They have billions of dollars, political connections, and an audacious plan for America.

In David W. Swanson’s The Vote: A Story of Political Peril, wealthy operatives pursue a strategy involving elections, political power, and Article V of the Constitution. The result is a political thriller built around a provocative possibility: What could happen if enormous private wealth were turned toward changing the structure of American government?

In this episode of This One’s About…, a podcast by Mission Point Press, Swanson talks about the political and constitutional ideas behind his novel and the real-world machinery that gives its fictional conspiracy an unsettling edge.

If you like political fiction that mixes suspense with the inner workings of American government, put The Vote on your list.

Curious Sidney and cautious JoJo are heading to Thailand, where Mama lives—but getting there means crates, conveyor belts, two airplane rides, a vet visit, and quarantine.

Lauren Isaacson’s picture book The Tales of Sidney and JoJo: Adventures in Thailand imagines the real-life overseas journey of her two cats through their very different personalities. Along the way, young readers encounter tropical sights and sounds, Thai customs and words, temple cats, and the challenge of finding courage when everything feels unfamiliar. This conversation looks at how Isaacson’s experience as an educator shaped a playful story about travel, change, resilience, and curiosity about other cultures.

Listen to This One’s About…, a podcast by Mission Point Press, and follow the show for more conversations with books and authors.

What happens when one person becomes the last keeper of an entire civilization's memory? In this episode of This One's About..., we sit down with Stephen Rheaume, author of Nokee, The Last of The Great Lakes Mound Builders. Stephen shares the inspiration behind this sweeping historical novel, exploring Michigan's ancient mound-building culture, the power of oral tradition, and the enduring importance of preserving stories before they're lost to time. We also discuss the fascinating blend of history, spirituality, and suspense that makes Nokee's journey both timeless and unforgettable.

In this very special episode of This One's About…, we welcome David L. Miles and Ole Lyngklip, co-authors of The City on Three Lakes: A Maritime History of Charlevoix and the Surrounding Region. Together, they share the remarkable story behind this landmark publication—a stunning 682-page volume that chronicles the people, waterways, industries, and traditions that shaped one of northern Michigan's most beloved communities.

From years of meticulous research and extensive museum collections to more than 875 rare photographs, maps, and contemporary images, this extraordinary book preserves Charlevoix's maritime legacy for generations to come. Join us for a fascinating conversation about history, collaboration, and the enduring connection between a community and the waters that define it.

What does it take to spend more than four decades chasing the wind?

On this episode of This One’s About…, we welcome Craig Elliott, author of The Balloonatics. After accepting a friend’s invitation to join a hot air balloon crew shortly after high school, Elliott discovered a passion that would shape the next forty-two years of his life. From exhilarating first flights to close calls in the sky, he shares the adventures, mishaps, and unforgettable characters that defined his career as a hot air balloon pilot.

Filled with humor, heart, and remarkable stories from above the clouds, The Balloonatics offers a fascinating glimpse into the unique world of hot air ballooning and the people who dedicate their lives to it.

In this episode of This One’s About…, we sit down with Bradley Poos, author of Urban Education: Kansas City’s Central High School and the Enduring Legacy of Racism. Bradley explores the remarkable and complex history of Central High School—the oldest public school west of the Mississippi River and once one of the nation’s premier segregated White high schools.

Our conversation examines how the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision reshaped Central High School, leading to one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in American educational history. As the school transitioned from an all-White student body to an all-Black student body between 1955 and 1962, the enduring effects of segregation, race, and educational policy became impossible to ignore.

Tune in for a compelling discussion about history, education, and the lasting legacy of racism in American schools.

In this episode of This One’s About…, we sit down with Ann Goethals to discuss her novel, The Doublewide — a heartfelt, funny, and deeply relatable story about learning to take up space in the world.

Candy Schein has spent most of her life keeping her head down and avoiding attention. But when she falls in love with a discounted mystic blue doublewide, she’s suddenly forced to navigate mortgages, contractors, permits, debt, and human connection itself. What begins as a quest for the perfect home becomes a moving story about self-acceptance, vulnerability, and unexpected love.

Join us as Ann shares the inspiration behind Candy’s journey, the emotional truths woven through the novel, and why stories about ordinary people building meaningful lives matter so much.

We're chatting with Marie Schmidt, author of Eddy's Day Out, about a curious dog with a nose for adventure! Children will delight in Eddie as he befriends a group of children waiting to board a school bus destined for the Detroit Institute of Arts, plays follow-the-leader, enjoys a class of figure drawing, discovers great paintings, and heads home to find himself on a “lost dog” poster.