Write About Now

Ian Fleming introduced James Bond 007 in 1953, writing 14 Bond books before he died. Since then, a few well-regarded novelists have carried the torch for the world's most famous spy. But guest Kim Sherwood is the first woman to pen a James Bond book. Sherwood is an award-winning author and creative writing teacher at the University of Edinburgh. On the podcast, she talks about how she got the gig, her lifelong obsession with Bond, her secret mission in writing the novel, and how she updated the characters and universe for the 21st Century. 

Fiona Davis is one of the most successful historical fiction writers working today. Her seven novels all take place in famous historic New York landmarks. Last month, she released The Spectacular, set in Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday. On the pod, she talks about her circuitous route to becoming a novelist, how she accidentally became a New York City real estate scribe, who she turns to for her ideas, and how she researches her projects. She also offers tips on imposter syndrome and getting over writer's block.  To learn more about Write About Now, visit: writeaboutnowmedia.com Subscribe to the Small Stack substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/  Watch interviews on youtube.com/@writeaboutnowpodcast111

Recently, I surveyed listeners about the biggest challenge they face in achieving their goals The number one answer: Procrastination. So this episode is all about the dreaded P-word. What procrastination is, why we do it, and how to overcome it. Guest Petr Ludwig is a procrastination slayer. His book The End of Procrastination is a well-researched action plan for inaction. Petr's main argument is that procrastination is not a time-management problem—it's an emotions-management problem. He offers tips to stop beating yourself up and start psyching yourself up to get the stuff done you know you should. 

The biggest obstacle standing between you and your goals could be yourself. Even more insidious—you might not even know you're doing this. Self-sabotage is the act of unconsciously undermining our own success, often through negative thoughts and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Judy Ho talks about the hidden reasons why we self-sabotage, the signs to look for, and how to break free from this destructive pattern. Dr. Judy is a triple-certified psychologist and author of Self Sabotage: Six Ways to Unlock Your True Motivation, Harness Your Willpower and Get Out Of Your Own Way! Subscribe to my newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/ Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast Special discount on AG1 by Atheletic Greens: http://athleticgreen.com/writeaboutnow

Guest David Grann is one of the most popular authors working today. He has a new book out called The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder, which tells the fascinating true story of an 18th-century British warship that wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The survivors sailed thousands of miles to safety, and later faced mutiny charges. Grann spent five years researching and writing this book, a task that required him to pour over hundreds of log books kept by the seaman and traverse the same treacherous seas they did. To learn more about Grann and how he rose to such prominence, listen to my first interview with @ https://bit.ly/3Mpik2J Subscribe to my Small Talk substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/ Support the show @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast

Hollywood writers went on strike last week, with thousands of WGA writers joining picket lines in LA and New York. But what are the writers striking for exactly—and how will it affect us as consumers and writers? Guest Miranda Banks joins the show to make sense of it all. Miranda is the author of The Writers: A History of American Screenwriters and Their Guild and associate professor and Department Chair of Film, Television, and Media Studies at Loyola Marymount. In the interview, she talks about why the writers are storming Hollywood studios from coast to coast, the threat of streaming services and AI to their livelihood, and how this strike fits into a historical context. 

We all understand the importance of choosing the right words, but few realize that minor tweaks to how we speak and write can change people’s minds, engage our audiences, and persuade them to do things we want them to do. Podcast guest Jonah Berger has a new book out called Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way. Berger is a marketing professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a language detective. He shares what his research and science can tell us about language and how to use it more effectively.  Want to watch the full video on youtube? Click here. To find out more about Write About Now, go here.  More information on Jonah Berger.  

Are you looking to start a hustle that helps you earn some extra money on the side? This episode is for you. Guest Nick Loper is the host of the podcast The Side Hustle Show and the author of nine books. At any given time, he's engaged in 10 to 15 side hustles that earn him hundreds to thousands of dollars monthly. On the show, we talk about identifying opportunities in your own life, the steps and barriers to success, writing side hustles in 2023, and much more. 

The pandemic and economic turmoil have sparked many to ask: What’s next for me in my career and life — and how do I get there? But most of us hesitate to make big changes for reasons such as financial insecurity, fear of the unknown, and fear of failure. Enter my guest Joanne Lipman, a seasoned journalist, and author of the new book, Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work. Joanne interviewed hundreds of people and poured over research to come up with a roadmap for people to make successful career changes. On this episode, she lays out the 4 s's: search, struggle, stop, and solution. These will help guide you on your exciting new path to change.  

Dave Asprey joins the show to talk about his new book Smarter Not Harder: The Biohacker's Guide to Getting the Body and Mind You Want. Dave is an entrepreneur, author, and biohacker best known for founding Bulletproof Coffee. Using his body as a guinea pig, he experiments with different diets and fitness routines to optimize for health and wellness. He once said he aims to live to be 180 years old. Some of his views are controversial, but many swear by their effectiveness — and his made him a millionaire many times over. We cover such topics as how to tap into your body's natural operating system, the myth that willpower (or lack of it) is the problem, foods to eat and avoid, the best 10 minute workout you can do, and why he believes embracing your inherent laziness will increase your energy and optimizing your biology. Whether or not you agree with Dave, there is a ton of useful info to chew on here.  Subscribe to my substack, Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/ Join the WAN Patreon community for bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast For more about Dave Asprey: https://daveasprey.com/