Sophia Bennett - Podcast Details

Shows

Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco EP 290: Sealing Trust: How Laura Bennett Brings Notary Services to Your FingertipsWhat Makes Laura Bennett with Entheos Notary a Good Neighbor?Ever wondered what happens when corporate expertise meets entrepreneurial spirit in an unexpected industry? Laura Bennett's journey to founding Entheos Notary reveals how discovering purpose in the details can transform both careers and communities.Laura shares how she pivoted from an 18-year corporate career to build a mobile and remote online notary service designed around convenience and compassion. She breaks down the fascinating technology behind remote online notarization—a process allowing clients anywhere in the world to securely notarize documents through video technology, id...

2025-07-2212 min

Conversations with Rich Bennett How Sophia Torrini Rewired Her Mind and Body for HealthSponsored by Daniel McGhee and The Victory Team In this transformative episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Sophia Torrini shares how she turned a life-threatening medical crisis into a journey of profound healing. After surviving a misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery that left her near death, Sophia discovered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and neuroscience-based healing. Her compelling story of resilience, scientific insight, and spiritual awakening will inspire anyone seeking hope and healing beyond conventional medicine. Guest: Sophia Torrini Sophia Torrini is a certified Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Pra...

2025-05-281h 04

Conversations with Rich Bennett Carolyn Sophia on Why You’re Stronger Than You ThinkSponsored by Daniel McGhee and The Victory Team Mental health advocate, author, and speaker Carolyn Sophia Skowron joins Rich Bennett to share her raw and powerful journey from childhood bullying and a life-changing diagnosis to surviving a traumatic car accident and becoming a voice for hope and healing. In this deeply moving conversation, Carolyn opens up about her book Unbreakable, her coping techniques, and how she’s using her voice—literally and figuratively—to save lives and spread awareness. Guest: Carolyn Sophia Skowron

2025-04-301h 00

Oscar Wild Oscar Contenders I: Original Song, Original Score, Sound (feat. Bennett Prosser)With the final countdown to the Oscars underway, it’s time once again for the most thorough series on this year’s nominees! Sophia and Nick begin with the sonic categories to not only hear from their expert song guest, Bennett Prosser, but to also understand how epic studio films and music heavy movies all function to transport audiences alongside stunning visuals. Listen to hear their category breakdowns including production facts, write-in votes, and what they think should win for Original Song, Original Score (34:36), and Sound (1:05:40).Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpod

2025-01-311h 41

Trailblazer Talk Mastering Agentforce: Transform Your Business with Salesforce AI AgentsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive into "Mastering Agentforce: Transform Your Business with Salesforce AI Agents," inspired by the latest Salesforce Trail. Discover how Agentforce can revolutionize your business operations by leveraging AI and autonomous agents to boost productivity and streamline workflows. Key Topics Covered: Understanding AI and Agents:Explore how artificial intelligence and autonomous agents can transform various roles within your organization, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual tasks.Boosting Productivity with Agentforce:Learn how...

2024-12-0623 min

Trailblazer Talk When to Convert a Lead to an Opportunity in SalesforceWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore "When to Convert a Lead to an Opportunity in Salesforce," inspired by Stacy O’Leary’s insightful article. Discover the critical factors that determine the right time to convert a lead, avoiding common pitfalls like premature or delayed conversions that can impact sales metrics and team efficiency. Key Topics Covered: Conversion Criteria: Learn how to establish and define conversion criteria tailored to your business needs, ensuring leads are qual...

2024-11-0413 min

Trailblazer Talk Are AI Agents a Threat to Technical Salesforce Roles?Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into "Are AI Agents a Threat to Technical Salesforce Roles?", inspired by Thomas Morgan’s thought-provoking article. Explore the rise of Salesforce’s Agentforce and its potential impact on the job market within the Salesforce ecosystem. Learn how autonomous AI agents are revolutionizing tasks across service, sales, marketing, and commerce, and discuss the concerns surrounding job displacement for roles like junior developers and standard admins. Key Topics Covered:

2024-11-0410 min

Trailblazer Talk The Salesforce Reporting Dilemma: Why Excel Still Matters in 2024Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett tackle "The Salesforce Reporting Dilemma: Why Excel Still Matters in 2024," inspired by Julian Alvarado’s insightful article. Explore the challenges businesses face with Salesforce’s native reporting tools and why many still rely on Excel for advanced data analysis. Discover the limitations of Salesforce’s report builders, such as restricted data blending and limited visualization options, and how these hurdles drive professionals to seek alternative solutions. Key Topics Covered: Salesforce Reporting Challenges: Unders...

2024-11-0416 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce Implementation Strategies: Greenfield vs. Brownfield ExplainedWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this insightful episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore the critical decision-making process behind Greenfield vs. Brownfield Implementations in Salesforce, inspired by Robert Gelo’s comprehensive analysis. Whether you’re embarking on a new Salesforce journey or enhancing an existing setup, understanding the distinctions between these two implementation strategies is essential for success. Whether you’re a Salesforce Admin, Developer, Consultant, or Business Leader, making the right choice between Greenfield and Brownfield implementations can significantly impact your Salesforce project’s success. Ethan...

2024-11-0121 min

Trailblazer Talk Harnessing AI: A Deep Dive into Salesforce Einstein Conversation MiningWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this insightful episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore Salesforce Einstein Conversation Mining, inspired by Mariel Domingo’s comprehensive guide. Discover how Einstein Conversation Mining (ECM) leverages advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to transform customer interactions into valuable business insights. Learn how ECM analyzes chats, emails, and calls to identify common themes, track customer sentiment, and uncover trends that drive strategic decision-making. Whether you’re a Salesforce Admin, Developer, or part of a customer service team, this episode provides a deep dive...

2024-10-3015 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce’s Autonomous Agents: Introducing AgentforceWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this groundbreaking episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into Agentforce: The Next Evolution in Salesforce’s AI Story, inspired by Ben McCarthy’s insightful analysis. Discover how Salesforce is revolutionizing the AI landscape with its new platform, Agentforce, unveiled during the Q2 ‘25 earnings call. Learn about the transition from predictive and generative AI to autonomous agents, and how Salesforce’s Sales and Service Agents are set to transform customer interactions by operating 24/7 with enhanced capabilities. Key Topics Covered: Salesforce’s Q2 ‘25 E...

2024-10-3014 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlocking Winter ’25: Top 10 Salesforce Features for DevelopersWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive into the Salesforce Winter ’25 Release, inspired by Andrew Cook’s detailed overview. Discover the 10 essential features introduced in Winter ’25 that are specifically designed to empower developers within the Salesforce ecosystem. From enhanced documentation sites and Metadata API updates to groundbreaking innovations like TypeScript support for Lightning Web Components and free-tier Event Monitoring, this episode covers everything you need to prepare for your instance’s upgrade and maximize your development workflow. Key Topics Covered:

2024-10-3030 min

Trailblazer Talk From Applicant to Trailblazer: Landing a Salesforce JobWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore the intriguing question: "How Hard Is It to Get a Job at Salesforce?" Inspired by Ben McCarthy’s comprehensive article, the hosts delve into what makes Salesforce one of the most coveted employers in the tech industry. Discover the myriad reasons why professionals aspire to join Salesforce, from its stellar company culture and commitment to equality to its impressive growth and industry accolades. Key Topics Covered: Why Salesforce Stands Out:Understand th...

2024-10-3014 min

Trailblazer Talk Mastering Salesforce List Views: Tips for a Clean and Efficient OrgWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into Salesforce List Views and uncover the 7 Best Practices you should implement right away, inspired by Stacy O’Leary’s insightful article. Learn how to effectively manage and optimize your List Views to enhance productivity, maintain data integrity, and ensure a seamless user experience across your Salesforce org. Key Topics Covered: Permission Management: Understand the critical permissions like “Manage Public List Views” and “Create and Customize List Views” to prevent unin...

2024-10-3022 min

Trailblazer Talk AI Mania or Dot-Com Repeats? Decoding the 2024 AI SurgeWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this thought-provoking episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the pressing question: "Are We in a Dot-Com Style AI Bubble?" Inspired by Ben McCarthy’s incisive analysis, the hosts explore the rapid surge of artificial intelligence since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022 and assess whether the current AI frenzy mirrors the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. Whether you’re a Salesforce professional, an investor, or simply fascinated by the evolution of AI, this episode provides valuable insights into the sustainability of the...

2024-10-3010 min

Trailblazer Talk Become a Salesforce Marketing Champion: Your 2024 GuideWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive into the Salesforce Marketing Champions Program, inspired by the latest insights from the Salesforce Marketing Champions team. Discover how this prestigious program recognizes and highlights the top contributors within the Trailblazer community who excel in Salesforce’s marketing products like Marketing Cloud, Pardot, and Datorama. Learn what it takes to become a Marketing Champion, including the essential qualities, responsibilities, and the numerous perks that come with the title, such as exclusive networking opportunities, advanced training, and visibility through Sa...

2024-10-3017 min

Trailblazer Talk Revolutionize Customer Support with Salesforce Case SwarmingWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore the innovative approach of Case Swarming in Salesforce Service Cloud, inspired by Mariel Domingo’s comprehensive guide. Discover how swarming revolutionizes customer support by fostering collaboration and teamwork, bypassing the traditional tiered support model. Learn how swarming leads to faster resolution times, increased efficiency, improved collaboration, and enhanced knowledge sharing within your support teams. Additionally, the episode delves into the practical steps of implementing swarming in Salesforce, including setting up permissions, initiating swarms, and leveraging tools li...

2024-10-3018 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce M&A 2024: Trends Shaping the EcosystemWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the Salesforce M&A Trends and Insights for 2024, inspired by Ben McCarthy’s comprehensive analysis. Explore how the dynamic Salesforce ecosystem continues to attract entrepreneurial ventures and significant investment, driving mergers and acquisitions that shape the landscape. Learn about the different investment cycles—early-stage, growth-stage, mature-stage, and exit-stage—and how Salesforce’s robust growth from a $4B revenue company in 2014 to over $35B in 2024 has fueled major transactions like the Apttus/Conga merger and the Certinia acquisition. Ad...

2024-10-3012 min

Trailblazer Talk Code vs. Clicks: Choosing Between Apex and Flow in SalesforceWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett engage in a friendly showdown between Apex and Flow, inspired by Tim Combridge’s insightful article. Dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Salesforce’s two powerhouse tools—Apex, the code-based solution, and Flow, the declarative tool. Explore real-world challenges and discover which tool is best suited for various scenarios, from integrating external systems to handling complex data processing and large-scale batch operations. Additionally, the episode highlights best practices for leveraging both Apex and Flow to max...

2024-10-3020 min

Trailblazer Talk Transform Your Business with Salesforce Document AutomationWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive into Document Automation in Salesforce, inspired by Chris Mascaro’s insightful article. Discover how automating document creation can significantly boost productivity across all departments, from sales and marketing to HR and legal. Learn the four strategic ways to implement document automation effectively: identifying automation opportunities, starting with high-value tasks, selecting the right solutions like Nintex DocGen, and focusing on enhancing both employee and customer experiences. Additionally, the episode explores real-world examples of how document automation can sa...

2024-10-3012 min

Trailblazer Talk Data Integrity in Salesforce: Mastering Duplicate ManagementWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into Salesforce Duplicate Management in the Age of Data Cloud, inspired by Mehmet Orun’s insightful guide. Discover how Salesforce’s new Intelligence View and Data Cloud features revolutionize duplicate management by providing smarter, more efficient ways to identify and handle duplicate records. Learn the essentials of setting up effective match rules, leveraging data profiling, and utilizing dynamic dependency injection to maintain data integrity without losing valuable context. Additionally, the episode explores best practices for merging reco...

2024-10-3009 min

Trailblazer Talk From Setup to Success: Implementing Salesforce EffectivelyWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett walk you through Your Ultimate Guide to a Successful Salesforce Implementation, inspired by Andrew Lukasiewicz’s comprehensive article. Discover the essential steps for implementing Salesforce effectively, from defining stakeholders and setting high-level goals to prioritizing requirements and choosing the right implementation strategy. Learn why partnering with a certified Salesforce consultancy like EMPAUA can streamline the process, reduce technical debt, and ensure a scalable solution tailored to your business needs. Additionally, we delve into the differences between waterfall an...

2024-10-3013 min

Trailblazer Talk Maximize Efficiency with Salesforce Intelligence ViewWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore Salesforce Intelligence View, a new Winter ‘25 feature designed to enhance productivity for Salesforce users. Inspired by Christine Marshall’s insightful article, we dive into how Intelligence View simplifies account management by providing real-time activity metrics directly on Lead, Contact, and Account tabs. Discover how this feature reduces the need for navigating multiple records, allowing users to take immediate actions such as logging calls or sending emails right from the Object tab. We also discuss the key comp...

2024-10-3012 min

Trailblazer Talk Elevate Your Sales Strategy with Salesforce Account PlansWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the newly announced Account Plans feature set to launch with the Winter ‘25 Salesforce release. Inspired by Andreea Doroftei’s comprehensive article, we explore how this out-of-the-box solution empowers sales teams to build, track, and analyze their account planning processes seamlessly within Salesforce. Discover the key components of the Account Plans page, including opportunity-related dashboards, SWOT analysis tools, and the Buyer Relationship Map, all designed to enhance strategic planning and improve deal progression. Ad...

2024-10-3016 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlock Salesforce Potential: The Power of Object-Oriented ProgrammingWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the critical importance of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) for Salesforce Developers, inspired by Luke Freeland’s insightful article. Discover how mastering OOP in Apex enables developers to create more efficient, reusable solutions and unlocks advanced capabilities beyond imperative programming. We explore key concepts such as Dynamic Dependency Injection and the Template Pattern, illustrating how these techniques enhance customization and maintainability in Salesforce implementations. Additionally, the episode highlights practical examples and best practices for applying OOP principles wi...

2024-10-3013 min

Trailblazer Talk Transform Your Sales Strategy with Digital Sales RoomsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore the transformative power of Digital Sales Rooms inspired by Alyssa Lefebvre’s insightful article. Discover how Digital Sales Rooms create a secure, collaborative environment for sales teams and customers, enhancing deal progression through real-time collaboration, document tracking, and dynamic pricing integrations. Learn about key features like Mutual Action Plans, automated workflows, and AI-powered analytics that streamline the sales process and boost productivity. Additionally, we dive into how tools like GetAccept integrate seamlessly with Salesforce to manage sa...

2024-10-3016 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlocking Developer Success: Lessons from Salesforce's 2024 SurveyWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the 8 important lessons revealed by the Salesforce Ben Developer Survey. Inspired by Ben McCarthy’s comprehensive analysis, we explore critical topics such as developers' skill satisfaction, the challenges of Salesforce implementations, the readiness of the ecosystem for AI, and the rising importance of DevOps. Learn why many developers feel under-skilled, how technical debt complicates projects, and the significant shift towards AI tools like ChatGPT enhancing productivity. Additionally, we discuss the decline of Salesforce co...

2024-10-3013 min

Trailblazer Talk Visual Victory: Crafting Powerful Salesforce DashboardsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett walk you through Creating Dashboards in Salesforce with the latest updates for 2024. Inspired by Andreea Doroftei’s detailed guide, we explore the fundamentals of Salesforce Dashboards, including their key components like Chart/Table widgets, Rich Text, and Images. Learn how to effectively visualize your data by selecting the right widget types and configuring them to highlight important metrics such as sales performance and opportunity stages. We also provide a step-by-step approach to building your first dashboard, from en...

2024-10-3012 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlocking Einstein Conversation Insights: Transform Your Salesforce InteractionsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive into Einstein Conversation Insights (ECI), a cutting-edge feature from Salesforce designed to revolutionize how your sales and service teams interact with customers. Inspired by Andreea Doroftei’s comprehensive guide, we explore how ECI leverages AI and machine learning to provide real-time insights, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity within your Salesforce org. Whether you’re a Salesforce Admin, Sales Manager, or part of a service team, this episode provides valuable insights into how Einstein Conversation Insights c...

2024-10-3018 min

Trailblazer Talk 7 Salesforce GPT Capabilities Unveiled: Transforming Sales and Service in 2024Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore the latest advancements in Salesforce’s AI offerings, specifically the 7 GPT capabilities designed to revolutionize Sales and Service in 2024. Inspired by Lucy Mazalon’s insightful article, we delve into how Salesforce AI Cloud, powered by Einstein GPT, is ushering in the “summer of AI” with powerful, generative CRM tools that enhance productivity and customer experiences. Whether you’re a Salesforce professional eager to harness the power of AI or a business leader looking to optimize your sales and...

2024-10-3014 min

Trailblazer Talk Maximize Your Productivity with the SF Explorer Chrome ExtensionWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett introduce you to SF Explorer, a powerful Chrome extension and standalone web application designed to boost productivity for Salesforce Admins and Developers. Inspired by Andreea Doroftei’s insightful guide, we explore how SF Explorer can streamline your workflow, enhance data management, and optimize your Salesforce experience. Whether you’re looking to streamline your Salesforce tasks, enhance data management, or improve your security practices, SF Explorer offers the tools you need to succeed. Join us a...

2024-10-3009 min

Trailblazer Talk Overloaded Salesforce Admins: Managing the Growing DemandsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett tackle a pressing question in the Salesforce community: Are Salesforce Admins Overburdened? Inspired by Nick Bryner’s insightful article, we explore the evolving role of Salesforce Admins, the challenges brought by Salesforce’s shift to Flows, and strategies to manage the increasing workload effectively. Whether you’re a seasoned Salesforce Admin feeling the strain or aspiring to enter the field with a clear understanding of its demands, this episode provides valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you na...

2024-10-3011 min

Trailblazer Talk Comparing the Top 6 CPQ Solution Providers of 2024Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett dive deep into the top 6 CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) solution providers of 2024. Inspired by Tarun Bisen’s comprehensive analysis, we break down how these platforms can transform your sales operations, streamline your quoting processes, and drive your business growth. Whether you’re a sales leader, Salesforce Admin, or business decision-maker, this episode equips you with the knowledge to choose the right CPQ solution that meets your unique business needs and drives your sales success. Jo...

2024-10-3045 min

Trailblazer Talk "Can You Add a Field?” 10 Essential Questions for Salesforce AdminsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett delve into the crucial practice of asking the right questions before adding new fields in Salesforce. Inspired by Vanessa Grant’s insightful guide, we explore 10 essential questions every Salesforce Admin should ask to maintain an efficient and clutter-free org. Here’s what we will cover: The Hidden Complexities of Adding Fields:Discover why a simple request to add a field can lead to significant complications if not properly vetted.Top...

2024-10-3013 min

Trailblazer Talk 10 Best Practices for a Rockstar Salesforce Business AnalystJoin us, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett, on Trailblazer Talk as we dive into the dynamic world of the Salesforce Business Analyst. This episode is dedicated to equipping you with the 10 best practices to excel in this crucial role, acting as the bridge between business stakeholders and the technical teams. We discuss the importance of understanding the current Salesforce state, mastering communication with stakeholders, gathering precise requirements, and embracing Agile methodologies. We also explore practical tips on user story writing, testing, training, reporting, and utilizing essential tools like Jira and ADO. Whether you're a seasoned BA or just starting...

2024-10-3019 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlocking Salesforce's Hidden Gem: Opportunity Historical TrendingWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett uncover one of Salesforce’s best-kept secrets: Opportunity Historical Trending. Inspired by Stacy O’Leary’s insightful guide, we explore how this powerful, free feature can transform your sales pipeline analysis without the need for costly add-ons. Here’s what we will cover: What Is Opportunity Historical Trending?Discover how this feature allows you to track and compare changes in your sales pipeline over time, highlighting key metrics like stage and amount variatio...

2024-10-2810 min

Trailblazer Talk Must-Have Free Salesforce Apps to Boost ProductivityWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett showcase 9 free Salesforce apps that can elevate your productivity and enhance your Salesforce org. From Clone This User for effortless user management to Mass Delete for efficient data cleanup, we cover essential tools for both admins and developers. Discover how these apps streamline workflows, improve data management, and make your Salesforce experience more efficient. Listen now to supercharge your Salesforce setup with these must-have free apps! Source: Salesforce Ben

2024-10-2809 min

Trailblazer Talk Streamline Salesforce Data Integration with External IDsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett explore Dynamic Loading of Parent and Child Data in Salesforce using External IDs. Inspired by Bassem Marji’s quick guide, we break down how External IDs can simplify your data integration process and enhance efficiency. Here’s what we will cover: What Are External IDs?Understand the role of External IDs in linking Salesforce records with external systems like ERPs and third-party applications.Streamlining Data Integration:Learn how to a...

2024-10-2514 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce Admins: 6 Tips to Stay Organized and EfficientWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett share 6 essential tips from Jack McCurdy to help Salesforce Admins manage their workload and prevent burnout. Discover how to break down tasks, prioritize effectively, maintain scope, centralize requests, leverage the right tools, and tackle tough tasks first. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed or looking to boost your productivity, these strategies will help keep your Salesforce org running smoothly. Listen now to streamline your admin responsibilities with Trailblazer Talk!

2024-10-2513 min

Trailblazer Talk ep17_Choosing Between List Views and ReportsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—break down the key differences between Salesforce List Views and Reports. Whether you're new to Salesforce or looking to optimize your data management, this episode will help you decide which tool best suits your needs. Here’s what we will cover: Understanding List Views:Learn how List Views allow you to manage and edit records directly, perfect for day-to-day tasks and smaller data sets.Exploring Reports:Discover how Re...

2024-10-2514 min

Trailblazer Talk Agentforce Unveiled: 10 Crucial Questions Before General AvailabilityWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—explore the Lightning Record Picker component in Salesforce. Perfect for both admins and developers, this tool simplifies searching and selecting records, enhancing your Salesforce apps' user experience. Here’s what we will cover: What is Lightning Record Picker?Learn how this component allows quick and easy selection of records from objects like Accounts, Contacts, and Leads.Key Features:Enhanced Retrieval: Fetch up to 100 records for faster...

2024-10-2412 min

Trailblazer Talk 10 Hottest Salesforce Winter ’25 Features Every Admin Needs to KnowWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to dive into the top 10 hottest features introduced in the Salesforce Winter ’25 release. Whether you're a seasoned Salesforce Admin or just getting started, these new tools and enhancements are designed to make your life easier and your Salesforce org more efficient. Here’s what we will cover: Configure Record Highlights in Lightning App Builder: Discover how the Dynamic Highlights Panel can dynamically display up to 12 fields, enhancing the user focus on important data. Learn about customizing the highlights panel for both desktop...

2024-10-1621 min

Trailblazer Talk Revolutionizing Customer Service: Ex-Salesforce CEO’s $4B Voice Agents StartupWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to discuss the latest buzz in the Salesforce ecosystem: Sierra Speaks, a groundbreaking startup launched by former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor. With a target valuation of $4 billion, Sierra Speaks is set to transform customer service through advanced conversational AI voice agents. Here’s what we will cover: Introducing Sierra Speaks: We’ll start by introducing Sierra Speaks, the innovative conversational AI agent designed to handle real-time phone interactions for businesses. Learn how Sierra Speaks aims to eliminate frustrating customer service calls by provi...

2024-10-1613 min

Trailblazer Talk Seamless Data Transfers: Mastering Salesforce Interaction Studio with CSVWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to guide you through the process of transferring data into Salesforce Interaction Studio using CSV files. Whether you're new to Interaction Studio or looking to streamline your data management, this episode is packed with practical steps and expert tips to ensure your data transfers are smooth and secure. Here’s what we will cover: Introduction to Interaction Studio: We’ll start by explaining what Salesforce Interaction Studio (now Marketing Cloud Personalization) is and how it leverages both online and offline customer data to...

2024-10-1619 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce Salary Secrets: Discover the Highest-Paying Roles in 2024Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to explore the top 10 highest-paying Salesforce jobs in 2024. Whether you're considering a career switch or looking to advance within the Salesforce ecosystem, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you maximize your earning potential. Here’s what we will cover: Overview of Salesforce’s Dominance: We’ll start by discussing why Salesforce continues to lead the CRM market with a 24% share and how this dominance creates abundant career opportunities.Top-Paying Roles: From Functional Consultants and Marketing Cloud Consultants to Technical...

2024-10-1236 min

Trailblazer Talk Tracking Changes in Salesforce: Field History vs. Setup Audit TrailWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are diving into a crucial topic for all Salesforce admins: monitoring changes in your Salesforce org. Inspired by Mariel Domingo’s insightful article, we break down the differences between Field History Tracking and the Setup Audit Trail, helping you choose the right tool for your needs. Here’s what we will cover: Understanding Field History Tracking: We’ll explain how Field History Tracking lets you monitor changes to specific fields on individual records. Learn how this tool helps you keep track of important data point...

2024-10-1113 min

Trailblazer Talk Revolutionizing Service Cloud: Top 5 Announcements from Dreamforce ’24Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are thrilled to unpack the top 5 Service Cloud announcements unveiled at Dreamforce ’24. Salesforce continues to push the boundaries of AI integration, and today we'll explore how these new innovations are set to transform customer service and support. Here’s what we will cover: Agentforce Service Agent: We’ll dive into Salesforce’s latest innovation, Agentforce Service Agent, an AI-powered, autonomous agent designed to handle and resolve customer cases across multiple channels 24/7. Learn how these intelligent agents enhance customer interactions by providing personalized and efficient su...

2024-10-1028 min

Trailblazer Talk Lightning Record Picker in Salesforce: Your Ultimate GuideWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are thrilled to dive into the Lightning Record Picker component in Salesforce. Whether you're a seasoned Salesforce developer or an admin looking to enhance your app's user experience, this episode is packed with everything you need to know about this powerful tool. Here’s what we will cover: What is Lightning Record Picker? We’ll start by explaining what the Lightning Record Picker is and how it simplifies the process of searching and selecting records from Salesforce objects like Accounts, Contacts, Leads, and more. Le...

2024-10-0922 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce Flow: Developer vs. Admin – Who Does What?Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are diving into the world of Salesforce Flow, exploring the distinct roles and responsibilities of developers versus admins. Inspired by Andrew Cook’s insightful article, we break down how Flow Builder and Apex coding complement each other and how both roles contribute to optimizing your Salesforce environment. Here’s what we will cover: Understanding Salesforce Flow: We’ll start by explaining what Salesforce Flow is and how it automates tasks like sending emails, creating records, and updating data. Learn how Flow Builder makes automation...

2024-10-0922 min

Trailblazer Talk Salesforce AI Trends 2024: What You Need to Know for CRM SuccessWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are diving into Salesforce’s groundbreaking “Trends in AI for CRM” report. Whether you're a Salesforce professional or simply interested in how AI is transforming customer relationship management, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Here’s what we will cover: Employees Going Rogue with AI: We’ll discuss how many employees are using AI tools without official policies, leading to potential security and ethical issues. Learn why it’s crucial for organizations to establish clear AI guidelines.Massive Expectations from AI: Discover Salesforce’s pro...

2024-10-0922 min

Trailblazer Talk Top 10 Highest Paying Salesforce Jobs in 2024Welcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to dive into the top 10 highest-paying Salesforce jobs in 2024. Whether you're looking to advance your career or explore new opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Here’s what we will cover: Overview of Lucrative Roles: We’ll introduce you to the top-paying Salesforce jobs, from Functional Consultants to DevOps Engineers, and explain what makes each role so valuable.Salary Insights: Learn about the average salaries for intermediate, senior, and director-level positions, and understand what you can expe...

2024-10-0835 min

Trailblazer Talk Master AI with Salesforce: Free Certifications and Premium TrainingWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are excited to share Salesforce's latest offer: free AI certifications and training courses for 2025. Here’s what we will cover: Salesforce’s Big AI Move: We’ll discuss Salesforce’s new Agentforce platform announced at Dreamforce and how it’s boosting their AI efforts.Free Premium Courses: Learn about the free instructor-led courses and virtual workshops starting in November 2024. We’ll explain how you can build your first Agent, use Copilot, and more.AI Certifications: We’ll guide you through the free AI Associate and AI S...

2024-10-0720 min

Trailblazer Talk Enhancing Accessibility in Salesforce Experience CloudWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are diving into the important topic of accessibility in Salesforce Experience Cloud. Inspired by Jennifer Olson's insightful article, we explore how to make your Experience Cloud sites accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. Here’s what we will cover: Understanding Accessibility Needs: We share personal stories about color blindness and discuss why designing for all abilities is essential.Using Built-In Features: Learn how to use Experience Cloud’s declarative tools like adding Alt Text to images and structuring headings to improve accessibility without...

2024-10-0618 min

Trailblazer Talk Unlocking Salesforce Success: Best Practices for Secure IntegrationsWelcome to Trailblazer Talk! In this episode, we—Ethan Parker and Sophia Bennett—are diving into how you can keep your Salesforce integrations secure and running smoothly. Here’s what we will cover: Audit All Active Integrations: We’ll show you how to take a complete inventory of all your integrations, so you know exactly what’s connected and why.Review Permissions: We’ll discuss how to make sure each integration only has access to the data it really needs, keeping your information safe.Validate Integrations: We’ll explain how to check how your integrations are working by loo...

2024-10-0516 min

Oscar Wild The 2024 Oscar Shortlists (ft. Bennett Prosser)We’re another step closer to the 96th Academy Awards! In their annual tradition, Nick and Sophia are joined by Bennett Prosser to decode the recently released Oscar Shortlists and how certain branches may be feeling about a year of outstanding movies. Listen as they share which movies got a huge boost by appearing here and which may be in danger.Follow Bennett on Twitter and Letterboxd @BennettProsserFollow us on Twitter and Instagram @oscarwildpod with more content @ oscarwild.squarespace.comFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The...

2023-12-241h 11

Your Favorite Self "I Like Money!" with Andi Diamond BennettThis week Sophia interviews photographer and real estate investor Andi Diamond Bennett about the relationship most women have with money. Whether hearing "I like money!" makes you feel cringe or do a fist pump in the air, this is a great episode for you. Here's how to connect with Andi: Connect with her photography business at www.andidiamond.com or the Facebook page. She also has a Facebook group with nearly 10,000 women, ADP Diamond Girls The hotel she owns is www.sunburstinn.com or on Instagram at @sunburst_innPurchase y...

2023-10-261h 14

Oscar Wild The 61st New York Film Festival Recap (ft. Bennett Prosser)Follow along as Nick, Sophia, and returning guest Bennett Prosser recap everything they saw at #NYFF61! Bennett initially shares his experience as a first-time festivalgoer and what it's like traveling to New York to see 9 movies in just a few days. Then, they briefly recap the films by sharing reactions and how they think they'll fare during awards season. Note that many of these will feature extended discussions in the coming months during Awards Season Check-In episodes and their Oscar Contenders series after nominations are announced! In the first half, catch the following: May December, Priscilla, Ferrari, All Dirt, Roads...

2023-10-251h 16

Oscar Wild The 2024 Awards Season Fantasy Draft (ft. Bennett Prosser)It's back to basics for Oscar Wild's 4th Awards Season Fantasy Draft with Bennett Prosser returning to compete with Sophia and Nick in anticipation of this upcoming awards season. They craft teams of movies, directors, actors, additional creatives, and some fun wild card picks that will hopefully align with wins with critics, technical guilds, and major award ceremonies. This year, they hope listeners will play along and submit their own teams via the following link: https://forms.gle/CjNJH1DD22qgPAUx6. Stay tuned for festival reactions, award contender highlights, and updates regarding the draft board, always counting down to next...

2023-08-251h 27

Oscar Wild Reactions to The 95th Academy Awards All at Once (ft. Bennett Prosser)Bennett Prosser joins Sophia and Nick for their season finale to discuss everything that went down at the 95th Oscars! From seeing so many gorgeous white and silver looks everywhere on the champagne carpet to half of this year's Best Picture nominees getting blanked all at once and the many heartfelt speeches in between, listen to find out what they thought about this year's telecast. Also, stay tuned for a final tally of the Awards Season Fantasy Draft and a teaser for the Season 4 premiere!Follow Bennett on Twitter and Letterboxd @BennettProsserFollow us on...

2023-03-171h 08

Oscar Wild The 2023 Oscar Shortlists (ft. Bennett Prosser)The shortlists for 10 of the 24 categories recognized at the Oscars have arrived and Nick and Sophia are here to break them down with returning guest, Bennett Prosser! They answer listener questions, explain how the shortlists work and who selects the 10-15 films, and share why the bake-off is one of the most exciting insider events that determines some of the final nominees. After a brief chat on the short film categories, they begin by dissecting Documentary Feature, International Feature, and Makeup and Hairstyling. Then, onto Original Score, Original Song, Sound, and Visual Effects (30:23). Stay tuned for a...

2022-12-231h 12

Live Without a Net Live Without A Net Episode 21: Sophia BennettThis week on Live Without A Net, host Jennifer Sherlock spoke with author and breast cancer survivor, Sophia Bennett. Throughout her battle with breast cancer, she picked up on many small and not-so-small lessons that she wished she had known prior to her 40s. During this episode, Sophia shares what it is like to deal with such a complicated disease at such a young age and how she overcame it by doing her own research, accepting her diagnosis, and being open to support which is not always so easy. With a disease that can seem so unpredictable, Bennett discusses how s...

2022-08-1954 min

Live Without a Net Live Without A Net Episode 21: Sophia Bennett This week on Live Without A Net, host Jennifer Sherlock spoke with author and breast cancer survivor, Sophia Bennett. Throughout her battle with breast cancer, she picked up on many small and not-so-small lessons that she wished she had known prior to her 40s. During this episode, Sophia shares what it is like to deal with such a complicated disease at such a young age and how she overcame it by doing her own research, accepting her diagnosis, and being open to support which is not always so easy. With a disease that can seem so unpredictable, Bennett discusses how s...

2022-08-1954 min

Oscar Wild Awards Season Check-In: Golden Globes, BAFTA Longlists, and SAG Nominations (ft. Bennett Prosser)It has been another busy week full of awards season updates that could very well influence the Oscar nominations being announced in only 25 days. Did the subdued Golden Globes Twitter release capture enough widespread attention? What were some searing snubs and exciting surprises from the BAFTA long lists? (19:27) Which actors and ensemble will prevail among the Screen Actors Guild nominations? (27:23) Follow Bennett Prosser @bennettprosserFollow us on Twitter and Instagram @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

2022-01-1453 min

Oscar Wild The Oscars Shortlists and An Awards Season Update (ft. Bennett Prosser)Nick and Sophia welcome back Bennett Prosser for an update on the state of this awards season with multiple recent exciting announcements. First, they debate how or if The G*lden Gl*bes and Critics Choice nominations may influence or track how other voting bodies feel about movies this year. Then, listen as they break down the recently announced Oscars shortlists, including all of the surprises, snubs, and insight it may give to predicting other categories (21:03).Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “Th...

2021-12-231h 02

Prepublished #26 Talking about writing and marketing with Phil EarlePhil was born in Hull, where he grew up wanting to play football for Hull City. His first job was as a care worker in a children’s home. Nowadays, when he’s not writing, he works as head of sales and marketing for the independent book publisher, David Fickling Books, who publish Philip Pullman. We talk about getting into reading through comics and graphic novels, agree on a book that’s a masterclass in structure and characterisation – a checklist of excellence, Phil calls it – and the joy of the rollercoaster of writing a story for the firs...

2021-06-1142 min

Prepublished #25 Talking about acting and a sense of place with Carol DrinkwaterHow many of us dream of meeting a glamorous Frenchman, finding a tumbledown house by the sea and restoring it together, whiling away our afternoons in the sparkling pool between writing sessions and heavy manual labour on crumbling walls? Well, anyway, I do. The first of Carol's Olive Farm book makes it clear that money was very tight, and while I was reading it I wanted to know how she felt when she took the risk of writing it. After all, she couldn’t be sure it would earn the money she so desperately needed. I ha...

2021-06-0439 min

Prepublished #24 Talking about writing and teaching with Julia GreenAs we’ll hear, Julia's writing and teaching careers developed side by side. I wanted to talk to her because over 60 students on her courses at Bath Spa have gone on to be published writers, some, like Elen Caldecott and Sally Nicholls, with stellar careers.We talk about Julia’s path to teaching, and how it feeds her writing, the importance of staying grounded and keeping the day job, getting a PhD after a career and bringing up children, and the effect of lockdown on writing. We also discuss the process and the benefits of something like an M...

2021-05-2849 min

Prepublished Season 3 introAfter two dozen episodes of Prepublished, who's next? Sophia introduces some of her guests in the upcoming weeks and the topics they talk about, including creative writing courses. Are they worth it? What can they teach?

2021-05-2803 min

Oscar Wild Reactions to the 2021 Oscars Ceremony (ft. Bennett Prosser)Sophia and Nick are back for their FINAL episode of the season with guest star Bennett Prosser to run through everything that happened during this year’s Oscars and share all of their reactions. Beginning with an overview of the ceremony, the pre-show, and how they thought about the show’s layout (1:49), they then discuss all of The Good (13:16), The Strange (26:39), and The Bad (32:40) moments that proceeded. How did they feel about that sped up, yet abrupt ending?Afterwards, they sum up this elongated awards season and how this journey has affected their Oscars mindset (53:30). Remember that Awar...

2021-04-281h 08

Prepublished #23 Talking about The Windsor Knot with Caroline Green and Sophia BennettThis episode is about changing direction as a writer, and writing a high concept novel. Writing as Cass Green, Caroline Green is the author of bestselling crime novels such as In a Cottage in a Wood, The Woman Next Door and The Killer Inside. Like me, she was a YA writer first. She teaches a crime writing course at City Uni and she was the first person I interviewed for Season One of this podcast, where she talked about the art of plotting. She was also the first person I spoke to, outside the family, wh...

2021-01-2851 min

Prepublished #22 Talking about under-represented voices with Abiola Bello and Attiya KhanThis is an episode I’ve wanted to record for a long time. Publishers are making changes, which have speeded up since the Black Lives Matter campaign, but I still don’t see the rich variety of experiences of race, gender and class that emerge every year from my writing groups reflected on the shelves of bookshops and libraries. As Attiya Khan says in our conversation, she didn’t want to write another terrorist Muslim woman. The reading public are missing out on so many stories. I want to know what it takes to speed things up. Att...

2021-01-2352 min

Prepublished #21 Talking about understanding the market with Holly TonksHolly wants both aspiring editors and new writers to understand the process as clearly as possible. I love it when she says ‘writing is not something you can either do or not do’. It doesn’t come instantly to most people, but it’s something you can work at, like any other career. And as she adds, ‘you will find your place.’ We talk about writing with an awareness of the market, the picture book process, and what exactly it is an editor does, beyond commissioning books and working on track changes. It’s more than you might i...

2021-01-1454 min

Prepublished #20 Talking about rethinking your story with Sheena WilkinsonSheena is a teacher as well as a writer of feminist, historical YA fiction. She and I did a training course together with the Royal Literary Fund, to teach academic writing skills – and I saw in practice what a talented and encouraging teacher she is. A tutor at the Arvon Foundation, she’s someone whose calm confidence and experience can make any nervous new writer start to feel as if they can indeed conquer the mountain, whether it’s a book, a short story or an academic essay. She’s obviously disciplined in the way she researches, plans and writes...

2021-01-071h 03

Prepublished #19 Talking about poetry in lockdown with Fraser GraceIt’s a difficult time for anyone in the performing arts, as we all know. But talking to Fraser, I found it inspiring to hear how the spirit of creation survives somehow, whatever life throws at it. And also, how thinking about performance can inform our writing, whatever kind of writing that is. Fraser has some really good tips for keeping your writing going, I think. And I love his understanding of how writing is a part of who we are and that we need to express that and find the time to do it.https://wordcageonline.wo...

2020-12-3156 min

Prepublished #18 Talking about writing for radio with Sarah WooleyWhat I’ve always admired about Sarah is her professionalism. She writes to commission, and always has several projects on the go. I love getting to listen to the results on the radio, and I’m really looking forward to her next play, Rodgers and Hart and Hammerstein, set on Broadway, which will be broadcast on Radio 3 on the 27th of December. Do catch it if you can. There is a link to it in the show notes. I’m fascinated by the whole writing process, from which plawrights inspire her and why, to how she gets...

2020-12-2451 min

Prepublished #17 Talking about writing crime with Ruth WareRuth has been called a modern Agatha Christie for her ingenious plotting. She is also one of the friendliest writers I know and is the first person I turn to if I have a question about how something works in the world of publishing. I was delighted when she agreed to be on Prepublished this season, and talk about her influences and her writing process. We discuss developing new plot ideas, creating authentic characters, why being a reader is so important, fitting writing in around daily life, and different types of writer's block. It’s an honest, fascinating and re...

2020-12-1747 min

Chiltern Voice Book Club Sophia Bennett (12th December 2020 )Sophia Bennett talks perseverance, reinvention and the rewards of self-compassion as we untie the wonder of The Windsor Knot, in which Queen Elizabeth II turns Golden Age detective.Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm Kylie - Santa Baby Ian Dury - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick Madeleine Peyroux - Dance Me To The End of Love Pet Shop Boys, West End Girls David Bowie - Fashion Siouxie and the Banshees - Dear Prudence The Beatles, In My Life Maria Muldaur - Midnight at the Oasis...

2020-12-141h 06

Prepublished #16 Talking about writing for different age groups with Adele GerasDespite being a prolific novelist across almost all the age ranges, Adele didn’t want to be a writer when she was growing up – she wanted to be a star. She performed in the West End in the 1960s, and I can’t think of anything cooler. Writing runs in the family. Her daughter, Sophie Hannah, writes thrillers and runs her own life coaching service for writers. What an excellent idea. https://adelegerasbooks.comhttps://nga.gov.au/rajahquilt/https://dreamauthorcoaching.com

2020-12-1037 min

Prepublished #15 Talking about self editing with Emma DarwinEmma was an associate lecturer at the Open University and has a PhD in creative writing. She runs popular courses and workshops, including ‘Self-editing your novel’, with Debi Alper. I had an orderly list of questions to ask her, but as soon as we started talking about writing, we ended up going wherever the subject took us, from free writing to beta readers, psychic distance, showing and telling, and why rewriting is what it’s all about. https://www.emmadarwin.comhttps://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/https://members.jerichowriters.com/bazaar/self-editing-novel-online-course/

2020-12-031h 09

Prepublished #14 Talking about getting the first deal with James NicolIn season one of Prepublished, I talked mostly to writers, agents and editors in the world of children’s fiction, as that’s where I spent the first ten years of my published life. Season two will spread its wings a bit and include conversations with writers across all age groups, including poets and playwrights, debut authors and bestsellers. As before, we’ll also take a look behind the scenes at the world of publishing. But I start where I left off, with children’s writing. James Nicol is the author of a fantasy children’s series, published b...

2020-11-261h 04

Prepublished A Safe Space to Fail - talking about writing groups with the MastermindsThe ‘Masterminds’ name was actually suggested years ago by Christopher, who produces Prepublished. It’s a term commonly used for groups that get together to learn and share knowledge on a specialist subject. In this case: writing YA fiction. The group meets once a week or once a fortnight (online during lockdown) to workshop a couple of pieces and to be each other’s encouragement, writing conscience and inspiration. As you’ll hear, this was more necessary than ever at the time we spoke.Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links: City L...

2020-04-2053 min

Prepublished Where Do You Belong? Talking about writing to be seen, with Catherine JohnsonCatherine Johnson is a multi-award-winning writer of twenty novels. She’s best known for her history writing for young adults, but has also written contemporary novels and screenplays, and taught creative writing in schools, universities, art galleries and prisons. She has great personal style and we could have spent the time talking fashion, art and growing up in London – but we were mostly disciplined, and talked books. Her work is brave and feminist, addressing the history of slavery, but also throwing much-needed light on black people in history who were adventurers, medics and aristocrats. Thanks as always to Ch...

2020-04-0843 min

Prepublished It Takes a Lot of Knocks - talking about first novels with Jasbinder BilanJasbinder Bilan is a debut children’s author and winner of the Times/Chicken House competition and the Costa Children’s Book Award. After a career in teaching she did an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, and her first novel was started on that course. She shares her writing journey, why family are so important to her, and how one of the tips she picked up on her course helped her to build the story Asha and the Spirit Bird. Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links:

2020-03-0940 min

Prepublished Funny and Dark - talking about being an agent with Stephanie ThwaitesStephanie Thwaites joined Curtis Brown sixteen years ago. She represents authors including Francesca Simon and Tom Fletcher.Sophia went to the agency’s expansive offices in Central London to talk to her about what she’s looking for from prepublished writers (you don’t need to worry about the synopsis!) and what an agent does once you sign up.In addition to living authors, Stephanie represents the estates of AA Milne and John Steinbeck. (Yes, she really does represent Tom Fletcher and John Steinbeck. The life of an agent...)Thanks as always to Christ...

2020-03-0234 min

Prepublished The Bridget Jones Method - talking about writing YA fiction with Keren DavidKeren David’s first YA thriller, 'When I Was Joe', was published in 2010. It started as an exercise in a creative writing course she did at City University. At one stage it had the distinction of being the most stolen book from libraries in young offender institutions. Since then she’s published a further 10 novels, and taught that course at City University. Keren is currently a features editor at the Jewish Chronicle. Her latest YA novel, 'What We’re Scared Of', will be out in 2021. Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links: ...

2020-02-2458 min

Prepublished Writing the Book Teaches You How to Write It - talking about voice with Sara CollinsSara has an exceptional talent for describing the craft of writing, so when the first attempt at recording the podcast didn’t work Sophia was determined to try again. This time it went better. Sara Collins was a lawyer for seventeen years before she embarked on a Creative Writing Masters at Cambridge University. While there, she won the 2015 Michael Holroyd Prize of Re-creative Writing and was shortlisted for the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Prize. So it is perhaps not surprising that the book she began writing then ended up winning the 2019 Costa First Novel Award. She is now working on the sc...

2020-02-1430 min

Prepublished The Role of Luck - talking about writing for boys with Robert MuchamoreRobert happened to be writing his first children’s book at a time when Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series was about to make child spies the next big thing. He didn’t know this at the time, but he describes how useful Alex Rider was in getting his story noticed. He then went on to sell 13 million books – and counting – of the Cherub series starring James Adams, which are the most successful books I know for getting pre-teen boys avidly reading. That said, 40% of the people in Robert’s queues are girls, and he can write strong female characters t...

2020-01-191h 07

Prepublished There Are No Rules - talking about what publishers want with Annie EatonAnnie talks to Sophia about what an editor is looking for in a great story, what it was like to work with authors like Philip Pullman and Malorie Blackman, and why chemistry with an author is important. It's great to get Annie's insight into the marketing process and what a publisher is thinking when it comes to launching your book.Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links to resources: Before I Die by Jenny Downham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_I_Die Tales on Moon Lane: https...

2019-12-1554 min

Prepublished Allow The Magic To Disappear - talking about submitting with Candy GourlayCandy was born and raised in the Philippines. For years, as a pre-published writer, she was the author of the blog 'Notes From the Slushpile'. Eventually, her debut novel, 'Tall Story', won the National Children's Book Award of the Philippines in 2012 and the Crystal Kite Award for Europe in 2011. 'Tall Story' was shortlisted for 13 further prizes, including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Book Award and the UKLA Children's Book Prize. Her second novel, 'Shine', won the Crystal Kite Award for the British Isles in 2014. 'Bone Talk' was shorlisted for the Costa Book...

2019-12-1557 min

Prepublished Start With The Beast - talking about series fiction with Karen BallSophia and Karen talk about how to hook reluctant readers with pacy plots and catch phrases, working with unpublished writers (pre-published writers) and why voice is so important. Karen also brilliantly describes the essential boost for your self-esteem that having another creative pursuit, such as sewing, can give you. Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links to resources: Karen’s website: http://www.speckledpen.com Karen’s blog about sewing: https://didyoumakethat.comUnbound (for crowd-funded books): https://unbound.com Wool and the Gang: https://www.wool...

2019-12-1552 min

Prepublished Nancy Drew In Ancient Rome - talking about writing inspiration with Caroline LawrenceCaroline is the writer of over 30 books for children, including the series: 'The Roman Mysteries', 'The Roman Quests', 'The Time Travel Diaries' and 'The PK Pinkerton Mysteries'.Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links to resources: Caroline’s website: https://carolinelawrence.com/'How to Write a Great Story' by Caroline Lawrence: https://carolinelawrence.com/how-to-write-a-great-story/John Truby 'Anatomy of Story' course: https://truby.com/the-anatomy-of-story/ 'Save the Cat' by Blake SnyderWebsite: https://www.savethecat.comBook: https://store.savethecat.com/col...

2019-12-1558 min

Prepublished You Can’t Make It Dark Enough - talking about character with Cliff McNishOver a 20-year career, Cliff has written many fantasy, sci-fi and supernatural stories for children and young adults. The Doomspell Trilogy, his debut series, sold to 26 countries. His 2006 ghost novel, Breathe, was voted as one of the top 100 adult and children's novels of all time by the Schools Network of British Librarians in 2013.Thanks as always to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links to resources: Cliff’s website: https://www.cliffmcnish.com Cliff’s posts on 'Notes From the Slushpile': https://www.notesfromtheslushpile.com/2013/05/deepening-character-conversation-with.html https://www.note...

2019-12-1551 min

Prepublished And Then Is Not Good - talking about plotting with Caroline GreenCaroline is a bestselling crime writer of books such as 'In a Cottage in a Wood', under the name Cass Green. She teaches the short course in writing crime fiction at City University, London. As Caroline, she’s also an award-winning writer for young adults, with books including 'Dark Ride' and 'Cracks'. Thanks to Christopher Pett for production and editing.Links to resources: Caroline’s website: https://cassgreen.co.uk The plotting mountain - traditionally known as Freytag’s pyramid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structure Writing Advice from M...

2019-12-151h 00

Prepublished Introducing Prepublished, Series 1 - with Sophia BennettIt took Sophia ten years to get her first contract. If you’re writing your own stories, these conversations are designed to help you avoid all the mistakes she made. We look at themes such as plotting, creating compelling characters and what a publisher is thinking when they come to consider your book. You can hear our favourite tips, learn from our writing gurus, and listen to us disagree about what works as we explore the highs and lows of writing a book. This series focuses on the world of children’s books, but almost all the idea...

2019-12-1302 min

Radio Gorgeous Sophia Bennett RNA Award Winner GORGEOUS READS on Radio GorgeousLove Song by Sophia Bennett won both the Young Adult Romantic Novel as well the Goldsboro Books Romantic Novel of the Year. Sophia talks to Donna Freed about getting over her writers block. The book is called Love Song published by Chicken House. http://sophiabennett.com/ Follow: ‎@sophiabennett Love RADIO GORGEOUS sign up & never miss one http://radiogorgeous.com/sign-up-newsletter/ #RNA #Romance #Awards

2017-03-1302 min