Best Seller Podcast

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Robert Pizzini sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his book, Elevate Your Leadership: How to Develop, Maintain and Advance Lifelong Leadership. Robert shares secrets to cultivating enduring leadership skills and achieving lifelong success. Drawing from his extensive experience as a leader in both military and corporate settings, Robert dives into the core principles outlined in his book. He reveals the essential components of effective leadership development focusing on both the art of leadership and the science of leadership. By striking this delicate balance, leaders are able to navigate complex challenges, foster innovation, and encourage a culture of excellence within their teams and organizations. Robert highlights the importance of putting people first, emphasizing the need for leaders to be both physically energetic and mentally focused on a daily basis. He also emphasizes the importance of continuous growth and learning in the journey towards leadership excellence. Robert reminds viewers that leadership is a perishable skill that requires constant practice and refinement. One of the most compelling aspects of his approach is its applicability across diverse industries and settings. Whether you're leading a team, managing a business, or navigating personal challenges, "Elevate Your Leadership" offers a roadmap for success that transcends boundaries and empowers individuals to reach their full potential. Robert's book shares his wisdom and passion for empowering leaders to become the best versions of themselves. Using this book as their guide, they're empowered to elevate their leadership skills, maximize their impact, and forge a path to lifelong success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Lori Darley joins host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss her book, Dancing Naked: Claiming Your Power as a Conscious Leader. Lori delves into the central theme of her book: the journey towards conscious leadership and shares her profound insights into personal transformation, purpose-driven leadership, and the power of connection. Lori's journey, she reveals, transcends her career as a dancer—it's a quest for authenticity and self-discovery that has led her to redefine leadership in a conscious light. With candor and wisdom, she draws parallels between her personal evolution and the rebranding of her company, Conscious Leaders, inviting readers to embark on their own journey of self-exploration and empowerment. At the heart of Lori's message lies a powerful purpose: to elevate the way people think about themselves, their lives, relationships, and their impact on the world. Through engaging anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, she inspires readers to embrace their innate potential and strive for greatness in every aspect of their lives. Central to Lori's philosophy is the notion that our thoughts shape our actions and interactions. As she eloquently puts it, "how we think has everything to do with how we comport ourselves, how we blend with one another's energy." By cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness, leaders can harness their inner power to create meaningful connections, foster collaboration, and drive positive change. Through Lori’s book and her guidance, readers are equipped to step into their full potential, lead with authenticity, and make a positive impact in the world around them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Brady Brim-DeForest joins host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his groundbreaking book, Smaller is Better: Using Small Autonomous Teams to Drive the Future of Enterprise. Brady shares his invaluable insights into revolutionizing organizational structures to thrive in the modern business landscape. Brady dives into a theme of his book: the imperative of removing complexity from organizations to foster innovation and agility. With compelling anecdotes and real-world examples, he demonstrates how embracing simplicity can unlock untapped potential and drive sustainable growth. Throughout the episode, Brady emphasizes that "Smaller is Better" isn't just theory—it's a practical guide for leaders seeking tangible results. From streamlining decision-making processes to empowering teams with autonomy, the book offers actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business environments. One of the most compelling aspects of Brady's approach is its scalability. Whether it's a team of 20 or 2,000, the concepts outlined in the book are universally applicable, providing a blueprint for success across organizations of all sizes. Moreover, Brady sheds light on how the small team model advocated in his book is uniquely suited for the AI revolution. By fostering collaboration, creativity, and adaptability, small autonomous teams are poised to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to drive innovation and stay ahead of the curve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, Mark Schulman co-author of The Attitude Equation: The Definitive Formula For Exceptional Life Outcomes sits down host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss the rockstar attitude and how shifting your attitude can lead to positive changes in your life. Schulman who is best known for his drumming talents and has toured for 32 years with acts such as PINK, Cher, Beyonce, and Billy Idol has now quit touring and turned his focus to speaking. He realized his stories were resonating with people more than his drum playing so he found his passion to share the philosophies he created and co-created to turn them into a speaking and writing career. The Attitude Equation is a compilation of stories from top performers in their industries and is based on the concept that Dr. Jim Samuels, co-author and mentor of Schulman’s, created and that Mark has been the “conduit” to share it with others. The book focuses on the equation of A x B = C or “Attitude times Behavior equals Consequence”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, Amanda Holmes co-author of the revised and updated version of The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss the latest version of the book. The original book was published 15 years ago by her father Chet Holmes. As Amanda details, Chet Holmes was a self-made man who had a system for how businesses can double their sales which became the book The Ultimate Sales Machine and explains how his methodology contains timeless and proven strategies that just needed a little updating and refreshing for the changing business environment. After her father passed away Amanda inherited his company at the age of 24 and at this time, she had no formal training and had to dive into study and learn her dad’s book and methodology. Within the first year she stepped in as CEO the company increased their marketing reach by 1146% and doubled their clients in different divisions multiple years in a row. The revised and updated version of The Ultimate Sales Machine took four years to complete. Amanda talks about her why for updating and revising the book now which is in Chapter 13 and came out of the last few months of being in the hospital room with her dad and wanting to give him “the encore he could never give” focusing on how to live a rich and full life. She discusses how she found a letter from her dad where he talked about how he generated more wealth in six months than in the last eight years combined, Amanda calls this strategy “something very special” and says, “you will have to read the book to find out”. The strategies in the book that may seem outdated but as Amanda explains can really be applied to today’s world and just needed some updating to make them relatable. She kept what was most important but some of the other things needed some refreshing and her words are sprinkled throughout the book. She is coming from a belief that “we can double our sales while also cutting our stress in half if we just get focused, if we get clear, and if our intention is right”. Amanda also talks about what her father would be most surprised about in the book, how Chapter 7 needed to be completely rewritten, and the emotional digital foreword she recorded for her dad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his book The Toxic Overload: The Truth About Your Body’s Natural Defenses and How to Experience Whole Body Health. Dr. Maddahi had the impetus of writing this, his third book, when COVID began. He had amassed considerable research and decided to put pen to paper. The genesis of the book goes back to his keen interest on how the body responds to diseases and infections, to answer the question of how has humanity survived for thousands of years without modern medicine. As a practicing dentist for over three decades, he said that dental research has focused heavily on killing bacteria, but there’s a flaw with that theory. He claims that seventy years of research is wrong and, “What we need to do is we need to not kill bacteria but rather neutralize the toxins of bad bacteria.” The book focuses on rethinking what we know about inflammation, disease, and bacteria. Dr. Maddahi argues that there is no “safe and effective” product in the market right now that prevents the killing of good bacteria. Dr. Maddahi cites thirty years of research that shows a correlation between heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems, and other health problems, and gum health. Whatever happens in your mouth affects the rest of your body, he reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Chris Heller sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his book “Dominant Thoughts: Things Grow Where Our Minds Go.” Heller wrote this book with Greg S. Reid after both of them were guests on a podcast. Soon after the interview, they decided to collaborate on this book – which took about a year to complete. Heller describes the book as a “business parable” inspired by books that left an indelible mark on him throughout life. The book features two main characters, Nick and John – one is a successful business owner who sold his business and the second character is a younger person he decides to mentor. Each book chapter has a theme woven into the story – each with a dominant thought. That same thought is what Heller wanted readers to come away with after each chapter. He adds that while the stories and ideas in the book are very personal, the story itself is fictional. Heller wrote the book geared towards the up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Those in the 22-31 age group and for anyone starting out. However, it is also relatable to anyone currently in business, sales, or is an entrepreneur. Everyone, regardless of career status, will get value out of the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Deanna Singh sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss her book “Actions Speak Louder: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Inclusive Workplace.” Singh is known as a Chief Change Agent which reflects her belief that everyone has the ability to – not just make change, but create positive change. Singh believes that her “purpose is to shift power to marginalized communities” and her books are a reflection of the work she does and the different ways in which she’s accomplished that. She adds, that the idea that if we’re doing things that allow for more people to show up, and do so fully, we can all create and build things to make the world a better place. Singh also recalls that she wrote the book due in part to the massive response she received about wanting to build an inclusive workplace but did not feel like they knew how to accomplish that. The book is more than a roadmap, it’s a step-by-step guide to create and make a more inclusive workplace where everyone can show up as their whole, and true, selves. There was an old adage that when people came to work, they left their families, communities, and other components of their social identity behind. However, Singh argues, the shift that has taken place in today’s work environment is not brand new. She says that people should be able to show up for work as their true selves not having to wear a mask in order to conform to preconceived norms to be successful. To write this book, Singh brought together history, sociology, and theoretical parts – all blended into practical and actionable steps, ready to be immediately implemented to today’s changing landscape. There are also plenty of personal anecdotes that proved crucial to weaving the narrative and making it all come together. Singh also cautions that there has to be a genuine approach to becoming more inclusive, otherwise, no progress will be made. She adds, “DEI in the charity bucket is not sustainable.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, author Jeremy Boerger sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his book “Rethinking Information Technology Asset Management”. Boerger begins by identifying, in layman’s terms, what information technology asset management – or ITAM, is. He said ITAM is “a segment inside service management that deals with getting the most value out of your hardware, software, server, systems necessary for modern businesses to function.” Asset management at its core is trying to fight a two-front fight – spending money on IT vs lowering costs. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine any business existing without an IT infrastructure in place; however, that doesn’t mean businesses should spend money frivolously. Boerger argues that we spend money on cybersecurity tools, photo production tools and even telecommunications, but do we stop to ask what is our ROI? Is there a better way to spend our dollars? Perhaps on employees, salaries and stock returns? This is where the ‘rethinking’ part comes into play. Boerger explains that according to a 2016 Gartner article, medium-to-large organizations can lower their software spending by about one-third. That can be accomplished with three things: Recycling already purchased licenses instead of buying more Ensuring the software features being bought line up with the work that’s being done Having a system in place that measures how the work is being done so you don’t get penalized by software publishers conducting software audits However, there are other ‘flaws’ that plague the industry, such as having two main operating methodologies: transactional and accountancy. Boerger describes the first as “nothing happens without a receipt” and the latter as “comparing what’s on the left hand side of the ledger with what’s on the right side of the ledger.” In the book, he describes a third methodology to be used – epistemology. Boerger argues that asset management is an exercise in epistemology, which he defines as the study of learning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, Scott Miller, author of “Media Matters: How to Leverage the Media to Grow Your Business.” sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his new book. As someone who has been fully immersed in media for over two decades, Scott Miller wrote the book because along the way he discovered how people are always interested in media, but don’t necessarily know how it all works. He says, “There’s more content available today than in the history of mankind.” The objective of the book is to unpack all of the necessary information so business owners can walk away with the necessary knowledge to make smart decisions with their marketing dollars. They will also come away with a clearer picture about the demographics they are trying to reach with their money. He adds that each book chapter is comprised of a particular part of the media with all its terminologies to familiarize readers with what it all means and how that impacts businesses. Miller is surprised by the number of businesses that don’t take the time to look at the Google analytics available to them. He claims this is one of the biggest mistakes businesses make. The other is thinking media is going to happen overnight. Media, he says, it’s about frequency and consistency. Media is also about content and having a sound content marketing strategy. Miller says, “Every business is a media company today.” He continues to say that every entity should be thinking about the type of content they create – whether it’s written, videos, or podcast. However, the content created needs to add value to your business (and customer). Value also adds trust and credibility and makes you a thought leader within your industry. In the end, media is not a race, it’s more of a long-term process. And the sooner business leaders understand how to better reach their audience, the more their businesses will thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, Scott Conant, author of Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes From a Chef’s Own Kitchen sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss his fourth book which is his most personal to date. He wrote the book as a direct result of the question he is asked most often by fans and people he encounters: “what do you cook at home?” The book is meant to show a variety of delicious ingredients, things his kids and wife love to eat, and also to show that not everything is about caviar or truffles. It also shows the evolution of his career. Conant recalls how the first twenty years of his career weren’t the easiest. At the time, he did not get paid for months on end, which gave him the opportunity to focus on his craft. Despite all the complexities and challenges of the time, those gave way to the simplicity he currently enjoys. He explains that “There’s a new appreciation for simplicity the older you get.” Simple relationships and the simplicity of life are the ultimate luxury, Conant muses. Despite the difficulties faced, Conant was not in the profession for the money. What was most important to him was being able to cook the type of food he wanted. This book is a balance of the ‘then’ as well as the ‘now’ – an evolution of sorts of over three decades as a chef. Conant wanted to achieve that balance – not just with the timeline, but with the types of recipes, he included in the book. He did not want the recipes to be fancy, but “craveable.” He adds, “It’s touching being part of someone’s dinner table at home.” Conant tested all the recipes from the book on his kids – especially his youngest daughter, who he describes as an “incredibly picky” eater. Both his daughters, he says, are tougher critics than the New York Times and he describes their opinions of his food as “humbling.” In this episode, he divulges one of his favorite recipes in the book, which happens to be one of his classic dishes, and what his ‘grand slam’ recipe is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, host Taryn Winter Brill sits down with Bill Humbert, author of Expect Success: The Science of the Over 50 Career Search. Humbert’s extensive career has led him to the realization that many job applicants are going about their job search the wrong way. His four decades of experience – twenty-six of those years coaching professionals on how to find their next career – gives him the credibility and expertise needed to help many figure out the ‘science’ behind it all. Humbert says there are four types of ‘science’ that most are unaware exist during their job search. Those are: mathematics, computer science, psychology, and sociology. Mathematics is applied because there are algorithms at play as well as salary negotiations, computer science involves artificial intelligence (AI), psychology pertains to what both the candidate and the manager are thinking and feeling, and sociology takes care of determining if the candidate is a good fit, culturally, for the company. Humbert reiterates that “HR is not your friend” and that candidates need to network their way in. He continues to say that only eight percent of jobs are filled through online postings, while seventy-five (or seventy-six) percent of jobs are filled by networking. He also reveals the trap that most job seekers fall into and that is the ‘marketing’ done by sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. That’ll make people “post and pray” they get a call for an interview when what they should do is use those sites to find the job, then go around them, network, find the managers, and talk to them. The book is a ‘101’ for anyone who may be a bit rusty writing resumes and feeling overwhelmed by the many changes taking place in the job search market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Deepak Chopra, author of Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth, sits down with host, Taryn Winter Brill to talk about his latest book which is about the seven levels of fulfillment, money being one of them. The “wealth” described involves material, emotional, spiritual, and relationship wealth and the combination of all areas is what creates a sense of well-being. Throughout the book, there is a constant connection between wealth and yoga. Chopra argues that yoga has four goals – money, pleasure, purpose, and freedom, all of which also relate to money. As a long-time yoga scholar, he says that if you connect with yourself, you have infinite creativity, abundance, and are capable of finding opportunities even in the midst of distress. Chopra says the book took root in a Bob Marley lyric at the beginning of the pandemic, “some people are so poor, all they have is money.” That resonated with him and made him examine all the wealthy people he knew and how many did not feel safe and secure in their current environment despite having plenty of financial wealth. Money is the biggest source of stress for most people because “they spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things that they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like.” Chopra explains how the key to wealth is being in your ‘dharma’ – which stands for meaning, purpose, and passion. He adds that people will know when they’re ‘on target’ when they get a PHD: Passion, Hunger, and Drive. During this interview, the best-selling author also delves into the formula for happiness, why “abundance is a state of awareness,” the two choices we make every single day, and whether our personalities are shaped by nature or nurture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Westfall, author of Easier: 60 Ways to Make Your Work Life Work for You recalls that this book wasn’t one that he set out to write, but one that he felt he needed to write. Throughout his career as a coach and consultant, he wanted this book to reflect the evolution of what he was seeing in the workplace and what his clients were experiencing as well. The book is a reflection of his experience coaching others as well as being coached in today’s corporate world. He emphasizes the book is a dialogue between an incredibly frustrated client and a coach. The client is fed up with his current job and is looking to find the courage to quit, so he hires a coach to help with that situation. What the client doesn’t realize is that in five days, he will be fired. Being fired is what Westfall refers to as a “life after career death story.” Westfall wants others to see themselves in the story and see new possibilities, even after experiencing the ultimate (career) low. He wrote the book from a place of service and to make people realize that possibilities exist even when the road is paved with obstacles. Westfall’s focus was writing a book that felt organic to the current climate. In fact, he made a pact with himself that the only stories that would be included in the book would be those that fit the narrative organically. That, to him, is what being authentic is all about. He also wanted to dispel the myth that people don’t have to go at it alone, arguing that entrepreneurs tend to fall into that trap. In the end, “Anything of value involves other people.” Watch the episode: https://c-suitenetwork.com/tv/video/chris-westfall-easier/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Margaritis, CSP, author of Off Scr!pt: Mastering the Art of Business Improv, tried his hand at improv in graduate school and, by his own accounts, he wasn’t “very funny.” However, he realized that improv can become a very powerful, and useful, leadership tool. Margaritis says that improv changed his life, his business, and his way of being. He hopes it helps others realize that improv isn’t about being funny, but it’s a great leadership tool to develop in today’s business landscape. In the book, Margaritis writes about the ‘seven foundations of improv’ which starts with a foundation of “respect, trust, and support.” He adds that as long as people trust those who they work with – and they trust you, you must continue to cultivate that trust. Also, leaders should be doing everything in their power to support their teams with the right skills and tools to succeed, but if any of the three elements is missing, everything crumbles. There is one key feature, or the glue “that holds it all together.” Those two words are “yes…and.” Margaritis says that “yes/and is about agreement but not always agreeing. It’s about empathy, collaboration, leaving your ego behind, and making it about your team.” Margaritis says people should learn to “listen to understand, not listen to respond” because “the business that we’re all in is the people business, first and foremost.” Without people we have no business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elijah Stacy, author of A Small If: The Inspiring Story of a Story of a 17-Year-Old with a Fatal Disease and A Mission To Cure It began writing his book at the age of 16 to show people how they can overcome their adversity and develop better mindsets. Despite his Duchenne muscular dystrophy disease diagnosis, he maintains a positive mindset and he says that the “small If” from his book comes from something his doctor told him when he was faced with the prospect of spinal surgery to correct his scoliosis. He adds that when you’re in a wheelchair, people often think you can’t do something, which motivates him to prove them wrong. Stacy says that writing the book made him learn so much about himself. This book will also help anyone dealing with adversity to become more resilient, more hopeful, inspired and motivated to live more fulfilling lives and push themselves towards greatness. The book includes 13 life lessons he has learned through his diagnosis including improving his self-image. Stacy says that one of the major lessons he learned was how it was possible to see himself as a smart, confident individual capable of doing great things and not as a disabled person. His tough mental attitude can be credited to his parents. He adds, “I just don’t see the logic in being pessimistic. I see the logic in being a realist but I also see the logic in being an optimist because optimism leads to things being innovative, being accomplished…which is super important.” His optimism is contagious, despite being diagnosed with a fatal disease that has a life expectancy of 25 years. Stacy adds that “Every adversity is an opportunity to improve your character and be a stronger person.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV Tom Fox, author of The Compliance Handbook: A Guide to Operationalizing Your Compliance Program, Second Edition, addresses what best practices can be put in place for companies to run more efficiently and generate more profits. Fox, who began working in the compliance industry in 2007, was a lawyer by trade but felt compelled to switch careers because he saw an opportunity to help make a difference and help corporations be more efficient. Fox says the United Nations estimates that $3 trillion is lost annually to corruption. He saw the opportunity to help corporations build first-class best practice compliance programs by complying with the law and run the business side a lot smoother. He defines compliance as setting up systems, processes, and procedures that comply with law and/or regulation. With laws constantly changing, Fox wrote the second edition of the book to instruct readers on the latest compliance laws that might affect them on a regular basis. Since his first edition in 2018, there has been a 40 percent change in laws, especially after the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the Department of Justice made significant changes to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The pandemic also helped exacerbate many more changes. Fox says the book is for a wide variety of readers, starting with compliance professionals, laying out a blueprint on how to build world-class compliance programs or enhance currently existing programs. The book is also for c-suite and senior executives to help educate them on the benefits of compliance and how to stay out of trouble. The compliance industry has evolved significantly in the last decade or so. Fox adds that right now, the industry is more data-driven and, “When you have data, you can actually improve business efficiency.” He continues to say that the backbone of compliance is internal controls, which are financial controls but are not often called that. If you look at them from a compliance perspective and tweak them enough to have both controls, you can make enough headroom in making a company run more efficiently, leading to greater profitability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Seller TV, Steve Lishansky, author of Leadership Starts Here, sits down with host Taryn Winter Brill to discuss the topic of leadership. As someone who has spent almost three decades coaching others on what it takes to be a great leader, Lishansky says he’s often met with silence when he asks the following question: “where does leadership start?” He explains that “leadership starts with the decisions we make.” Another question he often asks that is met with silence is, “What is your decision-making process?” Lishansky states that it’s crucial that people understand the decision-making process from an early stage and that every leader needs to have a full grasp, control, and understanding of that process to use it effectively. He defines leadership as “creating a powerful future that’s compelling in the present and utilizes our greatest talents, capabilities, and resources to produce meaningful and valuable results.” Lishansky also cautions that if people are unable to define what leadership means to them, then it becomes difficult to develop. The book’s title is meant to be a starting point for the type of leadership you’re looking to achieve. Lishansky says that “where you start is a predisposition of where you end up.” While he also describes leadership as a “fundamental human capacity,” great leadership is what maintains a company’s velocity, acceleration, and elevation. Great leadership is what sustains success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The episode of Best Seller TV features David Black, author of Ripped Apart: Living Misdiagnosed. Gary and Carol Stern’s Epic Fight Against Malpractice in the American Healthcare System as well as Carol Stern, one of the book’s protagonists, and her story of perseverance. We all understand the U.S. healthcare system is a complicated, bureaucratic institution. While there are plenty of good stories to tell, this one isn’t. Ripped Apart: Living Misdiagnosed is a four-year journey where Black goes into excruciating detail telling the story of Gary and Carol Stern and the abject failure of the healthcare system. Gary Stern spent three years with his internal organs outside of his body – however, Black thinks of the book as a love story. A story of a dedicated wife who advocated for her husband, fought one of the largest industries and even the White House. Black states that the “healthcare system is incoherent” and “schizophrenic.” On the one hand, it’s meant to heal the sick, while on the other hand, it’s a highly bureaucratic entity and those two things don’t go together. He says one-way patients (and their loved ones) can better protect themselves from medical errors is to ask questions. “Keep asking questions until you get an answer you can understand,” he urges. Once patients do that, they will be better equipped to make better judgments about their own healthcare. This book is for everyone, or anyone, who has had to navigate the healthcare system and become an advocate to those who need one. Stern emphasizes that notoriety is not the ultimate goal for her, but she hopes that her story changes what patients go through that could lead to malpractice and for medical professionals to admit their mistakes sooner too and; hopefully, offer better treatment options. As a long-time writer for television, and other books, Black says there are only three types of stories in the world: writer against something larger (fate, God, nature), people and other people, and person up (or against) his/herself. This story touched all three categories, making it an incredibly descriptive project, rather than merely a superficial one. Stern advises people to push the envelope if they don’t feel they’re getting the right answer and listen to what the patient is saying as no one knows their bodies better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Ferguson, author of Boss or Leader: Are You Leading for a Living or Living to Lead?, feels corporate America has always been full of ‘bosses,’ partly because society has elevated them as something we should all achieve as professionals. While there’s nothing wrong with being a boss, and there are plenty of good bosses, there’s a distinct difference between being a boss and being a leader. According to Ferguson, the main difference is that bosses value productivity, accomplishments, and tasks; whereas leaders value people. The latter believe that if the people feel valued, the results will come. The main focus of a boss is the productivity, or the bottom line, Ferguson says that, “When you work for someone like that, every day’s a Monday.” He argues that while most people go to work for a paycheck, being mentored by a leader opens things up – the vision gets bigger, we see ourselves doing bigger things, we’re not being micromanaged, and there’s freedom to ‘mess up.’ Ferguson says the book is for everyone – from seasoned leaders to teens, and anyone looking to make a transition between the two roles. He adds, “If you value people, leadership should be your thing.” The book is an easy-to-read resource guide meant to make us ask difficult questions once we’re done reading it. Ferguson indicates that, “A leader’s main job is to develop more leaders, not producing results.” He also adds that people can become bossy when they have a lot of responsibility, don’t know how to handle it, and don’t allow themselves to be humbled by it. Ferguson cautions that while bosses value winning more, sometimes the people pay the price and that can lead to high turnover rates. He adds, “Not everyone wants to be driven, they want to be led.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices