Shows
Stories That Change UsBanter, Misdirection, and Romantic Tension: Writing Lessons from Much Ado About NothingSparkling, mischievous, and exquisitely sharp—William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a triumph of wit and emotional dexterity. Through rapid-fire dialogue, verbal sparring, and strategic misdirection, Shakespeare transforms rumor, pride, and misunderstanding into both comedy and consequence. His deft use of banter as character development, parallel romances, and tonal shifts between levity and betrayal reveal a precise command of pacing and dramatic contrast. Join us as we unpack how Much Ado About Nothing endures by balancing laughter with vulnerability—and what modern authors can learn from Shakespeare’s mastery of dialogue, structure, and romantic tension to craft stories...
2026-01-2027 minStories That Change UsSpectacle, Stakes, and Story Logic: High Concept Storytelling in Jurassic ParkThrilling, cerebral, and relentlessly paced—Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park is a masterclass in high-concept storytelling. Through tight scene construction, escalating stakes, and a cast of ideologically opposed characters, he engineers a narrative where spectacle never outpaces theme. Join us as we analyze how Jurassic Park became a global bestseller by marrying intellect to action—and how modern authors can apply Crichton’s precision plotting, scientific grounding, and momentum-driven prose to build stories that captivate readers and refuse to let go. Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus...
2026-01-2036 minStories That Change UsObsession, Voice, and Unreliable Narrators: Writing Lessons from Wuthering HeightsSavage, obsessive, and ferociously emotional—Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights defies every expectation of the romantic novel. With an audacious narrative structure, unreliable narrators, and a setting that functions as both atmosphere and antagonist, Brontë creates a world where love corrodes, revenge endures, and passion refuses to die. Join us as we dissect how Wuthering Heights became a perennial bestseller—not by comforting readers, but by unsettling them—and what modern authors can learn from Brontë’s fearless approach to voice, structure, and emotional extremity to write fiction that truly lingers. Question: what is a story that has changed y...
2026-01-2044 minStories That Change UsVoice, Imagination, and Sweet Romance: Writing Lessons from Anne of Green GablesTender, luminous, and quietly transformative—L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling. Through lyrical prose, pastoral imagery, and a fiercely distinct narrative voice, Montgomery crafts a world where imagination is both refuge and rebellion. Join us as we explore how Anne of Green Gables became a timeless bestseller by honoring interiority, optimism, and earned sentiment—and how modern authors can learn from Montgomery’s control of episodic structure, gentle humor, and emotional restraint to write stories that endure through grace rather than spectacle. Question: what is a story...
2026-01-2036 min
2026-01-1828 minStories That Change UsPropaganda, Pacing, and Point of View: Writing Lessons from 1984Bleak, prophetic, and chillingly precise—George Orwell’s 1984 is a masterclass in dystopian storytelling and political fiction. Through stark prose, oppressive worldbuilding, and relentless psychological tension, Orwell transforms abstract ideas about power, surveillance, and propaganda into an intimate human nightmare. Join us as we analyze how 1984 became one of the most influential and bestselling novels of all time by fusing high-concept ideas with deeply personal stakes—and what modern writers can learn from Orwell’s use of structure, language, and psychological realism to craft fiction that unsettles, endures, and demands to be remembered. Question: what is a story tha...
2026-01-1334 min
2026-01-0424 min
2025-12-1421 min
2025-09-2827 min
2025-09-2120 min
Elevate Your BrandTaking Up Shelf Space ft. Andrew Thomas of Archer Meat SnacksAt the helm of Archer Meat Snacks' marketing department, Andrew Thomas’ focus is on steering one of the nation's leading better-for-you meat snack brand towards unprecedented growth. This role demands a mastery of strategic planning and a knack for nurturing trend-forward marketing innovations. Elevate Your Brand is the #1 marketing podcast for entrepreneurs and “wantrepreneurs” looking for insider tips and secrets from the most exciting new and growing brands in Los Angeles and the US at large. Each week, entrepreneurial special guests join Laurel Mintz, founder and CEO of award-winning marketing agency Elevate My Brand, to discuss...
2025-09-1631 min
2025-09-1421 minStories That Change UsEpisode 14: Seduction, Suspense, and Structure: Writing Lessons from DraculaDark, seductive, and terrifyingly atmospheric—Bram Stoker’s Dracula isn’t just a gothic horror classic; it’s a masterclass in mood, suspense, and novel structure. In this episode, we analyze Dracula, exploring how Stoker uses lush imagery, slow-burning tension, and themes of sexuality, superstition, and science to craft a bestselling story that still resonates today. Discover what modern writers can learn from this enduring masterpiece—and how to apply those lessons to your own fiction.Moderated By: Melissa Grace Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://ins...
2025-09-1137 minStories That Change UsEpisode 13: Revenge, Riches, and Reader Hooks: The Bestseller Blueprint of The Count of Monte CristoEpic, vengeful, and intoxicatingly rich—Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo is a masterclass in storytelling. With sprawling narrative scope, intricate foreshadowing, and characters as vivid as the Parisian underworld itself, Dumas transforms a tale of betrayal into a symphony of revenge and redemption. His use of suspense, irony, and symbolic transformation keeps readers enthralled as Edmond Dantès evolves from naïve sailor to enigmatic avenger. Join us as we unravel how Dumas crafts a timeless saga where justice is never simple, vengeance is never clean, and fate itself bends to the will of one man determ...
2025-09-0935 min
2025-09-0728 min
2025-08-3139 minStories That Change UsEpisode 12: Ten Little Hooks: How “And Then There Were None” Builds Unputdownable SuspenseHaunting, suspenseful, and devilishly clever—Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None remains one of the most chilling mysteries ever written. With masterful use of red herrings, precise pacing, and an eerie atmosphere of isolation, Christie pulls readers into a psychological trap that feels inescapable. Her sharp dialogue and meticulous plotting strip away each character’s façade, exposing guilt, fear, and desperation in terrifying succession. Join us as we unpack how Christie transforms a simple whodunit into a haunting study of justice, morality, and the darkness lurking within us all. Question: what is a story that ha...
2025-08-2834 min
2025-08-2428 min
Earthbound (Formerly Global Warming Is Real)Anthrogs, Action, and Hope: A Conversation with Peter Blue Series Author Laurel CollessVanquish the Storm Lords and Anthrogs!The power of stories to shape our understanding of the world is a central theme explored in this episode. We welcome Laurel Colless, an author dedicated to igniting the imaginations of young readers through her Peter Blue series of fantasy-adventure novels. By infusing her narratives with real-world environmental issues, Laurel not only entertains but also educates, allowing children and adolescents to confront the complexities of climate change. Our discussion explores how Peter Blue and his friends confront ecological challenges, transforming fear into hope and agency through teamwork and imaginative...
2025-08-1643 min
The Eye of Jupiter Podcast71 Ryder Lee on Kubrick, Mind Control & Music Industry SecretsRyder Lee, documentarian behind JFK X: Solving the Crime of the Century, discusses Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, hidden CIA mind control tactics, Laurel Canyon secrets, and covert ties between the government and major celebrities like The Beatles and Jim Morrison. In the age of information—and misinformation—researchers like Ryder Lee stand out for their dedication to peeling back the layers of deception. Best known for his documentary JFK X: Solving the Crime of the Century, Lee dives deep into controversial topics many are too afraid to touch. One such subject is Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, which Lee...
2025-06-031h 00
2025-03-1628 min
2025-03-0939 minStories That Change UsEpisode 11: Survival and Structure: What The Hunger Games Teaches Us About Writing Modern BestsellersFew YA novels manage to weave modern issues so flawlessly into a story that equally engages children and adults, but The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins stands out for that very reason. Collins masterful use of subtle subtext, world building that compels plot and tension, and a cast of lovable yet deeply troubled characters allows this Dystopian tale of youth gladiatorial games to transcend from grisly and irrelevant to contemplative and epic. Moderated By: Kat Lewis Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=e...
2025-01-1034 minStories That Change UsEpisode 10: The Godfather: Mastering Mood, Mystery, and Market PowerProvocative, gory, and oddly breathtaking are just a few ways to describe Mario Puzo's critically acclaimed crime novel, The Godfather. Intimate in his portrayal of family love, horrifying in the graphic description of violence and urban warfare... let's unpack the masterful way Puzo builds a world wrought with love that binds, loyalty that cripples, and conflict that kills to tell the story of a New York mafia family.Moderated By: Laurel Thomas Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=eTlibmFxdXZmbXV5&utm_source=qr
2025-01-0837 minStories That Change UsEpisode 9: Jane Eyre by Charlotte BronteAs inconspicuous as novel can be, when one thinks of classic literature that unequivocally nails the power of sympathetic villains, landscape as emotional foreshadowing, and reflective monologues that are insightful and entertaining, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte should be a firm contender on every list. Come and immerse yourself in the secrets of the beautifully understated, delightful Victorian classic. Moderated By: Melissa Grace Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=eTlibmFxdXZmbXV5&utm_source=qr
2025-01-0841 minStories That Change UsEpisode 8: A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle26 rejections, a frequent spot on the banned books list, and shining the light on the dangers of blind conformity are just a few of the surprises awaiting readers of Madeline L'Engle's, A Wrinkle In Time.Moderated By: Laurel Thomas Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=eTlibmFxdXZmbXV5&utm_source=qr
2025-01-0239 minStories That Change UsEpisode 7: A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May AlcottDark, thrilling, and prescriptively moral are not words often used to describe the work of Louisa May Alcott, but the 19th century novelist was hiding more up her sleeve than simply a pen and a copy of Little Women. A Long Fatal Love Chase is one of Alcott's first novels and, while not vastly popular during her time, took the world by storm in the late 90s and highlights her impeccable use of melodrama, textured villains, and even cliche characters to deliver a high impact story with a haunting conclusion. Moderated By: Kat Lewis ...
2024-12-2945 minStories That Change UsEpisode 6: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisPart religious satire, part social commentary, and wholly fictional genius, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a deeply stirring epistolary that has prompted much conversation about the state of humanity since it was first published in 1942. As a work of storytelling brilliance, join us as we evaluate the literary elements that Lewis employed to give us greater insight into the motivations of demons, angels, and our own souls in a way that is not preachy and extremely entertaining.Moderated By: Micah Leydorf Question: what is a story that has changed your life?
2024-12-2946 min
Art RestartAccess is the art itself: Kinetic Light’s disability-centered revolutionTo describe Alice Sheppard and Laurel Lawson as dancers is to name only a small sliver of their creative portfolio. To be sure, they are proficient, trained dancers and have created and performed several works for Kinetic Light, the disability arts ensemble that Alice founded in 2016 and continues to lead. In Kinetic Light’s first piece, titled “Descent,” Alice and Laurel danced in their wheelchairs on a raked stage with a large ramp — stage design by Laurel — and since then have proved to be increasingly adventurous in exploring their relationship to gravity. In recent pieces, they have boldly moved into the v...
2024-12-1630 min
The Mindful Birding PodcastEpisode 21: Gratitude for Birds IImindfulbirdingnetwork@gmail.com In this episode, we honor gratitude for wild birds, by playing voices of gratitude from around the world, which some of our listeners and network members have offered. We thank all that have contributed and those of you who listen! You will hear the voices of:Arax, United KingdomDon Boyd, New MexicoPamela Lowell, MassachusettsPam Kolber-Zicca, New YorkMary, ColoradoHolly Thomas, New MexicoDave Edson, MassachusettsJo, CaliforniaLaurel, Michigan Hol...
2024-11-2346 min
Financing Ambition℠ – A Personal Finance Podcast from Laurel Road$1.2 Million Forgiven: How Two Doctors Found Student Loan FreedomCollectively, Drs. Tiffany Tavernier and David Thomas had an astonishing $1.2 million in student loan debt forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. While the two physicians have different medical backgrounds – Dr. Tavernier in radiology and Dr. Thomas in immunology – their individual student loan debt journeys share an common ground: Neither one had to make a single payment on their student loans prior to forgiveness. Learn about the unique set of circumstances and timing that made it possible in this episode, hosted by Eric Sutton, Laurel Road’s Head of Design & Content.
2024-10-1544 min
2024-10-0630 min
Paranormal LensThe History of Laurel Hill CemeteryJoin host Chad Thomas for a deep dive into the haunting history of Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Explore the captivating stories, ghostly legends, and architectural wonders of this historic cemetery. Chad takes you through the fascinating past of Laurel Hill.
2024-08-141h 07
Writing MomentumThe Life of a Character with Laurel ThomasIn this episode of the Writing Momentum Podcast, award-winning author Laurel Thomas joins the hosts to discuss the internal and hidden lives of characters in fiction writing. With insights from her experience as a writer and instructor, Laurel emphasizes the importance of understanding characters' goals, motivations, and hidden fears. The conversation delves into how these elements can be effectively incorporated to make characters more relatable and engaging. Drawing examples from 'The Hunger Games' and other notable works, Laurel provides valuable tips for writers looking to craft deeper and more nuanced characters. Additionally, the hosts highlight the benefits of joining...
2024-07-3117 min
KAANP (Knox Area Artist Networking Platform)Ep. 83 Laurel H. SmithLaurel Smith is one of those all around creative types. She paints, she writes, she follows her curiosity. I love that, so you all know I had to pick her brain just a little. We take a conversational romp through where she's been, where she's at, and where she would like to be. You all cind find her work on her website at https://www.laurelhookersmith.com or her instagram laurel.h.smith
Big thanks to my sponsor, their info is below.
Listeners get 10% off on Relaxed Tax by Sagan Financial Group, a local Chattanooga company serving all 50 states. Use...
2024-07-291h 10
Writing MomentumWhat is a Writers' Fiction Roundtable with Laurel ThomasIn this episode, Chris and Gena welcome award-winning author Laurel Thomas to discuss the concept of Writer's Fiction Roundtables. Laurel shares her journey from nonfiction to fiction writing, highlights from her novels, and her approach to developing compelling characters and themes. They delve into the structure and purpose of her roundtables, emphasizing their inclusivity and the benefits for both new and experienced writers. The episode also details how these roundtables fit into the Writing Momentum membership program, which supports writers with live events, recorded videos, and discussions. 00:00 Introduction to the Writer's Fiction Roundtable 00:38 Laurel Thomas: From Nonfiction to...
2024-07-2424 min
2024-07-2133 min
2024-06-0928 min
2024-06-0525 min
Maurer & Cik - by Kleine ZeitungLaurel & Hardy oder Lena & OlgaKabarettist Thomas Maurer und Thomas Cik aus der Chefredaktion der Kleinen Zeitung besprechen in dieser Episode folgende Themen:Briefmarken riechen nun nach Baguette! Zumindest in Frankreich.In Österreich schmeckt es weiterhin nach Kalbsschnitzel - und das mit einer neuen Vermarktungsstrategie.Stefan Verra blickt auf die Körpersprache von Lena Schilling.Die Dunkelkammer-Episode mit Veronika Bohrn-Mena.Olga Voglauer war auch bereits in einem Podcast der Kleinen Zeitung zu Gast. Hier können Sie ihn nachhören."Der Ring of Fire" beschäftigt immer noch die Sportwelt! Für jene, denen die Orientierung fehlt: Es geht dabei um einen Boxkampf. Gleich...
2024-05-2426 min
Personal Finance for Lawyers199 | Fashion, Fun, and Consumer Debt Freedom with LaurelLaurel is a fashion-loving lawyer who had been struggling with credit card debt for years. She wanted to pay it off but didn't want to completely deprive herself of the things she loves. In just 6 months, she paid off all her credit cards and increased her net worth by 5 figures. Plus, she was still able to shop and have fun with her friends. In this episode, listen in as Laurel and I chat about our work together, what she's accomplished, and how she's feeling about her finances now. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/199 for the full episode show...
2024-04-1226 min
Alchemy of InnovationDharma and Artificial Intelligence with Luddites and dark night of the soul and poetry by David WhyteSo I've been thinking about how artificial intelligence will free us to pursue our dharma that is not our job or career, nor our family and village but a unique soul purpose.
We look at pivotal milestones in human evolution: agrarian economy, the wheel, the Gutenberg press. Many inventions presaged dark times for humanity - we fought the change (Roman Inquisition vs astrophysics, luddites destroying weaving looms in the industrial revolution, vandalising Thomas Edison factories. From there we enter the dark night of the soul, displaced humans trying to upskill and reskill to find meaning in existence...
2024-04-0436 min
Embrace Audiobooks Essentials — Soothing Package.Laurel Thomas interprets When Stars Brush Earth (Audiobook)Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/241097 to listen full audiobooks.
Title: When Stars Brush Earth
Author: Laurel Thomas
Narrator: Laura Horowitz
Format: mp3
Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 03-14-24
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars, 2 ratings
Genres: Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Seventeen-year old Maura O’Donnell’s strange eyes and love of the stars make her an outcast in her small village. When a toddler dies in her care, Maura flees the child’s father to a mysterious city known for its refuge. Appearances lie and she’s caught in a snare la...
2024-03-149h 22Stories That Change UsEpisode 5: A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensCharles Dicken's, A Christmas Carol, has resonated across the ages as a holiday favorite! Today, let's breakdown the iconic moments, characters, and themes to reveal where Dicken's excelled at the craft of storytelling that has perpetuated a deep love of this Yuletide tale. Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=eTlibmFxdXZmbXV5&utm_source=qr
2024-02-1441 minStories That Change UsEpisode 4: The Princess Bride by William GoldmanEccentric yet unforgettable characters, hilarious banter that just won't quit, and true love (or twu wuv!) are just a few of the things that make William Goldman's, The Princess Bride, a delightful fare. Join the discussion as we analyze the wit, the warmth, and the way that Goldman enchanted audiences with this odd yet stirring bestseller.Moderated By: Micah Leydorf Question: what is a story that has changed your life?https://instagram.com/storiesthat_changeus?igshid=eTlibmFxdXZmbXV5&utm_source=qr
2024-02-1234 min
Generous Business OwnerPeter Greer: Why Take Your Employees on Vision Trips?Have you ever considered taking your employees on a mission trip? In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, and Peter discuss: The history of HOPE International. Taking employees and family members on mission and vision trips. Being generous in experience not just finances. Getting the most out of your international travel experiences. Key Takeaways: Bringing your team into your mission will bring greater engagement and job satisfaction. With a greater perspective, the stresses and challenges of your life will seem much less important and difficult than before your mission trip. Important work needs to happen befo...
2024-01-0937 min