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Podcast

Non Fiction, Psychology, Relationships, Self-help, Women's Issues

NOV 04: Rev Up Your Relationship with Psychologist Kelli Miller

November 4, 2026

Kelli’s heard it all & is here to help

Love Hacks with author Kelli Miller

Whether you’re falling for someone new, or have been side-by-side for years, psychologist Kelli Miller offers practical tips and practices you can start using today to help build a more connected, authenitc, and fulfilling love life.

We discuss some of the 15 most common struggles couples face – all covered in Kelli’s book Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues. And we get honest about things that trip us up: Cultural differences, the beliefs and upbringing we carry into our relationships, deep-rooted anger, heartbreak , infidelity, and how to effectively communicate with each other.

Kelli also shares the four cornerstones of a solid partnership, and offers gentle, honest guidance on a big question that many of us struggle with: When is it time to stop trying and move on?

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, and television/radio host. She is a three-time award-winning writer, with her most recent book, Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues, offering practical tools for navigating everyday relationship challenges. Kelli’s expertise has been quoted in various publications including Oprah Magazine, Authority Magazine, Wellness Magazine, and others.

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Narrative Nonfiction, Non Fiction, True Crime

OCT 28: #1NYT Bestselling True Crime Author Gregg Olsen with Ordinary Wife – America’s Forgotten Serial Killer

October 28, 2026

She was beautiful. Charming. An excellent cook and … a killer.

Ordinary Wife – True Story of America’s Forgotten Serial Killer with Gregg Olsen (coauthored with Morgan Olsen)

Imagine frontier Idaho in the early 1900s. Men naturally swarmed around Lyda Trueblood. They also died around her … rather unnaturally.

Six deaths in five years. A 1921 trial that made her a national sensation. And a nickname that newspapers of the day could not resist: Lady Bluebeard.

How did an Ordinary Wife become one of America’s most chilling, and overlooked, serial killers? One of America’s best known true crime writers joins us to shed light on the story behind the headlines.

We discuss why Gregg Olsen some of the challenges of digging into the past and writing historical narrative nonfiction. The ethics around telling true stories. Why father and daughter collaborated on this. And much more.

Meet Gregg Olsen

Gregg Olsen is the #1 New York Times, #1 Amazon Charts, #1 Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 crime books. Based in rural Washington State, Olsen is a two-time Edgar Award-nominated author whose work has been honored by the Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Gregg’s latest book, coauthored with debut author Morgan Olsen, is Ordinary Wife – The True Story of America’s Forgotten Serial Killer.

Morgan Olsen is the daughter of Gregg Olsen. She and her twin sister spent their childhood tagging along on interviews, answering collect calls from prison, and learning early how not to become a “Dateline Girl.” Morgan is a second-grade teacher by day. An avid runner by night. And the person everyone wants on their side when there’s a mystery to be solved.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Oct 21: Brad Meltzer – The Thrill Master Who Never Fails to Thrill

October 21, 2026

The Viper, A Zig & Nola Novel.

The Viper – A Zig & Nola Novel with Brad Meltzer

He writes the thrillers that keep you up at night. And hunts down the secrets history hoped you’d never find.

Brad Meltzer is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, the mind behind The Inner Circle and The Escape Artist. He’s also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Decoded and Lost History, and the creator of the Ordinary People Change the World series, which teaches kids that heroes are made, not born.

So what drives a man to chase conspiracies, crack historical codes, and inspire the next generation?

This week on Conversations Live, Vicki St. Clair sits down with Brad for a conversation about storytelling, curiosity, and the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And of course, Brad’s latest thriller, The Viper.

Meet Brad Meltzer

Emmy-nominated Brad Meltzer is #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and 11 other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos. In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award. As the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, Brad is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag.

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Artificial Intelligence, Health & Wellness, Healthcare, Non Fiction

Oct 14: The Machines Will See You Now … Are You Ready?

October 14, 2026

Picture this. You walk into a clinic, and before a human being says one word to you, a machine has viewed and summarized your medical records.

The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Healthcare with Anmol Madan

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence has moved from the research lab into the exam room. Before you see your doctor, AI’s reviewed all of your scans, tests, history, and ratings. And red-flagged anything the AI tool thinks important.

Does that feel like the future of healthcare you want? For many, replacing the human touch with AI raises big questions.

Machines make mistakes. They’re cold. Impersonal. AI hallucinates. And maybe the biggest question: What happens to the human connection with your doctor, radiologist, cardiologist?

Anmol Madan, author of The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Health Care, discusses the pros and cons of AI in healthcare. He shares where we’re heading, and why Anmol says that‘s “very good news”.

Meet Anmol Madan

An MIT-trained computer scientist, Anmol Madan was the co-founder/CEO of Ginger.io (acquired by Headspace). He’s the former Chief Data Scientist at Teladoc/Livongo, and the current CEO of RadiantGraph. In The Machines Will See You Now: A Human Roadmap to Autonomous Health Care, Anmol argues for “autonomous health” – machines and human doctors in partnership, with machines handling diagnostics, prediction, and prevention so clinicians can focus on empathy.

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Craft of Writing, Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Oct 07: Beyond Honor, A Thriller with K. B. Brodsky

October 7, 2026

He started the story. She helped finish it. The story behind the story.

Beyond Honor with K.B. Brodsky

Writing as K.B. Brodsky, husband & wife team Karen & Bill Brodsky discuss their debut thriller, Beyond Honor.

In the early morning hours, before anyone else woke, Bill Brodsky began writing a novel. As the story took shape, he shared it with Karen, inviting her to join him as coathuor.

What followed was a true creative partnership, with all the give and take that comes with developing a manuscript, while maintaining a happy marriage.

In this candid conversation, the couple take us behind the scenes: What sparked the idea for Beyond Honor, how they shaped characters (and who are their favorites). What they learned about teamwork, the writing process; and what they discovered about themselves and each other along the way.

Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or simply curious about what happens when two people create one book, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Meet K. B. Brodsky

K. B. Brodsky is the pen name of Karen and Bill Brodsky, a husband-and-wife writing team based in New York and Colorado. Beyond Honor is their first book, and the first novel in a three-book series. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says Beyond Honor fuses the DNA of the great old-school espionage novels, with today’s modern action thrillers.

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Fiction, Mystery, Writers on Writing

Sep 29: The Dying Light with Bestselling British Author Ann Cleeves

September 30, 2026

A Matthew Venn / Two Rivers Crime Novel

The Dying Light with Ann Cleeves

A sweltering heatwave. A local music festival. A politician’s holiday home. And a death that unravels a quiet English village.

Anne Cleeves created three highly successful detective series, and all three have become major TV dramas – Vera, Shetland, and the Two Rivers/Matthew Venn series.

With her sharp eye for detail, masterful storytelling, and unforgettable characters, Cleeves has captivated readers and viewers for decades. In fact, she’s the only British author to have two crime series airing on TV at the same time.

Today we discuss the latest book in the Matthew Venn series, The Dying Light, which is out today. We explore her journey from a young woman working odd jobs to becoming one of Britain’s most celebrated crime writers. And, we look at what’s coming next.

Meet Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves is a bestselling crime writer who’s won numerous major honors, including the CWA GOLD Dagger, and the CWA Dianond Dagger – the highest honor in British crime writing. Ann has written close to 50 books and has more to come. The three TV adapations of her three detective series have been aired on TV, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Ann joins us from her home in the northeast of England.

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Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Sep 23: New Thrills in Target Down – A Matthew Redd Thriller

September 24, 2026

Aaron Decker needs to collect on a 20-year-old debt, and Matthew Redd races to the challenge.

Target Down – A Matthew Redd Thriller with Ryan Steck

Ryan Steck returns to discuss Target Down, the craft of writing, and what a decade-plus of storytelling has taught him.

Aaron Decker faked his own death twenty years ago to protect his family. Now someone’s found him, and the only man he trusts to help is former Marine Raider Matthew Redd, a man who doesn’t leave debts unpaid. That’s the spark behind Target Down, the fifth entry in Ryan Steck‘s Matthew Redd series, blending military-thriller tension with the soul of a modern Western.

We dive into the full story, how Redd and this cast have evolved across five books, and the instincts Ryan has sharpened over more than a decade in the thriller world. We also learn why connections are important to authors, and why Ryan says his “bosses” are his readers.

Meet Ryan Steck

Ryan Steck is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy, one of the thriller genre’s most trusted voices, and author of the bestselling Matthew Redd series, including Fields of Fire, Lethal Range, Out for Blood, Gone Dark, and now Target Down. He also continues the late Ted Bell’s iconic Alex Hawke series, most recently with Warmonge; and has launched a new series with The Second Son. Ryan lives in Michigan with his wife and six children.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Sep 16: Brad Taylor on Sleepwalking Toward Armageddon

September 17, 2026

Bestselling thriller author on the real-world fault lines behind his explosive new novel, Shadow Strike – A Pike Logan Novel

Shadow Strike – A Pike Logan Thriller with Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor returns to Conversations Live to pull back the curtain on Shadow Strike, his latest pulse-pounding thriller. Brad walks us through how the book came together, from the geopolitical tensions that sparked the idea, to research trips that took him from South America deep toward the edge of Antarctica.

We dig into the craft of writing believable characters, and the strange, unsettling experience of watching headlines catch up to a plot Brad already finished writing months before. Hamas, Hezbollah, Patagonia, and Argentina all collide in ways that feel ripped from today’s news.

Brad also shares why he believes the world is sleepwalking its way toward Armageddon. Is too late for us to wake up? Join us to find out. 

Meet Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor retired from the army as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During his 20 plus years in the army, Brad held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He’s conducted operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. Brad’s final assignment was the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. 

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Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Relationships, Self-help

Sep 09: Physician Turned Author Says Connection Is the Cure – Dr Beth Ricanati

September 9, 2026

The Braided Prescription: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah.

The Braided Prescription with Dr. Beth Ricanati

Reduce stress & anxiety, reconnect with yourself & others, get your mojo back!

When Dr. Beth Ricanati began a life-changing journey to relieve stress in her life, she simply wanted to get well and share her story. But along the way she discovered the Seven Practices for Living Well that she includes in her new book The Braided Prescription.

A balance of science, psychology, Dr’s notes, and personal stories, we share insight into those 7 Practices, including how Dr. Beth uses the making of Challah bread as a metaphor for living well with intention. And how this ongoing journey has reshaped her own life as well as thousands of others.

Meet Dr. Beth Ricanati

Dr. Ricanati is a board certified MD in internal medicine. She’s built her career around bringing wellness and wellbeing into everyday life through traditional medical clinics, wellness programs – and now, as an author and speaker. At the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Ricanati worked with Dr. Mike Roizen to create Lifestyle180 – a groundbreaking lifestyle modification program to treat chronic diseases with nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Dr. Ricanati’s first book was her memoir, Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs. Today we discuss her latest book The Braided Prescription: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah.

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Non Fiction, Psychology, Relationships, Self-help, Social Issues

Sep 02: You’d Never Join a Cult, Right? Daniella Mestyanek Young Says”You’re probably already in a cult. You just don’t know it…”

September 2, 2026

Why We Hand Our Power to High-Control Groups & How To Get It Back

The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them with Daniella Mestyanek Young

Today’s guest is a leading expert on group-think, high-control situations, corporate cultures, clubs, and some of the most insidious cults in America. She says, you might want to look at some of the organizations and people you associate with, before it’s too late.

Last time we spoke with Daniella Mestyanek Young it was about Uncultured, Daniella’s escape from the insidious Children of God cult. Today we explore some of the insights in her latest book, The Culting of America: What Makes A Cult & Why We Love Them.

We look at the difference between cults, groups, and clubs. Discuss a couple of well-known organizations and corporations that meet the 10 criteria shared by all cults. We unpack what makes cults dangerous. How to recognize the signs of high-control groups before it’s too late. And why, and how, we get sucked into them.

Meet Daniella Mestyanek Young

Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran, Harvard-trained organizational psychologist, and the author of two books about high-control groups—her critically- acclaimed memoir Uncultured. And her latest, The Culting of America. Born into the Children of God—the infamous sex cult known for weaponizing religion, sexuality, and isolation—Daniella escaped at 15, only to join another high-control institution: the United States Army. She became one of the first women to serve on an integrated ground combat team in Army history, while working as an intelligence officer who studied terrorists for a living. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, identity, group psychology, and coercive control.

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