Recs and Resources!

I talk endlessly about staying focused, listening to your gut, and blocking out distractions.

There is SO much information in the world and it can be difficult to determine who you should listen to, what you should focus on, and what information is good information.

So, this month I’m checking in about podcast resources you might find helpful, depending on where you are in your author journey. Plus, why I listen to them (or at least recommend that you do).

To be clear, I’ve listened to a LOT of podcasts over the years. I still subscribe to about eight of them, but I’ve learned to listen selectively. I don’t fit them all in every week (though I used to try). My time is precious and if the episodes don’t serve me, I don’t listen. And that’s okay! It’s like a book you feel you have to finish, even if you’re not enjoying it. YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS. You can and should be selective.

Here are a few things to consider if you get sucked into the “rabbit hole” of podcasts:

1.     PODCASTS ARE FREE. Don’t let apps trick you into buying a plan. You can listen to all of these podcasts for free on MANY platforms, including Castbox (what I use), Audible, Google, Spotify, etc. There are so many!

2.     It’s okay to skip the episodes that don’t serve you.

3.     If you don’t have time to listen, save them for later. They will be there when you’re ready.

4.     If you don’t like it, unsubscribe. Seriously. There’s a weird guilt that accompanies signing up for things sometimes. Don’t let the notifications clog up your app and make you anxious because you have “unread” episodes.

Ok, now it’s time for my top three podcast recs…

But first – I have not listened to every book and author/publishing related podcast there is. I’m not saying there aren’t great ones out there, but of the many I have listened to, these are the ones that have served me best. And no, I am not getting any kickback or payment from these folks. I find them helpful in my weekly listening rotation. Here’s why…

PUBLISHING + MARKETING: Publish and Prosper with Matt Briel and Lauren Vassallo

This is a great podcast for newbie authors because they discuss a lot of foundation building for your author business, like email marketing and selling direct. They are also my favorite to listen to. Their banter cracks me up.

INDUSTRY NEWS + UPDATES: Sell More Books Show with Bryan Cohen

This podcast takes key industry beats for the week and breaks them down. It’s like listening to the news but book related. They are short episodes (about 30 minutes). As of 2025, Bryan has rotating co-hosts offering their perspectives on what’s going on, which can be helpful.

AUTHOR LESSONS + REFLECTIONS: Wish I’d Known Then…For Writers

This podcast invites a new author each week to chat about their success and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. It doesn’t hurt to learn from other author mistakes to help you save time building your business.

Summer is here! Take a moment to identify, address, and prepare for the onslaught of summer madness.

Summer tends to be the craziest time of year for me. Birthdays, events, deadlines, family stuff, holidays - all the things. And for the parents out there, SCHOOL IS OUT.

Summer can be a stressful and chaotic time for folks. Yes, we love family gatherings and celebrating, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially if you are juggling work and writing deadlines on top of it.

QUESTION:

What does overwhelm look like for you? Have you ever paid attention to your body’s cues, alerting you when you’re on the brink of overwhelm?

If you haven’t, pay attention to see if there are early signs, allowing you to nip your overwhelm in the bud before it gets you.

For me, it looks like a mixture of:

• I’m unable to focus and feel unmotivated

• My lower neck aches, like it’s holding all of that tension in that one area

• I get irritable and impatient

If you know how stress and overwhelm manifest for you, it’s much easier to combat.

1. Identify your symptoms and signs.

2. Make a list of what you can do to break the pattern.

3. Not everything is a priority, or rather, it’s not the same level of priority – what are your top THREE priorities right now? What can you take off your plate (temporarily)? If it’s writing time, that’s okay. You need to be healthy to be happy, and if you’re going to enjoy the writing, it can’t feel like a chore or one more thing you have to do.

4. Listen to your instincts. They will help you divide and conquer during the summer madness – but you HAVE TO LISTEN and you have to take action. It’s far too easy to ignore the signs.

Until next time, happy summer!

Linds

I chatted with Kayla Hicks, fellow author advocate and audience buildling guru about my writing journey, coaching, upcoming projects, and more. 

"Pogue talks about her writing process, her author coaching (Dauntless Author), and advice for authors."

You can read the full interview here. 

And she's a great source for those of you looking to build a platform and audience! Be sure to subscribe to her email list:

https://substack.com/@kaylahicks