In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Terry Shepherd
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  • Arts

In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, award-winning broadcaster and author of the Jessica Ramirez Thrillers. A deep dive into the people and support systems behind the stories we love.

  1. 3d ago

    Ronan O'Connell - Hidden In Plain Sight

    There is a moment every traveler knows: standing before an iconic landmark, camera in hand, convinced you understand exactly what you are seeing. But beneath the surface of the world's most photographed places are stories much stranger, darker, and more extraordinary than standard guidebooks reveal. In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with journalist and author Ronan O'Connell. A contributor to National Geographic, CNN, and the BBC, Ronan has spent over two decades visiting more than 60 countries. They dive into his new book, Hidden in Plain Sight - The Untold Mysteries, Myths, and Marvels of the World's Most Popular Landmarks, to explore the revolutions, legends, and secrets hiding in plain view. Episode Highlights: From Crime to Culture: Ronan transitioned from covering murders and politics at The West Australian to freelance travel journalism. This major career shift happened after he took a risk to travel through Asia.The Problem with Modern Tourism: Search engine optimization and copy-pasted blogs often provide inaccurate or skin-deep history for famous locations. Ronan aimed to provide deep, accurate context that even locals might not know.A Grueling Creative Process: Ronan wrote and photographed the book entirely by himself. The timeline was intensely pressured, requiring travel to roughly 35 countries in under nine months. On one particular trip, he covered 14 countries in just 17 or 18 days.Chasing the Perfect Shot: To capture highly unique angles of famous buildings, Ronan intentionally avoided looking at other photographers' work on Instagram before his visits.A Brighter Worldview: His background as a crime reporter taught him that the news media relies heavily on fear and negativity. However, traveling the globe showed him that the actual state of the world is much better and more beautiful than our social feeds suggest.Ronan reminds us that travel isn't just about where we go, but how deeply we are willing to see. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Ronan O'Connell - Hidden In Plain Sight

  2. 4d ago

    Chris Cheng - Proven in Blood

    Proving Loyalty in Blood: World War II's Nisei Soldiers with "Top Shot" Chris Cheng Join author and broadcaster Terry Shepherd for a compelling conversation with History Channel's "Top Shot" champion, Chris Cheng, exploring his debut historical novel, Proven in Blood. After the events of Pearl Harbor, protagonist Daniel Tanaka and his family are stripped of their constitutional rights and incarcerated behind barbed wire under Executive Order 9066. Despite this profound betrayal by his own government, Daniel volunteers for the U.S. Army to fight fascism in Europe. Inspired by the real-life heroes of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—the most decorated units in U.S. military history for their size and duration of service—Cheng’s novel examines the complex realities of war, brotherhood, and what it truly means to be an American. Episode Highlights: The Spark of Inspiration: How a surge of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic and a Google search for "Guns of World War II Asian Americans" launched Cheng's six-year research journey.Boots on the Ground: The profound impact of touring the Italian and French battlefields with Nisei Legacy Tours and meeting the European townspeople who still commemorate their Japanese American liberators.Brotherhood and Division: The intense cultural friction and eventual bonding between the "Buddhaheads" (Hawaiian Japanese Americans) and the "Katonks" (mainland Japanese Americans) during basic training.The Burden of Honor: The deep moral dilemmas faced by the Nisei soldiers, who fought not only to defeat the Nazis and liberate Jewish prisoners at Dachau, but to ensure they did not bring shame to their families back home.A Foodie’s Confession: Cheng takes a break from history to share his passion for Japanese Wagyu beef and a recent birthday celebration at San Francisco's Niku Steakhouse.Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more about Chris Cheng's work, his advocacy, and grab your copy of Proven in Blood by visiting topshotchris.com. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Chris Cheng - Proven in Blood

  3. 6d ago

    Molly Guptill Manning - A Librarian's War

    Wars are typically fought with bullets and bombs, but one unsung hero believed a good book was just as essential. In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with author and law professor Molly Guptill Manning to uncover the extraordinary, largely forgotten story of Ray Trautman. As the chief librarian of the United States Army during World War II, Trautman built the largest military library system in history and ultimately placed nearly half a billion pieces of reading material into the hands of American troops.  Manning discusses her new book, A Librarian's War: The Man Who Fought World War II with Books and Brought the Joy of Reading to Millions, detailing how a kid from a book-starved town in rural Ohio fundamentally changed the American publishing landscape. From battling skeptical generals and fighting censorship to a near-death encounter at the Battle of the Bulge, Trautman's mission was singular: give people the books they want to read.  In this episode, we cover: The Birth of the Pocket Paperback: Discover how Trautman convinced reluctant publishers to print 123 million wallet-sized "Armed Services Editions" for soldiers who couldn't carry heavy hardcovers.Fighting Book Bans: Hear the incredible story of how Trautman defied a general's order to destroy copies of Ernest Hemingway's short stories in the European Theater.The Battle of the Bulge: Learn how this unarmed librarian drove directly into a secret German counteroffensive, took command of stranded soldiers, and fought tanks with improvised weaponry.A Post-War Reading Boom: Find out how returning veterans fueled a massive expansion in the paperback industry and civilian library usage.Pioneering Audiobooks: Explore Trautman’s later crusade to improve braille books and his push to hire professional voice actors to record high-quality audiobooks for the visually impaired.To learn more about Ray Trautman's legacy, pick up a copy of A Librarian's War and visit Molly Guptill Manning's website at mollymanning.com. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Molly Guptill Manning - A Librarian's War

  4. Sep 22

    Patricia Leavy - Sugar Sand Land

    In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with Dr. Patricia Leavy—a sociologist, pioneer of arts-based research, and author of over fifty books—to discuss her 25th work of fiction, Sugar Sand Land. The novel is a contemporary romance that follows the unlikely connection between Emerson Blue, a 28-year-old wildly famous social media influencer, and Ren Walker, a 48-year-old Grammy-winning country star living in exile after allegations of sexual misconduct. Beyond the engaging, escapist surface of a beach read, Leavy uses the story to ask difficult questions about modern society. The conversation explores the dangerous illusion of intimacy on social media, the harsh realities and lack of nuance in cancel culture, and the lifelong project of finding the courage to live authentically.  Episode Highlights: The Illusion of Connection: Leavy unpacks how curating our lives on social media creates a gap between appearance and reality, which can actually leave people feeling more isolated and lonely.Cancel Culture and Nuance: A candid discussion on the dangers of reputational harm by rumor, the importance of due process, and the uncomfortable challenge of separating the art from the artist.Arts-Based Research: Leavy explains her groundbreaking work merging the arts with social sciences to make dense academic research accessible to the public, highlighting resources like the London Arts-Based Research Centre (LABRC).From Sociology to Fiction: Discover how Leavy's academic career studying women's lives paved the way for her transition into fiction, a medium she says builds deeper compassion for flawed, in-progress human beings.Resources & Links: Learn more about Patricia Leavy and her work at https://patricialeavy.com/.Grab a copy of her newest novel, Sugar Sand Land.We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Patricia Leavy - Sugar Sand Land

  5. Sep 20

    Laurel Woods - Strip Club Heiress

    Imagine trying to hide your father’s multi-million-dollar strip club empire from your Catholic school teachers and ballet carpool. For Laurel Woods, that was just the beginning. In this gripping episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with Laurel Woods to discuss her explosive new memoir, Strip Club Heiress. Laurel shares her incredible true story of growing up in the glittering, chaotic world of adult entertainment, which came crashing down when her father's business partner, Horace "Big Mac" McKenna Jr., was gunned down in 1989. When her father was arrested for the murder over a decade later, Laurel was unexpectedly thrust into the role of managing his seedy, cash-heavy empire to fund his defense. From navigating private investigators and employees with criminal priors to ultimately forging a wildly successful career path outside the clubs (including stints at Playboy, MTV, and Lucasfilm), Laurel's story is one of resilience, survival, and reinvention. In this episode, we cover: The Double Life: What it was like doing homework in a strip club back-office while attending Catholic school.The Murder & Arrest: The terrifying aftermath of Mac McKenna's assassination and the shock of her father's arrest 11 years later.Taking Charge: How a young woman stepped up to run a dangerous, underground cash business out of sheer necessity.Hollywood Highs: Wild behind-the-scenes stories from working at Playboy in the '90s, visual effects for Star Wars, and MTV.The Power of Forgiveness: Laurel’s profound journey to forgiving her narcissistic father and the unspoken trauma of having an incarcerated family member.Whether you are fascinated by true crime, stories of family dysfunction, or tales of ultimate personal reinvention (Laurel recently pivoted to emergency nursing!), this is an interview you won't want to miss. Connect with Laurel Woods: Read the book: Strip Club Heiress (Available everywhere)Website: laurel-woods.comWe all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Laurel Woods - Strip Club Heiress

  6. Sep 14

    L. Mark Weeks - Poontown: A Novel of Chasing Tarpon and Glory

    What happens when a high-powered international lawyer trades his Tokyo firm for the unforgiving saltwater flats of the Florida Keys? In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with L. Mark Weeks to discuss his transition from the legal world to becoming a three-time Tarpon Tournament grand champion and the author of Poontown: A Novel of Chasing Tarpon and Glory. We dive into the psychological pressure, technical precision, and raw obsession required to pursue the ultimate catch. In This Episode, We Discuss 🎣 The Allure of the Silver King: Why tarpon are considered the perfect game fish and how they can turn a casual saltwater fishing trip into a lifelong obsession.🤝 The Angler-Guide Dynamic: The delicate, high-pressure relationship between tournament competitors and why mutual support is the ultimate secret to winning.📖 Fact vs. Fiction: Why Mark chose the freedom of a novel over a memoir to capture the intense, secretive world of elite tarpon fishing without exposing real-life locations or revealing private secrets shared on the skiff.🧠 Mental Endurance: How the grueling discipline of an international law career translated into tournament strategy and helped him handle the psychological weight of elite competition.About the Guest L. Mark Weeks walked away from his position as managing partner of a major Tokyo law firm at age 56 with two distinct goals: win an elite invitational Tarpon Tournament and write a novel about the experience before turning 60. He successfully accomplished both, becoming a multi-fly rod world record holder, a three-time grand champion, and the best-selling author of Bottled Lightning and Poontown. About Terry Shepherd Terry Shepherd is the host of "In Conversation," bringing listeners deep into the minds of today's most fascinating authors and storytellers. Links & Resources Get your copy of Poontown: A Novel of Chasing Tarpon and Glory: https://geni.us/PoontownVisit L. Mark Weeks' official website: https://lmweeks.comConnect with Terry Shepherd: https://TerryShepherd.comWe all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    L. Mark Weeks - Poontown: A Novel of Chasing Tarpon and Glory

  7. Sep 10

    Judy Foreman - The Scallop Plot

    What happens when cutting-edge science, climate politics, corporate greed, and murder collide off the coast of Cape Cod? In this episode of In Conversation, Terry Shepherd sits down with award-winning journalist and author Judy Foreman to discuss her new thriller, The Scallop Plot. Judy shares how she transitioned from a career rooted in hard journalistic facts to crafting suspenseful fiction, all while keeping the science in her novels 100% accurate. The story follows Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Samantha Fuller and a fiercely determined Cape Cod fisherwoman as they uncover a deadly scheme involving offshore wind power, genetically altered scallops, and CRISPR gene editing. Beyond the thriller, Terry and Judy dive deep into the real-world issues that inspired the book, the current state of the media landscape, and Judy's profound personal journey. Key Topics Discussed: How Judy's real-life Cape Cod handywoman—a former crane operator and scallop fisherwoman—inspired one of the book's main characters. The fascinating and terrifying realities of CRISPR gene editing, including its medical promise and ethical boundaries. The nuanced debate surrounding offshore wind farms and how right-wing fossil fuel "dark money" frequently funds what appear to be local protests. The dangerous polarization of modern media, the rise of disinformation, and why consumers must "consider the source and follow the buck." Judy's powerful memoir, Let the More Loving One Be Me: My Journey from Trauma to Freedom, which chronicles her lifelong journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse through therapy and love. Why exercise is crucial for brain health and how it produces BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a topic from Judy's non-fiction book Exercise Is Medicine. About Our Guest: Judy Foreman is a former health columnist for The Boston Globe who has earned more than 50 journalism awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held positions at Harvard Medical School, MIT, and Brandeis University.  Connect with Judy Foreman: Visit her official website to learn more about her fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction work at judyforeman.com. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

  8. Sep 9

    R Scott West - Smoke Rings: A Scruffy City Novel

    What happens when the people trying to save a dying downtown become the criminals in its story? In this captivating episode of The Conversation, Terry Shepherd sits down with author R. Scott West to discuss his new book, Smoke Rings: A Scruffy City Novel. Twenty years ago, Scott and his wife Bernadette helped breathe life back into Knoxville's nearly abandoned Market Square. However, this historic preservation was secretly funded by a massive marijuana operation, eventually leading to federal indictments, seized property, and prison time. Now, Scott shares how he transformed this extraordinary chapter of his life into a highly entertaining, fictionalized Appalachian family saga. In this episode, we explore: The Market Square Miracle: Discover how Scott and Bernadette saw potential in downtown Knoxville when 33 out of 36 addresses were completely boarded up.The Perfect Crime Gone Wrong: Hear the details behind a $2.1 million historic preservation project that was secretly bankrolled by a 25,000-pound marijuana smuggling ring.Making Time Count: Learn about Scott’s resilient mindset during his four and a half years in federal prison, where he wrote four books, lifted weights, and composed songs while listening to an AM radio with a homemade Doritos-wrapper antenna.Blurring Moral Lines: Explore the uncomfortable territory between committing a federal crime and firmly believing you are doing something fundamentally good for a community.A Built-in Soundtrack: Find out why Scott wove 29 original punk rock lyrics into the novel as an Easter egg to help convey the psychology and mood of his characters.Whether you are interested in Southern crime, urban renewal, or a story about getting back up after losing everything, this interview delivers. You can learn more about the book and the author by visiting rscottwest.com. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    R Scott West - Smoke Rings: A Scruffy City Novel
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In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, award-winning broadcaster and author of the Jessica Ramirez Thrillers. A deep dive into the people and support systems behind the stories we love.

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