What does it really take to turn an idea into a story that people would want to spend their time reading?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Louise Harris, an accomplished writer, editor, author, and owner of LAST Research and Editing, a business she has run for more than 30 years.

Louise’s love for writing began early. She wrote her first song at eight and published her first poem at 12. Since graduating from the University of Maryland College of Journalism, she has built an impressive career writing and editing everything from blogs and SEO content to press releases, manuscripts, and books. She has also published multiple novels and children’s books.

In our conversation, Louise and I talk about the realities of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing and what it takes to turn an idea into something people genuinely want to read.

We discuss:

* How to turn an idea into a compelling story

* What makes writing truly engaging

* The biggest mistakes new writers make

* What aspiring authors should know before writing a book

* The difference between writing and editing

* How writers can get their work noticed

* Louise’s journey from journalism to becoming a published author

Whether you’ve always dreamed of writing a book or simply have a story you’ve been carrying around for years, this conversation will inspire you to finally put those words on the page.

Connect with Louise and visit https://www.amazon.com/author/louiseharris this is her Amazon author page where listeners who love to purchase her books. It also allows listeners to read blogs, watch videos and read her background to get more information about her.

Louise is also on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-harris-2b04bb13/

What makes some teams thrive while others struggle even when they have talented people, good resources, and the right intentions?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by David Lengyel, founder of Venture Up, who has spent more than 40 years helping organizations build stronger teams and develop better leaders.

David has worked with more than 400,000 participants and 8,000+ groups across Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations, military units, government agencies, educational institutions, and small businesses. His unique perspective comes from watching teamwork unfold in real time through hands-on challenges and leadership experiences.

In our conversation, David and I explore what truly drives team effectiveness, why communication is at the heart of leadership, how trust is built, and what happens when teams are faced with change and uncertainty.

We also look ahead at an increasingly AI-driven workplace and ask an important question: What human skills will become even more valuable as technology continues to evolve?

We discuss:

* Why some teams succeed while others struggle

* The biggest communication mistakes leaders make

* How leaders can build trust within their teams

* Why communication drives action

* Creating a culture of accountability and engagement

* Why employees resist change

* The human skills AI can’t replace

* Leadership lessons from 40 years of working with teams

If you’re a leader, manager, business owner, HR professional, or simply someone who works as part of a team, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately.

For additional resources and leadership insights, visit:

https://www.ventureup.com/

Connect with him via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lengyel-099a2050

What happens when you spend decades earning good money but never learn how to make that money work for you?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by David Kennington, a former tradesman who spent more than 30 years working as a Fitter and Machinist in Western Australia’s mining industry before having his own financial wake-up call.

After experiencing a painful super fund loss in 2001 and a major financial reckoning in 2019, David decided it was time to understand money for himself. Within a year, he had purchased two investment properties and built a financial strategy designed around creating real wealth.

Now, through his podcast From Pay to Wealth, David helps fellow tradespeople move beyond paycheck-to-paycheck living with practical, no-nonsense financial strategies.

In our conversation, David and I discuss why earning a good income doesn’t necessarily lead to financial security, the financial mistakes many tradies make, and how ordinary workers can start turning their income into long-term wealth.

We discuss:

* Why high-income workers can still live paycheck to paycheck

* David’s painful super fund experience and financial wake-up call

* How he went from financial uncertainty to buying two investment properties

* His 4T Method: Track, Trim, Transfer, Triple

* Why traditional financial advice doesn’t always work for tradies

* How to start building wealth at different stages of life

* Whether an SMSF is right for everyone

* The first practical step toward financial freedom

If you’re working hard for your money, the next question is: are you making your money work hard for you?

Connect with David and access his free resources:

https://tradiesearn.com/ also connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kennington-b6735340/

What if the book you’ve always wanted to write doesn’t actually require you to become a full-time writer?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Richard Lowe, also known as The Writing King—a professional ghostwriter who has written or ghostwritten more than 160 books across cybersecurity, AI, business, nonfiction, and fiction.

Richard spent 33 years in enterprise technology, including two decades leading data centers, supply chain, and cybersecurity for Trader Joe’s, before making the leap into writing full-time. Today, he helps experts and executives turn the knowledge in their heads into books without having to write every word themselves.

In our conversation, Richard and I explore what ghostwriting really looks like, why so many people never finish the books they know they have inside them, and how AI is changing the way we write and think.

We discuss:

* What a ghostwriter actually does

* Why great ideas often never become books

* How to turn expertise into a compelling book

* Whether AI will replace writers

* The biggest mistakes new authors make

* Common scams targeting aspiring authors

* What makes a book valuable beyond simply being published

* How Richard went from technology executive to writing more than 160 books

Whether you’ve dreamed of becoming an author or simply have knowledge you want to share with the world, this conversation offers practical insight into turning your ideas into something people can actually read.

Connect with Richard or book a free consultation:

https://contact.thewritingking.com

Connect with him via his socials too https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlowejr/

He’s also on X https://x.com/thewritingking

And also his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheWritingKingRichard

What if getting older doesn’t automatically mean living with constant aches, low energy, and inflammation?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Lavern Dennis, Lifestyle Transformation Coach, CEO of Your Turning Point in Wellness, and creator of the Inflammation Reset Method™.

Lavern shares her personal journey of transforming her own health through intentional nutrition and lifestyle changes and how that experience inspired her to help adults 55+ take greater ownership of their well-being.

In our conversation, we explore what inflammation really means, how everyday habits can influence our health, and practical ways to support healthy aging without making wellness unnecessarily complicated.

We discuss:

* What inflammation is and why it matters as we age

* Simple lifestyle changes that can support healthy aging

* The connection between nutrition, sugar, and processed foods

* Whether supplements are really necessary

* Common nutrition myths

* Becoming a better advocate for your own health

* What it means to become the “CEO of your own body”

Lavern brings a practical and encouraging perspective that reminds us that healthy aging isn’t about perfection—it’s about making sustainable choices that help us feel better and live more fully.

Get Lavern’s free Inflammation Reset Method™ Starter Guide:

https://yourturningpointinwellness.com/longevitywellnessreset

Also connect with Lavern via her Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lavern.dennis.39

What if changing your life doesn’t begin with having all the answers—but with one courageous decision?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Lauren Fay, an award-winning author, keynote speaker, life strategist, former collegiate athlete, and Reiki Master.

Lauren shares her deeply personal journey of becoming alcohol-free in 2018 and discovering that sobriety was only the beginning. Her experience led her to explore something much bigger: self-leadership, emotional resilience, identity, decision-making, and the power of trusting yourself.

In our conversation, Lauren and I explore why we often negotiate with ourselves even when we already know what needs to change, how to rebuild self-trust, and what it really takes to stop choosing what’s familiar and start choosing what’s aligned.

We discuss:

* The power of one courageous decision

* Reclaiming your personal power

* Breaking cycles of internal negotiation

* Building genuine self-trust and confidence

* Redefining success and high performance

* Emotional resilience and identity shifts

* What alcohol-free living can teach us about transformation

* Choosing the life we know is possible

Lauren’s story is ultimately about much more than addiction. It’s about what it means to lead yourself well, make courageous choices, and create lasting change from the inside out.

Learn more about Lauren and her book, Blurred Lines, at:

https://blurredlinesbook.com

What happens when the life you once knew falls apart and you have to find the strength to rebuild yourself?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Hilary Momberger Powers, a transformational mentor, trauma coach, motivational speaker, and keynote presenter whose life journey truly embodies the message of moving from surviving to thriving.

From beginning her career in front of the camera as a child to experiencing addiction, trauma, and profound personal setbacks, Hilary has lived through the highs and the depths of life. Today, she uses those experiences to help others heal from past wounds, reclaim their confidence, and create a life filled with purpose, passion, and joy.

In our conversation, Hilary and I explore how unresolved trauma can shape our decisions, why healing requires more than simply changing our circumstances, and how we can stop allowing our past to define our future.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Turning trauma and adversity into personal power

* Breaking free from old belief systems

* Moving from surviving to truly thriving

* Learning to advocate for yourself

* Rebuilding confidence after difficult life seasons

* Finding purpose, passion, and joy again

* Why healing is a journey of the mind, body, and soul

If you’ve ever felt defined by your past or wondered whether it’s possible to start again, Hilary’s story offers a powerful reminder: your past may be part of your story, but it doesn’t have to determine your future.

Connect with Hilary:

Book a conversation or learn more about her work through her personal calendar https://api.conversionpro.ai/widget/bookings/hilary-momberger-personal-calendar-li-a6i0fc

Also connect with her on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hilarympowers LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilary-momberger-powers-078a604/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hilarymombergerpowers/

Trust is the real leadership crisis - not titles, not strategy, not even communication. Retired U.S. Army leader and leadership professor Dustin Shepherd reveals why the teams that thrive under pressure are the ones built on trust, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead yourself first.

From combat leadership to the classroom, Dustin breaks down the habits that quietly make or break teams. If you lead people, work in a high-stakes environment, or feel like your team keeps missing each other despite “good communication,” this conversation will change how you think about leadership.

Favour guides the conversation with practical, probing questions that surface the hidden causes of workplace friction, while Dustin brings nearly three decades of military service, academic research, and real-world leadership experience. Together, they unpack what actually creates resilient teams, strong followership, and lasting influence.

You’ll discover:

- Why many “leadership problems” are actually trust problems

- The difference between listening to understand and listening to respond

- How resilient teams stay calm long enough for the brain to outrun emotion

- Why followership is not passive, and how great followers become better leaders

- The critical difference between managing systems and leading people

- What AI gets wrong when leaders outsource judgment to it

- Why emotional intelligence is less about feelings and more about self-awareness in action

Dustin also shares how his experiences with survival, recovery, and trauma shaped the creation of *Polaris Leadership Academy* and *Tranquility Ocean Adventures* - two very different organizations connected by one core mission: helping people lead themselves well, especially when life gets hard.

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who wants stronger relationships, better decisions, and a calmer response under pressure. Perfect for leaders, managers, team members, and anyone who wants to stop reacting and start leading with clarity.

Connect with Dustin via https://toa4peace.com/wayfinder/ He’s also on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-shepherd-47126824/instagram https://www.instagram.com/polarisleadershipacademy/?hl=en

Anime is more than entertainment when you’re using it to understand identity, faith, autism, and healing. Maison Collawn shares how stories like *Pokémon*, *Yu-Gi-Oh!*, and *A Silent Voice* helped him make sense of his own life and why the hero's journey can change the way you see yourself.

Maison, host of the *MC Anime Podcast*, opens up about growing up with autism, the social challenges that came with it, and the lessons he learned through trial, error, and repetition. He explains how anime and television became more than a pastime - they became tools for self-discovery, confidence, and spiritual growth.

You’ll discover:

- Why the hero’s journey resonates so deeply with people who feel different

- How stories can support mental health without becoming escapism

- What *A Silent Voice* reveals about acceptance, apology, and belonging

- Why friendship is one of the most powerful themes in anime

- How faith and personal resilience shaped Maison’s path forward

Maison also breaks down the misconceptions people have about autism, what true connection looks like, and why he believes being understood matters more than fitting in. His perspective is honest, practical, and deeply human - especially if you’ve ever felt like you were on the outside looking in.

This conversation is for anyone who loves anime, cares about mental health, or is searching for meaning in the stories that shaped them. If you’ve ever wondered whether the media you love can influence who you become, this episode makes a compelling case that it absolutely can.

Perfect for listeners who want a thoughtful, hopeful conversation about storytelling, identity, and the power of connection.

Connect with Maison via https://www.facebook.com/BlogMCAnime and also https://www.instagram.com/mcanimepodcast/

What really happens behind the scenes of international foreign aid and did it actually work?

In this episode of Mind, Money & Medicine, I’m joined by Clifford H. Brown, a former Beverly Hills commercial law partner who gave up his successful career and dream home to spend 27 years working with USAID across Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa.

As a legal advisor and senior manager, Clifford witnessed political upheaval, military coups, corruption, humanitarian crises, and the challenges of trying to create lasting change in some of the world’s most difficult environments. He served as Mission Director to Guinea and Sierra Leone, worked in Kyrgyzstan and Colombia, and experienced firsthand the complicated realities of international development.

In our conversation, Clifford and I explore the successes and failures of foreign aid, the bureaucracy behind international development, promoting democracy and governance, combating the drug trade, and the human stories he encountered along the way.

We discuss:

* What USAID actually did and whether foreign aid worked

* The impact of the 2025 shutdown of USAID

* What Clifford learned from 27 years overseas

* The challenges of working in countries experiencing political instability

* Bride kidnapping and human trafficking

* USAID’s efforts to promote democracy and economic development

* The complicated relationship between foreign aid, religion, and U.S. law

* Why some development programs succeeded while others failed

* What the United States gains from effective foreign assistance

Clifford brings a rare perspective shaped by decades of firsthand experience, giving us a look beyond the headlines and into the complicated, sometimes frustrating, but often deeply meaningful world of international development.

Learn more about Clifford and his work:

https://cliffordHbrown.com

Connect with him via his socials

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clifford-h-brown-2608428/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jefferdogY