Story Impact Podcast - Ed DeJesus

Lisa Towles, award-winning crime novelist and host of Story Impact, sits down with Ed DeJesus to explore vulnerability, systems thinking, and what happens when a tech pioneer turns his gaze toward the darkest corners of human nature. This episode dives into thriller writing, character development, real-world storytelling, and the creative courage required to architect narratives that are both technically precise and deeply human. Essential listening for authors, thriller readers, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of technology and storytelling. A literary podcast for serious readers, writers, and creative thinkers. Ed DeJesus is an award-winning author and tech pioneer whose career spans decades at the cutting edge of computer science, machine learning, and solar energy. As a CEO, engineer, and AI researcher, he built a career on systems thinking — and now applies that same architectural precision to fiction that forces readers to confront their own vulnerabilities. His thriller, The Vulnerable, has earned the Literary Titan Award, the Pencraft Best Book Award, and the Readers' Favorite Award — and been called "gripping and timely" by Kirkus Reviews. With no superheroes and no easy answers, The Vulnerable drops ordinary people into the crosshairs of wildfires, a pandemic, and devastating family secrets. It's a story built by a systems thinker who understands, deeply, how everything is connected — and how quickly it can all fall apart. In this in-depth author interview, Lisa Towles and Ed DeJesus discuss: Architecting the plot — how computer science shapes complex thriller narratives The power of vulnerability — why readers must feel for characters to stay anchored Settings as characters — from blizzard-hit Massachusetts to burning California Weaving real-world crises — climate change, corporate corruption, and the opioid epidemic The "technopreneur" mindset — what engineering brings to fiction writing What's next — Ed's upcoming memoir, Simpler Times in The Spindle City This episode is ideal for thriller readers, aspiring novelists, tech professionals with a creative side, and anyone interested in how real-world systems — and real-world failures — fuel the most compelling fiction. Watch the full YouTube video interview: https://youtu.be/nGigV_ulCCI?si=IEw-KXAAuzSoiEqY Learn more about Ed DeJesus and his work: https://eddejesusauthor.com Story Impact is hosted by Lisa Towles — award-winning crime novelist and founder of Story Impact Consulting. This literary podcast features visionary authors, filmmakers, and master storytellers, exploring the writing process, creative courage, publishing journeys, and the deeper purpose behind powerful books and films. Learn more about the Story Impact platform: https://storyimpactconsulting.com Follow Story Impact on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadio to stay connected to conversations that elevate storytelling and culture. Subscribe on YouTube for full-length video interviews with today's most compelling authors and cultural voices. Stories hold the world together.