Writing for Immortality Barbara Basbanes Richter

Today's guest is Brett Barry, a 20+ year veteran of the audiobooks industry. Voiceover artist, educator, and audiobook producer Brett has an ear for books.


Ready for some stats? In 2021, nearly 50% of the US population listened to at least one audiobook. Readers listen in their cars, at home, and on vacation, and all those books add up to an industry that generated $1.6 billion in the US and $4.22 billion globally. Audiobooks are big business and should be part of every author's calculus for publication and distribution.



Barbara and Brett talk about what goes into creating a great audiobook, where AI fits in, and what Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with any of this.



If Brett's last name is familiar, it's because his wonderful wife Rebecca appeared on our podcast on March 28 to talk about her critically beloved book, "The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells." https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/writingforimmortality/episodes/The-Vanishing-of-Carolyn-Wells-A-Conversation-with-Author-Rebecca-Rego-Barry-e2hfqfd



Find Brett here:

Brett Barry: https://www.brettsvoice.com/

Silver Hollow Audio https://silverhollowaudio.com/

Kaatscast: https://www.kaatscast.com/

We can't bottle Brook Benten's energy, but speaking to her sure comes close! This was a high-octane episode that combines Barbara's favorite topics: running (and exercise writ large), and storytelling.

Just like with writing, you've got to earn your sweat. Brook Benten, author of Sweat, discusses her professional and personal experiences that led to this book. Part memoir and part exercise guide, Sweat targets women and moms who are looking to reclaim a more authentic life balance.


Brook Benten is a GIANT in the fitness industry: since trading in her twirling batons for step boxes, Benten has been inspiring exercisers for over twenty years.


You may know Benten for her dozens of workout DVDs. She has represented brands including Livestrong, Hyperwear, Prevention, Power Music, and Lebert Fitness. Johnny Goldberg (“Johnny G,” the inventor of Spinning) asked Benten to represent his brand as one of six international ⁠Johnny G Spirit Bike Master Trainers⁠.

After graduating from Texas State University with a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science and a minor in Business Administration, she earned an M.Ed. in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sport and Fitness Administration from The University of Houston. Her gold-standard certifications include ACE Personal Trainer, ACSM Exercise Physiologist, and Physical Mind Institute Pilates. Benten is among the world’s top 1% of kettlebell instructors to train under Pavel Tsatsouline, having earned RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge), SFG (StrongFirst Girya), and SFG II (StrongFirst Girya Level II) kettlebell certifications. 



Benten has lectured at universities, led presentations at national fitness conferences, and served as an adjunct faculty member. Her 9-hour kettlebell curriculum is used to teach personal trainers and fitness instructors how to safely and effectively train with kettlebells.



In 2023, she published her first book, “Lift Light, Get Lean,” and completed her Professional Life Coach certification through Baylor University.



Benten is the wellness travel writer for Texas Lifestyle Magazine, hosts a podcast honoring self-sovereignty by building emotional and relational boundaries, and continues to inspire women to get moving.



In this episode, Benten emphasizes the importance of self-care and finding balance as a mother and encourages women to prioritize their own well-being. She also opens up about her experiences with trauma, sobriety, and the challenges of facing uncomfortable emotions.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction to Brook Benten and 'Sweat'

01:54 The Journey of Writing 'Sweat'

04:16 The Structure of the Book and Target Audience

07:00 Finding Balance and Including Children in Workouts

10:17 The Importance of Short, Effective Workouts

12:37 Brook Benton's Background in Fitness

15:55 Becoming Known for Kettlebell Workouts

22:26 Navigating Trauma and Sobriety

28:56 Overcoming Alcohol Addiction and Finding Wellness

30:25 The Power of a Morning Routine and Quality Sleep

36:40 The Importance of Social Connections in Well-Being

38:36 Seeking Evidence-Based Information in the Fitness Industry

49:21 Introducing 'Heavy 100': A Holistic Approach to Wellness

56:33 Wellness as a Journey: Consistency and Commitment



Where to find Brook:

Website: https://www.brookbenten.com

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/brookbenten

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmI7X5SgSPIRNbAHY5bfTxg/about?view_as=subscriber


Trying to quit drinking? You don't have to do it alone. Here are links where you can find help:



NIAAA How To Quit Drinking? Tips From Rethinking Drinking https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Thinking-about-a-change/Support-for-quitting/Support-Strategies-For-Quitting.aspx


Treatment navigator
https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/

This week's cover art photo is baby Barbara, circa 1999 working down in the basement stacks. Listen to the episode--it'll make sense. Barbara answers a listener's question on interviewing family members for a life story book and shares her experience interviewing her grandfather. She also shares her thoughts on the significance of preserving family history, recommends books she recently read, and talks about a great new exhibit at the Hispanic Society--go to Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/writing4immortality/
to see pictures from the installation!



**LINKS TO BOOKS AND PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE**



Transcription services:

Rev: https://www.rev.com/

Riverside: https://riverside.fm/



Books Barbara read and reviewed (in order of discussion):

Running Red, by NB Conrad
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Red-Noel-Conrad/dp/B0CRS98KH1



The Obituary Book, by Alden Whitman
https://archive.org/details/theobituarybook0000unse/page/n9/mode/2up


Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine, by Tom Jordan
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/pre-the-story-of-americas-greatest-running-legend-steve-prefontaine_tom-jordan/254671/item/62116321/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=76622380847791&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=62116321&plc=&pgrid=1225955718369265&ptaid=pla-4580221858468446&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping+%7c+NEW+condition+books&utm_term=&utm_content=%7cdc%7cpcrid%7c76622380847791%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7cbe%7cproduct%7c62116321%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c1225955718369265%7cptaid%7cpla-4580221858468446%7c&msclkid=c8a090acc08013ea6646f68cfa59458e#isbn=B00196PDC4&idiq=62116321

Zakwato/Logledou's Peril, by Azo Vauguy, translated by Todd Fredson

https://www.amazon.com/Zakwato-Logl%C3%AAdous-Peril-Azo-Vauguy/dp/0900575158/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F3LKCVQJ2MAI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CdHtRiq-AQUHPDrOwzYVSLsE217nVmkgVMoh5a6P-G7GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Lo3mzNn5kUJcJ-8gcw19u-qOgy4lJboS6DlzI4xFxrc&dib_tag=se&keywords=zakwato+%26+logl%C3%AAdous+peril&qid=1713388335&s=books&sprefix=zakwato+%26+logl%C3%AAdous+peril%2Cstripbooks%2C119&sr=1-1



North Woods, by Daniel Mason
https://www.amazon.com/North-Woods-Novel-Daniel-Mason-ebook/dp/B0BPX7SF89/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3123AMBMTOSCJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oU2E375QauyXDJny5rjXW4Q-yp-n7Ub8X8MKu3E4k-H8LUqMLNLSlTNcovJUgMpqJC-OFBh6bZCWpXYGiBGfEQi-I6JM154YlIz1_kqqnatf78N7IQ5PQ2oUkCounPCY9kOYu1R_e00kWGiysoFyn-iX3zSMUewWQdvWUS1L0MmyMU7Mlly-qXIR7iNakzyqkXl70wUi25QOZsbfUyz_daDOIqH7nkOBGjN3FCoBN3k.bWHjgu9cOys4YsXTToHPCTw2hZbvhP_ZTQ7I_8IcCPk&dib_tag=se&keywords=north+woods+daniel+mason&qid=1713388393&s=books&sprefix=north+woods+dani%2Cstripbooks%2C120&sr=1-1


Hispanic Society
https://hispanicsociety.org/exhibitions/future-exhibitions/the-word-shimmering-sea-diego-velazquez-enrique-martinez-celaya/

We've got ANOTHER great episode for you today! Amanda Samoyloff, founder of Samoyloff PR, shares her journey into the world of public relations and branding. After getting her start promoting rock bands, Amanda launched her firm in 2017 and hasn't looked back, infusing her work with just the right touch of rock and roll swagger. Amanda emphasizes the importance of purposeful storytelling and understanding the client's brand and mission. She also discusses the challenges of PR in a changing media landscape and the need for a collaborative approach between marketing and PR.



So come on, rock stars, you don't want to miss this one!

Where can you find Amanda? Links below:

Samoyloff PR Website(@samoyloffpr)

Facebook

Linkedin

Twitter

TikTok

Instagram photos and videos



Want to write your own life story with confidence? Get started with DIYBook.us for free:
Write Your Life Story Book with DIYBook



All the links for Writing for Immortality:
writing4immortality Linktree

Chapters



00:00 Introduction to Amanda Samoyloff and Samoyloff PR

01:01 Amanda's Journey into PR

09:36 Crafting a Narrative for Clients

20:17 Choosing the Right Social Media Platform

25:15 Staying Ahead of the Pulse: Learning New Practices in Social Media and PR

26:43 Finding and Maintaining a Consistent Brand Voice and Tone

29:46 Experimenting with Captions and Finding Your Voice

34:55 Overcoming Perfectionism and Taking Action

39:16 Discovering Your Story Through Writing and Poetry

44:53 Using Poetry as Inspiration for PR and Storytelling

46:59 Embracing Vulnerability and Sharing Your Story

50:12 Writing with Purpose and Telling Your Story

Summary



In this episode, Barbara discusses whether ChatGPT and similar large language model programs can help people write their life stories. She explains that ChatGPT cannot generate a complete life story because it lacks personal knowledge and cannot retrieve specific information from the internet. However, it can be a helpful tool for generating paragraphs and overcoming writer's block. The quality of the output depends on the quality of the input data. Barbara suggests using Chat GPT as a starting point and then revising and editing the generated text to reflect one's own voice and experiences.

LINKS


Start writing your life story with DIYBook


ChatGPT Can't Write Your Book, But It May Be Able To Help. - DIYBook


Connect on Instagram @writing4immortality


Chapters



00:00 Introduction: Chat GPT and Writing Your Life Story

01:58 Limitations of Chat GPT in Writing Life Stories

03:54 Using Chat GPT to Create Drafts

05:49 Chat GPT as a Tool for Writing

08:56 Efficiency and Assistance in Writing Life Stories

09:55 Understanding Chat GPT as a Tool

10:53 Continuing the Conversation

11:23 Outro

In this episode, Barbara Basbanes Richter interviews Rebecca Rego Barry about her book, The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells. Carolyn Wells was a mystery author in the early 20th century who has been largely forgotten today. Rebecca discusses Carolyn's life and career, from her late start as a writer to her success in various genres, including poetry, short stories, puzzles, and children's books. Rebecca also explores the challenges of researching Carolyn's life due to the lack of a central archive and the dispersal of her estate after her death.

Chapters



00:00 Intro

00:58 Rebecca's Expertise in Books and Book History

02:04 Introduction and Background

03:05 Carolyn Wells's Early Life and Career

05:08 Carolyn Wells's Rise to Success

05:29 Little Magazines and Carolyn Wells's Writing

06:24 The Daily Tatler and Carolyn Wells's Letter

07:19 Carolyn Wells' Shift to Writing for Children

08:00 Carolyn Wells's Versatility as a Writer

08:56 Carolyn Wells's Extensive Bibliography

10:24 Challenges in Researching Carolyn Wells

12:15 Discovery of Carolyn Wells's Mermaid Album

14:50 Rebecca's Interest in Carolyn Wells

17:13 Carolyn Wells's Estate and Auction

21:23 Carolyn Wells's Mermaid Album

22:50 Writing Style and Approach in the Book

25:33 Carolyn Wells's Approach to Mystery Novels

30:28 Carolyn Wells's Marriage and Personal Life

33:31 Carolyn Wells's Persona and Popularity

34:59 Critics' Reception and Sales

35:57 Public Libraries' Love for Carolyn Wells

36:56 Carolyn Wells's Parodies and Satire

38:18 Carolyn Wells's Connections with Presidents

40:17 Carolyn Wells' Keynote Speeches and Literary Events

41:17 Carolyn Wells's Wordplay and Puzzle Books

43:44 Carolyn Wells's Collecting Bug

45:16 Carolyn Wells's Collection of Walt Whitman

48:28 Carolyn Wells's Work in Silent Films

50:43 Carolyn Wells's Personality and Hearing Loss

52:20 Carolyn Wells's Childhood Illness and Education

55:02 The Legacy of Carolyn Wells

58:23 The Challenge of Remembering Women Writers

59:42 Future Research on Carolyn Wells

01:00:03 Rebecca Rego Barry's Connection to Carolyn Wells

01:01:49 Outro