Authors Who Lead - Learn to write a book from bestselling authors and leaders
If you want to know how bestselling authors find the time to write their books, the methods they use to be productive and how they find their ideas you will love this podcast. Writing coach Azul Terronez shares interviews with clients such as Pat Flynn, of the Smart Passive Income, Jon Vroman, of the Front Row Factor, and Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom, Jadah Sellner of Simple Green Smoothies. Learn from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling authors. Want to get behind-the-scenes insights about how first-time authors overcame their fears and found the courage to write...
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Why Authors Sometimes Hate Their Own Book, And What To Do Next
<p>Send a text</p><p>I often feel we take communication for granted, assuming it’s just about relaying information. Yet, in my latest conversation, I sat down with Sage Hobbs—author of Naked Communication—to explore how communication rooted in authenticity and curiosity can radically alter our relationships at work, at home, and within ourselves. Our talk was a candid look at what it really takes to write a book, launch it (twice), and confront your own vulnerabilities.</p><p>Timestamp:<br/><br/>00:00 Writing to connect authentically<br/>05:28 Reflections on teaching and growth<br/>08:18 Writing reveals self-discovery<br/>11:30 Loss...
From Ideas to Manuscript: How True Human Evolved Through Writing and Honesty | Samantha Sweetwater
<p>Send a text</p><p>In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Samantha Sweetwater to discuss how her book True Human: Reimagining Ourselves at the End of Our World evolved from scattered ideas into a cohesive manuscript through patience, humility, and honesty.<br/><br/>We explore what it means to write during a time of ecological, technological, and cultural transformation—and why authorship requires more than inspiration. Samantha shares the four-year journey of shaping her ideas, letting go of what didn’t belong, and allowing the book to mature into its final form.</p><p>Time...
How to Find Confidence to Start Writing Your Book | Azul Terronez
<p>Send a text</p><p>If you’re waiting for a surge of confidence before you start writing your book, you’re not alone. I’ve spent years hosting the Authors Who Lead Podcast, talking with authors at every stage of the journey, and one belief comes up again and again: “I just need a little more confidence before I begin.”</p><p>Here’s the truth I’ve learned—confidence rarely shows up first. Action does. And waiting for confidence is often the very thing keeping us stuck.</p><p>Timestamp:<br/><br/>00:00 Confidence comes through action<br/>05:14 Embracing change...
Memoir Writing Tips from Film and Television Executive Barbara Caver
<p>Send a text</p><p>In this episode, I sit down with Barbara Caver, a film and television production executive, passionate traveler, and first-time memoirist. Her debut memoir, A Little Piece of Cuba, weaves together Cuban heritage, family memory, and a life-changing trip in a way that resonates far beyond cultural boundaries.</p><p>In our conversation, Barbara and I talk openly about the creative process, emotional roadblocks, and how lived experience slowly becomes a finished book. What emerged is a powerful reminder for aspiring authors: memoir isn’t about recording everything that happened — it’s about listening to what m...
Kathryn Henry: Why Clarity Comes Through Writing, Not Before It
<p>Send a text</p><p>What if grief wasn’t something to get over, but something that could teach us how to live?</p><p>In this deeply moving conversation, Azul Terronez sits down with executive, speaker, and author Kathryn Henry to discuss her memoir, A Dime to Say I Love You. After losing her wife Lisa following a decade-long battle with cancer, Kathryn began writing not just to remember, but to heal, to listen, and to live more fully.</p><p>This is a conversation about love, non-attachment, forgiveness, and what happens when writing becomes a spiritual practice. It...
How Writing a Book Transformed My Life | Azul Terronez
<p>Send a text</p><p>In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I return with a heartfelt update and an honest call to action for anyone dreaming of writing a book. This episode isn’t just an update—it’s a raw exploration of why telling your story truly matters, how the writing process can change your life, and what to do when self-doubt creeps in. </p><p>I’m reminded again that the journey to authorship is about much more than putting words on a page. It’s about finding your truth and having the courage to share it with the...
Why Writing Your Book Feels Like a Battle with Julia Packwood
<p>Send a text</p><p>Julia Packwood has the idea. She feels the call. She even has deadlines and bylines. Yet when she sits down to write, it feels like a battle.</p><p>In this episode, Azul reframes that struggle: the hard feeling is not a problem to be fixed, but rather a rite of passage. Then the conversation turns practical, moving the writing practice out of the office and into nature, separating drafting from editing, and measuring progress by words, not time.</p><p>A warm, honest episode for anyone trying to write a book while raising...
How to Build TEDx Talks That Actually Move People, with Alexia Vernon and Kaia Vernon-Oliveira
<p>Send a text</p><p>What does it really take to deliver a TEDx talk that resonates? In this episode of Authors Who Lead, communication expert Alexia Vernon and TEDx speaker Kaia Vernon-Oliveira share what authors need to know about developing a powerful big idea, connecting with an audience, and building speaking confidence that opens doors.</p><p>Timestamp:<br/><br/>00:00 Introduction to Alexia Vernon and Kaia Vernon-Oliveira<br/>01:11 What has changed in the TEDx landscape<br/>03:45 Why authors should build speaking experience before TEDx<br/>05:13 What event organizers really look for in speakers<br/>06:40 Kaia’s TEDx journey an...
Loving Life & Living Your Genius Zone with Dr. Gay Hendricks
<p>Send a text</p><p>After eight years of hosting Authors Who Lead, Azul finally sits down again with the man who inspired the show from the very beginning: Dr. Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap, Conscious Loving, and his new memoir, Loving Life.</p><p>In this intimate, spiritually rich conversation, Gay shares the stories behind his memoir, the pivotal moment on the ice that changed everything, the quiet teachers in his family (including his Aunt Kat), and how suffering can open the doorway to your genius. This is more than an interview—it’s an invitation to r...
Why Your Book Isn’t a Side Project — And Why You’re Still Stuck | Azul Terronez
<p>Send a text</p><p>You’re a coach, entrepreneur, or leader with a powerful message. You know a book would expand your influence, elevate your authority, and open doors. So why does it still feel impossible to start?</p><p>In this solo episode, Azul breaks down why brilliant, experienced leaders get stuck — and why your book is not a side project. You’ll learn the exact mindset shift needed to overcome overwhelm, silence self-doubt, and take the first real step toward becoming a published authority.</p><p>If you've been “waiting for the right time” to start, this is th...
