Have you ever felt the desire to write a book but have no idea where to even begin? This week Michelle talks with author and writing professor, Mary Otis, who shares with us how we can get started, what being a writer looks like, and her journey to becoming a writer. Mary also tells us all about her incredible new book, Burst, what inspires her to write, and what her writing rituals are that keep her motivated.  This is such a fascinating conversation and insight into the life of an author that you will not want to miss.

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• How Mary became an author and writing professor.
• What the process of writing a book looks like.
• The importance of writing rituals and how to feel inspired.

Links Mentioned

Mary Otis's Website

Mary Otis's Instagram Profile

Mary Otis's Facebook Profile

Burst - By Mary Otis

Yes, Yes, Cherries: Stories - By Mary Otis

Zibby Books

There eyes were watching gods  - By Zora Neale Hurston

Women are the fiercest creatures - By Andrea Dunlop

Have you ever wondered if you need a social media presence for your business? This week Michelle talks to social media expert, Cindy Zaweski, who started out as a journalist, tv reporter and producer, and who now has her own business Ascent StoryCraft, with which she helps people create content, strategy, and a solid plan for their social media. Cindy shares some incredible incites and information on how social media can really benefit your business and how to stop it from feeling like a chore. 

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• Cindy’s story and how she created her own business.
• Do we still need a social media presence?
• Tips and advice on how to find joy in social media.

Links Mentioned

Cyndi Zaweski's Website

Have you ever stopped to wonder why your 24-hour day can look so different to someone else’s? Even when you have a window of time, or you schedule your week out to accommodate everything you must do, do you still find your to do list lingering at the end of the week? This week Michelle talks about how we may all have the same amount of time, but we definitely don’t all have the same 24 hours. Whether it’s work, life, or family, we have to consider our own needs.  It’s time to take control back over your time and your calendar.

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• Setting boundaries to protect your time
• Being upfront and honest about your needs
• Controlling how you spend your time

Links Mentioned

Calendly

At some point in our life, I think we’ve all asked ourselves the question, ‘What is my purpose?’.  This week Michelle talks with the incredible Elizabeth Rosenberg, who specializes in helping people to discover their purpose, actualize it, and live it every day.  Elizabeth not only shares with us her journey as a PR professional, personal branding expert and founder of her own business, but she also opens up about her recent public and professional “coming out” story as an intuitive medium and advanced Akashic Record reader.

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• How Elizabeth discovered her own life purpose
• What does helping someone find their purpose look like?
• Spiritual bias in corporate America

Links Mentioned

Elizabeth Rosenberg’s LinkedIn profile 

Elizabeth Rosenberg’s Twitter profile

The Good Advice Company

Close to the Bone by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.

Unbroken: The Trauma Response Is Never Wrong by MaryCatherine McDonald

This week Michelle talks to the fierce and talented Andrea Dunlop.  Andrea shares her experience of working in the publishing world, her journey to becoming a successful author of multiple books, her true crime podcast, and the inspiration behind her newest novel, Women Are The Fiercest Creatures.  Andrea and Michelle discuss the future of publishing, fiction vs non-fiction, the tech world, motherhood and even a little Real Housewives. There’s so much to enjoy in this week’s episode and we can’t wait for you to hear it.

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• Andrea’s experience working in the publishing world while also working on her own writing
• The inspiration behind Andrea’s newest novel
• Andrea’s true crime podcast ‘Nobody Should Believe Me’

Links Mentioned

Andrea Dunlop's Website

Andrea Dunlop’s Instagram

Women are the fiercest creatures By Andrea Dunlop

Nobody Should Believe in Me Podcast 

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Penguin Random House

Girl Friday Productions

Carly Watters Literary Agent

Zibby Books

Row House Publishing

St. Martin’s Press

Bravo

Bookshop.org

Munchausen Support

Have you ever thought about how your mindset works when it comes to money? Or what else is involved in your world and what can propel you forward? This week Michelle shares a very powerful conversation with Allyson Byrd about how she rediscovered her love of who she is, her love of people and her love of living her life the way she wants to live it.  Allyson now feels that she is filled with harmony, peace, and joy, and we can’t wait for you to hear her story.

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• Speaking up for what Allyson needs
• What Allyson is focusing on now
• The beauty of attracting people that delight

Links Mentioned

Allyson Byrd's YouTube Channel

Allyson Byrd's Instagram

Guided Success powered by Allyson Byrd

This week Michelle gives us a wonderful look inside the world of getting a book published.  That’s right! Michelle shares her super exciting announcement of being published and tells us all about her journey from the beginning to the final stages. She shares with us the whole process including deciding what her book will be about, the lengthy process of writing a book proposal and what happens with that proposal after it’s completed.   If you have ever thought about sharing your own story or expertise through writing, you won’t want to miss this episode!

In This Episode, Michelle Talks About

• Michelle's journey to become a published author
• What goes into a book proposal?
• What the book is about

Links Mentioned

McGraw Hill

Jennie Nash's Website

Author Accelerator

Gretel Hakanson's Website 

Jacklyn Flynn

Joelle Delbourgo Associates Literary Agency

Zibby Books

Have you ever listened to a podcast interview and thought to yourself how disengaged you feel from the speaker?  Did it feel like all they were interested in is your money and encouraging you to buy their product, service, or book? This week Michelle talks about how if all you want to get out of podcast interviews is an opportunity to sell, then they are not for you.   She shares real truths about how your priority needs to be your intention and your message, not your bottom line.

• Podcast interviews are not all about selling
• What is the reason behind why you want to sell?
• How you can sell on a podcast without selling on a podcast 

Legal Launch Lab 

Mount Hope by Kellie Wolf

Do you sometimes feel like you need to be everything to everyone all at once? Do you get distracted by the endless possibilities of things that you ‘should’ or ‘could’ be doing?  In this episode, Michelle talks about how this ‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ relates to your business and how it can prevent you from focusing on what is in front of you, ultimately taking you away from your true purpose.

• Honing in and focusing on what is in front of you 
• Looking for renewed purpose after a near death illness or experience  
• The effect shiny object syndrome can have on your body physically and mentally  

Close to the bone by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bole

This week Joann Zehenni shares her story about how she launched her own successful business at the incredible age of 17. Not only does her skincare line focus on helping people feel good in their skin every day, but the profits go towards research for lupus, which is a cause very close to her heart. Join us this week as Joann tells us all about how her business was born, what inspires her, and what she envisions for the future of her brand, Gemini Beauty.

• What inspired Joann to start her own business
• Joann's belief in Beauty for a cause
• How beauty is two-sided

Gemini Beauty Website

Gemini Beauty Instagram

Loyola Marymount University entrepreneurship program

JCPenney Website

Thirteen Lune Website

Thirteen Lune Instagram