Everybody's got a Story

Darrell Denny is the author of "Of Light & Lies", a heart thumping tale set on an isolated island with nowhere to hide. Helen and Juanita must decide—who can they trust? And what happens when the past won’t stay buried?

Darrell writes pulse-pounding thrillers packed with intrigue, deception, and high-stakes suspense. A former newspaper journalist, Darrell spent years uncovering real-world truths, reporting on breaking news, conducting in-depth investigations, and telling stories that shaped public discourse—now, he uses his storytelling prowess to weave tales of page-turning fiction.

The son of a military family, Darrell spent his early years moving between the U.S. and abroad, including time in Germany and Okinawa, Japan, eventually settling in Texas, where he attended high school in Copperas Cove. He has called Southern California home for the past 30 years, currently residing in Santa Ana with his wife, Mika, a graphic designer and fine artist. A proud father of four grown children and a doting grandpa to his granddaughter, he enjoys writing, reading, staying active at the gym, playing board games, and exploring new places and cultures through travel.

Scott T. Barnes has published oral histories, a fourth grade reader, and works of young adult fiction, including the novel "Memories of Lucinda Eco", which BookLife called “a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery.” Scott’s science fiction story, “Insect Sculptor”, won the L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Award.

Scott most recent project was as editor of "Living Memories - a Memoir by Nellie Gail Moulton" which unfolds the flamboyant life of Orange County’s ranching philanthropist, plein air painter, and founder of the Laguna Playhouse and Laguna College of Art and Design. Copies of the book can be purchased directly from the Moulton Museum in Laguna Hills.

Scott's fantasy and science fiction has been praised as lyrical and original by publications such as Publisher’s Weekly. His passions range from kenjutsu to flamenco guitar to the Old West. Scott currently lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters who inspire him more than they know.

Local author and artist Nancy Klann-Moren joins us to discuss her writing journey, advice for writers, and her three publications - "The Clock of Life" (a novel), "Like the Flies on the Patio" (a collection of short-stories), and "Love and Protest" (a novel).

Nancy is the wife of a retired architect who now creates beautiful "architectural" ceramic art pieces, and the mother of two sons, both rock stars in their own fields. Oh, and two Tuxedo cats who don't give a damn about anything. I am a native California girl raised in North Hollywood and now live a stone's throw from the beach, if you can throw five miles, in Laguna Woods, California.

Newly-appointed Education Program Director (and long-time Festival Orchestra violinist) Dr. Lindsey Strand-Polyak  shares all the innovative details of "Coloring with Corelli", a collaboration between the
Baroque Music Festival Corona del Mar and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. The event,
scheduled October 12, 2025 at 3:00PM, is a free, informal, and sensory-friendly baroque chamber music concert for young people and families, featuring music by Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli, along with musical storytelling, themed coloring activities, an instrument petting zoo, and snacks.


Lindsey holds a PhD in Musicology and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from UCLA, and is a regularly-performing Baroque concert artist on violin and viola, and an inspirational music-education leader. She is a passionate educator and arts advocate, who has worked with organizations including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Young Musicians Foundation, Education through Music—Los Angeles, Elemental Music Santa Monica, and the UCLA Mentor Outreach Program. In two decades in education and outreach, Dr. Strand-Polyak has taught in nearly every corner of Southern California, witnessing the immense impact that arts education makes across the economic spectrum.

Please be sure to listen to the section of this episode that runs between minutes 48:00 and 49:05 for some of the best advice writers, and artisits in general, could ever hope to receive!

Nuka Hart, CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission, joins us in this episode to discuss the importance of mobility and the central role storytelling plays in her organization's mission to serve the estimated 80 million people across the world who need a wheelchair. Nuka has the overall operational responsibility for Free Wheelchair Mission programs and management of its team, leading the strategic planning process and implementation of programmatic strategic initiatives for the growth of the organization. Nuka graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in studio art and has two young adult children.

Free Wheelchair Mission is a humanitarian organization that designs and manufactures cost-efficient, durable wheelchairs for individuals living with disabilities in developing countries. Since 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission has distributed 1.5 million wheelchairs in 95 countries around the world, providing renewed dignity, independence, and hope through the gift of mobility, all at no cost to the recipient.

The Orange County Miracle of Mobility event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 4, 2025 beginning at 5:30PM PT at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Candace Sameron Bure (DJ of the TV show Full House) will host and attendees will have a chance to see Free Wheelchair Mission's newest wheelchair model, GEN 4 JOY, in person!

As a child, today's guest Becky Ryan enrolled in art classes, which sparked an affinity for painting and established for her the value of practice. After painting casually for many years, Becky adopted a more intentional, dedicated approach, going on to earn an associate degree in fine art, enter contests, and sell work in local galleries. Becky experiences nature as grounding and motivating, finding it a source of tranquility, drama, and splendor and seeks to immerse the viewer into a scene through confident value contrast and robust color saturation to create bold liveliness.

In today's show we hope to provide listeners with some thought provoking ideas that they can apply to their own writing as we discuss Becky's approach to watercolor painting, both en plein air and in studio, and how she turns inspiration from the local hiking trails, canyons, south county coastline, and nearby destinations such as the Coachella Valley into the award winning art work that has merited her inclusion among the Festival of Arts the last two years.

Please also check out the art work that Becky donated to the Festival of the Arts to benefit The Artists Fund.

George Gilliam, Executive Director of Creative Identity, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening the voice of the intellectual disability community, joins the show to share the story of how this incredible organization began and continues to flourish. By utilizing music, ceramics, silk painting and other art forms to grow the fine arts skills and foundations for prevocational skill development, clients learn how to express themselves creatively, make personal choices, develop their attention span and ability to follow through with directions.

Founded in 1996, Creative Identity creates opportunities to meaningfully engage their clients to improve upon their abilities to work collaboratively, assume personal responsibility, and cultivate independence. Creative Identity currently serves clients in Anaheim and closer to home here in Laguna Beach in partnership with St. Mary's Episcopal Church. They also host an Etsy site where client art work can be viewed and purhased.

Emily Hine is a social entrepreneur with a national reputation for forging successful partnerships that result in significant social change. Over the course of her career in fundraising, philanthropy, marketing, public relations, and as a founding member of three successful start-up companies, she has helped raise over $150 million for nonprofit organizations and formed companies that contribute to the awakening of humanity and the reduction of suffering. 

More than the "credentials you can put on paper", Emily is "(T)he one who writes. The one who let's life work through her" to work with businesses, nonprofits, and individuals that share the goal of increasing mindfulness, compassion, and peace on the planet.

Emily's work has been published in several anthologies that are part of the Common Sentience Series by Sacred Stories Publishing:

• Meditation, by Sister Dr. Jenna — My story “My Quest for World Peace”. 
• Signs, by Simran — My story “When God Showed Up at Rodeo Beach”. 
• GodTalk, by Neale Donald Walsch — My story “God’s Last Call”.

Emily is documenting her spiritual journey and the mystical experiences that have guided her calling and helped her heal from stage II cancer naturally, in a forthcoming book, Holy Sit: Learning to Sit, Stay, Heal, and Serve.

Erick Garske entered early retirement from a career as a software engineer. Now he spends his days focused on composing poems and prose instead of debugging source code. In this episode, Erick and I continue a really fun conversation that started over coffee when delivering Pageant of the Masters tix!

Erick published his first chapbook, Terms and Conditions of Endearment, in 2022. In the spring, the Anaheim Poetry Review published one poem. In November, Eccentric Orbits - Volume 5: An Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry published two notable works. The new year saw Poetic Reveries, In the Depths of Winter, include two of his works. He was among five Pushcart nominees submitted by the editor of the Anaheim Poetry Review, volume 2.

Erick recommends the Brighter Ukraine Foundation.

Patricia Pepper Truman has always had a passion for writing, including poetry! Today she shares her history with the founders of Designing Women, her plunge into poetry, and even her experience running her first marathon! Patricia has been an active businesswoman for more than 40 years, first in banking then becoming a certified Escrow Officer and eventually originating and running the escrow company for Laguna Niguel Corporation. Patricia (Patty) was a professional model for many years before returning to the business world where she obtained her Real Estate license and became a top producer and Realtor of the Year. Never one to rest on her laurels, she later obtained her ministerial license becoming a staff minister where she performed spiritual counseling as a prayer practitioner, and was a well-received teacher of numerous classes through Centers for Spiritual Living. She was ordained in 2012 and is still active as a facilitator.

Patricia is currently active in philanthropic endeavors and has explored many countries around our diverse and beautiful planet from which reflections are often caught in her poetry, essays, and prose pieces. Her work has been published in Creative Thought Magazine, and other print publications. She has published two books of poetry - Roses in the Lemon Tree and earth walk, both of which can be found here.