In this episode, the conversation drifts through New York apartments, used bookstores, museum memories, and the emotional weight that books and music carry through different periods of life. Arshia reflects on growing up loving stories, shifting away from the pre-med track, and finding meaning through creativity, film, literature, and design.

The two discuss favorite books including Interior Chinatown, Kitchen Confidential, Heart of Darkness, and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, while exploring themes of identity, existentialism, artistic inspiration, and the feeling-first nature of great art. They also dive into New York’s museum culture, the strange beauty of modern art, Anthony Bourdain’s influence, the relationship between discipline and intuition, and the challenge of finding stillness in the age of smartphones and endless scrolling.

Along the way, they talk about designing books, Amazon’s printing infrastructure, podcasting with iPhones, creativity late at night, and why fulfillment ultimately comes down to happiness, connection, and appreciating small moments.

Guest: Arshia Singh

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

In this episode of Blue Byron Books, we sit down with Audrey Scott to explore what it means to truly understand yourself—through solitude, storytelling, and creative practice.

From solo camping in Yosemite to the deeper philosophical questions of identity, control, and self-expression, Audrey reflects on how moments of isolation can reconnect us to who we are beneath external expectations. The conversation moves through her journey as a reader and writer, the books that shaped her thinking, and how creativity lives in the balance between discipline and intuition.

We also dive into how art influences the way we see the world, why revisiting books like The Hunger Games reveals new meaning over time, and what it takes to build a life rooted in curiosity, community, and self-trust.

If you're interested in personal growth, creative work, or simply slowing down enough to think clearly, this episode offers a thoughtful lens on how to live more intentionally.

Guest: Audrey Scott

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

Timothy Hayden II returns to the Blue Byron Books podcast to discuss the release of his fifth book, A Mind Left Unchecked. What begins as a conversation about Chicago winters and California “cold” quickly becomes a deep dive into writing, discipline and creative obsession.

Timothy opens up about discovering writing while struggling with depression in 2018, how his time in prison shaped his mindset, and why publishing five books has become proof of the person he is becoming. He reflects on the difference between his first book and his fifth, the importance of staying humble, and why falling in love with the work matters more than chasing recognition.

The conversation also explores the creative partnership behind Blue Byron Books, the challenges of editing and revision, Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality,” the value of producing many "imperfect" works instead of chasing perfection, and the larger vision of building a collaborative team of writers, editors, designers, creatives, and thinkers.

Guest: Timothy Hayden II

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

In this episode, the Blue Byron Books Podcast visits with Preston Rowley for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, identity, and what it really means to be an artist.

From growing up with an innate need to create to questioning the difference between writers, artists, and modern-day “content creators,” Preston reflects on how creativity functions as both an outlet and a compulsion. The discussion explores the role of ambiguity in art, the influence of classic literature, and the tension between ambition and fulfillment—drawing on works like Frankenstein and broader philosophical ideas about meaning and success.

The conversation also expands into the modern world: how social media shapes creativity and empathy, the pressures of constant connection, and the looming impact of AI and environmental change on the future of human experience.

Guest: Preston Rowley

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

In this episode of the Blue Byron Books Podcast, Rich is joined by Nadia Josephine Prescott from Saint Lucia, for a thoughtful conversation on writing, creativity, and the inner world of a storyteller.

Nadia shares how books became her form of escapism from a young age, shaping her identity and creative voice. Together, they dive into the tactile beauty of writing by hand versus digital notes, the emotional experience of revisiting old journals, and the balance between discipline and inspiration in creative work.

Guest: Nadia Josephine Prescott

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

Chris Bouck joins the show from Denver in this episode to explore the creative process and the power of art to help people feel understood.

The conversation ranges from early influences like “Frankenstein” and childhood books to poetry, liminal imagery, and how music and literature shape the way we experience emotion. Chris shares insights into his creative process, the role of solitude and discipline in making art, and why juxtaposition and duality show up so often in the work that inspires him.

The discussion also explores deeper questions about modern life: how technology affects our ability to feel truly “seen,” why people return to certain books throughout their lives, and how artists today respond to the emotional landscape of the present moment.

If you're interested in creativity, storytelling, and the psychology behind great art, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful conversation about what it means to create and connect.

Guest: Chris Bouck

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

Rich talks with Rachel Beronia to discuss creativity in all its forms, from books and short stories to horror films, video games, and visual art. She reflects on her childhood reading journey, influential works like The Catcher in the Rye and Ray Bradbury’s The Veldt, and her unique habit of reading the last page of a book first. Throughout the episode, Rachel explores a recurring theme she finds in many creative works: A longing for connection, acceptance, change, and meaning.

Guest: Rachel Beronia

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

In this episode of the Blue Byron Books podcast, aspiring writer Fortune Accime-Tobias shares how childhood cartoons like “Gravity Falls” and character-driven stories like “Charlotte's Web” shaped his creative voice.

We explore visual storytelling, emotional writing, sibling bonds as a recurring theme, and how shows like “Breaking Bad” influence his cinematic approach to narrative. Fortune also discusses the origins of his project “I Woke Up Mythologized” and what it means to create work that feels original in a world full of influence.

A thoughtful conversation about inspiration, discipline, and finding your voice as a storyteller.

Timothy Hayden II joins Rich to discuss prison, handwritten letters, philosophy, and the discipline required to become a published author. From five years of correspondence behind bars to co-authoring the Two Views, One Vision series, Timothy shares how vulnerability, persistence, and creative humility shaped his growth. Together, they reflect on editing, self-growth, leadership, and what it means to build Blue Byron Books with long-term vision and purpose.

Guest: Timothy Hayden II

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann

Writer and novelist Mariana Narváez joins Rich Hebron to discuss poetry, novels, heartbreak, therapy, and the bravery required to publish your work. From writing a novel in her iPhone notes to creating children’s books for her nieces, Mariana shares how lived experience, patience, and curiosity shape meaningful storytelling. Recorded in Mexico City, set under jacaranda trees and sipping coffee.

Guest: Mariana Narváez

Host: Rich Hebron

Producer: Assi Hann