John Spender: From Illiterate Child to International Bestselling Author

What if the story you've been sitting on is the one someone else needs to read right now? In this episode of The Soulful Catalyst, I'm joined by John Spender, Founder of A Journey of Riches, Transformational Coach, International Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Award-Winning Filmmaker. Through his anthology book series, documentary filmmaking, and coaching, John's work is rooted in one central belief: our greatest challenges are often the catalyst for our greatest purpose. The Journey of Riches series is now 46 books deep, and each one brings together 12 to 15 authors sharing their perspectives on a single theme. It's memoir-style storytelling, but collaborative, inclusive, and built around the idea that multiple voices on one subject are far richer than one. The current book, The Power of Self-Belief, features fifteen contributors from across the globe, and the next book, The Infinite Power Within, is already in the works. What struck me most about John's story is where it started. He was illiterate until he was nine or ten years old. Then a teacher noticed something. A scratch-and-sniff sticker, a phone call to his mum, and some after-school tutoring later, he was reading his own stories aloud after school assembly. Decades on, he's published over 45 books and created an award-winning documentary featuring some of the most recognised voices in the personal development world 😊. The thread running through all of it is lived wisdom, and the belief that sharing your real experience matters more than most people realise. In this episode, we explore: ➤ The two signs you have a story worth sharing, and how to know if contributing to an anthology is the right move for you ➤ What makes the Journey of Riches model different, from collaborative cover design to a genuinely family-like author experience ➤ How John built a dedicated readership that actually buys and reviews, and why he believes synchronicity plays as big a role as strategy This episode is for anyone who's been told they should write a book, or who's quietly sitting on a story they haven't yet found the right way to share. Connect with John Spender Website: ajourneyofriches.com LinkedIn: John R. Spender Connect with Joanna Ingram Website: joannaingram.com Instagram: @iamjo.ingram LinkedIn: Joanna Ingram Messaging Impact Audit: Get a personalised review of your messaging using my six-pillar framework, plus a clear report with your scores, gaps, and the opportunities you're missing to attract higher-frequency clients. Book here: joannaingram.link/audit Want to be a guest on The Soulful Catalyst? If you're a coach, healer, or spiritual expert doing powerful work that transforms lives, and you'd love to share your story and methods with a global audience, I'd love to hear from you. 👉 Apply here: go.joannaingram.com/soulfulcatalyst