Spirit Talk Show - Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups

Some people don’t speak loudly.
They speak deeply.

In this reflective and quietly powerful episode of Spirit Talk Show: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, Doyle and producer Howie welcome Joseph Bolton—a former Army officer, folklorist, and creator of the richly imagined Old Grandmother’s Tree series, a body of work rooted in ancestry, myth, and the enduring wisdom of story.

Joseph spent 25 years in the U.S. Army, including time at West Point and a deployment to Afghanistan—experiences that shaped his understanding of mortality, meaning, and what it truly means to live with intention. After loss, grief, and retirement, he turned inward—and then outward—toward storytelling as a way of honoring those who came before him.

At the heart of his work is Marie-Mette Owaugwe, a 17th-century Algonquin ancestor whose life, loss, dignity, and resilience became the living trunk from which an entire story-world grew. Through folklore-styled narratives, trickster figures, creation myths, and hundreds of hand-illustrated pages, Joseph tells stories that feel ancient and strangely familiar—like something you almost remember.

In this conversation, we explore:

How ancestry can become a living presence, not just history

Why folklore speaks truths modern language can’t

Storytelling as a sacred act of remembrance

Loss, brotherhood, and carrying family forward

Why some stories are meant to be grown, not written

Joseph reads from Dance of Creation, the latest volume in the series, offering listeners a creation story that feels both cosmic and intimate—one that reminds us that every life begins with a unique dance, and every person carries gifts meant to be seen.

This episode unfolds like sitting beside a fire under old stars—slow, grounding, and full of wonder. It is a conversation about roots, memory, imagination, and the quiet courage of listening long enough for meaning to rise.

Settle in.
Some stories don’t ask to be consumed.
They ask to be remembered.

Spirit Talk Show: now go tell a story worth telling.

Spirit Talk Show – Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Hosted by Doyle

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What if dyslexia isn’t a learning disability — but a differently wired brain that’s been taught the wrong way?

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Spirit Talk Show: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, Doyle sits down with Russell Van Brocklin — known as “The Dyslexic Professor” — whose journey from a first-grade reading level to law school sparked a mission to transform how we teach reading and writing.

After being failed despite excelling in a New York State Assembly internship, Russell refused to accept the limits placed on him. What followed was groundbreaking dyslexia research, a state-funded intervention program, and a structured writing method that has helped students move from the lowest percentiles to grade level — and beyond — often in a matter of months.

In this conversation, Russell explains:

• Why dyslexia is not simply a reading problem
• What brain scans reveal about how dyslexic minds process language
• How specialization unlocks confidence and rapid growth
• The simple sentence framework that begins organizing chaotic thinking
• Why traditional remediation often fails
• How advanced writing tools like “warrants” can elevate students to college-level work
• Why this approach may even prepare students for the AI-driven future

This episode is bold, technical, and deeply hopeful. If you’re a parent, educator, student, or someone who has ever been told you “just can’t learn,” this conversation offers a new lens — and real possibility.

Learn more and download Russell’s free guide at:
https://dyslexiaclasses.com

Spirit Talk Show – Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Hosted by Doyle

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Why do so many books disappear—while a few quietly change lives?

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of Spirit Talk Show: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, Doyle and producer Howie sit down with Doug Crowe, founder of Author Your Brand and a strategist who has helped hundreds of leaders become bestselling authors—often without writing a single word themselves.

Doug isn’t interested in vanity metrics, viral hype, or chasing attention. He’s interested in what lasts.

Together, they explore the uncomfortable truths most authors avoid:

Why nobody actually wants a book—and what they want instead

The difference between being a writer and being an author

Why most memoirs fall flat (and how story becomes useful, not just interesting)

How legacy is built through service, not self-promotion

Why attention is overrated—and giving attention changes everything

From losing everything in the 2008 crash to rebuilding a business rooted in story, strategy, and human insight, Doug breaks down how books can become tools for influence, partnership, speaking, and long-term impact—far beyond sales rankings or bestseller badges.

The conversation moves effortlessly between storytelling, business, philosophy, and truth-telling, touching on ghostwriting, AI, authorship, ego, confidence, and the quiet power of being genuinely useful in a noisy world.

This episode isn’t about writing faster.
It’s about writing smarter—and understanding why stories matter long after the algorithm moves on.

Spirit Talk Show: now go tell a story worth telling.

Spirit Talk Show – Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Hosted by Doyle

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What if success as a writer isn’t measured in bestseller lists—but in persistence, purpose, and showing up anyway?

In this deeply grounding episode of Spirit Talk Show: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, Doyle is joined by Terry Whalin—editor, author, acquisitions professional, and publishing mentor whose decades-long career has helped thousands of writers navigate the often confusing, myth-filled world of publishing.

With more than 60 books written, contributions to over 50 magazines, and years spent on both sides of the editorial desk, Terry brings rare clarity to questions writers quietly struggle with:
Why isn’t my book selling?
What am I doing wrong?
Is it even worth continuing?

The conversation centers around Terry’s acclaimed book 10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed, unpacking the beliefs that most often derail writers—like expecting publishers to do all the marketing, assuming books are instant income machines, or believing you’re not a “real writer” until a book is published.

But this episode goes beyond advice.

Terry shares:

Why most books don’t fail—expectations do

How rejection becomes survivable (and even useful)

The overlooked power of magazine writing and steady visibility

What it really means to take 100% responsibility for your creative life

Why consistency beats talent more often than we want to admit

He also reflects on the moment that changed his life entirely: a single book read in college that redirected his future, leading him through years of global work, service, and eventually back to writing—with deeper purpose.

As always on Spirit Talk Show, the conversation blends practical wisdom with reflective storytelling. A short tribute story and poem honor Terry’s role not as a gatekeeper, but as a steady guide—someone who holds the mirror for writers when doubt creeps in and reminds them that the work still matters.

This episode is a quiet reassurance for anyone who’s ever stared at a blank page, a rejection email, or an unfinished manuscript and wondered if they should stop.

You shouldn’t.
And Terry Whalin explains why.

Spirit Talk Show – Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Hosted by Doyle

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What does it mean to leave something behind that truly lasts?

In this deeply uplifting episode of Spirit Talk Show: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, Doyle and producer Howie welcome author, speaker, and podcaster Dom Brightmon, a self-described Positive Thought Catalyst whose life’s work centers on one powerful idea: advance others so they can advance themselves.

From becoming the youngest Area Director in Toastmasters at just 23, to writing bestselling books like Going North and Stay the Course, to hosting over 1,000 conversations with authors and leaders on the Going North Podcast, Dom’s journey is a masterclass in intentional growth, mentorship, and joyful leadership.

This episode drifts effortlessly between laughter, insight, and imagination. Together, the trio explores:

How mentorship can accelerate a life

Why libraries are sacred community spaces in a digital world

What it means to create your own “piece of immortality” through words and ideas

How humor, hydration, and preparation can quietly transform your days

And why acknowledging strangers might be one of the most powerful acts we have

As always, Spirit Talk Show weaves in a signature tribute story, a spoken-word poem, and an original narrative—turning conversation into something closer to a shared fireside moment. What emerges is not just an interview, but a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be loud, success doesn’t have to be lonely, and positivity—when practiced daily—can ripple farther than we ever expect.

Settle in. Listen closely.
This is a story about connection, courage, and the quiet work of lighting the way for others.

Spirit Talk Show: now go tell a story worth telling.

Spirit Talk Show – Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups
Hosted by Doyle

Follow Spirit Talk Show on social media:
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