The Curated Chapter with Sam Youmans

What happens when the plan stops working? This episode breaks down what real crisis leadership looks like. Using insights from Resilience and Renewal by Robert S. Littlefield, we examine how Lions Clubs International adapted in real time—through grassroots action, middle leadership, and a mission that never stopped. This isn’t about the crisis. It’s about how you respond when control is gone Welcome to this edition of The Curated Chapter. Today’s episode looks at something every organization eventually faces—crisis. At some point, the plan stops working and what happens next reveals how leadership functions under pressure. I don’t know how old you are, but one of the clearest examples of this comes from Johnson & Johnson and the Tylenol crisis in the early 1980s. If you weren’t around, here’s the short version. In 1982, several people died after taking cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, triggering a nationwide panic. Johnson & Johnson responded by pulling millions of bottles off shelves, communicating transparently, and introducing tamper-proof packaging—setting the standard for modern crisis management. Fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations everywhere were blindsided—most of them, if we’re being honest. But Lions Clubs International did something different. Instead of shutting down, they adapted—rethinking how they communicate, how they lead, and how they serve…and they came out the other side more flexible, more responsive, and more resilient. Robert S. Littlefield – Lions were like water around a rock the obstacle was the rock of covid and lions found a way around it to keep moving to keep serving and that’s the story of this book  That is Robert S. Littlefield, author of the new book Resilience and Renewal: The Story of Lions International and the Crisis of COVID-19. Now, let me give you a little context because in full disclosure my father was a member of the Lions Club many years ago, but I never really understood the scale of it. There are over 49,000 Lions Clubs around the world, with approximately 1.4 million members across more than 200 countries and territories.  This is a massive, global organization—and it exists for one reason: to serve people in need, wherever they are. So when a crisis shuts down the ability to serv. That’s not just disruptive, it’s potentially catastrophic. So why wasn’t it? Robert S. Littlefield – Not only does it talk about lions but the way lions demonstrated resilience and these are skills that other organizations can benefit from. I really think that this is a blueprint for organizational learning and how to survive a major crisis as an organization because lions did it. So how did they do it? Robert, a Lions Club member himself for over 40 years, interviewed 52 people ranging from international leaders down to the local club level to understand what actually worked.  Robert S. Littlefield  – They were very self-disclosive in terms of you know we I talked about what did you think were the good things we did that our strengths and where were there some places where we maybe fell down or we didn’t do as well as we could have and they were honest in their reflections and so I shared all of that in the book.  What he found was that the answer didn’t come from the top. While leadership was trying to make sense of a global shutdown, it was everyday members who were already moving because as Robert says, Lions are like-minded people on a mission to serve and there’s nothing that is going to stop them.

What if the pain you’ve carried your whole life isn’t random? This episode explores Wonders of the Soul by Helen P. Slater—a story about three women confronting unresolved trauma, and a healer who helps them understand it. A look at healing, personal struggle, and the possibility that there’s more behind what we go through. Welcome to The Curated Chapter, formerly Newsgram. I’m your host, Sam Youmans. We call it The Curated Chapter because it is a short – chapter-sized look at books…An episodic peek into an authors passion project.  Today we are going on a spiritual journey. If you are someone who believes in Angels and Spirit Guides then none of this is going to surprise you but if you’re not, I’m just going to ask you to keep an open mind because at its core, this story is about something we all understand…the pain we carry. The kind of pain that follows us,  shapes us, sometimes without us even realizing it. What if that pain you carry isn’t random? What if it’s there for  a reason? And what if—when it’s no longer serving you—there’s actually a way to let it go? Deep questions right?  Well today we’re going to explore a work of spiritual fiction called Wonders of the Soul by Helen P. Slater. Helen: One day my guides spoke to me and some angels and I went on a healing path and I wanted to write it down to inspire others that they can also heal. Because I wasn’t treated very well when I was young and it was affecting me quite badly. And so I went on a healing path and so I’ve written some of it down for other people to benefit from the insights that I had and what I learned. That experience became the foundation for the story we’re looking into today. It centers around a healer named Prudence and the three women who find their way to her. They are looking for answers because something in their lives,  just doesn’t feel right.  Helen: The book starts with the lives of three women, Abigail, Sandra and Charlotte. And when we’re introduced to each of them, they’re grappling with some problems in their life. Abigail is beginning to reflect on her marriage, that it might not be as good as she thought it was. And she’s beginning to question her life with her husband. And Sandra is very alone. She doesn’t speak to anyone but her boss and her cat. And then there’s Charlotte, who is beginning to have a tough time at work. In fact, her boss sexually assaulted her in reality. And she’s beginning to feel that something like that happened to her in her childhood.  Each of these women brings something different with them. Experiences that haven’t fully settled. Questions that haven’t been answered. Moments that still feel unresolved. And that’s where Prudence comes in. Helen: And we introduce the healing circle, the spiritual healing circle, run by a lady called Prue, Prudence, Prue for short. And these three ladies go and are in the healing circle with a number of other women. And they talk about their problems, each of them in turn. And Prue gives them a healing. She listens to her guides. She brings in divine source energies of living light, conscious streams of living light. And she questions these women. She goes down, down, down and questions them. When did this happen to you? Why is this happening to you? And the women grow stronger as they relate their stories.  The process is designed to take each of them back to where the pain first started… and help them gain insight into their unique circumstances. Helen: So Abigail is like, well, maybe I’m going to just divorce my husband and that’s OK. You know, he cheated on me. Why would I stay with him? And Sandra says that she is now feeling better about people and she can relate to them more. She can relate to the women in the circle more. So for her, the healing is finding people of like-mindedness with her. And so it’s about her intuition. And then for Charlotte, she was sexually abused by her father in her childhood. And so she learns to say no and also to find her creativity Life here on earth can be a real challenge sometimes. The focus here is on helping the reader understand that this kind of soul healing is possible… and that it can play a role in everyday life. There are other characters woven throughout the story as well. And as it unfolds, the idea underneath it all becomes clear. The pain we carry doesn’t just come from one moment.It builds.It lingers.And sometimes… it stays there until you understand its purpose. And that idea doesn’t just live inside the story. It comes directly from the author’s life. Helen: It happened in 2020. I kind of woke up, as they call it, and I started doing healings on myself and my friends. The story itself, she says, came to her through that same process. Helen: Well, the book was actually channeled by my Divine Guides and I met them in 2020 and they said, we’ve got a book for you. Do you want to write it? And I said, yes. And they said, it’s a spiritual book. Now, I’ve been in a process with these Divine Guides of healing myself. And they said, wouldn’t it be fun to introduce this to other people in a way that they could understand? Not heavy, not intense, not too deep, but just an idea of what it would be like to accept that there’s a Divine Consciousness pervading all of existence and that we can tap into that and understand our journey through life in that way. Did you catch that part about being in a process with her Divine Guides? Let’s take a closer look at that. Helen: When I was four, a star came to me and said, you’re going to be a healer. And I was really pissed off at my family at the time because they weren’t very nice to me. I said to the star, no way. So for Helen, it started early… and continued to shape who she became. Helen: I became more compassionate, and more understanding of people and their problems. Because I was quite isolated, because I was ill for a while. And I just it just opened me up and everyone has a hurt somewhere. And everyone has a life and a soul to be appreciated.  And, and it began my healing journey again, I started healing people then from then from then on. And so it was, it was very good for me that people out there need this, you know, there are people who are crying out for some sort of understanding and some sort of transformation. And this healing that I offer, which my guide said is called Arcturus Healing, it changes lives in a very gentle and beautiful way. You know, my guides are wonderful. And that brings us back to where this story started. As she says, “everyone has a hurt somewhere.” If you’re someone who is asking questions about your own life you might find something here.  Wonders of the Soul by Helen P. Slater is a story about healing— shaped by the author’s own experiences, and written for young readers navigating relationships, family, and the challenges that come with them. If you’d like to learn more about Helen and her work,you can visit her website: TheStoryOfMySoul.com. She shares regular blog posts there and you can find more about her books and her work as a healer. Sometimes, asking hard questions about your life…is how a new chapter begins. And that will do it for this episode of The Curated Chapter from Webtalkradio.com  Author website: www.thestoryofmysoul.com  Amazon Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Wonders-Soul-Helen-P-Slater-ebook/dp/B0CKDRT7DL 

In this edition of The Curated Chapter, we explore Died Three Times Lived Once by Robert Garcia—a powerful true story of survival, consequence, and second chances. From a near-fatal childhood experience to the challenges of military service and life beyond, Garcia reflects on the moments that nearly ended his life—and the choices that shaped what came after. It’s an honest look at hitting rock bottom, facing fear, and finding a way forward when hope feels out of reach. Welcome to this edition of The Curated Chapter, formerly Newsgram! How many times have you died? I should probably rephrase that. Have you ever had a near-death experience? It doesn’t have to be an official NDE involving angels and spirits of relatives long gone or anything. I’m talking about all the times you look back on your life and say, Wow…I can’t believe I made it through that. For me there two car accidents that should have killed me but for some reason they didn’t. In both cases I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. In fact, one of the accidents was so bad the car was completely totaled. When they found me, I was upside down in the car, unbuckled, staring at the dome light wondering what in the world had just happened. But somehow… I was okay. Was it divine intervention or blind luck? That’s open for debate but when I saw the title of the book we are going to talk about today, Died Three Times Lived Once… it got me thinking.  Rubin Hernandez, who goes by the pen name Robert Garcia, has identified three moments when the grim reaper passed him by. Once when he was as a child. Once when he was sent to overseas to fight and once when addiction nearly destroyed his life.. Here’s Ruben. Ruben: I’m just a simple citizen, a veteran, a Vietnam veteran. I’m an easygoing person, I’ve been told.  I would add humble, faith-driven and honest as well. His books tells the story of a man who believes those moments that nearly took his life were not accidents at all. They were interventions. Ruben: I got into a deathly experience at seven He’s talking about the time he survived a tragic truck accident only to grow up and eventually be sent to Vietnam.  Ruben: People shot around me and they died, and the same bullets coming at me and I didn’t get shot. Why? I don’t know. I’ll never understand that. Only God does.” Many of us experienced the Vietnam war through movies, documentaries and heresy. Mr. Hernandez was actually there. He was sent to Vietnam during one of the most turbulent periods in American history and experiences like that have a way of leaving permanent questions behind — especially if you are one of the survivors.  Ruben: I didn’t get shot. Why? I don’t know. trying to get up from, during the battle, and I couldn’t get up until decades later, I started thinking, it had to be an angel holding me down. For Ruben, survival in Vietnam left him with the same question many veterans carry with them for the rest of their lives. Why did I survive… when others didn’t? This was the second time in his life he had faced death and walked away. But war would not be the last time Ruben found himself standing at the edge. Ruben: And then my last one, my third one, oh my gosh, I fell. I fell deep. Years after returning from Vietnam, Ruben began working as a correctional officer in Riverside County, California. Ruben: Well, I became a police officer in a detention center in Riverside County as a correctional officer. And I made a big mistake, and I lost it. I wasn’t fired, but I lost it. They gave me a chance to come back, and I didn’t do it like I was supposed to. Ruben was responsible for watching over people who had lost their way but temptation has a way of grabbing ahold of us and taking control of our lives. What began as experimentation or recreational drug use slowly turned into addiction. And addiction has a way of destroying everything. Ruben: Don’t do what I did. Even if you’re a veteran, or you want to experience drugs, don’t try it, because you’ll fall. You’ll fall deeply. And I did. I became a drug addict under cocaine, and I regret every part of it. I lost everything. I started losing my vehicles. I started using heavily, and I wasn’t caught yet. And I was working for the Riverside County Sheriff in California. There’s not many out there that can say they were in front of the bars, and they ended up behind the bars and I was one of them. I took life for granted. We should never do that. Many addicts will tell you that before recovery begins, you often have to hit rock bottom. For Ruben, that moment came when he realized he had lost the things that mattered most. Ruben: Like I say I thought I lost everything I thought I lost my daughters, my wife and I didn’t care. You lose your dignity, you lose responsibility, and you lose everything. The point I’m trying to make, you don’t care.  But sometimes the turning point in a life comes down to a single moment. A few words. Something that shakes you to the core and forces you to see things differently. Ruben: I was eight years in and out of jail. The very last time they sent me to a rehab in San Pedro, California. And I couldn’t believe I’d made it that far. And the judge started telling me at my last court, you’re doing wonderful, Hernandez. Keep it going. She didn’t like me at all and I started thinking something has got to change. She says, you either change or you go to prison for three years. Now, that scared me.  That moment forced Ruben Hernandez to make a decision. He entered rehab and he began leaning more deeply into his faith. Ruben: Well, I started going to church while incarcerated. The people that have been in and out of prison, they tell me, oh, you can smuggle all the drugs you want. You want to go. I could feel Satan was behind that. This story does have a hopeful ending. Now at seventy-eight, Ruben has lived through some of life’s darkest chapters — and survived them with a new perspective. He is clean, happily remarried and passionate about sharing his story to help others.  Ruben: There’s a reason for everything that happens. I’m living with a beautiful woman. This lady of mine, my queen, her children flew me around the world. And whether people believe it or not, it’s all because of God’s will and reasoning. If Mr. Hernandez has learned anything from the life he describes in Died Three Times, Lived Once, it’s this: Live in the positive. Follow God’s will. And no matter who you are…stand your ground. Because sometimes the greatest story a person can tell…is what they choose to do after they survive.  Thanks for listening to this edition of The Curated Chapter, formerly Newsgram on Webtalkradio.com Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Died-Three-Times-Lived-Once-ebook/dp/B0DTJGKPY4 

Today we explore I’m on Assignment! by medium and empath Diane Marie Taylor, a spiritual self-help guide that asks a simple but profound question: What if your already living your life’s purpose even if it doesn’t feel like it? Welcome to this edition of Newsgram. The other day I was watching TV when, out of nowhere, my dog got up and stared into the kitchen like someone was standing there. He does it all the time. Just freezes… locked in… focused on something I can’t see. Science will tell you he’s not seeing spirits — that pets are simply more perceptive than humans. Better hearing. Way better sense of smell – which is true but it got me thinking… What if there’s more going on around us than we’re aware of? Spirits, ghosts, apparitions, alternate energies — whatever you want to call them — if you believe those things may exist, then what would you do if you could actually confirm their presence? If you could communicate with them? Well… guess what. I found someone who says she can.  Diane Taylor was born with abilities she didn’t ask for and didn’t fully understand at first. Diane: I was born gifted. I was born a medium myself. I was able to see beings in the room that other people couldn’t.  As cool as that sounds, it didn’t exactly make growing up easier. Diane: I got tired of being made to feel like I was weird for mentioning things that other people couldn’t see. So I just kind of shut that off.  She says if she’d had someone to help her understand and develop those abilities, she might never have turned them off. Still, the curiosity never left and neither did her interest in spirituality. Diane believes we all have intuitive abilities to some degree. Some people are just more sensitive to them. Others ignore them or talk themselves out of them. Her book is written for people who are questioning where they are in life. It’s for adults who sense there’s more meaning beneath the surface. More purpose. More continuity. Because according to Diane, we’re not just here by accident and where you are now is not the end of your story. You are part of something much larger. Diane: We are eternal beings. We want to think that we’re human beings that have a soul, but it’s the other way around. We are eternal beings that are trivially living in this meat suit.  And so as an eternal being, of course we have soul mates, just not in the Rom-Com sense. Diane: We have to stop thinking about soulmates in terms of what we think of with Valentine’s Day and this romanticized version of it. Because honestly, our soulmates are really annoying creatures. They are the people that we made agreements with to come here on Earth and nudge us along with our assignments. So they’re not going to be the friends that are telling you what you want to hear. They’re going to be telling you the things that you need to hear. And you know, they, they hold you accountable. And sometimes you don’t want to hear it. Because you made the agreement that I don’t care if I throw a fit on this such thing, I need you to push me so that I can keep doing this. And you might resent them in the moment, but in the long term, you’re going to love them for it. If that’s true — if we’re eternal beings with lessons to learn — it would seem like a waste to only get one shot at it. Diane says we don’t. She believes reincarnation isn’t just possible but it was once widely accepted. Diane: At one point, reincarnation was written in doctrine. It was pretty well accepted, and people understood this. And then, next thing you know, it’s been erased from doctrine, and people just don’t seem to believe in reincarnation anymore. But there are some of us that do, because we’re just sensitive enough that it’s like, yeah, there’s a lot more out there than just this. There is no way that my entire existence could exist simply on this trivial 75 years that I have here on earth. Not only do we return, she says we do it with help. Spirit guides. Soul groups. A kind of unseen support team that helps shape our path. Diane: Yes, without a doubt, we reincarnate.  One mystery remains: if we’ve lived before, why don’t we remember? Diane believes we do, just not consciously. She says unresolved memories can surface as unexplained fears, strong preferences, or an immediate sense of familiarity with someone we’ve just met. That stranger who seems awfully familiar? Maybe they’re not a stranger at all. They could be someone in your soul group that you shared a past life with.  Diane: If you want to equat  v e lifetimes with going to college, you’re not going to go to college in just one semester and take one course. You’re going to take several courses over several years, and eventually you move on. You get to graduate. That’s what our lifetimes on earth are like. It’s important then to understand that. There’s no way we could complete all of our lessons in just one lifetime.  At any given moment, she says, we are the sum of everything we have ever been, carrying with us both wisdom and unresolved trauma. Which makes perspective important. If you’re feeling pessimistic and negative, try and shake it off.  Diane: It would be easy to get sucked into that negative vibration where we’re thinking, poor me, and I’m worried about the next thing and the next. If you want to stay strong, you’ve got to find your center. Find your center, stay strong, and just go with the flow. Find your center, stay strong and go with the flow. Pretty good words of advice no matter what you believe. If the struggles we face today are echoes of past versions of ourselves, then growth means learning how to move beyond them. And yes… sometimes that means shaking things off. The book is “I’m on Assignment! An Alternate View of Past Lives, The Impact on Our Current Lives, Soul Mates, World History and the Akashic Records” by Diane Taylor and before we go I want to address that last part.  Diane: The Akashic records, that would be the record of everything that you’ve ever done in not only this lifetime, but other lifetimes as well. Having a record of everything I’ve ever done across multiple lifetimes sounds a little frightening. Definitely humbling. But the big takeaway here is this: you are more than this moment. You are more than this version of yourself.More than whatever chapter you happen to be in right now. And maybe the things we can’t explain — the familiar stranger, the fear that makes no sense, the feeling that you’ve been here before — maybe they aren’t so strange after all. Maybe they’re reminders.That this life isn’t random.That we’re not just passing time.That we’re part of something larger than what we can see, measure, or fully understand. And maybe… just maybe… there’s a lot more going on around us than we realize. For a link to the book I’m on Assignment by Diane Taylor, check out the show notes — or just Google it. It’s available wherever you like to buy books. Thanks for listening to this edition of Newsgram from WebTalkRadio.com. I’m Sam Youmans. https://www.amazon.com/Im-Assignment-Alternate-Current-History-ebook/dp/B0DFLPCLFD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CVVWXOW4IMAU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h4dFPIfSPtYMoNmY0_FUmw0v2bjFvz_k1Ypfg_19aMsvu3zsimmbPqK4HtFw3cjP3vnw0ZTAMDDuGQwH4fD6sQ0hUrnH6m2rYTp4PzsoF6aMqpq1x4hmu1Gmv0QERasOLczZ0sckTUuA2m56Y3mvQC_ULvviCi20l7KkfiYroXJEgqG8j9z0FHd9xgG9HTPgf-IUMIY_aQnB9T3xPiOXDfmVT78dkJ2Bf31YcW9tMsANjjQyFzJqh_ycCokptK-0y7H1Iull32QMRiNARUxNbWQaDOm6nenx0rnweaeooxU.X72sGkrx0cHdtU2Gpai8drMkWzEbXUU5y72PmPkWZ4o&dib_tag=se&keywords=i%27m+on+assignment&qid=1770824425&sprefix=i%27m+on+assignmen%2Caps%2C352&sr=8-1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-on-assignment-diane-marie-taylor/1146222370

Mental health is part of the public conversation—but living with it is deeply personal. In this episode of Newsgram, author and life coach Lee Dhepnorrat shares the story behind her book Healthy Heart, Healthy Mind: A Map Book for the Soul. Through lived experience, humor, and hard-earned insight, Lee reflects on bipolar disorder, self-judgment, and what it really takes to keep going when the road gets hard. Welcome to this edition of Newsgram! Mental health has been getting a lot of attention lately—in the news, online, and in public conversation—and that’s a good thing. Bringing visibility to something that was once kept quiet gives people language, awareness, and permission to speak. But talking about mental health and living with it—or supporting someone who is—can be a very different experience. Today, you’re going to meet Lee, an author who is contributing to this conversation in a deeply personal way. Drawing from her own life living with bipolar disorder, Lee shares how that struggle led her toward self-realization and a deeper understanding of the human mind. Through research, mentorship, and the experience of being genuinely supported by loved ones, she began to rebuild her inner world—and discovered a path she now uses to help others who may find themselves at a similar crossroads. Her book, Healthy Heart, Healthy Mind: A Map Book for the Soul, speaks to anyone seeking guidance, inspiration, or a sense of direction. Today, we’re going to explore how Lee’s lived experience, honest reflection, and shared wisdom can open up a new way forward—especially when the road feels uncertain. Here’s Lee. Lee – I was sick of people sort of not talking about it and not, just the stereotypes that, you know, not just for mental health but for many things, where moms are not really regarded as important, I think, and not just moms but kids, the stresses of today’s world. I think it’s been, put too much pressure on people to be perfect and to be this, to be that, to be everything everyone else wants them to be. This is a heavy topic to be sure but Lee approaches it with honesty, warmth, and a sense of humor that runs throughout the book.  Lee – I think you have to laugh at life because, you know, if you don’t laugh, you cry sometimes. She tells her life story in a straightforward, matter-of-fact way that doesn’t preach or instruct, but invites reflection. What comes through again and again is encouragement—permission to be yourself, to be authentic, and to stop apologizing for where you are in life. Above all, Lee emphasizes a couple of simple but powerful truths: you are good enough and never give up! So what helped her most? Lee  – The ones that helped me the most was just non-judgment. Wherever you are, start where you are and just focus on growth. I have to have that degree, I have to be that person, I have to be that friend, I have to be that mum, I have to be that whatever. Just really being yourself and just getting back true to yourself, true to your core. That’s what really helped me the most and, you know, whatever you’re going through, whatever hardships you’re going through, Where’s never ever something that, you know, there’s always someone going through something harder. So, don’t beat yourself up on it. For years, Lee tried to meet the expectations placed on her surrounding motherhood, success, and being everything everyone else needed her to be. Over time, it became harder and harder to keep up appearances.  The strain built quietly, until it finally became impossible to ignore. Lee – I ended up putting those pressures on myself and then ended up, you know, in the psychiatric ward which then stopped me for three months. I couldn’t go outside. I couldn’t do anything and then from there, it became a vicious cycle of going back in and out of wards for like seven years or so and then medications and things like that. So, yeah, I just had enough and I thought, you know, someone needs to talk about this because it’s not getting dealt with enough. And that’s what makes this book different. It’s not that there aren’t other resources out there, but there aren’t many like this one. Here, you hear the story directly. You learn what helped, what didn’t, and what it took to move forward. And then, you’re free to make your own choices—armed with honesty, lived experience, and the reminder that you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Lee – I was very happy that it was written. I wasn’t sure what sort of reaction it would have. But, I just felt I had a story to tell, that, you know, it needed to be spoken about for other ones not to go through what I went through. That’s where the subtitle comes in: A Map Book for the Soul. Lee describes what she’s created as a kind of guide—not a straight line, but a way to orient yourself when you feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure which direction to take next. A reminder that even in the hardest moments, movement is still possible. Lee – There’s always like a pivotal moment. You might think you’re right at the end of, you know, like you tap out or whatever. And you’re thinking, oh God, everything’s crap. Things are going down south. Things are heading south fast. You might just meet someone that day that might just turn you around. So don’t ever give up on that day if that’s how you’re feeling. Um, Just sort of ride that wave. And, you know, things will turn around when it’s time for you. Never, never give up. At the heart of Lee’s message is momentum; staying open to inspiration, continuing to move toward what matters to you, and choosing a life that reflects who you are rather than who you’re expected to be. Lee – I just hope they take courage and they take hope and they take guidance that they’re exactly who they are supposed to be. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be in the right space and time. That’s what I would hope people would take away from this. This is a difficult time we’re living in, and it’s hard to imagine paying too much attention to our mental health. Stories like this one remind us that support, understanding, and hope can come from many places. Healthy Heart, Healthy Mind: A Map Book for the Soul is another resource—one grounded in lived experience—and I hope you find it a meaningful one. The book is available now wherever you like to buy books online. You can also learn more about Lee and her work at her website—Live Love Shine dot wixsite dot com slash liveloveshine — we’ve included a direct link in the show notes. And that will do it for this edition of Newsgram from WebTalkRadio.com. I’m Sam Youmans. Thanks for listening. https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Heart-Mind-Book-Soul-ebook/dp/B0DCN9WMXW

In this edition of Newsgram, Sam Youmans explores The Pagalan Chronicles: Book 1 – Search for Morganuke’s Roots with author Andrew Houlston. The conversation traces the journey of Morganuke—a young man driven by an inner sense that he comes from somewhere else—set against a vast, layered world shaped by hidden histories, fragile peace, and deep personal bonds. Blending epic fantasy with emotional insight, this episode looks at identity, destiny, and the quiet inner pull that guides us toward meaning, even in times of uncertainty. Welcome to this edition of Newsgram: Some people believe there are forces that seem to guide us toward our purpose here on earth. Call them spirit guides. Call them angels. Others believe we’re guided by pure instinct and shaped by our past experiences. Either way, it’s a feeling that exists just beneath conscious thought. It’s an instinct or a pull. A quiet sense that there’s something more we’re meant to do…or something more we’re meant to understand about why we’re here. Now imagine growing up knowing deep down that you don’t belong where you are. Not because anyone treated you badly or because you were unloved but because something inside you keeps whispering: This isn’t where your story begins. Well, this is where our story begins. Because that feeling belongs to a young man named Morganuke; a man drawn into a dangerous quest with his friends to stop his world from crumbling into chaos while searching for the truth about where he came from. Houlston: And that’s really where the main character, Morgan of Baldia, came from. So he’s a lost individual from Pagan, that lost ancient civilization. It started with the idea of having an individual such as Morgan Hook, who looked very different from those around him. He was adopted by a kindly couple on an island, found as a baby from his mentor, but he knew, he always knew that he was different and he had come from somewhere else. And that’s really the whole quest of the first book, is for Morgan Hook to find out where he came from. Sam: That is Andrew Houlston—a former member of the Royal Air Force in England and author of The Pagalan Chronicles: Book 1 – Search for Morganuke’s Roots, the tale of a world built on hidden truths, ancient memory, and the quiet pull of destiny and when I tell you this story will tug at your emotions I may be understating it. Houlston (Emotional pt.1) I’ve cried over scenes in my book whilst I was writing them. So it’s a mixture of sadness, tension, but there are some funny bits in it as well.  Sam: At its heart, this is a story about discovery. The Pagalan Chronicles is a journey across memory, across generations and across truths that were never meant to surface. As Morganuke searches for answers about himself, the world around him begins to reveal just how fragile it really is. Old alliances strain. Long-standing peace begins to erode. And what once seemed like a familiar, medieval world slowly reveals something far more complex beneath the surface. Because Pagalan isn’t just one world, it’s many worlds. Houlston (Layered World) it’s a layered world, so there are lots, it’s like an onion really, there are lots of sort of hidden layers that as you go through the story, oh really, as I was writing the first book, you know, these layers sort of form themselves. Sam:  Pagalan is a place shaped by history, by conflict, and by choices made long before Morganuke was born. And along the way, he’s joined by characters who give this world its heart. Houlston (Emotional pt.2) And there’s one character that I really love. My favorite character is a young woman called Calarel, but she’s a very complex character in that she’s awkward amongst others. She’s a fiery character. She’s got a heart of gold, but she does tend to fly off the handle on occasion.  Sam:  One of Morganuke’s most important guides is his mentor, Freytar. Houlston (Freytar) So he’s a sailor and he’s the chap that found Morgan as a baby. And he actually takes him off in his ship called the Aurora, sailing around this beautiful world of Pagalan, to find his roots. He has other friends as well, very close friends. So there is Calarel, as I mentioned, there’s Chantilly, Lady Chantilly. So she’s a very interesting character as well. Middle aged, but she’s a very, you know, sort of authoritarian, a leader. She’s a very good leader.  Sam: Pagalan is a diverse world filled with movement, danger, and discovery. A place where every step forward uncovers not just new territory, but deeper mysteries waiting to be understood. There’s also romance… Houlton (Melinor) So he’s got a love interest called Melinor. And there’s a bit of a love triangle, actually, in there. So it gets a bit tricky at times. Sam:  And if you find yourself wanting more, that curiosity is already taken care of. Houlston (Other Books) There are already two other books, so the first series consists of three books, all of which are complete and available on Amazon. And in fact, I’ve also written three other books, which is a prequel series to the first series, and that goes back 3,000 years. And it concentrates, focuses on this ancient civilisation that Morgan Hook is part of. So it’s covering his ancestors, covering a hundred generations before Morgan Hook. Yes, that’s right. Sam:  We may not like uncertainty or upheaval, but we do like the feeling that there’s meaning beneath it all—and that’s the quiet promise at the heart of Morganuke’s journey. Because beneath the battles and the hidden histories, this is really a story about listening to that inner nudge—the one that tells us there’s more to understand about who we are and how we fit into the world around us. Morganuke doesn’t set out looking to change everything. He sets out looking for answers. And along the way, those answers begin to matter not just to him, but to everyone connected to his world. That’s pretty much who life works in our world too. We don’t usually go searching for destiny, we go searching for clarity. And sometimes, that clarity has a way of changing things. The Pagalan Chronicles: Book 1 – Search for Morganuke’s Roots is a story that reminds us that even when the path feels uncertain, it may still be leading us exactly where we need to go. It’s available now along with all the other books in the series online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or you can read the first ten pages and decide if it’s for you on Andrew’s website, ThePagalanChronicles.com .  That will do it for this edition of news gram from webtalkradio.com. I’m Sam Youmans. Thanks for Listening. https://www.amazon.com/Pagalan-Chronicles-Book-Finding-Denesthear-ebook/dp/B0DMVKBJD8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17LUEB15QB92D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JuBcm7FT-JvpVVBWYNYK_w.JJzOkXiJ400_Vch3ceI56-QDVI2noFGzhbi6c_1gmCc&dib_tag=se&keywords=9798823089401&qid=1757372156&sprefix=9798823089401%2Caps%2C313&sr=8-1

Robert Killick joins us to explore the life and impact of the woman who shaped his world and Lived life to the fullest. In his biography A Woman of Gold, he paints a warm, honest portrait of a woman whose faith, generosity, and steady courage transformed everyday choices into a lasting legacy. Join us as we honor an ordinary woman who became extraordinary and discover how her story might inspire in your own. Welcome to this edition of Newsgram!  Today on Newsgram, we’re celebrating a life well-lived. I can’t think of a better honor than telling someone on their deathbed, don’t worry you will be remembered and then publishing a book that explains why. Knowing you were loved and sharing those reasons with the world; who wouldn’t want that? Judy Killick has left a lasting legacy and today we are going to meet her through the words of her husband  Robert who finished writing it under the emotional weight of knowing that time was running out. Judy’s health was fading. Here is Robert to pick up the story.  Robert Killick – Judy and I had been married for 64 years, and in the last couple of years, her body was starting to fade, I think is the nicest way of saying it, and the family agreed. I’ve already written a previous book called As Good as Gold, which was to do with the chemical company we have, but for Judy, it was like we thought, well, she has a legacy. The least we can do is to provide a background for people just to appreciate the lady. And so what motivated her was, well, and it happened that we had just got back our report from the editor to say that yes, we’ve cleared everything up, everything is good, and so Judy saw that part of the book, and then she died within a fortnight. So let’s meet this amazing woman and learn more about the inspiration for the book A Woman of Gold: A Biography of Family, Faith, and Business by Dr. Robert W. Killick; Part scrapbook, part love letter and part guide to living a meaningful life.  Robert Killick – She was committed to helping people. It was her raison d’etre, as the French say, the reason being that she could get out and just help people in any need they had or whatever circumstances they were in. And yes, so she was that sort of lady. And I just think they’re built that way. I mean, it just amazes me how, you know, you look back and you just see a truly wonderful lady.  He says her commitment to helping others wasn’t just an activity for her; it was instinct. And it wasn’t as if she had extra time on her hands. Judy was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, schoolteacher, church elder, philanthropist — and an avid tennis player who approached the court with the same energy she brought to everything else. All of this from a woman who left school at 15 and eventually helped run a global chemical company. Robert Killick – She always said goodbye to me when I was going to work. And then she’d regularly want to, as I just before I left, she’d grab me by the lapels, my shirt lapels, shake me like a wet rat, she just shook me. And so just remember one thing, all wisdom does not lie with Bob Killick, right? Now, with that instruction, I was ready to go out and do it. That’s a pretty good way to keep your CEO humble.  Robert Killick – What the lady did provide was common sense. She knew, because of the people she was always, you know, out talking with and whatever, she always had a sense of where people were going, what they were doing. She had that, it was innate that she had that common sense that she could really do things. So in a sense, while I had all the technical background, she also had just the wisdom of, well, good advice.  That combination of technical skill and wisdom is what kept their business thriving for decades. It was Judy’s compassion that shaped the company’s culture.  Robert Killick – It was a true family company. Now, at the moment, we have 70 people working for us. It was one of those situations where she knew people. And we’ve got people, I’d say most of our people have been with us 15, 20, 25 years. So I think this reflects, again, the impact that Judy has as a loving person for whoever you were, whatever you were. The book is partly a celebration of life as well as a window into a remarkable marriage. Robert Killick – We both had a great respect for each other. And we don’t live in America, as you appreciate. We live in a White House here in Australia and White Houses in Australia are not like they are White House, the White House in America. But we always used to say, oh, well, pardon me. Oh, well, the president is well. The husband isn’t bad either. That sense of humor is evident in the book as well.  A Woman of Gold is more than a biography. It’s a blueprint for how ordinary days can become a legacy. It’s the building blocks of generosity, wisdom, love and laughter that can transcend generations.  Judy didn’t set out to become extraordinary. She just lived her life to the fullest,  loved deeply, and used whatever she had whether it be her time, talent, or a tennis racket — to bless the people around her. If you enjoy reading about the truly good people in this world, then take a look at A Woman of Gold: A Biography of Family, Faith, and Businessby Robert W. Killick. Inside these pages you’ll find a gentle reminder to embrace life fully, to share your blessings freely, and to stay flexible when life changes course. Because let’s be honest — some days it feels like the world has tilted in the wrong direction. Like we’re living in a place where the powerful squeeze out the vulnerable, where mega-corporations are praised for record profits, where automation replaces livelihoods, and where the gap between the rich and the poor stretches wider every year. It can leave you wondering if people still matter in the grand scheme of things. That’s why Judy’s story hits so hard. It’s a quiet counterargument to the noise of the modern world — proof that life doesn’t have to be a competition, and that success doesn’t have to come at someone else’s expense. Her life reminds us that the real currency isn’t gold; it’s love. And unlike gold, love doesn’t run out, doesn’t get hoarded, and doesn’t rise and fall with the market. Its value is infinite. This book makes you believe, even if only for a moment, that the world could look different if more of us lived with Judy’s sense of purpose — if we served first, cared deeply, and remembered that people, not profits, are what make a life meaningful. The book is available now at Amazon dot com, Barnes and Noble or wherever you like to shop for books online. Thank you for listening to this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com. I’m Sam Youmans.  https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Gold-Biography-Family-Business-ebook/dp/B0D7ZMLX62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FTL9JQ6A962C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OIRoT1FuOY4ABpg4YFE-Cg.PCssCEVk6aNN118dgjFR6BZ2qyc1nLxpbVvNpYV1kYE&dib_tag=se&keywords=9781982299699&qid=1760055340&sprefix=%2Caps%2C758&sr=8-1

Mary. Judas. Peter. Their voices echo through scripture — and now through Augustine Jeyaraj’s poetry. In this episode, we explore The Word in Their Voices, born from Augustine’s life in medicine, Catholic tradition, and a deep desire to bridge the gap between ancient scripture and modern readers. His poems help us step into these lives with fresh eyes, rediscovering the humanity, struggle, and hope at the heart of their stories. Sam Youmans: Welcome to this edition of Newsgram! This episode is being written and produced during the holiday season, so in the spirit of family, friends and Christmas, I thought it made sense to join Dr. Augustine Jeyaraj — a liver transplant surgeon — in his virtual walk with Jesus. That isn’t as random as it sounds. Augustine has written a book that’s been getting a lot of positive reviews from Catholic reading circles. People are saying it doesn’t preach at you from above — rather, it walks beside you. Which is on target with his goals because he is walking beside Jesus. It’s called “an easy read, but deep theologically,” which can be a rare mix.  The book is called The Word In Their Voices: A catholic pilgrims journey through Scripture and Poetry, and it’s a collection of poems spoken through the eyes of the people who lived the stories — Mary at the foot of the Cross, Judas in his agony and others. Here’s Augustine. Jeyaraj: Faith has always been very important to me throughout my life. It’s just that I never gave it the attention it needed until maybe the last 15 years. And as I grew more in the faith, I began to realize that there was a very rich tradition of not only scripture within the Catholic Church, but in fact, para-biblical sources, like for example, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even the mystics. And when you put them all together, there’s this huge wisdom in the literature that’s out there, but difficult to get access to.  Sam Youmans: He say’s his original intention was to write a book that was easy and simple for people to understand biblical issues and he knew he was on the right track because as he dug deeper, scripture began to shift from something printed on a page into something breathing and alive. Jeyaraj: Scripture is not something distant, preserved in pages, but perhaps there’s a living story within it, you know, pulsing with the breath of those who once walked the earth. And so I tried to actually relive their lives through poetry in their voices. And that’s what was going on here. Sam Youmans: So that realization became the seed for the book. Then came the foundation — what the Bible truly is at heart.  Jeyaraj: The Bible is not a book of doctrines, or a book of philosophies, compiled together. It’s a chronicle of human lives, men and women who love, they doubted, they hoped, they despaired, they made choices, and bore the cost of their faith. They inhabited cultures and languages, you know, vastly different from our own. And yet, through their fragile humanity, God spoke. So, you know, when God didn’t, like, choose Abraham, or Noah, or, you know, David, even, who were like superlatives in their faith, they were humans with their flaws. And actually, I wanted to really explore that, you know, the people, people who live the lives, mistakes they made, and how they overcame it, because that’s an important story for us, that we too can actually live the faith, make our mistakes, but come back. And, if you’re ready for a plot twist, he points out that  faith is not a guarantee of a good life.  Jeyaraj: That’s the one mistake that people make, and they think that, you know, if I’m going to invest in this faith, my life’s going to be perfect. No, that’s not true. Faith is not a life of certainty. Faith is about living with uncertainty, it’s a peace that helps you navigate the difficulties of life. That’s what faith gives you, yeah.  Sam Youmans: What about those who have no faith at all? There are plenty of non-believers out there who think it’s all a bunch of religious nonsense. Jeyaraj (Super Rational) People always say that faith is irrational. But in fact, faith is super rational because when you look at all these witnesses in the Bible and live their lives, they too lived as we did. They had the same, you know, worries and tendencies and uncertainties. But the hope is what got them through.  Sam Youmans: So that is the thinking behind the book, his philosophy if you will. Now let’s open it up and have a look at some of the poetry about the people within the Bible. As you know these people lived thousands of years ago so the first thing he wanted to do was to help bridge the time gap.  Jeyaraj (The People) I started with the two popes, Pope Francis and Pope John, because they are within our own cultural era, you know, our same period. So, it’s easier to go into their minds. People would understand when I start the poems with these two. And then, I moved back to St. Augustine. St. Augustine, who lived about AD 430, I think he’s really important, because he’s really the theological lens through which you actually appreciate all the other poems. Because I think the poem that I wrote about St. Augustine is entitled Odo amoris, which means the order of love. Basically, what he says, it’s not wrong to love things, but you must love them in the right order. And I think love of God is central. And then everything falls into place. Sam Youmans: There are poems in the book about Judas, Peter and Stephen – the first Christian martyr. He writes about a Roman Centurion and the Unnamed people who walk with Jesus but he says one of his favorites is the one he wrote about Mary.   Jeyaraj (Mary) It was a reflection on St. Michelangelo’s Pieta, which I saw in Rome. It’s this year of jubilee, I visited, you know, the churches. And this magnificent, you know, sculpture by Michelangelo. And, you know, it’s Mary holding Jesus, but one hand is open and another hand clutches. And, you know, I meditated on it. And, you know, I went on a tour organized by Edward Street. And, you know, he had asked us to think about that, about that statue, and about the two hands, one open and one clasped. And, you know, it’s a mother’s dilemma. On the one hand, she wants to hold on to Jesus, right? On the other hand, she’s letting him go down to the altar.  And so, I thought, hey, maybe I would see it through Mary’s eyes, you know, a mother’s dilemma of loving your son, but having to let him go to fulfill his duty that he was born to do. So, that’s my other favorite poem. Sam Youmans: And he saved the most important voice for last. Jesus himself. Augustine asks the question: Do you know Jesus?Not know about him… but truly know him?  Jeyaraj  (Do you know Jesus?) And that’s the last poem I leave everyone in the book. And I realized that no matter how much theological insight, or academic knowledge you have, or how much you read the Bible, at the end of it, it’s really the encounter with Jesus, right? Do you have an encounter with Jesus? Do you not know about him, but do you know him? And I think that’s the most important question we need to answer. And the last poem tackles that before I close off. Sam Youmans: I’m a skeptic at heart and have lived most of my life with one eyebrow raised. I don’t pretend to have the answers, but I am really good at asking questions. And that curiosity has been both a blessing and a curse. So if you too are the kind of person who is naturally suspicious or skeptical, I think you will appreciate Augustine’s final bit of advice. Jeyaraj: I think it’s very important to discern the truth for yourself, not just listen to anybody interpreting the word for you. And I think what Paul tells you is to test everything and hold on to what is true. And that’s what I’d like to leave everybody with. Sam Youmans: “Test everything and hold on to what is true.” A great place to wrap up this edition of Newsgram. The book, The Word in Their Voices: A Catholic Pilgrim’s Journey Through Scripture and Poetry by Augustine Jeyaraj, is out there waiting for you to discover it for yourself. It’s heartfelt, relatable, and written to help anyone — at any stage of faith — draw closer to the God who spoke through ordinary, imperfect human beings like us. No matter what your faith, religion, or level of belief, I wish you a most joyous holiday season. And as always… Thanks for listening to this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com. https://www.amazon.com/Word-their-Voices-Catholic-Scripture/dp/1543784305

In a future where surveillance rules and institutions tighten their grip, Christopher Martin-Olsen tries to outmaneuver the system without losing his soul. Author E.E. Linsen joins us to unpack this morally charged, high-stakes thriller and the real-world dilemmas that inspired it. Welcome to this edition of Newsgram! Today I’ve got a work of fiction for you — and it hits surprisingly close to home. It’s set in a world where technology is running full steam ahead, surveillance is everywhere, governments are watching more closely than ever, and major institutions have become ruthless. Sound familiar? Yeah — me too. And in the middle of all that, there’s a man named Christopher who is about to rewrite the rules. It all begins when opportunity knocks loudly, and he decides to seize it. The book is titled It Is Good to Be Bad: Chronicles of the Guild by E.E. Linsen — or as we get to call him, Eduardo. Linsen – One defining moment in the book is pretty much at the beginning, when he has to decide whether to stay firm to his principles, or to cave and do something that is pragmatic, very profitable for him, but he will betray the principles under which he was raised. And he decides to do what he feels is right. Because if he doesn’t, and things don’t go right, he’s left with nothing. So, that puts him literally with a shattered future, into the need of doing something new. And that is the starting point of the story. We all face moral dilemmas, and the choices are rarely easy. We lean on instinct, experience, upbringing; all the invisible stuff that shapes who we are. Linsen – So, yeah, I have four kids, and I tried to teach them exactly that. And, and to be honest, when we talk about this topic, everybody agrees that we should do what is right. But when you’re confronted with the urgencies and surviving needs, you know, you tend to negotiate principles for it with surviving, right? And this dilemma really measures people, right? How far you, you have to be pressured before you cave, right? And this is the main character who is like my hero, right? And it’s what I would like, not just to see myself, but I would like my kids really to, to behave. And well, that creates a lot of tensions and emotions. And this is life. The book is fiction, which always makes my job tricky because I don’t want to spoil anything but here’s the setup: The main character, Christian, is tasked with finding a solution to a major problem – one that involves laundering large sums of money in ways that are legal but discreet. And yes, I did just say “laundering money” and “legal” in the same sentence. Linsen – Laundering money is a concept that is used, usually misused. So it is a very broad term laundering money. So when you are asked to implement or structure transactions, and I’ve been a banker for many years, right? That’s a topic that I am familiar with. And what you do is enable those transactions to flow through the system legally, but undetected, you create an enormous powerful situation in which you can remove comfort zones from very important people, normally government, regulators, partners, whatever, right? And that circumstance forces different parts of the society to react against the main character. And I try to portray the different views of these different people, right? And they have arguments against the main character. And I try to make them logical and I would say persuasive in their stances, because we all see the problem from different angles. And at the end, well, the main character has wins and losses. And well, the story evolves to an end that I believe is quite satisfying, although it’s not perfectly successful for everybody. Eduardo spent more than 40 years in international banking, so he knows a few things about “enabling transactions”. He’s been a CFO, COO, and CEO at some of the most prestigious American and European financial institutions but turning all that experience into fiction? That took some discipline. Linsen – When I wrote the book, at the beginning, I started with a small project and it grew in its complexity as I was developing this story. When I finished it, I didn’t like it. So I have to edit it all from scratch again, because I found it to be too technical, probably trying to show off myself as a presumptuous expert in the financial world regarding how to trick everybody, right? So that’s not the purpose. So I scale it down totally, right, to make it, you know, more normal talking. And when I finished, I was pleased. Eduardo brings sharp judgment, strategic thinking, and decades of real-world experience to the page and all of that adds depth and complexity to the story. But Christopher doesn’t carry the narrative alone. He’s supported by two loyal childhood friends and a wise godfather, all balanced against a diverse cast of villains. Eduardo says that writing this group of characters was one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole process. Linsen – Let me tell you, there’s a big temptation every now and then to inject your own thoughts and try to look smart and overeducated when you write and to contain this and wear the shoes of each of the characters when they speak or when they behave. And it’s amazing, okay.  So from what you’ve heard so far, you can probably see why I would summarize this book with three simple words: principles, courage, chess. Every decision hits one of those three notes and the stakes only get higher as the story moves forward. Linsen – I hope that you enjoyed the book. I did it with great passion and interest. And if you do so, I’m sure that the second book will keep the same sort of appeal because it’s an in crescendo type of evolution of the story. So let’s see. I’m really looking forward to seeing the reaction from the public. The book is clever, suspenseful, and unsettlingly plausible. Yes, I borrowed that phrasing from the online description, but honestly, I couldn’t come up with anything better. It’s the first installment of a planned trilogy…and maybe even a movie someday. Linsen – There is a producer right now looking to eventually make it a movie or a TV series, because the story lends itself easily to this sort of project.  I hope it does! It Is Good to Be Bad is a razor-sharp thriller that reminds us that when the world is stacked against you, and you are trying to remain principled it’s not necessarily about being good-it’s about being good at being bad. The book is available now online wherever you like to shop for books. And that will do it for this edition of Newsgram From Webtalkradio.com. Thanks for listening. https://www.amazon.com/Good-Be-Bad-Chronicles-Guild-ebook/dp/B0FJDNX4XZ

This week we explore Poetry Matters – Write! (What you don’t know CAN hurt you) by Douglas McCulloch — a call to see poetry not as luxury, but as necessity. calls his poems “candles in the wind,” lighting up the truths we live but rarely name. His work reminds us that writing—and truly seeing—can lead to deeper understanding in a time of noise and distraction. Tune in as we ask: what can poetry still teach us about living with honesty and purpose? Welcome to this week’s edition of Newsgram! The world we live in has always been a complicated place but I think navigating its challenges has never been more difficult. I realize that every generation has unique obstacles but it seems like our current society seems to have more of them, or I should have bigger ones than previous generations because I’ve always found that reading is the key to understanding and doing that today presents unique challenges. Most of that comes down to the fact that unbiased literature, while it is definitely out there, you need to dig a bit deeper to find it and that is one of the challenges I’m talking about. I came across an interesting man named Doug McCullougch that I think you’ll enjoy meeting because his goal is to enlighten you with poetry while encouraging you to think. Just read, think, talk amongst yourselves a bit and see where that gets us. Here’s Doug.  Douglas McCulloch: My idea is I want people to read poetry. I don’t necessarily want them to pay me for it. And if I can get them to read it without getting the money, and that’s fine for me, I’d be happy with that. Because it would mean that the ideas were getting out and people were sharing them. And I have to say that I’ve organized a couple of readings and I never expected to be so uplifted by the positive response. I don’t mean cheering or clapping. I just mean people took the ideas seriously and considered them carefully and asked excellent questions. And that’s, to me, that’s everything about it. If we have conversations going, if we get people to entertain these ideas, even if they don’t buy the bloody book, I don’t care so long as they think more, so long as we improve the way that people interact with this wonderful but difficult world that we live in.  Sam: The name of the book is Poetry Matters – Write! The subtitle is, What you don’t know CAN hurt you. His work reminds us that writing—and truly seeing—can lead to deeper understanding in a time of noise and distraction. So what can poetry still teach us about living with honesty and purpose? Well for one thing poetry has always been a great way to start a conversation.  Douglas McCulloch: 1966 or 65, I was introduced to poetry writing as a part of a school subject, and I find it very difficult to stop. It’s a way of making sense, which I value very highly, I’ll put it like that. Sam: The book addresses issues like workplace injustice, the search for truth and perspective amid some imperfect systems and the need for young people to form independent conclusions about life and society. Here’s an example.  Douglas McCulloch: When you go into a job, you may find that the person who’s supposed to be looking after you is actually a bit of a nasty person, and how do you deal with that? If you do something wrong and they start to go after you, what do you do? Well, it’s okay, it happens, and the poem tries to get a sense of perspective, a realistic sense of perspective.You can’t say to people, oh, the law will look after you, oh, the justice will be done. It doesn’t always happen. That’s what I mean when I say that the book perhaps supplies some useful questions. It certainly is not a wonderful source of enormous and wonderful answers. It does have some of that, but the questions, I think, are more important, and young people are not slow either. They know what the score is, and it doesn’t take much for them to put these ideas into their own outlooks, and I hope, I humbly hope that some of these will actually be useful to them in their own careers. To be honest I was initially afraid this was going to be a political book, because there’s a lot of that going around today but it’s really more of a shared wisdom experience. A creative, intelligent and experienced man sharing a bit of what he’s learned.  Douglas McCulloch: I’m not blaming anyone, but I felt as a mature person, and having knocked around a bit and been in various interesting places from time to time, that I could perhaps observe and conclude and perhaps convey some aspects of how the world actually works. The book does not offer easy answers and to suggest that I think would undermine his efforts. It encourages readers to think critically, adapt and find meaning in the complexity because honest questioning is more powerful than certainty. I know…that can be frustrating if you’re a young student but if someone gives you the answers then all you’re doing is following and today’s world needs leaders not followers.  Take a listen to one of his poems. This one is called Sam Johnson’s Brutus. Samuel Johnson is credited with writing the first English dictionary and while there is some debate about that, his 1755 work, A Dictionary of the English Language has definitely left its mark on the world.  Our connection wasn’t perfect but I think you’ll get the gist of it. Take a listen… Douglas McCulloch: There is no end to the leap of self-knowledge. Here is infinity, drink what you will. To know who you are is to tremble, and courage to stand, reach out, and drink of your filth. Let the world go to hell, it was never worth saving. A ball of clay mud on a galaxy’s rump. But we stay, watch for daybreak, and our offspring first gleaming…. Never give up, if you choke, keep on drinking. Though visions torment, and other vices are wry, Sam Johnson’s bruises see clear in the morning. Though the cup of their liquor will never run dry. There’s the hashtag, will never run dry. He’s talking about facing hard truths and enduring through self-reflection which is a big part of the goal here. The book also addresses some sobering realities.   Douglas McCulloch: We the clever rich white men once were, colorful natives singing content around our own hearthstones. We have since followed our cleverness elsewhere, made a parent of progress, and slowly infected the spleen of mankind. Not everything should be about money or economic development. Can you see how he sparks conversation?  Douglas McCulloch: I mean, to some extent, we are buying our lives at the expense of the poor world. That’s something we need to face up to. It’s not, it can’t go on, not forever. And, well, that’s the sort of, there are big lessons and there are small ones, but obviously the big ones are most important. And the students are fighting their way through a morass of complicated, intricate, and sometimes not understandable features. And they’re doing their best. And maybe this, without actually expecting anything from them, without actually telling them what to do, I like to think I’m trying to help them to think about what they’re facing and perhaps come to their own conclusions.Their own conclusions are the ones that really matter. The book is an enlightening read for anyone, but especially for students because they are the ones who will face the challenges of tomorrow. The challenges will be hard and there will be many.  I like how Doug refers to the earth as “a ball of clay on a galaxy’s rump,” and while he’s being wry about it, he’s deeply concerned for our planet and the people on it. He’s also not just trying to sell books—he wants people to read, to think, connect and learn. So visit your local library and ask for Poetry Matters – Write! (What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You) by Douglas McCulloch. And if they don’t have it, see if they’ll order it. Because, as Doug says, “My generation has had its turn.” It’s time for the next one to do what they can to create a brighter future.  Douglas McCulloch: If we have conversations going, if we get people to entertain these ideas, even if they don’t buy the bloody book, I don’t care so long as they think more, so long as we improve the way that people interact with this wonderful but difficult world that we live in. Sam: Poetry Matters – Write! is available now on Amazon. And that’ll do it for this edition of Newsgram from WebTalkRadio.com. Thanks for listening. https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Matters-Write-What-dont-ebook/dp/B0DBKVGH5B

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