In this inspiring episode, we sit down with GiGi Meier, a former C-Suite executive who boldly transitioned from a 30-year corporate career to become a bestselling author of spicy, reverse age-gap romance novels. GiGi shares her journey from the boardroom to the world of indie publishing, offering valuable insights into her writing process, the allure of her chosen genre, and the organizational strategies that keep her prolific.

Whether you're a fellow writer, a fan of spicy romance, or someone dreaming of making a big life pivot—GiGi’s story is proof that it’s never too late to chase your passion. Be sure to check out her books, follow her journey, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Connect with GiGi

• Website: Red Black and White
• Instagram: Instagram
• YouTube: YouTube
• Literary Lines Podcast: Spotify

Books by GiGi Meier:

• The Cañon Series – Dark romance novels featuring emotionally complex characters.Podcast Guests+2By D. L. Lewellyn+2Red Black and White+2
• The Cougars and Cubs Series – Spicy, reverse age-gap romances celebrating confident women and their younger partners.Red Black and White+1Instagram+1

• • The Bikers of Boston Series – High-octane romances set against the backdrop of Boston's motorcycle scene.Instagram

What does it really take to stick with a big creative goal—especially when motivation fades and real life gets in the way?

In this episode, I’m joined by author J. Gabriel Gates, who shares what it’s like to bring a fantasy world to life while balancing the everyday challenges of writing, publishing, and staying consistent in the creative process.

J is the author of Luck Gods Series and several other novels, and he’s currently diving into a new fantasy series that’s rich with world-building, unforgettable characters, and deep themes of resilience and growth. We talk about his creative process, how he overcame roadblocks along the way, and why discipline (not motivation) is the real key to following through on your goals.

This is such a refreshing, honest conversation about what it means to pursue something meaningful, even when the path isn’t easy. Whether you’re a writer, creative, entrepreneur—or just someone with a big dream—you’ll walk away from this episode feeling inspired to keep going, one step at a time.

To learn more about J Gabriel Gates and his books, visit his website here.

After my conversation with Kasey Brennan, I found myself reflecting on so many aspects of creativity, personal growth, and how understanding ourselves can shape the way we move through life and business.

In this episode, I’m sharing my biggest takeaways from our chat, how they relate to my own journey, and why the Enneagram has sparked some new thoughts about the way I work and interact with others. Kasey’s story—spanning documentary filmmaking, media production, public speaking, and Enneagram coaching—reminded me of the beauty of evolution in our careers and embracing the different facets of who we are.

If you loved my conversation with Kasey, you’ll enjoy this follow-up episode where I unpack everything that stuck with me and how I’m applying these insights moving forward.

On this episode of Be Your Own Hero, I’m joined by Kasey Brennan, a multifaceted creator whose career spans documentary filmmaking, media production, public speaking, and podcasting. As a certified Enneagram coach, Kasey helps individuals uncover their true potential by understanding themselves on a deeper level.

We explore her journey through the entertainment industry, the lessons she’s learned as a creator, and how the Enneagram has become a vital tool in her personal and professional life. Kasey’s story is a testament to following your passions and embracing the complexity of who you are.

To learn more about Kasey's story, visit: https://www.kaseybrennan.com/

In this enlightening episode of Be Your Own Hero, I sit down with Michael Tennant, Founder and CEO of Curiosity Lab, a purpose-driven venture studio and consultancy. Michael is the visionary creator of the empathy card game, Actually Curious, and the author of The Power of Empathy, praised by Inc. for its perfect blend of self-help wisdom and practical guidance.

Michael shares the journey that led him to create transformative tools that teach empathy and deepen human connection. We dive into his unique framework for understanding emotions, exploring the five phases of empathy and how effectively listening to your emotions can empower you to become your own hero.

Featured Resources:

It's easy to get caught up in the world's definition of success, but it's so important to define what success means for YOU. ⁠I had an incredible chat with Kelly Moser on the Be Your Own Hero Podcast and couldn’t resist taking a few minutes to reflect on my favorite takeaways and how they personally resonated with me. I hope by sharing more of my journey, you'll be able to find ways to unlock YOUR highest potential and get into action to make your dreams come true!

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In this powerful episode of the Be Your Own Hero Podcast, we’re joined by Kelly Moser, the founder of Move Your But, who is on a mission to help people shift from excuses to action. Kelly dives deep into the mindset needed to push past excuses, those “buts” that often keep us from achieving what we truly want.

Throughout this episode, Kelly unpacks his journey, sharing how he went from feeling stuck in his own life to becoming a coach and leader, guiding others to embrace accountability, break through limitations, and reframe their mindsets. His no-nonsense, relatable approach is sure to leave listeners motivated to take immediate action in their lives.

 If you've been wanting to make a change but keep finding reasons not to, Kelly’s insights will resonate. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to take accountability and make real progress toward their goals!

To learn more about Kelly, visit his website.

It took me a long time to realize that I had the power to change my thoughts - that I actually had some control over my emotional well-being. For years, I struggled with crippling anxiety and it took some really hard work to get on the other side of that (not to mention several therapy sessions later!), but I’m so proud of the woman that I’ve become in the process. For anyone out there that struggles with anxiety or negative thought patterns, I can speak from experience that having a daily practice of gratitude can be a lifeline for you! It’s what I needed to take my mental health to the next level. In this episode, I share what was most impactful from my conversation with The Habit of Grateful author, Kristine Newell, as well as a reflection on my own journey with overcoming anxiety and practicing gratitude to have a more positive and abundance mindset. I hope you can take some of my learning and growth and apply it to your own life and take your mental health to the next level! 

As a reminder, to learn more about Kristine and her book, visit her website here: https://www.kristinenewell.com/

This episode is sponsored by GRATITUDE! I discovered the power of gratitude about five years ago, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it works! When I heard that my friend Kristine Newell wrote a book about it, well, I had to get my hands on that too. Kristine is a master storyteller, weaving her personal stories and learning through the practical tips on how to make gratitude an every day part of your life. In this short clip from the episode, Kristine shares the pivotal moment in her life when she was at her lowest, and knew she had to do something different. 

If you’ve been wanting to find ways to embrace more gratitude, and a positive, abundance mindset in your life, then I’ve got you covered with this conversation! 

Click the link in bio to listen to the whole episode and learn how gratitude can be your own life raft. Head over to my YouTube channel for the video version too. Oh, and don’t forget the butter! IYKYK

To learn more about Kristine, grab a copy of The Habit of Grateful, or book her for your next workshop or keynote, check out her website! 

https://www.kristinenewell.com/

Entrepreneur Life as a Writer with Author Jasmin De Anda

Running a business is challenging. Writing a book is challenging. Doing both at the same time - and maybe throw in all your other familial and social obligations - yeah, it can be hard to manage it all sometimes. Balancing everything, while staying true to yourself is an art, in and of itself. In my conversation with “Archaic” Fantasy Series Author, Jasmin De Anda, we talk about life while running her online business, keeping her creative spark alive, and publishing her first book! “Archaic” released in May of 2023 and she has certainly learned a lot about the world of publishing since then. In this episode, we explore how she balances her time while running an online business, Stargazer Lily Boutique, with her mom, her remote job, writing, and keeping those creative juices flowing. She even spills the beans on what she wished someone had told her before she ever started down the publishing path. And as a bonus, she shares a great marketing tip that I think any product-based business will love! 

To learn more about Jasmin, follow her on Instagram, Threads and her YouTube channel. Click here to visit her website. 

https://jasmindeanda.com/