Join Terry Shepherd as he sits down with author Gabriella Saab to explore the history and heart behind her new novel, The Survivors Guild. The conversation dives into the little-known experiences of Lebanese immigrants aboard the Titanic and the unique challenges faced by survivors in the disaster's aftermath.

Episode Highlights

• Saab reveals how attending a Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese Americans convention introduced her to the forgotten history of Lebanese passengers on the Titanic.
• The discussion unpacks the stark contrast between Bea Nora, a resilient Lebanese woman seeking work to support her family, and Marguerite Ashby, a naive American heiress trapped by an impending arranged marriage.
• Saab shares the bizarre, true historical account of an upper-class woman taking in two unclaimed toddler boys after the sinking, which inspired the novel's emotional core.
• The episode explores the unique dynamic of Bea and Marguerite forming a charitable committee to find their rescued baby's next of kin and assist third-class survivors.
• Saab explains her authorial approach to balancing historical accuracy with narrative pacing, such as altering cabin placements to heighten the immediacy of the disaster.
• Saab reflects on her time co-hosting HF Chit Chat, a supportive online community for historical fiction writers and readers.

About The Survivors Guild Instead of focusing solely on the famous shipwreck, the novel examines the complicated aftermath of survival. It highlights the heavy emotional and economic burdens of immigration, the rigid class rules of the Gilded Age, and the profound, isolating realities women faced across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Through their shared trauma and dedication to an orphaned boy, Bea and Marguerite forge an unlikely alliance that ultimately transforms their lives.

Connect with Gabriella Saab

• Discover more about her writing at gabriellasaab.com.
• Follow her updates and historical insights on Instagram and Substack.
• Pick up a copy of The Survivors Guild and The Last Checkmate to support human authors and uncover hidden historical narratives.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Host Terry Shepherd steps into the shadowy world of international espionage and political betrayal with Bill and Karen Brodsky. Writing under the pen name K.B. Brodsky, this dynamic husband-and-wife duo joins the show to discuss their debut thriller, Beyond Honor.

Beyond Honor launches a gripping new series that transports readers from the war-torn streets of Damascus to the frozen reaches of Siberia, and from Alaska's Kenai Peninsula to the halls of power in Washington. The story follows Kevin Rhodes, a grieving paramilitary operative tasked with a dangerous solo extraction in Russia, while CIA analyst Whitney Schuyler tracks a Russian-backed bank conspiracy that reaches all the way to the Oval Office.

In this episode, Bill and Karen pull back the curtain on how two mild-mannered civilians crafted a high-stakes intelligence thriller and learned to navigate the delicate process of co-writing a novel after 30 years of marriage.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Spark of Creation: How Bill secretly wrote the first 70 pages of the manuscript and surprised Karen with it.
• The Co-Writing Process: The couple's daily routine, their use of Google Docs, and their strict rule to never make edits without mutual approval.
• Building the Characters: How the authors balanced action and emotion to craft deeply human characters, from old-school Cold War spy Cynthia King to Russian operative Anya Pestova.
• A Grounded World: Why the authors prioritized believable, real-world inspirations over superhero tropes to create a mosaic of interconnected global stories.
• Looking Ahead: The exciting news of K.B. Brodsky's two-book deal with Simon & Schuster.
• Dream Casting: The couple's humorous Hollywood aspirations, including pitching Meryl Streep for the role of CIA head Summers.

Connect with K.B. Brodsky:

To learn more about Bill and Karen, or to pick up your copy of Beyond Honor, visit their official website at kbbrodsky.com.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with Korey Rowe—Army veteran, filmmaker, and entrepreneur—to discuss his raw new memoir, The Soldier That Left: The Untold Story of Loose Change. The conversation explores Rowe's extraordinary journey from the battlefields of the Middle East to producing one of the internet's first viral blockbusters, offering an unfiltered look at dissent, survival, and the search for identity.

From the Front Lines to Dissent

• Rowe originally enlisted in the US Army to find direction as a high school dropout from a poor area of upstate New York.
• His very first day of basic training coincided with the September 11 attacks, rapidly pulling him into deployments across Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Deeply disillusioned by the loss of his fellow soldiers and innocent Iraqi lives, Rowe made the difficult choice to go AWOL rather than accept a forced third deployment.
• He spent six years navigating the fallout before finally presenting his case to an officer and receiving an honorable discharge.

The "Loose Change" Phenomenon

• Teaming up with his childhood friend Dylan, Rowe pivoted a poorly acted fictional project into the controversial 9/11 documentary Loose Change.
• The film captured the cultural zeitgeist, dominating early streaming platforms like Google Video and sparking extreme reactions from both loyal grassroots supporters and fierce media critics.
• This viral explosion launched Rowe from a struggling veteran into Hollywood contract negotiations with major figures like Charlie Sheen and Mark Cuban.

Mental Health and Rewiring the Mind

• Rowe candidly discusses living as a 100% PTSD-disabled veteran with Bipolar II disorder.
• He credits a combination of therapy, journaling, and cannabis (leading to his current role as a dispensary owner) for his survival during his darkest years.
• Today, he relies on a mental "operating system" built from stoicism, Adlerian psychology, and books like The Courage to Be Disliked to maintain a healthy perspective.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Join Terry Shepherd for a deeply inspiring conversation with award-winning filmmaker Michael Gier about his latest documentary, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. As America approaches the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Gier explains why his film shifts the focus away from the tragedy to shine a light on untold stories of extraordinary human courage and unity.

In This Episode

• A New Perspective on 9/11: Why Gier and executive producer Chris Meek chose to highlight positive stories of resilience and humanity rather than the devastation.
• The Lieutenant Dan Connection: How acclaimed actor Gary Sinise became the film's narrator and how 9/11 inspired his lifelong dedication to first responders and veterans.
• Behind the Lens: Gier details his four-and-a-half-year production journey, distilling 35 hours of interview and archival footage into a powerful two-hour feature.
• Recreating History: A look at the highly accurate sets and reenactments, from a rented jet for Flight 93 to a 30-foot deep rubble set built for Will Jimeno's rescue.
• From Broadway to the Director's Chair: Gier discusses his career pivot from starring in Broadway musicals and running a real estate business to founding his own production company after the 2008 market crash.
• Healing Our Heroes: A look at Gier's previous films, Wounded Heroes and Healing the Heroes of 9/11, which explore life-changing alternative PTSD treatments.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Stream the Film: Available now on Amazon Prime Video, Google TV, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies.
• Official Film Website: the911film.com
• Michael Gier’s Website: michaelgier.com

If you were moved by today’s conversation, please share this episode with a friend and consider leaving us a rating and review on your favorite podcast app.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

For more than four decades, David Kibbe has challenged the fashion world to see beauty not as a rigid set of rules or flaws to be corrected, but as a powerful expression of identity. In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with the creator of the celebrated Image Identity System to discuss his joyful new book, David Kibbe's Power of Style.

David introduces listeners to his revolutionary program of "love-based beauty," built on the liberating idea that true beauty comes directly from individuality. He argues that personal style is simply how we physicalize our unique energy, and he pushes back against a multi-billion dollar industry that profits by selling imperfections and planned obsolescence.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Redefining Style: Why your appearance is an energy transference rather than a binary set of fashion rules.
• The Myth of Perfection: How to escape the trap of external ideals and move from self-acceptance to self-celebration.
• David’s Origin Story: Tracing his journey from a child piano prodigy in California, Missouri, to a globally recognized style innovator.
• The "Dream Board" Process: Why connecting with your soul's deepest, unlimited aspirations is the key to unlocking your physical style.
• Sharing the Sidewalk: How elevating your wardrobe—and dressing a little better than the room—acts as a superpower that spreads joy and community awareness.

Through a blend of art, beauty, and metaphysics, David explains how to silence the internal critic and view yourself through kinder eyes.

Resources Mentioned:

• Explore more of David's work and pick up the new book at davidkibbe.co.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

What if healing isn't about repairing what is broken, but remembering that we were never truly broken in the first place?

In this episode of "In Conversation," host Terry Shepherd sits down with Denise Perez, the author of Alchemic Healings: The Art of Remembering and the founder of Alchemic Healings in Alachua County, Florida. Denise shares her deeply personal and mystical journey of stepping off the corporate "hamster wheel" as a six-figure commercial insurance producer to rediscover her authentic self.

Catalyzed by the emotional heartbreak of her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and a chance encounter with an NLP practitioner, Denise shifted from being a 15-year atheist to exploring energetic modalities and past life regressions. She also openly discusses her profound experiences with plant medicines like ayahuasca and mushrooms. During a 2024 ayahuasca ceremony in the Peruvian Andes, Denise connected with her deceased mother, who encouraged her to write her book and simplify the concepts of spiritual alchemy for others.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How healing is a process of reclamation, moving away from fear and toward freedom.
• Why plant medicines and psychedelics can act as "permission slips" to help our subconscious let down its guard.
• The importance of befriending your ego instead of seeking "ego death".
• How our everyday human existence, including our relationships and finances, acts as the perfect laboratory for spiritual alchemy.
• Why finding your own inner joy and learning to surrender can lead to profound life transformations.

Through her writing and her practice, which includes Reiki, access bars, and Akashic records readings, Denise aims to empower people to become conscious participants in their own transformation.

Connect with Denise Perez: To learn more about her book and her spiritual practices, visit her website at alchemichealings.com.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

In this episode of "In Conversation," host Terry Shepherd sits down with historical fantasy author Judith Starkston to explore the captivating intersection of history, archaeology, and myth. Judith discusses her latest novel, Achilles' s Wife, and her passion for placing women at the center of ancient Bronze Age narratives. They also dive into a thoughtful review of Christopher Nolan's contemporary film adaptation of The Odyssey, unpacking its modern themes, character portrayals, and departures from Homer's original epic.

Key Highlights

• Reimagining Achilles: Judith explains how Achilles' sWife explores a hidden chapter of the hero's life on the island of Scyros, giving voice to the often-overlooked princess Deidameia.
• Nolan's The Odyssey: A lively critique of Christopher Nolan's action-packed thriller adaptation, including thoughts on Anne Hathaway's performance, the removal of the original myth's sexual elements (like the Calypso storyline), and the film's focus on modern themes such as migration and the ancient concept of xenia (guest-host relationship).
• Women in Antiquity: A discussion on how ancient women often held more rights and ruling power than typically assumed, and how legendary writers like Homer subtly highlighted their intelligence despite the patriarchal norm.
• Translating Homer: Judith shares her favorite translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, specifically praising the oral quality of Lombardo's work and the less repressive, more accurate language of Emily Wilson's modern translation.
• What's Next: A sneak peek into Judith's current work-in-progress—a humorous, contemporary novel following a modern classicist who experiences mythological visions featuring the goddess Athena.

About the Guest

Judith Starkston is a classicist and author who writes historical fantasy and mythic retellings set in the worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Her storytelling is grounded in serious scholarship, holding classics degrees from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Cornell. Prior to writing full-time, she taught high school students and shared her deep love for ancient history and mythology. Her published works include Hand of Fire, the four-book Tesha series, and her latest release, Achilles' Wife.

Links & Resources

• Visit Judith's Website: judithstarkston.com
• Books Mentioned: Achilles' s Wife and Hand of Fire (available wherever cool books are sold)

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Dive into the limitless universe of storytelling with executive producer, director, and author Elliot Blake. From directing A-list talent in Audible's hit Moriarty trilogy to crafting Emmy-winning animation, Elliot is now exploring the written word with his debut sci-fi novella, Into The Great. Join host Terry Shepherd as they discuss the transition from screen to page, the power of personal choice, and what happens when an alien invasion simply stares back at you.

In This Episode, We Discuss

• 👽 A New Kind of Invasion: Discover how Into The Great uses silent, observing aliens as a profound metaphor for real-world instability and rapid societal change.
• ✍️ Script to Prose: Hear about Elliot's creative transition from the present-tense world of television and audio dramas to mastering the intimate, past-tense interiority of prose fiction.
• 🌌 Love in the Void: Explore how the novella balances a sprawling space backdrop with an intimate, character-driven romance about personal freedom and taking control of your destiny.
• 🎙️ Directing Legends: Get behind-the-scenes insights on collaborating with voiceover powerhouses like Sir Ben Kingsley and Dominic Monaghan on the Moriarty audio series.

About the Guest Elliot Blake is an Emmy-winning storyteller whose dynamic career spans animation, comic books, and audio dramas. He serves as the executive producer and director of Audible’s acclaimed Moriarty trilogy and as an executive producer for Apple TV’s The Sisters Grimm. His new sci-fi novella, Into The Great, marks his highly anticipated return to prose fiction.

About Terry Shepherd Terry Shepherd is an award-winning broadcaster, narrator, and author dedicated to exploring the creative process. Through "In Conversation," Terry brings listeners deep into the writer's craft, shining a spotlight on the artists and support systems that bring our favorite stories to life.

Links & Resources

• 📖 Get your limited edition copy of Into The Great at Little Factory: lilfac.com/shop
• 🌐 Visit Elliot Blake's official website: elliottblake.com
• 🎙️ Listen to Moriarty: The Great Chaos on Audible
• 🎧 Terry Shepherd Official Website: TerryShepherd.com

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo