EPISODE · Dec 11, 2025 · 7 MIN
Love Changes When You Make This Decision with Neal Fishman
from SoundBits podcast · host Kim Groshek, Neal Fishman
Neal introduces the Esteban trilogy and its themes: Love’s Ordeal, Love’s Irony, and Love’s TriumphEsteban’s struggle with undiagnosed mental illness and lonelinessHow Neal uses narrative perspective to reveal hidden truths to the readerThe complex family dynamic between Esteban and his emotionally absent fatherEsteban’s life as a priest, and how training leads him to "not remember" confessionsThe influence of upbringing, religion, and environment on identity and choicesKim and Neal swap creative journeys and challenges of writing deeply personal fictionThe power of fiction to reflect on human vulnerability, resilience, and transformation Soundbits: The Global Leadership Forum is where extraordinary leaders share the conversations that shape the future.Hosted by Kim Groshek, Soundbits features powerful conversations with executives, founders, and visionaries revealing the stories, decisions, and lessons behind meaningful impact.Every leader has a story. Every story can shape the future.Subscribe and join the global leadership conversation.
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What this episode covers
In this episode of SoundBits, Kim Groshek welcomes author Neal Fishman to unpack the complex emotional and psychological themes in his Esteban trilogy. From love and loneliness to mental illness and religious identity, Neal shares the intricately layered journey of his protagonist, Esteban—a priest unaware of his own mental illness, shaped by a dysfunctional upbringing and a life steeped in duty and inner conflict. The conversation dives into the narrative technique of revealing truths only to the reader, the multidimensional nature of love, and how the environment we grow up in molds us. Kim and Neal also connect over their shared experiences writing fiction and building emotionally rich characters in layered worlds.
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Love Changes When You Make This Decision with Neal Fishman
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