Best Latch Key Podcasts (2025)

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E134: Doom & Bloom 1:00:12

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10d ago1:00:12

1:00:12

FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE When a Minnesota woman is promoted, thanks to her hard work at a major corporation, a coworker feels he deserves it more and begins bullying her at work. Would he have anything to do with her disappearance and eventual murder? Victim: Sharon Bloom Location: Woodbury, MN Episode title submitted by: Katie Jackson This episode wa…

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E133: the Sacrificial Mother 1:13:48

26d ago1:13:48

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A woman doctor, a dead daughter-in-law, evidence that doesn't add up, and a confession written on no sleep. In a house full of secrets, the biggest one may have walked free. Recorded with a fabulous crowd at the Roughrider Center in Watford City, ND. Support the show https://linktr.ee/midwestmurderpod…

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E132: Okay, Judith 57:42

1M ago57:42

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A father dies in an accidental shooting while teaching his son gun safety, but the manipulation, gaslighting, and deceit uncovered prove it’s much darker than that. This episode was recorded at the historic Maddock Opera House in Maddock, ND. Victim: Robert Breininger Location: Mark Center, OH Support the show https://linktr.e…

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E131: Charlie's Angels 1:02:03

2M ago1:02:03

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A quiet Midwestern boy once did the unthinkable. Decades later, in the Florida Keys, that same man built a life so ordinary no one saw the darkness beneath it, until it finally came roaring back. Recorded in Jamestown, ND in support of Safe Shelter. Episode title submitted by: Alyssa T. Location: Indiana, Florida Victims: Isle…

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E130: Big Trouble in Little Norway 54:04

2M ago54:04

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE In 1926, a young woman planned to elope with her beloved to hide a secret pregnancy. But when she never returned home, whispers of romance turned to rumors of murder, and the truth was darker than anyone imagined. Victim: Clara Olson Location: Prairie du Chien, WI Support the show https://linktr.ee/midwestmurderpod…

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E129: The Perfect American Boy 1:22:52

3M ago1:22:52

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE When young female college students start turning up brutally murdered around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan, fear spreads faster than the investigation. Law enforcement can’t connect the killings. Angry parents turn on the university. A self-proclaimed psychic steps into the spotlight, claiming he can see what police can’t.…

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E128: Fatal Rivalry 55:08

3M ago55:08

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A single mother was brutally murdered in her own home while her children slept upstairs. For years, the case remained unsolved, until a shocking tip revealed a hidden, one-sided rivalry that turned deadly. Victim: Patti Wolzen Location: Hastings, NE ***Heads up! The next Midwest Murder episode (episode 129) will release Octobe…

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E127: Dinner with the Devil 57:34

4M ago57:34

57:34

FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE When two healthy retirees die weeks apart of so-called natural causes, their neighbors refuse to buy it. What starts as suspicion in a Midwest retirement village sparks an investigation that unearths arsenic, greed, and a serial killer hiding at the family table. Victims: Mary Lambert, Marion Mueller, Michael Albanese Sr. Loca…

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How to Build a Writing System When Your Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle | 211 5:57

4M ago5:57

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Your life isn’t a blank slate. It’s a thousand-piece puzzle. Between kids, work, health, faith, and relationships, “just write at 5am every day” doesn’t fit for everyone. That’s why professional authors build flexible frameworks that adapt to real life instead of forcing routines that break under chaos. In this episode, I’ll show you how to use the…

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E126: Settle Down, Cinderella 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE What started as a welfare check in suburban Rochester ended with a chilling crime scene, and an investigation no one saw coming. This episode was recorded at Oak Park Theatre in Minot, ND. Title submitted by: so many Victims: Bernard, Paulette, Diane, Ricky Brom Location: Rochester, MN Support the show https://linktr.ee/midwes…

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Why Your Non-Writing Habits Hold the Key to Writing Success | 210 6:21

5M ago6:21

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For decades, I wrote in bursts—finishing and publishing four novels over twenty years, but I never truly saw myself as a disciplined author. I thought about writing daily, but I wasn’t actually creating daily. That gap between declaration and demonstration was holding me back. In this episode, I reveal why aspirations alone don’t define identity — …

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What a Charging Deer Taught Me About Character Transformation | 209 4:15

5M ago4:15

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Ever had a character do something totally out of character—and it felt fake? In today’s episode, a charging deer disrupts my dog walking expedition and reveals a storytelling truth: Great character moments come from internal programming breaks. When your character’s default behavior no longer serves them—and they know it—that’s when real transforma…

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E125: the Latch Key Kid 59:55

5M ago59:55

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A small town community is devastated by the sudden, inexplicable murder of a beloved 12 year old girl. As investigators work the case, a grieving mother becomes a catalyst for change. Recorded at Phat Fish Brewing Episode title submitted by: Jessica Taecker Support the show https://linktr.ee/midwestmurderpod…

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Why You’re Already a Professional Author (Even If You Haven’t Sold a Book Yet) | 208 4:52

5M ago4:52

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What if you’ve been waiting on the wrong milestone to claim the right identity? You don’t need a book deal, an audience, or a spot on the bestseller list to call yourself a professional author. What you do need? Daily discipline. Conviction. Integrity. And the guts to show up...especially when no one’s watching. In today’s episode of The Adventurou…

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Why Hero + Goal + Obstacle = Heartbeat of Every Story | 207 5:02

5M ago5:02

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Want to know the secret storytelling formula that powers every great book, movie, and personal story you’ve ever loved? Then listen in because we’re breaking down how to use Hero + Goal + Obstacle to create stories that feel meaningful, emotionally resonant, and easier to write—even when you’re short on time. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll discover: ✔️ …

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E124: Sick to Death 1:01:32

5M ago1:01:32

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE When two sudden deaths strike the same Missouri family, illness is blamed… until a third family member is hospitalized. What began as a quiet string of tragedies unravels into a chilling plot rooted in manipulation, control, and cold calculation. Victims: Mark & Shawn Staudte Location: Springfield, MO Support the show https://…

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Why Grok 4 (or Any AI Advancement) Makes Your Human Creative Identity More Valuable Than Ever | 206 7:39

5M ago7:39

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Grok 4 dropped last week with powers that would have fried our brains twelve months ago: PhD reasoning, quarter-million-token memory, live web claws—the works. Cue the collective panic: “Will anybody even need human writers now?” Hard stop. The truth is the exact opposite: The sharper AI becomes, the more priceless a human creative identity is—if y…

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Know Your Genre’s Tropes — Then Twist Them | 205 4:15

6M ago4:15

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You wouldn’t sprint through an airport without paying attention to the signs. So why write a story without knowing your genre’s rules? In today’s episode, we’re unpacking: ✔️ Why genre tropes aren’t creative handcuffs—they’re your storytelling GPS ✔️ The secret to delivering what readers crave without sounding cliché ✔️ How to twist tropes strategi…

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E123: the Backburner Killer 59:15

6M ago59:15

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE When Dewayne Barrentine started asking questions about his girlfriend's past, her strange and inconsistent answers pushed him to dig deeper. He never expected the effort would help solve a murder. Location: Missouri Victim: Mitchell Kemp Support the show https://linktr.ee/midwestmurderpod…

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The Character Development Conversation Every Writer Needs to Hear with Stage Actress Megan Smith | 204 37:00

6M ago37:00

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Ever wonder how actors bring characters to life with such depth and emotion? In this behind-the-scenes conversation, we dive into the character work of Megan, a gifted actress who played Maria in The Sound of Music. You’ll see exactly how she took lines off a script and turned them into a fully embodied human being—and what fiction writers can lear…

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Write Like You're Catching a Train: The Power of Deadlines | 203 4:11

6M ago4:11

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Ever notice how fast you can move when you're about to miss a train? What if you brought that same urgency to your writing? In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author: ✔️ Why fake deadlines create real creative results ✔️ How time pressure activates your inner pro ✔️ A timed writing challenge that forces focus and execution 🎧 Listen now. Keep the…

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E122: The Killer's Cutlery 53:36

6M ago53:36

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A woman is murdered in a quiet Iowa town, leaving the community stunned and suspicion quickly falls on someone close to her. But as the investigation unfolded, one question lingered: were the clues leading detectives down the right path? This episode was recorded before a wonderful crowd at the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport,…

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How Finishing What You Start Changes Everything | 202 4:53

6M ago4:53

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I crossed the Day 101 finish line—but the real transformation begins here. In today’s final integration episode of The Adventurous Author, we go deep into: ✔️ The internal rupture that writing daily begins to heal ✔️ The difference between chasing goals and pursuing mastery ✔️ Why Proverbs 10:9 holds the key to long-term creative peace ✔️ The pract…

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101-Day Challenge Finale: Why Daily Writing Is an Author’s True Professional Credential | 201 8:20

6M ago8:20

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The 101-Day Challenge is complete—but the transformation has only begun. In today’s powerful final episode of The Adventurous Author, we unpack the truth that daily writing isn’t a hobby or a productivity hack—it’s a public declaration of identity. And if you’ve shown up for 101 days in a row, you’ve built something no contract or algorithm could e…

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Daily Writing Proves You're Pre-Famous (Not Invisible) | 200 6:17

6M ago6:17

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Ever feel invisible as a writer? You're not. You're pre-famous—and the work you’re doing today is building the strength to carry the spotlight before it finds you. In today’s powerful episode, we uncover: ✔️ Why showing up daily is a public declaration in private ✔️ How obscurity is not a punishment—it’s preparation ✔️ The biblical blueprint for bu…

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The Broken Clock That Taught Me How to Finish a Book | 199 6:03

6M ago6:03

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You don’t need to speed up to hit your goal of finishing your book. In today’s episode, I reveal how a broken digital clock taught me the most powerful writing lesson of the year: you can’t fast-forward your way to mastery. Inside, you’ll discover: ✔️ Why rushing the journey sabotages your integrity as a writer ✔️ How daily writing literally rewire…

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The Confidence Killer Every Writer Faces (And How Daily Writing Fixes It) | 198 6:44

7M ago6:44

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You say you're a writer… but does your schedule agree? For years, I told myself I was a writer—called, gifted, meant to steward stories for Kingdom impact. But I wasn't showing up daily. And that misalignment started killing my confidence. Quietly. Slowly. One excuse at a time. In today’s episode, I unpack the painful truth that misalignment betwee…

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How Daily Writing Creates Professional Authors | 197 5:59

7M ago5:59

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Still waiting for that magical moment where you finally feel like a “real” writer? That moment isn’t coming. In today’s episode, I share what I’m learning about mastery during my 101-Day Triple Crown Challenge—and why the only way to become who you’re called to be is to start before you feel ready. Inside this episode: ✔️ Why the “ready room” is a …

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The Success You're Secretly Afraid Of (And Why Daily Writing Is Your Bridge to It) | 196 6:03

7M ago6:03

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You think you’re afraid of failing—but what if success is what scares you most? In today’s episode, I share: ✔️ Why the fear of finishing is scarier than starting ✔️ How daily writing is a death sentence to your “aspiring author” identity ✔️ The real reason you’ve been circling the same story mountain 🎧 Listen now. Keep the words rolling and the ad…

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Why Writers Freeze—Even When They're Ready | 195 5:44

7M ago5:44

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There’s a cost to waiting. And no one talks about it until it’s too late. In this episode, I share a completely made up story about a hiker who had all the tools he needed—but froze because he waited too long to use them. But that story has everything to do with writing. If you’ve ever delayed the story God gave you because you’re waiting for a bet…

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Want to Build Trust in Your Calling as a Fiction Author? | 194 5:51

7M ago5:51

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Do you have a story you want to write but have been avoiding? In this episode, I share how one story haunted my hard drive for six years—and how 94 days of daily writing changed everything. What started as hesitation turned into confidence. Not because I felt ready. But because I kept moving. Here’s what we get into: ✔️ The surprising way trust is …

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Your Confidence as a Writer Isn’t Missing—It’s Buried Under Inconsistency | 193 5:20

7M ago5:20

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🎯 Ever feel like you don’t know what to write—or if you’re even on the right track? You do know. You’ve just stopped trusting yourself. In this episode of The Adventurous Author, I unpack: ✔️ Why daily writing is how real creative discernment is trained ✔️ How Hebrews 5:14 gives us a blueprint for practicing instinct ✔️ Why noise, distraction, and …

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E121: Ragebaby Ken & Congirl Barbie 1:26:32

7M ago1:26:32

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FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A sudden, tragic murder in an affluent Spokane, Washington neighborhood is linked to the disappearance of an oilfield worker in North Dakota. At the center of it all; a charismatic, flashy, and devious couple hellbent on screwing over every person they come in contact with. Recorded live with a packed house at the Sanctuary Ev…

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You Said You Were Called to Write—Now Prove It | 192 6:06

7M ago6:06

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What happens when you say you're called to write—but your actions say otherwise? In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we dive deep into what it means to live in integrity with your calling. I shares the exact moment God called me to write—back in 1999—and the twenty-six-year battle to believe it was real. You’ll discover: ✔️ Why daily writ…

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How Daily Writing Turns You Into a Carrier of World-Changing Ideas | 191 6:41

7M ago6:41

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You're not just a writer. You're a builder of belief systems. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we’re taking off the gloves and talking about the real reason your daily writing matters: you’re crafting stories designed to carry truth farther than you’ll ever go. Here’s what you’ll discover: ✔️ Why stories outlive empires—and how yours c…

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Stories That Stick: The Brain-Changing Power of Story and Why You Must Write Daily | 190 4:55

7M ago4:55

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You’re not just writing a story. You’re shaping someone’s brain. In this episode of The Adventurous Author, we dive into the neuroscience behind fiction and why every scene you craft is an opportunity to architect transformation. Here’s what you’ll walk away with: ✔️ How brain scans prove fiction activates readers' emotional and motor pathways ✔️ W…

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How Daily Writing Turns Regret Into Creative Gold | 189 5:30

7M ago5:30

5:30

You’ve got shadowlands. Every writer does. That memory you’d rather not revisit. That failure you try not to think about. That bitterness that still flickers when you write certain scenes. But what if those very things are the richest story fuel you’ve got? In this episode, I’ll walk you through: ✔️ Why your shadow stories aren’t enemies—they’re as…

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How Daily Writing Trains You to Catch Inspiration When It Falls | 188 5:34

7M ago5:34

5:34

You don’t need to wait for inspiration. You need to train for it. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, you’ll learn why inspiration doesn’t strike at random—it shows up for writers who are prepared to catch it. And the best preparation? Daily writing. Here’s what you’ll walk away with: ✔️ Why most writers miss breakthrough moments—and how …

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How Daily Writing Supercharges Your Intuition (Without You Noticing) | 187 6:14

7M ago6:14

6:14

Want to write faster without sacrificing depth? Build reflexes. In this episode of The Adventurous Author, I break down why intuitive storytelling isn’t a gift—it’s a trained instinct. I share how daily writing transforms your brain into a decision-making machine, and how you can reach creative clarity faster than ever. 🎙️ In this episode: ✔️ How 8…

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Drill Deeper: Unlocking the Story Core Through Daily Writing | 186 6:14

7M ago6:14

6:14

What if your best scenes are buried deeper than your outline can reach? In this episode, you'll discover why most writers never tap into their creative core and how a five-minute daily practice can unlock surprising emotional depth, character truth, and story momentum. 🎙️ In this episode: ✔️ How a surprise defeat changed everything for one protagon…

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How Daily Writing Turns Real Life Into Story Fuel | 185 7:01

7M ago7:01

7:01

You lived it. But if you don’t write it down—it’s gone. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, I share the true story of a terrifying dog attack—and how writing about it became the key to reclaiming emotional clarity, creative depth, and future storytelling power. This episode challenges you to stop letting your best story material vanish in…

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Surface Stories vs. Soul Stories: Why Fiction Writers Must Show Up Daily | 184 6:03

7M ago6:03

6:03

🛠️ The first draft is rarely worth reading—but the hundredth just might change a life. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we uncover: ✔️ Why daily fiction writing is essential for discovering the real story beneath your first draft ✔️ How consistent character work unlocks surprising, powerful truths ✔️ What Proverbs 20:5 reveals about mi…

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Sporadic Writing Won’t Build a Legacy—This Will | 183 7:48

7M ago7:48

7:48

Your characters don’t just live in your mind. If written with consistency and depth, they can outlive your name. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we explore: ✔️ Why daily writing is essential for building characters that leave legacy ✔️ How mirror neurons help readers experience your character’s transformation as if it were their own ✔…

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Write Daily to Leave a Mark That Cannot Be Duplicated | 182 6:09

7M ago6:09

6:09

Your writing voice is more than style. It’s your soulprint—the clearest record of how God wired you to see the world. In this episode of The Adventurous Author, we explore: ✔️ Why your writing voice is a fingerprint of your consciousness ✔️ How daily writing preserves your unique identity and testimony ✔️ What Psalm 102 reveals about writing as a l…

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How Daily Writing Unleashes Your God-Given Creativity | 181 7:45

7M ago7:45

7:45

You weren’t just born with creativity—you were entrusted with a storytelling legacy God intends for you to steward. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we go deep into: ✔️ Why storytelling is a sacred tradition—woven into both Scripture and your brain’s design ✔️ How modern distraction dulls your storytelling gift, and how to sharpen it a…

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The Invisible Cost of Skipping Your Writing Practice Today | 180 6:33

7M ago6:33

6:33

Ever skip a writing day and tell yourself, “It’s no big deal”? What if I told you your future self—the one waiting to finish the book, build the readership, live the author life—felt abandoned every time you don’t show up? In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we take a bold look at: ✔️ The neuroscience of “future self betrayal” ✔️ Why skip…

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How Daily Writing Physically Reinforces Your Professional Author Identity | 179 6:27

7M ago6:27

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Most writers think identity is something they need to earn or wait for. But neuroscience and scripture agree: identity is cultivated through action. In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we break open: ✔️ Why your self-concept is stored in your brain—and how writing physically rewires it ✔️ What daily writing does to the medial prefrontal c…

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E120: Big Lake Lover 1:11:17

7M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

FAN MAIL TEXT HOTLINE A murdered woman is found in her bedroom by her husband when he came home from work. The wounds so horrific, it had to have been personal. Could it have been her current husband? A former husband? Her oldest child? It would take years to find out who, and it would come down to DNA, but it wasn’t as big of a gotcha moment as pe…

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How to Rewire Your Brain So Writing Feels Necessary for Survival | 178 5:03

7M ago5:03

5:03

Ever feel like writing is optional—something you “should” do instead of something you must? In today’s episode of The Adventurous Author, we flip the survival switch. ✔️ Why your brain can literally recode writing as a survival need ✔️ How my first marathon at age 21 hardwired her identity as a runner—and how writing now functions the same way ✔️ T…

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The Secret Advantage of a Daily Writing Practice | 177 8:24

7M ago8:24

8:24

What if daily writing didn’t just improve your craft… but rewired how you think? In this episode of The Adventurous Author, we explore the cognitive transformation that happens when you write every single day. It’s called Divergent Cognition Installation—and after about 60 days of consistent writing, your brain literally becomes something rare: a s…