subject into a doctoral dissertation
• 07:03 – Scott’s first trip to the Philippines
• 08:06 – How traditional healing fits into Filipino healthcare
• 10:40 – Indigenous traditions, Catholicism and cultural influence
• 13:22 – What Scott says he witnessed during his research
• 15:08 – Spiritual explanations and the limits of scientific proof
• 16:23 – Scott’s own experience of receiving treatment
• 17:28 – What he hopes readers take from the book
• 18:26 – Alternative medicine and conventional healthcare
• 21:27 – Cultural differences and broadening our view of healing
• 22:19 – Mind-body medicine and psychological factors in recovery
• 24:24 – Final thoughts and where to find the book
• 25:26 – Outro

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

🚴 A 70-year-old retired detective. A 150-mile charity bicycle ride. Thousands of cyclists travelling from Houston to Austin.💥 And an explosion that turns an endurance challenge into a dangerous rescue mission.

Author Reynold Conger joins Author Conversations' Chris Dabbs to discuss A Dangerous Bike Ride, the first book in his Richard Tracy series.

📖 The idea for the novel came from a striking real-life moment.

Shortly after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Reynold and his wife were in Austin watching their own children complete the Texas MS 150 bicycle ride.
Surrounded by thousands of cyclists and spectators, his writer's mind posed a disturbing question: could something similar happen here?From that thought grew the story of Richard Tracy — a 70-year-old retired detective, former Marine and marathon runner who reluctantly agrees to join his children on the two-day ride.
Richard isn't a cyclist.
He is expecting sore muscles and a struggle to keep up.

❤️ Instead, he meets Mary Beth Austin, a retired chef, gardener, widow and accomplished cyclist.
Then... an explosion changes everything.

🎙️ In this wide-ranging conversation, Reynold talks about creating an older action hero, writing later-life romance, drawing on the experience of a police officer friend to shape Richard's detective instincts and developing antagonists whose own damaged perceptions make them particularly dangerous.

🧪 He also explains how his background as a chemist, engineer and international consultant influences the technical detail in his fiction and why aspects of himself and his wife inevitably found their way into Richard and Mary Beth.

📚 And A Dangerous Bike Ride is only the beginning: Reynold reveals how the Richard Tracy series develops and why, in later books, the balance between rescuer and rescued doesn't always remain the same.

🎤 Hosted by broadcast journalist, interviewer and university lecturer Chris Dabbs, Author Conversations is the long-form interview programme exploring books, ideas and the people behind them.
▶️ Watch Author Conversations on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorConversations
Watch on YouTube - tap here

🌐 Discover more:
https://www.author-conversations.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

You probably eat some of these foods every week. But how much do you actually know about where they came from?

Author and entrepreneur Paul Hesketh joins Chris Dabbs to uncover the extraordinary stories hiding behind some of the most ordinary products in our kitchens.

Paul’s book, Behind the Barcode, explores how familiar foods became the products and global brands we recognise today — and the conversation reveals just how strange that history can be.

We discover why baked beans are actually cooked inside the tin, how the secrets of tea production were taken out of China in an extraordinary episode of commercial espionage and why pepper and other spices once represented enormous commercial power.

Paul also tells the story of the BBC’s famous 1957 spaghetti-tree April Fool, explores the accidental development of Worcestershire sauce and explains how apparently simple innovations in packaging helped transform products such as crisps and instant noodles into global industries.
Then there’s the unlikely UK legal battle over whether a Jaffa Cake is really a cake or a biscuit — a distinction worth millions in VAT.

But behind the entertaining stories is a bigger question.

How did inventions, science, packaging, marketing, trade and big business turn everyday foods into multinational industries — and why are the people who originally developed some of these products often forgotten?

Drawing on more than four decades in business as well as his background in agriculture, Paul looks at the extraordinary journey food takes before it reaches our shelves and why understanding that journey may also change the way we think about sustainability and what we consume.

A fascinating conversation about the history, science, business and sheer ingenuity hidden behind the barcode.

IN THIS EPISODE OF AUTHOR CONVERSATIONS

• Why Paul believes we know surprisingly little about the food we buy
• The unexpected way baked beans are cooked
• How commercial espionage helped spread tea around the world
• Why pepper and spices once represented immense wealth and power
• The BBC’s famous spaghetti-tree hoax
• The strange origins of Worcestershire sauce
• How instant noodles became a global phenomenon
• Why packaging technology was crucial to the success of crisps
• The forgotten inventors behind some of the world’s biggest food brands
• Why McDonald’s is as much about property as burgers
• The multimillion-pound question: is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?
• How science allows modern food to be preserved and distributed globally
• Why bringing a new food product to market requires enormous investment
• Sustainability, industrial food production and knowing where our food comes from
• Paul’s forthcoming book, Beyond the Blueprint

FEATURED BOOK: Behind the Barcode — Paul Hesketh

What looks like an ordinary supermarket shelf is actually the end point of centuries of invention, science, trade, rivalry, marketing and human ingenuity.Paul Hesketh explores the stories behind familiar foods and explains how seemingly simple products became part of enormous global industries.

Author website: www.paulhesketh.com and www.author-conversations.com/paul-hesketh
Book:
Available through Amazon in print and Kindle formats.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

What if some of the moments we dismiss as coincidence are actually pointing us towards change?

In this edition of Author Conversations, Chris Dabbs speaks to Mary Glesige, author of Open the Gate: A Journey into Synchronistic Healing.

Mary explores the ideas behind her book and the role that synchronicity, awareness and personal insight can play in healing and transformation.

The conversation looks at the turning points that shape our lives, the unexpected connections that can alter our direction and the ways we make sense of experiences that seem to arrive at exactly the right moment.

Mary also reflects on the personal journey behind Open the Gate, what she means by synchronistic healing and why becoming more open to the patterns around us can change the way we understand ourselves, our experiences and the possibility of growth.

A thoughtful conversation about healing, synchronicity, spirituality, personal transformation and the search for meaning in life’s unexpected moment.

What if coincidence isn’t always coincidence?

Watch Author Conversations on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorConversations

More from Author Conversations
https://author-conversations.com
Chris Dabbs
https://chrisdabbs.online

Listen to more Author Conversations
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio

Mary Glesige / Open the Gate
https://author-conversations.com/mary-glesige

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

In this edition of Author Conversations, I meet author, artist, poet and therapist Maree Deeley to talk about her novel The Harvest Always Comes – and I discover that there's a very personal story behind that title.

Maree grew up around farming and remembers her great-uncle facing difficult seasons with a simple conviction: “the harvest always comes”.

It was a phrase that stayed with her, one she later passed on to her own family and which eventually became the title of her first novel.
And in many ways, it fits the story perfectly.

The Harvest Always Comes follows Felicity and Richard, a couple whose youthful love has gradually given way to distance and routine. Then Mario enters Felicity's world and something begins to change.
I particularly enjoyed Maree's description of Mario during our conversation. She compares life to granite, with Mario becoming the mica or feldspar that suddenly makes it sparkle.
For Felicity, his arrival is an awakening.

But our conversation goes well beyond the novel.

Maree has spent many years working as a psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, life coach and healer, so I wanted to know how that understanding of human behaviour finds its way into her characters and relationships.

We also talk about the very different ways readers respond to the same story. Maree tells me about an older reader for whom the novel brought back memories of Scotland and Aberdeen, while a much younger reader discovered something entirely different in it.

And Maree's creativity certainly doesn't stop with writing.

She painted the artwork for the book cover herself, she writes poetry and she's also a musician with nine albums already released and another on the way.

Then there's her next novel, Eyes of Innocence.
It's a very different and potentially much more challenging book. Maree tells me why she's tackling some difficult contemporary subjects, why she believes the story could eventually work on screen and why she has no intention of slowing down creatively.

Perhaps that's what stayed with me most from this conversation.

Maree talks about persistence, self-belief and continuing with something even when other people don't necessarily believe in what you're doing.

Sometimes you have to keep planting the seeds.

Because the harvest always comes.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:
Watch on YouTube
MORE ABOUT MAREE DEELEY:
http://www.author-conversations.com/maree-deeley
Author Conversations is presented by broadcast journalist Chris Dabbs, bringing authors and their stories into professionally produced, in-depth conversations.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

Can a lifelong dream begin at the age of 92? In this episode of Author Conversations, broadcast journalist Chris Dabbs speaks with Joel A. Robinson, a Korean War veteran whose debut novel, Treasure's Location, was published at the remarkable age of ninety-two.

What begins as a discussion about an international historical thriller becomes a thoughtful conversation about perseverance, curiosity and the enduring power of storytelling.

Joel reflects on the real-life treasure story that inspired his novel, the historical research behind it and why he believes it's never too late to write the book you've always wanted to tell.

In this conversation

• Publishing a first novel at 92
• Life after the Korean War
• The real treasure story behind the novel
• History, mystery and writing fiction
• Building suspense and believable characters
• Advice for aspiring writers
• Why it's never too late to follow a dream

Featured Book Treasure's Location by Joel A. Robinson https://a.co/d/0iFDC14V

www.author-conversations.com/joel-robinson



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

Canadian military veteran, ultra-endurance athlete and author JD Tremblay joins Chris Dabbs to explore discipline, resilience, faith and what it takes to keep moving when the body and mind are telling you to stop.

What separates genuine discipline from temporary motivation?

JD Tremblay joined the Canadian military at just 17 after growing up in northern Quebec, experiencing his parents’ divorce and being bullied during childhood.

The structure he encountered in military life would help shape an extraordinary journey through firefighting, mentorship, entrepreneurship and some of the most demanding endurance challenges in the world.

In this episode of Author Conversations, JD joins broadcast journalist Chris Dabbs to discuss the experiences behind his book, Hunger for More in Life: Conquer Mental Struggles, Defy Limitations, and Discover Purpose Through Epic Achievements.

JD explains why the military does not simply give someone discipline.
Instead, it provides structures and systems which can produce discipline when they are followed consistently.
He also reflects on completing the EpicDeca: ten Ironman-distance triathlons across ten consecutive days and six Hawaiian islands.

JD describes what happens when exhaustion strips away confidence, motivation and even your sense of identity — and why adjusting the plan is not the same as abandoning the mission.The conversation explores the importance of recovery, the dangers of comparing ourselves with carefully curated lives online and the need to distinguish between genuine ambition and the pressure to prove ourselves to others.

JD also discusses the Christian faith behind the Hungry Warrior Academy, drawing inspiration from the story of David and Goliath.
For JD, being a “hungry warrior” is not simply about physical strength. It means developing the courage, purpose and spiritual resilience to confront challenges despite fear.

This is a thoughtful conversation about childhood adversity, military service, mental endurance, faith, leadership and the continuing hunger to create a life of meaning.

Chris and JD discuss:
 Joining the Canadian military at 17
• Growing up in northern Quebec
• Experiencing bullying as a child television performer
• How systems and structure create discipline
• The difference between motivation and commitment
• Training for extreme endurance events
• Completing ten Ironman-distance triathlons in ten days
• What happens mentally when the body wants to stop
• Why changing the plan does not mean abandoning the goal
• The importance of recovery and slowing down
• The dangers of social-media comparison
• Faith, courage and the story of David and Goliath
• The meaning behind the Hungry Warrior Academy
• Helping people develop physically, mentally and spiritually
• JD’s humanitarian work supporting children and communities

ABOUT JD TREMBLAYJD Tremblay is a Canadian military veteran, firefighter, integrated engineer, naturopathic practitioner, mentor and ultra-endurance athlete.He is one of only a small number of athletes to have completed the EpicDeca, consisting of ten Ironman-distance triathlons across ten consecutive days and six Hawaiian islands.

JD is the author of Hunger for More in Life, a book exploring mental resilience, ambitious goals, personal purpose and the lessons he has learned by pushing beyond perceived physical and psychological limits.He is also Director of High Performance and Mental Resilience Advisor at the Hungry Warrior Academy, where he helps Christian men develop stronger bodies, sharper minds, deeper faith and a renewed sense of purpose.FIND OUT MOREHungry Warrior Academy:
https://hungrywarrioracademy.com

Book:
Hunger for More in Life: Conquer Mental Struggles, Defy Limitations, and Discover Purpose Through Epic Achievements

Author Conversations with Chris Dabbs is a professionally produced broadcast interview programme featuring thoughtful, long-form conversations with authors from around the world.Presented by broadcast journalist, BBC and Times Radio newsreader and university journalism lecturer Chris Dabbs, the programme explores the experiences, ideas and personal stories behind each author’s work.

Discover more interviews at:https://author-conversations.com

Follow Author Conversations wherever you listen and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to keep moving towards a difficult goal.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

"What if the greatest divide isn't between races—but between the assumptions we make about one another?"

After more than thirty years as a teacher, principal and community leader, Keith Daniel Saunders Sr. has dedicated his life to helping young people overcome barriers and realise their potential.

His memoir, Roosevelt to the Hamptons: The War on Both Sides, isn't a story about military conflict—it's a deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging and navigating a world where people are too often judged before they're understood.

In this thoughtful episode of Author Conversations, Keith reflects on growing up between Black and White communities, the discrimination he encountered during his career in education and why genuine leadership begins with empathy rather than division.

Drawing on decades of experience working with students and families, Keith explains why he chose to write his memoir, the lessons he's learned about resilience and why understanding another person's perspective is one of the most powerful tools we have.

Rather than assigning blame, this conversation challenges listeners to question assumptions, embrace self-awareness and recognise that lasting change starts with honest dialogue.

So, whether you're interested in memoirs, leadership, education, social issues or simply hearing an inspiring life story, Keith's message is ultimately one of hope: every community becomes stronger when we're prepared to listen to one another.

📖 Featured Book: Roosevelt to the Hamptons: The War on Both Sides

🌐 Episode Page: www.author-conversations.com/keith-saunders

IN THIS EPISODE
• Why Keith finally decided to write his memoir
• Growing up between two worlds • Identity, race and belonging
• The realities of working in education
• Leadership through empathy
• Challenging stereotypes and assumptions
• Helping young people succeed
• Why self-awareness changes everything
• Lessons from a lifetime in education
• Building bridges instead of barriers

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:18 Why Keith wrote Roosevelt to the Hamptons
04:42 Growing up between two worlds
09:05 Identity and belonging
14:31 Life as an educator and principal
20:14 Facing prejudice and misunderstanding
26:03 Leadership, empathy and listening
31:18 Why education changes lives
36:52 The message behind the memoir
42:11 What Keith hopes readers take away
46:35 Final reflections

You can now watch the interview on YouTube

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

"Sometimes the biggest adventure isn't falling in love—it's learning to believe in yourself."

Becky Larson Bloom didn't publish her first novel until later in life, after years of encouragement from family and friends who believed she had a story to tell.

In this uplifting episode of Author Conversations, Becky discusses the inspiration behind her debut novel, New Beginnings, and explains why it's about far more than romance.

At its heart, the book explores identity, vulnerability and the courage to embrace life's unexpected opportunities.
Becky reveals how personal experiences, dreams and regrets quietly shaped her fictional characters, and why genuine love should help us become better versions of ourselves rather than rescue us from ourselves.

She also reflects on finally becoming a published author in her late sixties, fulfilling a promise inspired by her late mother-in-law, and why it's never too late to pursue a lifelong dream.

Whether you're a fan of contemporary romance, women's fiction or simply looking for encouragement to begin a new chapter in your own life, this conversation is a reminder that some of life's most meaningful journeys start much later than we expect.

📖 Featured Book New Beginnings by Becky Larson Bloom
🌐 Episode page:
https://www.author-conversations.com/becky-larson-bloom
📚 Book:
https://amzn.eu/d/02k3ppzl
Inspiration:
Read our blog post on writing your first novel in your 60s: Blog link

In this episode
• Publishing a first novel later in life
• The inspiration behind New Beginnings
• Finding yourself before finding love
• Writing characters with vulnerability and hope
• Personal experiences that shaped the story
• Why self-discovery matters as much as romance
• Following lifelong dreams at any age
• Turning encouragement into action
• The realities of writing a debut novel
• Why it's never too late to begin again

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction
01:14 Why Becky finally wrote her first novel
04:03 Publishing later in life
06:28 The inspiration behind New Beginnings
10:41 Finding yourself before finding love
15:02 How personal experiences shaped the story
19:34 Writing believable relationships
23:18 Trust, vulnerability and emotional growth
27:56 Why new beginnings can happen at any age
32:12 The challenges of writing a debut novel
36:21 What Becky hopes readers take away
39:02 Advice for aspiring writers
41:08 Where to find New Beginnings


Thanks for your support!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.

Doctors gave Donna Valentino just a 40% chance of survival.

What followed was years of rehabilitation, relearning basic life skills and rebuilding an entirely new life.

In this powerful episode of Author Conversations, Donna shares the extraordinary story behind her books Headstrong and Heartstrong, beginning with the catastrophic ATV accident that left her with a severe traumatic brain injury and continuing through one of the most remarkable recovery journeys you'll hear.

Doctors gave Donna Valentino just a 40% chance of survival after a devastating traumatic brain injury. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how she rebuilt her life, found new purpose and turned unimaginable adversity into hope for others.
 
Donna describes waking from a medically induced coma, struggling with memory loss, hallucinations and confusion, and facing the daunting task of learning how to swallow, walk and reclaim her independence.

But this conversation goes beyond survival.

Together we explore identity, resilience, purpose and hope.

Donna explains how the experience transformed her outlook on life, why recovery is about far more than physical healing, and how helping other traumatic brain injury survivors became her life's mission.
Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, she chose to use it to encourage others facing life-changing illness, injury and adversity.

Whether you're navigating your own recovery, supporting someone you love or simply looking for an inspiring story of human resilience, Donna's journey is a powerful reminder that hope can survive even the darkest circumstances.

The conversation is positioned as much around identity, purpose and rebuilding a life as it is around the medical realities of traumatic brain injury.

In this episode
• Surviving a catastrophic traumatic brain injury
• Living with a 40% chance of survival
• Waking from a medically induced coma
• Hallucinations, memory loss and rehabilitation
• Relearning everyday life after brain injury
• The emotional impact on family relationships
• Finding hope during recovery
• Why gratitude became stronger than bitterness
• Supporting other brain injury survivors
• Turning unimaginable trauma into purpose
• The stories behind Headstrong and Heartstrong
📖 Books featured:
Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury Without Losing My Mind
Heartstrong: Overcome Obstacles and Live Life to the Fullest

🎙️ Author Conversations with Chris Dabbs brings you inspiring conversations with authors about the stories behind their books—and the lives behind those stories.

00:00 Introduction
01:08 The ATV accident that changed everything
03:18 A 40% chance of survival
05:41 Waking from a medically induced coma
08:02 Relearning how to swallow, walk and live again
11:06 Memory loss, hallucinations and brain injury
14:20 Losing your identity after trauma
17:43 How Donna's family coped
20:56 The turning point in recovery
24:18 Finding purpose after surviving
27:41 Why gratitude replaced bitterness
31:09 Supporting other traumatic brain injury survivors
34:27 Headstrong vs Heartstrong
37:12 Advice for anyone facing life-changing adversity
40:03 One message Donna hopes readers never forget
41:12 Where to find Donna's books



https://donnavalentinobooks.com/https://donnavalentinobooks.com/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/author-conversations-with-chris-dabbs--6905413/support.

Every book has a story beyond its pages.

In Author Conversations, broadcast journalist, presenter and newsreader Chris Dabbs sits down with the writers behind some of today’s most fascinating books to uncover the research, experiences and ideas that never made it onto the printed page. 

Featuring bestselling and emerging authors from around the world, each episode goes beyond the blurb to explore the real stories behind the writing.

From untold historical discoveries and groundbreaking scientific research to personal journeys, business insights, faith, true crime and the human experience, every conversation is designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Drawing on more than two decades of professional interviewing across radio, television and digital journalism,
Chris creates thoughtful, in-depth conversations that give authors the time and space to tell the stories that matter most.

Whether you’re searching for your next great read, fascinated by the creative process or simply enjoy intelligent, long-form conversations, Author Conversations offers a unique opportunity to discover the people, ideas and experiences behind remarkable books.

Real authors. Real stories. Real conversations.