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When the world slowed during the pandemic, Steve Vannoy and I found an unexpected gift in that stillness. We began recording stories from his father, Smokey Vannoy—vivid tales of a bygone West Virginia filled with cinder-bottom towns, red-light districts, and river adventures. What started as a collection of oral history soon grew into something more—a shared book project, born from legacy and love.

Adventures in Cinder Bottom became more than a family story. It turned into a vibrant retelling of time, place, and identity. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, as we reflect on our second book, Greenbrier River, we weren’t just navigating the usual creative hurdles of fiction—we were also carrying the weight of loss. Smokey passed away during the writing process, and that grief wove itself into every chapter. What makes these stories resonate is that they’re rooted in real people, real places, and a real desire to honor someone we both deeply admired.

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00:00 Smokey’s stories and Cinder Bottom
03:08 Greenbrier River: growth through stories
08:54 Authentic storytelling for Appalachia
11:37 Boom to bust: a county’s journey
13:32 Avoiding judgment in polarized times
16:41 Early integration in segregated America
19:34 Living stories: a father’s legacy
25:32 Believe in your story
26:46 From starter to finisher
29:18 Join Authors Who Lead podcast

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What does it mean to be human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? This existential question pulses at the heart of episode 358 of the Authors Who Lead podcast, where I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and now author Jeff Burningham. Our conversation, anchored in Burningham’s newly released book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI, explores personal disruption, spiritual awakening, and the bold, hopeful possibilities that AI opens up for humanity.

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00:00 Unexpected journey: from politics to publishing
03:31 Ayurvedic experience awakens creativity
07:41 AI: potential and peril
11:50 AI and human nature insight
14:50 Fostering human connection and flourishing
18:21 Embrace humanity over disruption
20:23 Embracing AI in education
23:31 Embracing transformation: letting go
28:14 AI: humanity’s cosmic mirror
30:18 Rediscovering humanity amid AI
35:29 Present moment, eternal existence
39:26 Write without thinking challenge
42:38 Jeff burningham’s book pre-sales
44:11 Sharing truth from experience

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Have you ever felt like you had a book inside you, but just couldn’t get started? 81% of North Americans believe they have a book in them—but only a tiny fraction ever see that dream to completion. In this episode, I explore the real reasons people don’t write their books, debunk common myths, and share actionable steps to help you finally move from wishing to writing.

Timestamp:

00:00 Empowering Aspiring Writers
05:09 Defining Your Why in Writing
06:51 Overcoming Writer’s Block Myths
09:56 Born to Write Podcast

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In the world of authorship and digital entrepreneurship, few names carry as much respect as Pat Flynn. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I share the story of my apprenticeship under Pat—a journey rooted in service, vulnerability, and taking fast, decisive action.

Our conversation delved deep into the principles at the core of Pat’s latest book, Lean Learning: How to Achieve More by Learning Less, and unpacked how stepping forward before you feel “ready” is often the key to breakthroughs.

Timestamp:

00:00 Business breakthrough experience unprepared
03:43 From apprentice to bestseller collaborator
08:18 Adaptability in a fast-changing world
12:28 DIY book formatting journey
13:01 Collaborative learning & entrepreneurship journey
16:34 Embrace change for real growth
21:31 Rowing strategy: power 10 technique
23:40 Dedicated focus for creative success
27:36 Embrace failure for faster success
28:37 Overcoming negativity in entrepreneurship
32:01 Exploring the traditional publishing path
36:52 Writing under pressure: a 10-day challenge
40:35 Pursuing bestseller status with passion
44:06 Strategic book sale tactics
45:24 Intriguing book title strategy

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Many aspiring authors feel a pull to share their wisdom—especially about something as universal yet challenging as parenting. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, Scott Jeffrey Miller offers a refreshingly candid perspective. Miller, an eight-time Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, recently co-authored "Parenting: Wrong Turns, Right Lessons" with his teenage son, Thatcher. For Miller, writing a parenting book wasn’t just inevitable because of his professional background—it was a way to invite his children into “the family business” of authorship.

Timestamp:

00:00 Life Insights Through Reading
04:39 Author Mindset & Collab Writing
06:49 Public Life & Maturity
10:31 Teenage Son’s Raw POV
14:32 Building an Author Platform
17:23 Truth About Publishers
21:13 Self-Publishing Journey
23:21 Self-Belief vs. Self-Promo
27:28 Define Your Publishing Why
31:26 Books as Messages
32:46 Growth Reflections
37:07 Rise of Shorter Books
39:59 Career on Course Wins
43:09 Unfinished Book Ideas
46:05 Real Feedback vs. Friends
48:43 Dad Moves & Parenting
51:57 Writing & Self-Incrimination

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Anyone who’s ever thought about writing a book knows the feeling: a mix of excitement, hope, and, yes—fear. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I dive deep into the emotional realm of writing, pulling back the curtain on the ten most common fears that keep writers from taking the next step.

Timestamp:

00:00 Overcoming book-writing challenges
04:23 Organized writing: audience & strategy
08:37 Overcoming writing fears
10:58 Kaizen: power of small steps
15:53 Exclusive podcast for aspiring writers
17:09 Join our writing community

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In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Deborah Hammett, author of Salty at 60: Becoming Better Than Retired. Deborah’s story is the bold, honest tale of how she left her thirty-three-year career in education in pursuit of a freer, purpose-filled second act—sailing solo aboard her boat and, eventually, writing a book about her experience.

Timestamp:

00:00 Trading chalkboards for chart plotters
05:16 Sailing while teaching online
09:22 Sailing adventure in retirement
10:30 Sailing into unforeseen roles
16:29 Engine troubleshooting at sea
19:44 Fiction’s purpose and life lessons
23:51 Docking and anchoring tips tutorial
25:31 Women captains and ocean nomads
28:00 Overcoming fears in sailing life
32:07 Embracing classroom chaos for growth
35:05 Embrace continuous flexibility

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In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, the powerhouse writing duo behind the riveting thriller Dark Rising. Both veterans with storied pasts—Brian, a former submarine officer with business acumen, and Jeffrey, a trauma surgeon and Navy veteran—found common ground far from the battlefield: at a thriller writing conference.

Their partnership, as Jeffrey jokes, was born of “stalking” at the International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerFest, where their shared backgrounds and values—family, faith, and service—formed a natural foundation for creative collaboration. But it wasn’t instant coauthoring. As Jeffrey explains, “Once we decided that we were gonna do this thing, we went into it knowing we're either gonna become better friends or destroy this friendship forever. Let's see." Thankfully, the outcome was a deeper bond and a writing team that has delivered years of explosive storytelling.

Timestamp:

00:00 Teamwork in writing: military ethos
05:05 Balancing writing with distractions
09:39 Inspiration cycles for writers
13:14 Embracing pantser writing surprises
14:23 Characters’ voices shape the story
17:11 Curiosity and predictability in writing
21:46 Teaching writing to nonfiction leaders
26:19 Embrace imperfection in writing
27:52 Antagonist’s two-week mission
33:01 Balancing passion and obligations
36:33 Supporting veterans in new ventures
38:49 Principled characters in chaotic times
40:43 Honoring unsung heroes through fiction

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