Azul Terronez went from being an unknown schoolteacher to a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. He is co-founder and lead coach at "Authors Who Lead," a platform dedicated to empowering authors to share their stories. He turns our conversation with him into a courage clinic for would-be storytellers, late starters, and anyone who suspects their "zone of genius" is dying to be unleashed. He gives us the reframe that authorship isn't about words so much as the message beneath them.

=== PLUTUS AWARDS: ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO VOTE ===

We need your vote for the 2025 Plutus Awards! You can now vote for your hosts behind "Catching Up to FI" - Bill Yount & Jackie Cummings Koski. The deadline to vote is August 30th, 2025. Winners will be announced in October.

✅ WHAT IS THE PLUTUS AWARDS?

The Plutus Awards recognize excellence in independent financial content. That's the best podcasts, books, video channels, blogs, and more.

✅ VOTE

If you've gotten value from our content and think we are worthy of recognition, please support by casting your votes here > >> https://plutus.awardsplatform.com/. There's a short registration needed to vote and you'll be in and out in just a few minutes.

✅ CATEGORIES

Below are the categories we have been nominated for and we'd love your vote in each of them.

Catching Up to FI

Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Audio
Content Creator of the Year: Audio
People's Choice: Audio
Best Financial Advisor Content/Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP
Plutus Storyteller Award
Best Traditional Retirement Content
Best Personal Finance Content for Underserved Communities
Best Personal Finance Content for Women

Other categories

Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Written (F.I.R.E. for Dummies)
Best New Personal Finance Book (F.I.R.E. for Dummies)
Plutus Resilience Award (Jackie Cummings Koski)
Best Financial Independence or Retire Early Content (F.I.R.E. for Dummies)

📩 Sign up for our newsletter (NEW!)

🌐 Visit Catching Up to FI website

🔗Connect with us

☕ Like what you hear on Catching Up to FI? Support the show at "Buy Me a Coffee"

🎙️We love hearing from you! Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question Record a Voice Message with your feedback or question

=== DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS ===

🆕Big changes with student loans in the new budget bill that just passed. Get help from the experts at Student Loan Planner, all CFP®, CFA and CSLP® professionals. They charge a one-time fee for their thorough review. Our listeners receive $100 off a 1:1 consult using the link below. Flat fee is normally $595, but after your $100 off 'Catching Up to FI' discount, it's $495.

👉🏼 Be sure to use this link: studentloanplanner.com/catchingup

For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners

RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Charity: Grey Bears

🌐Authors Who Lead

Authors Who Lead podcast

📗 The Art of Apprenticeship: How to Hack Your Way into Any Industry, Land a Kick-Ass Mentor, and Make A Killing Doing What You Love

Born to Write, Scared to Start: A secret podcast for the ones who whisper, "I think I'm supposed to write a book."

Why I Coached My Son to Drop Out of University and Maybe You Should, Too

TEDx Talk: What makes a good teacher great?

EconoMe Conference Talk

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on your podcast player and leave us a rating or review. If you want to watch, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This helps others find the show and keeps us creating great content for you!

⚠️Disclaimer: Our content is for general education and information purposes only. We are not providing financial, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research or consult a professional before making important decisions.

M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold)

Rock Feed

Band Dynamics and Longevity

The AI-powered Podcast Player