The Sophia Chang Show

FREE 3 Hollywood Secrets to Author Voice workbook: https://www.sophiachang.com/hollywoodPart 2 where I answer your questions from my 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice presentation including:"Is my voice boring?" — the two questions to ask yourself before you panicWhat if you sound like AI? (Plot twist: your "proper" voice might be your superpower)How to turn your worst writing tics into your most memorable character voiceWhich to use for query letters: author voice, narrator voice, or character voice?Writing under a pseudonym: does your voice change or just put on a different outfit?Can you say no to your editor? (Even when the editor is you!)The time I over-edited my seventh novel and had to resurrect a previous draftWhy people unsubscribing feels like guests leaving your party mid-canapeMy surprising take on short story collections as a marketing power moveDoes anyone want to hear about my ridiculous life? (The survey results are in and I'm wounded)TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Question 1: Is My Writing Voice Boring?00:47 What If I Sound Like AI?02:08 Question 2: What If I Naturally Use Minimizing Words?03:35 Question 3: Which Voice to Use in a Query Letter?06:45 Question 4: Same Voice, Different Pseudonym?07:53 Question 5: Can I Say No to My Editor?09:57 Unsubscribes and Rejection: You Can't Control People Leaving Your Party12:28 Question 6: Short Story Collections—Art or Marketing?14:24 Question 7-ish: Do You Really Want Behind the Scenes? Sign up for my newsletter Books. Biceps. No BS. to get the FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing Flowchart and access to Ask Sophia Q&A, plus more writing craft tips and publishing advice! https://thesophiachang.substack.com/No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected.Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comTOPICS: author voice, writing voice, query letter tips, writing Q&A, author branding, pseudonym writing, self-editing tips, writing craft, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, finding your voice, digital minimalism

Author voice, character voice, narrator voice…what even is the difference?! And do I really need to know all three?This was the question blowing up the chat during my presentation 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at last month’s Perfect Your Process Summit. There were so many good questions and not enough time, that I am now answering them in a Substack LIVE.This is your no-stress guide to the three different types of voice in novel writing, why you're accidentally leaking into your characters, and my deranged pantser method of using voice to draft my fiction books before I even have a character (or any story structure at all!)Quotes:“You want to be very careful about imparting your voice into your characters because that's how all your characters tend to sound the same.""I could have the hookiest of hooks. But if I don't have a voice in my head, I can't get started. I don't even know how to get started."In this episode:Differentiating author, narrator, and character voice and where they work in your writing processWhy your first draft isn’t the time to perfect voice—catch it in revision!Can your characters be you when you're writing in first person a character who shares your demographics? (fanfiction self-inserts exempt...)"Do I even have an author voice?" Yes. You do.And this is just Part 1!I answer the summit's biggest voice fears—boring voice, AI voice, query letter voice, and saying no to your editor—in Part 2. Subscribe to this show to catch the rest!FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchartTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Author Voice00:49 Question #1: How do you impart your voice into your characters while still making them distinct?01:34 When should I worry about these 3 voices?02:32 Question #2: Should you make yourself the character?04:22 Question #3: Do I have an author voice if my writing is character-driven?05:22 Definitions: What is character, narrator and author voice?06:55 Get it in revision!07:28 Beginning a story on voice alone?!08:57 In Part 2: Voice examples, application + short story questionSophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: ⁠www.sophiachang.com⁠TOPICS: author voice, character voice, narrator voice, writing voice tips, how to find your writing voice, pantser writing process, writing craft, first person writing, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, books and fitness podcast

What is author voice—and why is it the #1 thing agents and editors look for?In my first Substack live video, I share why I'm presenting at the Perfect Your Process Summit 2026, how my Hollywood acting career taught me what makes a writer's voice unforgettable, and how you can join me for free.3 or 4 years ago I fell down the online writing summit rabbit hole. As a disabled writer, it was my only way to connect with other authors. I discovered some British guy named Daniel David Wallace and followed everything he did.Now in 2026, I'm certified in his Character-First teaching method, I work with him, I've hired him to coach my own novels—and I'm finally presenting at one of these summits I used to watch from the sidelines.My 2018 phone couldn’t handle the 97 degree heat so some of the sync is off in the recording.IN THIS VIDEO:• How I booked my second audition ever—and what casting directors taught me about snap judgments• What got me full manuscript requests on every novel I queried• Why Hollywood was easier than traditional publishing (!!)• What happened when I built an AI bot to replicate my voice• Why author voice is the one thing that AI-proofs your writing• What you get with the free summit pass vs. the All Access Pass🎟️ The summit is FREE to watch live (March 21–24, 2026). Talks lock after 24 hours. The All Access Pass ($87) gives you lifetime replays, transcripts, a private podcast feed, and speaker bonuses. Price goes up after March 21!👉 Grab the All Access Pass through my link: https://summit.yourwritingprocess.com/?sc=aXR7SFnR&ac=Ad77WPKYIt costs you nothing extra and supports my work. And I will love you forever.👉 My talk goes live: Tuesday, March 24 at 2 PM Pacific📓 Get my FREE writer's voice workbook: https://www.sophiachang.com/hollywood0:00 Why I'm doing this live in 97-degree heat0:30 How I fell down the online summit rabbit hole1:07 Discovering Daniel David Wallace1:46 The All Access Pass — what you get and why it's worth it3:09 My talk: 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice3:16 Why I'm really good at pitching (and what that has to do with acting)4:02 Booking my second audition ever — and what casting taught me5:05 Why Hollywood was actually easier than traditional publishing6:06 Why AI can never replicate your voice7:56 Summit linkTopics: author voice, writing craft, writing tips, find your voice, writing summit, Perfect Your Process, Daniel David Wallace, novel writing, writing process, query tips, how to write a novel, Reese's Book Club, writing advice, AI-proof your writing, author voice exercises

STOP stretching! Your body is a gummy worm.No, I haven’t gone John Mayer on you.I've been working with fascia expert Erin Tietz for years, and she's the only one whose exercises provided any relief during my bedridden sciatica years. She’s helped over 120,000 people around the world and now she’s on The Sophia Chang Show to explain what fascia is and walk you through two exercises you can do RIGHT NOW at your desk.Chronic pain doesn't just live in your body—it rewires who you are. This episode could very well change the way you relate to your body and your very identity.Watch the video version, the demos are priceless. Then sign up for a FREE GUIDE "5 Daily Desk Habits" with Erin's exclusive discounts for listeners of The Sophia Chang Show!https://www.sophiachang.com/deskBest Quotes:"If you take away muscles, skin, bones, organs, you still have the same shape because our fascia is that integrated into every part of our body.""My embodiment slowly dissipated. I just started losing a little bit of who I was."IN THIS EPISODE:• Why stretching might actually be making your pain worse• Two fascia exercises you can do at your desk in under 5 minutes• The SEE method: Shorten, Engage, Elongate• What your nervous system is trying to tell you (and why your jaw just unclenched)• How 10 years of PT and injections failed—and 10 minutes of fascia work didn'tTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Gummy Worm Back?01:09 What is Fascia and Why Are We Obsessed w/ It?03:27 Why I Don't Stretch Anymore05:09 SEE = Shorten, Engage, Elongate05:55 Exercise #1 Trap Release (Not a Music Album)08:33 Is Your Tissue Talking to You?09:59 Living in Overwhelm or Burnout? (Fascia and Your Nervous System)12:57 Exercise #2: Wrist Twist16:18 10 Years of PT and injections resulted in disembodiment17:40 Daily Fascia: Courses and ResourcesGET YOUR FREE GUIDE 5 Daily Desk Habits That Ended 8 Years of Chronic Pain ⁠https://bit.ly/dailydesk⁠(includes 50% off Neck Relief Course on DailyFascia and $15 off 1-on-1 with Erin)GUEST:Erin Tietz is a fascia health practitioner and movement teacher devoted to helping people reconnect with their bodies and unlock their natural resilience. As the founder of Daily Fascia, she blends science, creativity, and compassionate guidance to empower others to restore balance, relieve pain, and move with freedom. Through her courses, workshops, and online community, Erin inspires lasting transformation while creating a legacy of healing and vitality for her family and beyond.FIND ERIN: Website https://www.dailyfascia.comReverse the Wear of Sitting: Fascia Healing for Full-Body Relief DailyOM course https://bit.ly/dailyomsittingPatreon https://www.patreon.com/DailyFasciaSophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and the world's first iPod silhouette model. She teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, coaches new podcasters, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comSign up for my newsletter to get more unfiltered truths and a free trad publishing bundle: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connectedPodcast content is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional.TOPICS: fascia for writers, desk pain relief, chronic pain recovery, fascia activation exercises, writers health, sitting pain solutions, connective tissue, nervous system healing, vagus nerve fascia, writing career wellness, body pain writers, fascia vs stretching, SEE method fascia, trap release exercise, wrist pain writers

I started a podcast because I'm a loser.This episode is the origin story I've never told: going blind, ending up in a wheelchair, and the freedom that comes with nothing left to lose. (Any Janis Joplin fans here?)It's about the almost-but-not-quite Hollywood successes, my dad's mountain range philosophy, and why Navy SEALs know something about drowning the rest of us need to hear.But really, it’s about this:The more I owned my loser status, the more people related to me. And I hope it gives you courage to own your failures too.Best Quotes:"Everyone is performing success all the time, even when we're drowning. Especially when we're drowning.""I was the silent Asian. To this day, we still play this game. We watch TV and we see an Asian, we're like, oh, silent Asian. That Asian never gets to speak."IN THIS EPISODE:Elijah Wood was my dream prom dateHow to be on TV and still feel like a failureThe $1 million conversation that set me freeWhy my life is one long Navy SEAL drown-proofing drillWhat my dad would say about Beck's "Loser" hitting #10 on Billboard 100TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why I Started My Podcast00:34 Blind and Paralyzed00:57 Beck & My Hollywood Dreams03:37 Failure & the Asian Dad04:30 The $1 Million Story05:24 The Bottom Bounce: Navy SEALs Know How to Sink06:54 Owning Failure Publicly09:21 The Loser's Anthem10:36 Join Us at the BottomFREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchartSign up for my newsletter to get more unfiltered truths. https://thesophiachang.substack.com/No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connectedSophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and the world’s first iPod silhouette model. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show, coaches new podcasters, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comPodcast content is for entertainment purposes only. Don't jump into a pool with your hands tied, obvs.TOPICS: bottom comeback, podcast origin story, failure in publishing, Asian American author, minorities in Hollywood, traditional publishing struggles, writing community, imposter syndrome writers, creative career failure, disability and creativity, honest publishing podcast

Happy New Year!Still looking for a resolution you’ll break in the third week of January? I've got one that actually helped me when I was too depressed to get out of bed.This episode is a moment-by-moment peek behind the curtain into my morning as a digital minimalist.No phones, lots of protein, and how I'm a Cullen vampire.Best Quotes:"This is not medical advice. Don't listen to something you hear from a podcaster who decided she would spend her life being an actor, a dancer, and a writer.""I'm a Twilight vampire, I'm a Cullen. You know, where I'm a vegetarian. I only eat animals. No, I would probably eat human too if I was a vampire.""I'm not a completely insane dictator who's leading the world. I don't need to be on my phone. I'm not that important. Nobody really cares."IN THIS EPISODE:• Why my phone sleeps outside my bedroom (how the night before sets up your morning)• Pushing my face into the screen to stare at the sun: Huberman Labs taught me this?• The electrolyte + creatine combo that changed everything• That time an acupuncturist put me on a 25-hour cauliflower diet• Why I eat animal protein 6-7 times a day (vampire life chose me)• The vegetable hack that keeps me full for hours! (I wish this were clickbait but I actually do this)• Breakfast outside like I'm Simon Cowell on a yacht• How this routine pulled me out of depression and off the doom scroll• Why women need to eat within 30 minutes of waking up (cortisol spikes are real)Timestamps:00:00 Move Over Huberman, Chang Labs is Here00:46 No Phones in the Bedroom01:14 Is Sunlight Hurting My Eyes?02:55 Electrolytes + Creatine04:39 Cauliflower, Rice, Fried Fish Diet??05:45 Vampire levels of meat07:33 Breakfast outside like I'm Simon Cowell08:53 A Year Ago I Was Too Depressed to Get Out of Bed09:57 AM Cortisol spikes in women10:06 Share your morning routine with me on Substack or comment belowResources Mentioned:• Seeking Health Optimal Electrolytes (with creatine) https://amzn.to/49lfMy6• Seeking Health Vitamin D drops https://amzn.to/49lmwMmAffiliate links may credit me much-appreciated 5 centsGot your own digital minimalist morning tips? Drop them in the comments on YouTube or share them with me on Substack! Let's help each other optimize our mornings.Sign up for my newsletter Books. Biceps. No BS. https://thesophiachang.substack.com/You'll get a FREE flowchart: Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing? and access to Ask Sophia Q&A!Sophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comPodcast content is for entertainmentpurposes only and does not constitute medical, health, or fitness advice.Topicsdigital minimalism, morning routine, wellness, self-care, lifestyle changes, mental health, productivity, health tips, mindfulness, personal growth

FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchartMy Spotify Wrapped for Creators just exposed ALL of you.Taylor Swift lovers, K-pop Demon Hunters fans, Drake apologists (boo!) and apparently... a Minnesota Vikings superfan who also loves books and biceps. We need to talk.This is my 2025 podcast year in review: 12 episodes, 6 incredible guests, hilarious Spotify Wrapped data that makes no sense. What I learned from restarting this show after a multi-year hiatus and why the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.Best Quotes:"I'm Joe Rogan stuck inside a tiny Asian body. One day a publicist is going to ask why I said that sentence.""This year, my show's growth outpaced 80% of other shows. That's kind of amazing considering I only pumped out three month’s worth of podcast episodes."IN THIS EPISODE:Why I may be the next Joe Rogan You all listen to too much Tay TayWhy a sportsball-hating writer from NYC now reps the DodgersThe most meaningful part of restarting this podcast: reconnecting with a writing communityAre You Ready for Traditional Publishing? FREE decision tree for new subscribersA chance to appear on The Sophia Chang ShowSign up for my newsletter: to see all the hilarious Spotify Wrapped screenshots from this episode. Plus you'll get a FREE flowchart: Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing? and access to Ask Sophia Q&A!https://thesophiachang.substack.com/No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connectedSophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comTIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Most Wonderful and Heinous Time of the Year01:51 I See You Swifties03:28 Who is My Minnesota Vikings Fan?05:27 Proud to be your 2025 Joe Rogan07:53 2025 Spotify Awards08:57 Unexpected Best Part of Restarting my PodcastKEYWORDS: Spotify Wrapped 2025, podcast year in review, Spotify podcast recap, podcast growth tips, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast behind the scenes, year end podcast episode, books and fitness podcast

Ah yes, hellworld, give us the rise of Digital Minimalism Influencer.Six years after crowning Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism my 2019 book of the year, I return with a solo episode to report on the state of digital detoxing in a world where anything that promises peace and deep work will eventually become a product.In this episode:Why "escape Instagram by joining my forum" is just rearranging deck chairs on the TitanicParents: You're the Problem. An Education Week study shows the biggest classroom distraction isn’t teens sneaking TikTok—it’s parents texting their children during class to soothe their own anxietyMy confession: how the need to pay bills is wrecking my own digital minimalismWhy actual digital minimalism is boring, unsexy, and impossible to monetizeQuote of the Week:"There is something deeply ironic about building an entire online business around helping people get offline."Timestamps:00:00 The Rise of the Digital Minimalism Influencer04:45 Parents, You're the Problem06:27 Am I Still a Digital Minimalist?08:15 Will I Go Full Recluse in the Future?If you’ve been flirting with quitting social media, but skeptical of the influencers using attention economy to sell digital detoxes, this episode is my side-eye with you.Subscribe to my newsletter: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/No social media. No Discord. Just my voice and your inbox. As it should be.Sophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She coaches new podcasters, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please give it a 5-star review so others can find it, too!

Should authors write other races and cultures in their books?People have become sensitized to the point of fear of asking--but WE want you to ask us about race and culture!Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, queen of dictation from Episode 66, is back on the show to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.From Choctaw code talkers to Chinese cheerleaders, Sarah and I share candid stories about my childhood in NY and her mother’s experience of Forth Worth in the 70’s. We laugh about growing up as Other in different parts of the country (spoiler: I could have been a CHEERLEADER if I’d been born on a different coast), get emotional about honoring Sarah’s mother in a blanket ceremony, and talk frankly about when it's better to just leave a culture out of your book versus doing the hard work to get it right.Tune in to watch:• Sarah introduce herself in Choctaw and me butcher my people’s language• The terminology debate: Native American vs. American Indian vs. First American• Are sensitivity readers helpful?• Seeing 7 original Choctaw treaties in the National Archives vault• And answer the question: is it okay to write other ethnicities in our books?These are the big questions Sarah breaks down into bite-size, easily digestible pieces in her upcoming free Master Class: How to Earn Readers’ Trust Through Accurately Portraying Native American Characters Without the Fear of Getting It WrongNovember 18, 2025 at 12 p.m. CST.SIGN UP HERETimestamps:00:00 You Mean I Could Have Been a Cheerleader?!00:13 Choctaw Intro01:04 Native American? First Nations? Which should we say?03:49 Chinese? Taiwanese? What is Sophia now?04:52 The Problem with Sensitivity Readers06:58 If Only We Were the Borg08:35 2 Cherokees, 3 Opinions09:48 LA v NY Asians10:25 Race in Forth Worth in the 70's11:16 Momma Said Help You Out...with a Course12:33 The Blanket Ceremony: Honoring Mom for the Choctaw Code Talkers Book14:01 Shared History: 7 Original Treaties and the American Constitution16:20 Bonus Content: Writing American Indians Course17:14 Should authors write other races/cultures?19:59 That Monolithic Native American CharacterSIGN UP for Sarah’s FREE MASTERCLASShttps://sophiachang--fictioncourses.thrivecart.com/earn-readers-trust/?ref=podcastIt’s free to sign up, and if you purchase the digital course afterwards, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is a Choctaw author of 19 books, teacher, and the creator of Fiction Writing: American Indians digital course. She's been featured on Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn Podcast, Jane Friedman's blog, and Writer's Digest. Find her at: www.fictioncourses.comSophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com⁠Subscribe to my Newsletter:⁠ Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content every TuesdayFollow this podcast for more great interviews!Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!

Your ears do not deceive—I actually put a man on my show.Former chemist and Wall Street analyst, Amran brought his insider knowledge of the financial industry's wildest excesses to his satirical thriller Leverage, published by Atria Books in August 2025. It’s a fun, fast, biting read about Ali Jafar (yes, two names from Aladdin), a hedge fund analyst who loses $300 million in a single day and must find increasingly unethical ways to make it back.In what is my most No BS conversation yet, Amran breaks down the economics of why debut novels fail, how the “1,000 true fans” model is BS, and why we should stop with the false humility and own the arrogance of being a writer.And he used to lift!Just some of the juicy tidbits we lay bare:• Getting ghosted by your publisher happens more than you think• Why both Amran and I are the Dogecoin of traditional publishing—“to the moon!”• Amran’s catastrophic BookScan data• Rich authors buying their own books to hit bestseller lists• Why traditional publishing is "one big tiger mom"• The "debut flop" is now the industry norm• Why Amran still believes in traditional publishing• The GOOD news we can take from this—and some inspiring words for all writersTop quotes:"It would take me 200 years to earn back my advance at the rate the books are selling.""There's about 100 authors that make a ton of money. And then there's about 25,000 other authors that make no money. You are the 25,000.""It's good to have realistic expectations and know exactly the business you're in, because otherwise you can psych yourself out and then find yourself asking, ‘Do I even do art at all?’ And that's a really unfortunate place to end up because you should make art because you're an artist at the end of the day."TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Amran, my DEI guest01:09 Do you even lift, bro?02:50 The Asian Squat: key to longevity?03:18 White like Obama03:59 Was Sophia an investment banker?!04:46 What illegal activities has Amran seen?06:09 Cali, the richest country in America06:58 Naming Ali Jafar after Aladdin08:39 The High-achieving Losers Club09:32 Ghosted by your publisher: Impact of Sales on Future Book Deals16:39 Should we write to market?19:55 Is Traditional Publishing Still Worth It?26:33 You are the 25,00027:57 The arrogance of writing a book, the futility of selling it30:23 Is 1,000 True Fans BS?33:58 The False Humility BS36:51 The Creative Process and Artistic IntegrityFind Amran• Website & Newsletter: amrangowani.com• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrangowani/Buy his book: LeverageHardcover https://amzn.to/4nph1kMEbook https://amzn.to/4hzLrzEAudible (you can use your credit) https://amzn.to/43GRPzcFollow this podcast for more great interviews!⁠Subscribe to my Newsletter:⁠ Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content every TuesdaySophia’s Website⁠Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!(Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.)

If your back sounds like bubble wrap when you finish writing, gaming, or working at the computer—this episode is your rescue plan.Mobility coach and Body Nerd Show host Alex Ellis joins us to talk repetitive strain, and how a few minutes a day can change everything. No yoga mat, gym, or guilt required.I also introduce a new segment where I ask my guests a very important question…You’ll learn:• Quick 1-5 minute fixes• Why flexibility ≠ mobility (and what to do instead)• How to hack your dopamine addiction to build habits• The only hard-and-fast fitness rule you needWhether you write books or emails all day, this episode will help you move smarter, write longer, and feel human again.Timestamps:00:00 — Your Text Neck Is Saved — Alex Is Here!01:55 — Every Story Starts With Injury03:55 — “Core Strength”? What Even Is That?05:11 — Why Yoga Didn’t Fix It06:17 —What If I Get in the Flow and Can’t Stop?11:18 — The Whole, Human Writer12:42 — Live Demo: Do This Right Now15:41 — Variety Is the Key17:57 — Hack Your Phone-Addicted Brain for Good19:30 — Which One of Us Gets Our Electronics Taken Away Like a Toddler?21:23 — Tiny Habits, Big Results22:49 — Love Is Blind vs. Sleep: Which One Wins?24:29 — How Alex Actually Works With Clients (Hint: No Boring Handouts)27:49 — “Do You Even Lift, Sis?”31:04 — Fitness Influencers vs. Real-Life SustainabilityFind Alex:www.aewellness.comVideo Vault: https://www.aewellness.com/vault/Bodywork Starter Guide: https://www.aewellness.com/op/bodywork-starter-guide/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aewellnessInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollaformala/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/aewellnessFollow this podcast for more great interviews!⁠Subscribe to my Newsletter:⁠ Get more publishing real talk, writer health tips, and behind-the-scenes content⁠Sophia’s Website⁠Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!#WritingLife #MobilityCoach #AlexEllis #SophiaChang #WritersHealth #TextNeck #WriterWrist #BodyNerdShow #CreativeWellness #AuthorLife #WritingPodcast

All right, let’s get the Napoleon jokes out of the way. I’m short, flamboyant, and I love to dictate—my novels, that is.I first started dictating text messages when I went blind in 2017, and what started as a necessity has turned into the only way I’m able to complete seven novels.This week I’m chatting with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, author of 19 books—and counting, host of The Confident Fiction Author podcast, and the queen of dictation.One dishwashing session changed her life: she spoke 1,500 words in 20 minutes, and she’s been dictating every first draft since.For the record—I still mutter one sentence at a time. Yes, I’ll be taking her Dictation Bootcamp next week for the SECOND time, and if you know what’s good for your wrists, I’ll see you there too.Dictating isn’t just about writing faster. It’s about writing LONGER. Having a sustainable writing career that won’t wreck your body. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness and disability like me, or you just want to dodge the carpal tunnel coming for every writer, dictation might be as vital as your next deadlift.We cover:• Why you don’t need fancy equipment or expensive software—the phone in your hand is enough• Quick tips for getting started and overcoming the awkwardness of speaking fiction aloud• The huge difference between dictating nonfiction, texts, and full-on story worlds• How dictation isn’t just faster—it’s a lifeline for writer health and longevity• What really happens inside Dictation Bootcamp (hint: it’s equal parts training and Hamlet soliloquy)⁠Sign up HERE for Sarah’s last Dictation Boot Camp of the year⁠—I’ll be there!Timestamps:00:00 Dictating…Cuz I Was Blind02:21 Dictating Was Epic! (Epic Failure…)05:12 7 Years of False Starts06:15 Fiction vs. Nonfiction Dictation07:53 Small Steps to Start Dictation08:35 Doing Dishes Changed Everything11:19 Tips for New Dictators (uh, Authors)13:56 Sophia’s Going Back to Bootcamp14:56 Dictation: Not Just a Luxury for Writers’ Health17:41 Low-Tech Ways to Begin19:55 The Dictation Bootcamp Experience22:57 Where to Find SarahIf you’ve ever said “I don’t have time to write” or felt your hands ache after a long session at the keyboard, this episode is your sign to give dictation a try.SIGN UP for BootcampNote: that's my affiliate link, click to feed a hungry AsianSarah's SubstackSarah's WebsiteFollow this podcast for more great interviews!Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes contentSophia’s WebsiteLike what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!

If you need one reason to watch this interview on video: Mara’s disobedient dog.I didn’t think The Sophia Chang Show could get any more honest, but this week with author Mara Williams we crank the No BS to high gear—busting three of the biggest myths about traditional publishing.Mara writes contemporary fiction about strong, messy women, and together we trace our own winding journeys from dance floors to life getting in the way to finally finding our voices—and how age became our secret weapon.My favorite myth we smash? That finishing your first book is the hardest part. Nope. That’s just the prologue.Mara on reclaiming identity: “Sometimes when you get to a certain age, as a woman especially, you have to get back to yourself. You have to let all the constraints of society and everything everybody's told you about what you should be doing fall away and figure out who you've always been and find your way back to that.”Me on the sobering reality of trad publishing: “I went through Hollywood and I had an easier time making money there than I do in traditional publishing.”Buy Mara's Books:Debut: The Truth is in the DetoursPaperbackEbookAudible (you can use your credit!)Pre-order: The Epicenter of ForeverPaperbackEbookAudible (you can use your credit!)Where to Find Mara:WebsiteSubstackIGTimestamps:00:00 Mara's Dog Steals the Show00:07 Intro01:54 Practicality gets in the way04:32 Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear06:25 Hollywood is easier than trad publishing07:15 Myth #1: My First, I Mean Sixth Book10:10 Finishing the book is just the prologue14:50 When I Went Blind I Thought My Dream Was Over17:26 Keeping Your Sense of Self21:48 Myth #2: I'm rich!27:06 Myth #3: Trad v. Indie Marketing29:29 Will TikTok get me published?32:24 I thank Leigh Bardugo every dayFollow this podcast for more great interviews!Subscribe to my Newsletter for more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content.Sophia’s WebsiteLike what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!(Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.)

Launch Day Special—and we get deep on this one!Celebrating the release of Try Your Worst with fellow Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow and Stonewall Honor winner Chatham Greenfield.In this follow-up episode to last week, we dive into life one year post-publication, billionaire-on-billionaire romance tropes, and discovering your hero David Levithan knows your book (!!)We also talk about the taboo topic of jealousy and envy in the writing community, feeling like a failure, and what a group of white writers once said to me .Quotes:On writer stereotypes: "I think there is this sort of idea that because we're writers, we're sitting alone every day and we have no social needs."On creative authenticity: "I kind of spread my personal life in my books like confetti—there's little pieces here and there, but there's not enough that you can tangibly pick it all up and hold it."On managing publishing expectations: "It feels like the goalpost is always moving... I'm trying as much as I can to not expect anything and be pleasantly surprised."Try Your Worst Details• Genre: Cozy mystery + lesbian YA romance• Plot: Rivals forced to team up to solve who's framing them for petty crimes (Enemies to lovers, anyone?)Buy the Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48gswahAudible: you can use your credit! https://amzn.to/47Hl1JlOr your favorite retailer including B&N, Bookshop, and more: https://chatgreenfield.com/tywWhere to Find Chatham• Website: ChatGreenfield.com• Social Media: @ChatGreenfield (all platforms)Timestamps:00:00 The Extroverted Writer Experience03:02 Women apologizing for existing—let’s stop doing that04:43 Writing opposites attract and introvert characters when you’re an extrovert05:06 Marginalized authors can make things up too10:00 Why we gravitate toward shy kids at the party11:13 What nobody tells you about your debut vs. your second book17:42 How to celebrate the small wins when you have big dreams21:18 Embracing the reality of jealousy in the Writing CommunityFollow this podcast for more great interviews!Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content at ⁠https://thesophiachang.substack.com/⁠Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!(Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.)

We're finally three-quarters gay this episode!My first-ever video guest is Chatham Greenfield, Reese’s Book Club inaugural LitUp fellow, Stonewall Honor recipient, Lambda Literary nominee, and author of the unputdownable lesbian YA romance TIME AND TIME AGAIN.Or, as I have dubbed them: Gay of the Year.Watch our candid conversation on writing while disabled, the guilt that comes with chronic illness, and why Chatham is honored to be your next favorite bathroom read.We dive into:• How disability shapes our creative and practical writing process • Why Chatham sleeps 18 hours and I don't sleep at all—and neither is enviable • The physical reality of being a writer: wrist braces, shoulder pain, and eye strain• Learning to pace vs. riding the creative wave until you crash• Authentic disability rep: Why Chatham doesn't write magical cure endings• New book alert: TRY YOUR WORST drops September 23rd with dual narrator audiobookBest Quotes from our talk:"I always say I'm Jewish and Catholic, so I'm like a perfect storm of guilt.""People think our pain is on a scale of 0 to 10. Our pain is on a scale of 5 to 10.""I try to make my endings hopeful, but still with the hint of realism of like, you don't know what's gonna happen. And sometimes the only certainty is the pain."Pre-order TRY YOUR WORST and get exclusive access to the alternate ending of TIME AND TIME AGAIN: on Amazon https://amzn.to/48gswahAudible: you can use your credit on the pre-order! https://amzn.to/47Hl1JlOr your favorite retailer including B&N, Bookshop, and more: https://chatgreenfield.com/tywFollow Chatham: @ChatGreenfield (all platforms)WATCH the Video of today's episode: https://bit.ly/chathaminterviewTimestamps:00:08 Meet Chatham Greenfield: Author and fellow LitUp Fellow03:05 Writing While Disabled07:32 Pushing our bodies past our limits11:37 Writer's Guilt, Jewish Guilt, Asian Guilt, We all get a guilt14:05 Writing About Bathroom Woes While Running for the Toilet17:27 Aspirational Writing and Open-Ended Endings19:24 Pre-Order InformationFollow this podcast for a bonus episode next week with more Chatham goodness!Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more overly honest and behind-the-scenes content at ⁠https://thesophiachang.substack.com/⁠Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Leave a Positive Review: Help other book lovers find us!(Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.)

What does it mean to be a lonely extrovert with limited energy?Sophia talks friendship, popularity, and the impact of chronic illness on finding and keeping connections.the weird things introverts say about extrovertsthe value of quality friendships over quantitya love letter to every extrovert who craves community but struggles to find it00:00 The Extrovert Paradox02:57 The Introverts Doth Protest Too Much04:34 Chronic Illness as a Great Filter05:25 California vs. New York Friend Culture06:39 I Want To be...Popular!07:44 Lessons Chronic Illness Teaches about Friendship09:01 Embracing UnimportanceIf you’ve ever Googled “extrovert with no friends” or wondered why extroverts feel so acutely lonely , this episode is for you.Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/

Little known fact: Sophia was completely bedridden when she got her Reese's Book Club fellowship AND her agent.After a year and a half of typing, college admissions coaching, and suffering in pain on my back, I was finally saved by the power of the deadlift. This is the story of how I became a lifting bro not to get swoll, but to write.00:00 Writing with chronic pain03:10 The Pain Industry Racket04:09 Rediscovering Strength Training for Pain Relief08:01 The Importance of Lifting for Women, and for Creativity10:50 Starting SmallGET YOUR FREE GUIDE 5 Daily Desk Habits That Ended 8 Years of Chronic Pain https://www.sophiachang.com/deskDisclaimer: I am NOT a medical expert or personal trainer or nutritionist. This is my personal story for entertainment , not medical or fitness advice.Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/

I'm BACK!Author and extrovert Sophia Chang returns from the land of the analog to give a 5 Year (+8 Month) Update on digital minimalism and life without social media. What has changed? What has not? And can you actually build a platform offline?(spoiler: she's back for a reason...)And most importantly--will there ever be any more bathtub episodes???00:00 Where Have I Been?01:31 What Has Changed?03:13 Phone-free schools06:33 What does this mean and why am I podcasting?Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/

The social media hate has turned to horror. This episode covers: why I sound like a mouth breather (it's CPAP) my goal to be rich enough to get on Cal Newport's podcast why I took down episodes I recorded when I started this podcast why my own escape from social media feels paltry in the face of its increased danger the Gen Z writer who gets it Algorithms Hijacked My Generation. I Fear For Gen Alpha. by India Freya

The one education epidemic that is harming kids from early childhood education on—and why you need to address it before you even think of college. Sold A Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong on American Public Media Wise Child Coaching Work with Sophia Share your reading education wins and mishaps with Sophia in an audio message Requisite Disclaimer: this podcast and episode do not constitute official or personalized consultation

Sophia‘s one and only 2022 episode— a belated update on three years of digital minimalism and whether deleting social media makes you better than everyone else. The answer is yes, you addict. Also, liberal tears and Republican boats.

Sophia's recent Jersey Boys obsession finally resolves itself after a John Lloyd Young concert, when she finally realizes they had the same agent 16 years ago in New York--and he may be the catalyst for Sophia leaving the biz! (Kidding...maybe.) In this episode: Submitting JLY's early headshot for the role of Aladdin Sophia's own disastrous audition as Jasmine Leaving Las Vegas--I mean, Hollywood The time she sang with Glee kids Mentioned in episode:  The Ballad of Dante Basco Sophia's 20-year cycle with the king of the Lost Boys Singing with the Glee kids, and other celebrity photos

Exhausted pit bull foster mom Sophia discusses what upkeep is needed to maintain Digital Minimalism— especially for the disabled and homebound. Mentioned in episode: Ep 50: A Year Into Digital Minimalism -- From the Tub! https://bit.ly/digitalminimal1year Ep 37: 2019 Book of the Year: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport http://bit.ly/2019bookoftheyear

Fresh from another round of chemo, bedridden Sophia rants about Ravenclaws, heaps praise on Hufflepuffs, and examines why Chad of Alpha Gamma Epsilon is her listener demographic. Also: a millennial at 40–my sciatica!

Insomniac Sophia records at 3 AM and ends up with this well-organized ramblefap: the 3 reasons friendships seem harder in this day and age and they're ALL your fault--which means you can do something about it! the times Sophia got into cars with strangers How being 5 years old is the best way to make friends

Sophia opens up about her shit disease, why 2020 was a year of wins for a disabled/homebound person, and what scares her most about 2021. Plus; the kindest thing to say about this issue. Referred to in episode - Ep 44: Social Isolation? Welcome to My Life with Chronic Illness https://bit.ly/isolationismynorm

Why do Americans try to sound as stupid as possible? Is it the Kardashians' fault?In this episode, Sophia does the 2 irritating YA voices and finally resolves her beef with Alexa, thanks to an accessibility feature that eschews annoying audiobook narrators. Now Amazon needs to pay her for the free publicity.Mentioned in this episode - Ep 26: I Hate Your Voice: 5 Reasons Your Podcast is Unlistenable LINK: http://bit.ly/yourvoicehurtsmyears

 One year after going Digital Minimalist, Sophia gets naked in a hot bath to review the biggest lessons from a year with an empty phone and barely any social media. What is Digital Minimalism? LISTEN TO: Ep 37: 2019 Book of the Year: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Also in this episode: Books & Boba Back off Tania! An appropriation shield against white people stealing everything Why Sophia gets called Italian and Scottish Totally off the hook rapping The bizarre demographic of Sophia's listeners And more unpopular opinions from an aging Asian

Fan of pretentious experimental theatre AND trashy reality TV? Me too! Star Wars' Daisy Ridley narrates the Audible original Islanders by Elinor Cook, a subversive, rehumanizing take on the UK hit reality show Love Island.  It confused listeners so much they rated it an instant 1 star. Sophia answers an insightful Goodreads question from Lily with an impassioned crash course on the infamous "pronoun game". Don't get pied off, babes!

Recorded fresh off Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention: Sophia describes a lifetime from college activism - including fighting rich white feminists - to decades of being silenced to survive in white America. Plus strong words for "woke" millennials and zoomers who need to respect those of us who sacrificed for their privilege.

Harry Potter, Boy Wizard and world's first millennial turns 40 today. Why this is the apocalypse.

Why stupid feels like a personal attack, and why anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are a chemo-survivor's worst enemies. A new episode because Warren asked for "More podcasts!"

May is Asian Pacific Islander American Month! Sophia interviews Lip Ho, who holds a degree in Asian American studies from UCLA. From Long Duk Dong to sexy Sung Kang, we talk about what it’s like to be erased, HAPAs who don’t claim their ethnicity and where we are now.

Bored and lonely while you wait out coronavirus? Try living this way for the rest of your life. MOG Awareness Month continues.

March is MOG Awareness Month. Sophia tells the incredibly unpretty reality of being disabled by this terrible disease. This episode is for everybody sick of the glossy Instagram BS about chronic illness and disability. MSAA: https://mymsaa.org/

If you haven't experienced your A-spot yet, you haven't been living! For this Sex Month episode, Sophia introduces the person living under the rock to the one spot to rule them all - not the G, and certainly not the cervix that gets idiotically misrepresented in erotic literature.  Also - why you're doing a disservice to all womankind by leaving a crappy lover crappy.

Sex month continues as Sophia meets Keni Styles, first straight Asian male in mainstream American porn — and the elected official who also wanted to meet him...

Time to take the stick out of your butt - it's Sex Month! (unless that's what you like; you do you, man) Sophia draws on her days of being a sex and relationship coach for women to bring you the shouldn't-be-secrets to enjoying your life more. It starts with more orgasm. Just a hint.

Welcome to 2020! In this episode:  Most and Least Listened to episodes of The Sophia Chang Show  Sophia advocates murder to solve high-pitched voices  annnnd... Happy Birthday Snape! #Snaddy  LISTEN TO Ep 30: Back to Hogwarts: Why I Am a Gryffindor http://bit.ly/whyIGryffindor

Which companies suck most? According to 2016 NYT article, the purposefully bad practices of customer service cause real psychological harm. Nothing we didn't already know!  Here are the Top 5 companies Sophia has been boycotting to save her health. Losers include: a pet care retailer, a pizza company, and a movie chain.

Want to get rid of all your friends? Sophia crowns her king of books against heavyweight contenders including Cursed Child and a slew of Obama and SNL memoirs. Why this treatise against iPhones and social media will change your life - and show you who your real friends are. Episode easter eggs: · Day showerers are disgusting · How Sophia passed her STEM requirements at Harvard (answer: lots of bullying) · What a corded phone is #OkMillennial First in 2019 in Review Month

Science has spoken once and for all! Sophia reviews two seminal (#LongLiveButthead) studies on women's penis preferences, and gives kudos to the best use of a 3D printer. Turns out bags of dicks is old hat for science.

"A true gem among pastimes" says Sophia Chang Daily "The best white nerd college game since ultimate frisbee" names The Sophia Chang "What did you spend your college years doing - studying?" says Sophia Chang on Show Penis month continues on The Sophia Chang Show

Sophia is having a very bad day. A Bag of Dicks Day. A day fit for kicking off Penis Month at the Sophia Chang Show.

Harry Potter Month comes to a steamy end with sexy, sexy Severus Snape. Sophia paints a canonical picture of this loyal, long-suffering paragon of the strong and silent type.

It’s been 18 years since Sophia first read Philosopher’s Stone and she’s finally ready to Dobby again. Harry Potter Month continues!

...is not young gay hunk Dumbledore. Sophia expounds on the sex appeal of fat guys, and why the bridge-and-tunnel accent gets me every time. Harry Potter Month continues with a special recut of Ep 19: Why Jacob Kowalski is My Ideal Husband while Sophia recuperates from chemo.

Happy Sorting Day! Why Harvard, I mean Gryffindor is the House for me #YuckFale. Kickoff episode to Harry Potter Month here at The Sophia Chang Show.

Staggering over the finish line for camp NaNoWriMo 2019 - when it comes to my writing I don’t eat or sleep. http://nanowrimo.org

Sophia goes Ahab on white books, white whales, and white people expertly figuring out Asian food - so exotic!   Big Book Club Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-book-clubs-what-the-whale/id1394208783