Podcast
Ballast Book Launch
Hosted by Ballast Media Group · EN
Join Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds as he interviews Former Special Operations Forces, CEOs, entrepreneurs, big thinkers, and industry-leading experts who have teamed with Ballast Books to publish their stories.
10episodes
Episodes
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Zoë Gregory Chats Book From Britain to Bunny, Detailing Her Life as a Former Playboy Bunny
Apr 1300:59:54Summary readyCheck out this episode as Zoë Gregory, author and former Playboy Bunny, talks her book, From Britain to Bunny, with Ballast Books president Andy Symonds. Get your copy here! What does it take to get from the tough streets of London to the glitz and glamour of the Playboy Mansion? Author Zoë Gregory takes readers on a journey through the rave scene of her rebellious youth to the stark reality of young motherhood and the economic pressures that drove her to reimagine her future. Join her through her life’s greatest turning points, including, of course, her relationship with the iconic Hugh Hefner. Zoë Gregory started her career in modeling at age seven, appearing in TV commercials and print media. Zoë later became a personal Playboy Bunny to Hugh Hefner, which offered her a unique glimpse into the Playboy Mansion. With her passion for storytelling, she evolved into a talented writer and author.
SummaryLieutenant General (Retired) Mark Hertling Talks If I Don’t Return—Part Battlefield Memoir, Part Father's Journal
Mar 601:08:14Tap to summarizeCheck out Mark Hertling's discussion of his book, If I Don't Return, with Andy Symonds, president of Ballast Books. When Mark Hertling was deployed to Iraq in 1990, he didn’t know if he’d ever return home. He started keeping a journal that could be passed down to his sons, writing about everything from the reality of combat during Operation Desert Storm and lessons on duty and humanity to stories of brotherhood and memories of his family. Now, decades later, he has returned to those journal entries and added detailed reflections to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the world. Part battlefield memoir, part father’s journal, part meditation on the challenges of leadership, If I Don’t Return is the story of a soldier who faced death, returned home, and continued to live a life of service. Lieutenant General (Retired) Mark Hertling served thirty-eight years in the US Army, as a major in a cavalry squadron during Desert Storm; as an assistant division commander in the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad; and later as the commander of the 1st Armored Division in Northern Iraq. From 2014 to 2024, Mark appeared as a military and national security analyst for CNN/CNN International. Today, he is a freelance analyst and writes on national security and leadership issues for a variety of media outlets. Get your copy of If I Don't Return here!
Transcribe →Kodey Bogart Discusses Newest Installment in Helo Girls Series
Feb 500:54:50Tap to summarizeKodey Bogart is back with the fourth book in the Helo Girls series, The Agricultural Pilot, which follows an aerial team on their mission to help a farmer spray crops with pesticides. Check out her discussion with Andy Symonds, president of Blue Balloon Books, as they talk all things STEAM and aviation. Kodey Bogart is a former United States Army warrant officer and aviator who flew the Blackhawk during medical evacuation missions. She is a decorated combat veteran who has received two Air Medals and a Sikorsky Rescue Award. Kodey has extensive experience across aviation operations, including aviation safety, flight training, maintenance test flights, helicopter air ambulance, and aviation law enforcement.
Transcribe →Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC Talks New Holiday Children’s Book Celebrating Generosity
Dec 800:56:39Tap to summarizeIn Darryl’s Christmas in Hollis, Christmas gets a magical mix-up, Run-DMC–style! Take a listen as DMC—rapper, producer, and now author—gives an inside scoop to his new project. As Christmas approaches, Darryl is exploding with holiday anticipation! But first, he needs a new pair of glasses. A trip to the eye doctor opens his eyes to the many ways people celebrate the holidays. When he tries on their new cultural frames, he sees everything from colorful Hanukkah dreidels to the beautiful Diwali lights. Darryl learns that holiday joy comes in all shapes and sizes. With his new perspective on holiday cheer and tradition, Darryl is encouraged to make a selfless decision. He uses his allowance to gift the bike he’s had his eye on to a homeless boy. He realizes that the true spirit of Christmas isn't about getting but about giving. Get a copy of Darryl’s Christmas in Hollis here!
Transcribe →Barry Morgenstein Takes Center Stage to Discuss His New Book Rock & Soul with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds
Nov 300:47:07Tap to summarizeBarry Morgenstein takes center stage in this discussion of his book Rock & Soul with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds. From the smoky corners of L’Amour to the thunderous roar of Giants Stadium, Barry poured his blood, sweat, and soul into capturing the faces that defined 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s music culture—including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Steven Tyler, and legends like Chuck Berry—in moments both fabled and intimate. Rock & Soul: Portraits by Barry Morgenstein is a visceral, visual collection of some of the best work throughout Barry’s career. This isn’t just a coffee table book—it’s a backstage pass, a time machine, and lightning strikes on paper. Each image tells an unfiltered story, immortalized by someone who didn’t just shoot the scene—he lived it.
Transcribe →Andrea Mercier Talks Debut Children’s Book About Bridging the Gap Between Neurotypical and Neurodivergent Children
May 2, 202500:33:32Tap to summarizeAndrea Mercier speaks with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds about her children’s book. Andrea’s journey took an unexpected turn when she became an autism mom to her beautiful son, Gabriel. His extraordinary spirit spurred Andrea to pen Oliver’s Extraordinary Friend. Through her heartfelt storytelling, Andrea aims to bridge the gap between neurotypical and uniquely-abled children to foster understanding and acceptance. In Oliver’s Extraordinary Friend, Oliver meets Gabriel, a boy with autism. Together, they discover the magic of friendship and embark on adventures full of fun, love, and kindness. This book is a touching reminder that our differences are what make us extraordinary and that true friendship knows no bounds. Learn more about the book here: https://blueballoonbooks.com/bookstore/olivers-extraordinary-friend/
Transcribe →Clinical Psychologist Chris Frueh, PhD, Talks Operator Syndrome and His Work with Special Forces Veterans
Apr 18, 202501:03:51Tap to summarizeChris Frueh, PhD, speaks with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds about his book Operator Syndrome, which outlines his decades of experience treating veterans and studying the impact that years of war have on them and their loved ones. Dr. Frueh guides readers through the harrowing terrain of operator syndrome. He provides a roadmap to understand its multifaceted origins and complex effects on every biological system in the body—as well as the social systems of family, work, and the indifferent society these warriors return to. Frueh shines a bright and empathic light on the silent struggles of a community with a “never quit” mindset. Most importantly, he provides real solutions, lifestyle adaptations, and step-by-step treatment strategies that have worked for hundreds of operators, saving lives and giving hope to families. Learn more about the book here: https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/operator-syndrome
Transcribe →NASA Astronaut Talks WWII Pilot Father and Their Careers in Flight
Mar 6, 202501:03:26Tap to summarizeJan Davis, author of Air Born: Two Generations in Flight and its sequel Air Born: Artistic Musings of a WWII Pilot and POW, tells her and her father's stories in this compelling episode of Ballast Book Launch with Andy Symonds. Two aviators making history. Two Americans serving their country. One incredible story spanning fifty years and two generations. Learn where it all started: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/air-born/ Ben Smotherman’s experiences and artistic renderings are masterfully captured in Jan Davis’s Air Born: Artistic Musings of a WWII Pilot and POW. Purchase here: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/air-born-artistic/
Transcribe →High Reliability Healthcare Co-Authors Discuss Improved Patient Care & Lessons from the Nuclear Navy
Feb 5, 202500:45:19Tap to summarizeDo you want better clinical outcomes, fewer errors, increased productivity, and highly reliable patient care? High Reliability Healthcare offers some actionable tips from the safest and most reliable industry ever: the nuclear navy. For over seventy-five years, the nuclear navy has operated highly enriched nuclear reactors with sailors in their twenties at the helm and has never experienced an accident. As Forbes reported, “The [US] Nuclear Navy has the best safety record of any industry.” Get the book by Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman and Dr. Robert Roncska: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/high-reliability-healthcare/
Transcribe →Darrell Utt's Story of Grit: Rising to Become a Green Beret, and How You Can Use the Same Principles
Dec 26, 202401:08:58Tap to summarizeAuthor of the smash-hit seller Grit to Glory Darrell Utt sits down with Ballast Books CEO Andy Symonds to discuss his background as a Green Beret in Baghdad, his new foray into publishing, and his essential "Grit Code": the eight principles he says can help anyone overcome their toughest challenges. His story stands as a powerful testament that no matter where you come from, bold action and relentless pursuit of your goals can lead to extraordinary achievements. Learn more about Grit to Glory at: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/grit-to-glory/
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