
Hosted by Azul Terronez - Author, TEDx Speaker, Coach · EN
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? Are you curious about how successful bestselling authors write or learn how to publish and market a book? Have you thought, "I'd like to write a book," but I don't know where to start? I explore authors' journeys, how they craft their stories, become published, and share their art of writing books with the world. You are meant to write the book now and be inspired by those who have done it.

Send us Fan MailAt the heart of every aspiring author's journey, before outlines are made or words are penned, a gnawing question lingers: Am I enough? On this solo episode of Authors Who Lead, I cut through the noise of writing tips and publishing strategies to spotlight this deeply personal challenge. Drawing on over a decade of coaching writers, I reveal that the greatest barrier to writing isn’t a lack of ideas or technical skill—it’s self-worth.Timestamp:00:00 Common doubts before writing a book04:11 Embracing your unique perspective09:06 The unpredictability of bestsellers10:34 Confronting book writing fearsFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailWhether you’ve dreamed of being an author for decades or you’re just starting to put pen to paper, there’s one constant truth: writing—and finishing—a book is no small feat. On this episode of the Authors Who Lead podcast, I want to dive into the hidden obstacles that prevent most aspiring writers from becoming published authors. Drawing from my own journey (including a 24-year gap between my writing dreams and writing reality!), I lay out three major reasons books go unfinished—and what, exactly, you can do about it.Timestamp:00:00 Why your book won’t succeed05:10 Discovering a teaching career07:12 Struggling with writing a manuscript11:32 The impact of a book14:00 Letting go of writing perfection18:02 Understanding intrusive thoughts20:12 Encouragement to subscribe and reviewFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailPublishing a book is often seen as a milestone—a badge of honor for accomplished leaders and coaches. But as I reveal in my conversation on the Authors Who Lead podcast, writing a book does more than boost your authority. It can crystallize your message, become a launching pad for new opportunities, and ultimately serve as a powerful legacy that outlives you.Timestamp:00:00 Discussing Mark's leadership book06:01 Impact of publishing a book07:02 Seeking publishing validation12:54 Writing process and early feedback14:11 Discovering my writing passion17:00 Discovering the TED Talk idea22:36 Turning book into Kindle edition25:07 Crafting a clear book message28:27 Writing my first book32:40 Choosing between fame and fortune33:51 Using visual models for writingFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailWriting a memoir is never an easy feat—especially when the story being told explores the deeply personal terrain of trauma, healing, and the reclamation of one’s agency. In this episode of the "Authors Who Lead" podcast, I sit down with Chelsey Valeri—licensed clinical social worker, trauma therapist, and debut memoirist—as she offers an honest glimpse into how she crafted her book, Healed Enough. Through our conversation, you'll get a multidimensional understanding of complex trauma—from both clinical and lived perspectives—and what it takes to turn such experiences into a story that resonates.Timestamp:00:00 Deciding to write a memoir05:12 Complex PTSD not in DSM07:08 Understanding trauma's impact on mental health10:29 Discussing personal healing journey14:45 Feeling vulnerable but understood19:34 Writing during health challenges21:29 Navigating a patriarchal society26:06 Healing Foundation and trauma care29:12 Editing process for publishing33:12 Discussing book feedback and approach37:18 Writing a clinician's hand guide39:40 Challenges in trauma therapy training43:36 Discussing a valuable trauma bookFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailFor many of you, the journey from idea to manuscript can feel daunting and filled with self-doubt. In this heartfelt solo episode, I share personal insights and experiences from a life devoted to writing, coaching, and the pursuit of dreams. This post explores key takeaways from the episode, offering both encouragement and practical wisdom for anyone standing at the threshold of their own writing journey.Timestamp:00:00 Deciding to write a book03:38 Pursuing travel through writing07:23 Importance of finishing your book11:55 Writing and living in SpainFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailBehind every aspiring author I meet is a burning question: “Does what I have to say really matter?” I want to shine a light on this today, urging you to look beyond the mechanics of writing and toward the deeper reason you write at all. Writing a book is about so much more than perfect prose or bestseller status—it’s about sharing your unique message, stepping into leadership, and leaving a mark on the world that only you can.Timestamp:00:00 Discussing the book's narrative style04:02 Navigating medical language barriers09:24 Beginning memoir research process11:02 Crafting an engaging memoir narrative14:52 Balancing honesty in writing18:58 The impact of Blue Fairy19:56 Reader feedback on helpful book details23:06 Teaching 12-year-olds memoir28:10 Discussing future writing ideas30:26 Starting to write a novel36:19 Dealing with a friend's grief39:03 Writing a fictionalized series41:04 Preview of her art journal44:14 Advocating for your messageFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailBehind every aspiring author I meet is a burning question: “Does what I have to say really matter?” I want to shine a light on this today, urging you to look beyond the mechanics of writing and toward the deeper reason you write at all. Writing a book is about so much more than perfect prose or bestseller status—it’s about sharing your unique message, stepping into leadership, and leaving a mark on the world that only you can.Timestamp:00:00 Seeking significance through writing04:34 Message beneath the words09:31 Small ideas spark big impact10:54 Small ideas, big impactFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailI 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.Timestamp:00:00 Writing to connect authentically05:28 Reflections on teaching and growth08:18 Writing reveals self-discovery11:30 Loss, reflection, and renewal14:01 Reflections on growth and change17:02 Curiosity can transform the world22:17 Facing fear through writing24:13 Merging grief and professional growth28:57 Connection over job titles30:13 Who is this not for?33:56 Connecting with the authorFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailIn 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.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.Timestamp:00:00 Reimagining humanity in the Anthropocene04:10 Writing to reveal oneself08:56 Guide to radical civilizational transition10:13 Responses to the personal transformation chapter13:24 Navigating a transcontextual crisis16:34 Patience nurtures ideas into form20:49 Why this book resonates24:56 AI cover art collaboration29:09 Authors’ long-term success plan32:35 Regenerative devotion and resilience35:01 Books thrive through community38:03 True Human: the author journeyFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us Fan MailIf 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.”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.Timestamp:00:00 Confidence comes through action05:14 Embracing change and self-expression08:13 Take action, publish your book10:47 Purpose drives creationFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your book🤫 Secret Podcast: Born to Write, Scared to Start⭐ You're Allowed to Write This BookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage