self-help – The Authors Read Podcast

Episode 90: Courtney Lynch reads from Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success

The New York Times–bestselling, non-nonsense guide to becoming a better leader through 7 key behaviors, based on a mix of military and corporate training.

Leadership is not about job titles—it’s about action and behavior.

“Sparks” are the doers, thinkers, innovators, and key influencers who are catalysts for personal and organizational change. But these extraordinary individuals aren’t defined by the place they hold on an organizational chart—they are defined by their actions, commitment, and will.

Leadership experts Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch, and Sean Lynch show how you can become a Spark by cultivating seven key leadership behaviors. Grounded in the latest research on leadership development, this fresh, accessible road map is packed with real-world stories from inside companies like Facebook, Google, and Boston Scientific, and from the authors’ own high-stakes, challenging experiences serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

With SPARK as a blueprint, anyone can become a catalyst for change, and any organization can identify and develop Sparks.

“A myth-destroying book that will make you rethink both the theory and practice of leadership.”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Drive

“If you truly want to become a Spark in your organization and in your life, I urge you to read this book now.”—Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, head coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

“These authors are not only great leadership thinkers, but they have all led people in challenging circumstances…. Trust them to take you to a new level.”—Brigadier General Thomas A. Kolditz, U.S. Army (Ret.), director of the Ann and John Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University

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Episode 83: Becca Ehrlich reads from Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living

“Ehrlich’s insightful self-help guide will resonate with Christians wishing to streamline an overstuffed life.”―Publishers Weekly

Logically, we all know our purpose in life is not wrapped up in accumulating possessions, wealth, power, and prestige―Jesus is very clear about that―but society tells us otherwise. Christian Minimalism attempts to cut through our assumptions and society’s lies about what life should look like and invites readers into a life that Jesus calls us to live: one lived intentionally, free of physical, spiritual, and emotional clutter.

Written by a woman who simplified her own life and practices these principles daily, this book gives readers a fresh perspective on how to live out God’s grace for us in new and exciting ways and live out our faith in a way that is deeply satisfying.

Link to the book on Barnes and Noble

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Episode 82: Matthew Moseley reads from Ignition: Superior Communication Strategies for Creating Stronger Connections

Ignition is a book of dispatches from the frontlines of communication strategy. Matthew L. Moseley draws on his eclectic life experiences to investigate the link between success and effective communication. Whether he’s choreographing a fine dining experience at the top restaurant in America, using rock stars to register voters, helping a national chain save its reputation after a gaffe goes viral, or serving as media liaison at the epic ash-blast send-off for author Hunter S. Thompson, Moseley identifies the principles that guide communication strategies toward their goals.

In extensive interviews with a wide variety of experts, including authors, fighter pilots, business leaders, politicians, and astrophysicists, Moseley tests these principles, teases out new, provocative ideas, and anticipates how forming stronger connections will help us address today’s greatest challenges. Though it tackles serious subjects, offers an illuminating perspective on the evolution of human discourse, and shares important insights on interpersonal relations, Ignition is also a good, fun read. A broad range of colorful anecdotes gives this book of philosophical wisdom and practical advice the zest of a juicy memoir.

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Episode 81: Wendy Tamis Robbins reads from The Box: An Invitation to Freedom from Anxiety

Are you ready to find your way out of your box?

There is a moment when you realize your life is no longer your own. You made it picture perfect. You thought it would make you happy and whole. You thought you could seal the walls tight and feel safe. But the panic doesn’t pass, and the anxiety seeps in through every crack. Your pain uses perfection to hide the unraveling. But deep inside, you still hear the whisper of a voice that’s always been there, calling to you, promising that you were meant for more.

In The Box, Wendy Tamis Robbins offers a window into the mental illness of an all-star athlete, Ivy League-graduate, and successful attorney. At just 6 years old, Wendy’s first panic attack sparked a 40-year struggle with a variety of anxiety disorders: generalized, social and health, eating disorders, phobias, intrusive and suicidal thoughts, and dissociation. Avoiding anything that could trigger her symptoms, she retreats into a box to contain and hide her condition. After years of living in the prison she originally constructed as her safe place, Wendy is no longer willing to limit her life to accommodate her disorders.

Raw and powerful, vulnerable and intimate, The Box is both a triumphant memoir and an irresistible invitation. It portrays a courageous journey to find the source of a debilitating disorder in order to find the power to overcome it. Wendy’s experience reminds us of the redemptive power of forgiveness and the healing power of love, not just for others, but for ourselves. It is a story of courage that reframes mental illness sufferers as survivors—a powerful portrait of a woman who refused to remain caged in a box of her making. Now, the invitation is yours… if you are willing to accept it.

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Episode 80: Laura Khoudari reads from Lifting Heavy Things: Healing Trauma One Rep at a Time

A celebrated strength trainer and trauma practitioner offers a fresh and empowering approach to healing and thriving after trauma.

In this innovative title, celebrated trainer and trauma practitioner Laura Khoudari brings a fresh approach to healing after trauma, using strength training as an embodied movement practice. Compassionate, witty and fastidiously researched, Khoudari’s debut, Lifting Heavy Things, is a breakthrough title that will empower and inspire you to develop resilience and build emotional and physical strength through working out with weights, while mindful of the ways that trauma can compromise the wellbeing of the mind and body.

In Lifting Heavy Things, you’ll learn about:

Managing chronic pain
Creating the conditions for training and healing
Understanding how trauma shows up in daily life
Using embodied movement practices (beyond yoga) as a tool to comfortably re-inhabit the body
Navigating interpersonal relationships during and after the healing process
Why you don’t have to tell your trauma story (to everyone)
Thriving with and moving beyond trauma

With humor, tenderness and grit, Lifting Heavy Things takes readers on a journey of personal revelation and integration, helping them to lighten their emotional burden and build deep inner strength to lift all of the heavy things that life may bring with greater ease.

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Episode 78: Jeffrey Martinovich reads from Just One More: The Wisdom of Bob Vukovich

Taking shelter from the storm one Thursday evening, rookie banker Cole Johnson is introduced to the Bistro happy hour and the charismatic Bob Vukovich. Their ensuing friendship yields young Cole insightful lessons on success, failure, women, politics, and most importantly serving the perfect martini. But, will Bob, himself, remember life’s most important lesson before it’s too late? This contemporary parable teaches us many actionable lessons while entertaining us with the intriguing drama of discovering the truth about Bob Vukovich. We all wish we would have had the wisdom and guidance of a mentor like Bob to show us the flavor of life. Take this narrative as a guidebook on how to open our eyes to a life of class and grace, or simply to enjoy a story about overcoming fear and choosing to get back into that game called “life.”

Link to the book on Amazon

Episode 72: Carmen Viktoria Gamper reads from A 52-Week Parent’s Guide to Recognize and Support Your Child’s Flow State – the Optimal Condition for Learning

Flow To Learn offers weekly ideas for parents & educators to encourage the flow state of optimal learning in children and themselves.

Flow To Learn is an uplifting, illustrated guide with 52 weeks of insights into flow states, mindful support, and practical suggestions to create inspiring play and learning environments. Child-led learning opportunities readily entice children to focus deeply, which boosts their love for learning, creativity, and well-being while freeing up the adult’s time.

Have you seen your child focus so deeply that they lose themselves in a task?

When did you last lose track of time because you were having so much fun?

What did you spend hours doing as a child? Do you remember that feeling?

Flow is the focused, fulfilling state of learning that children and adults naturally experience during play, movement, and hands-on activities they love. In flow, we feel alive, we are authentically interested and deeply absorbed—and this is how we learn best and achieve more!

FLOW (in order) TO LEARN invites parents to reinvigorate their life with children using practical elements and compassionate insights from child development, psychology, and child-centered education to bring the joy and inspiration of learning in flow into their homes.

Explore the 52 inspiring chapters to enrich every week of the year:

✩ Create activity stations in your home to free up your time while strengthening your child’s intelligence and mental health

✩ Discover your child’s vibrant inner world, and support them through the ups and downs of childhood

✩ See children as guides to your own flow state to bring more fun, meaning, and purpose into your lives

Each of the 52 Weeks offers two parts: first, you will find reflections and information about flow, then an array of practical suggestions, “Try This,” on how to facilitate flow in life with children.

Some Weeks offer authentic and encouraging insights from an experienced mother who incorporates the flow-parenting approach with her family.

Throughout the book, you will be delighted by the many illustrations of children and adults learning in flow.

Link to the book on Amazon

Episode 71: Cynthia Hayes reads from The Big Ordeal

Coping with cancer is hard. It is an emotional ordeal as well as a physical one, with known and somewhat predictable psychological responses. And yet, patients often feel isolated and alone when dealing with the stress, anxiety, depression, and existential crises so typical with a cancer diagnosis.The Big Ordeal, written in collaboration with a psychologist and two oncologists, tackles the emotional side of the experience head-on, to help newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones anticipate, understand, and deal with the psychological turmoil ahead. Based on interviews with scores of patients and experts across a variety of fields, combining patient stories with medical insights and advice from those who have been there, and structured around the typical phases of the process, this book is an accessible resource for anyone who receive a cancer diagnosis.

Link to the book on Amazon

Link to the book on Barnes and Noble

Episode 68 : Ron Alford reads from Redefining Possible: Proven Strategies to Break Belief Barriers and Create Your New Normal

It’s easy to feel stuck in the grind, struggling to simply get through the day, especially as we all try to define a new normal. But what if you could start achieving your goals and living with purpose? Authors Dustin Hillis and Ron Alford can show you how.

As record-breaking business coaches and sales leaders, Hillis and Alford have helped thousands of people realize their dreams, including hundreds of top leaders and executives. They share their proven formula for goal setting and personal success in their book Redefining Possible: Proven Strategies to Break Belief Barriers and Create Your New Normal.

The authors’ seven success strategies will provide you with a blueprint for creating a happier and more fulfilling life. You’ll redefine your potential with strategic activities and actionable tools. Learn how to get unstuck by using the RAFT technique. Uncover and break belief barriers by rewiring your inner dialogue with positive self-talk and targeted affirmations. And be inspired with relatable anecdotes from high achievers who demonstrate what can happen when you live a life of intention.

Redefining Possible challenges readers to take an honest look at their lives and ask, “What would happen if I stopped holding myself back…and started believing that I really can achieve everything I desire?”

Link to the book on Amazon

Episode 66: Peter Ruppert reads from Limitless: Nine Steps to Launch Your One Extraordinary Life

Why do some people achieve seemingly limitless success while others drift from day to day? How do some, despite extremely challenging circumstances, rise up to make a big impact or achieve great things and others, given the benefit of significant talent or opportunity, end up settling for so much less? What makes the difference?

This book was written for those, young and old, who simply don’t want to settle for the status quo or for “good enough” and have dreams they want to chase, not give up on.

Based on research of accomplished people and his own personal experiences of successes and failures, Peter G. Ruppert provides a step- by-step guide to help readers positively impact the trajectory of their own future. Filled with real life examples for each step, extra learning resources to dig deeper, and a workbook style recap after each chapter, Ruppert provides a simple yet powerful program so readers can launch their own limitless life.