The Molten Truth

How many dreams have been abandoned because someone heard "no" one too many times? Michael Isaac Shokrian knows that feeling better than most. After years of rejection as a writer, building a successful career as an attorney, and balancing family life, he made an unexpected decision—not to give up on writing, but to create opportunities for writers everywhere. In this inspiring conversation, Micha...

What do hurricane evacuations, reality television, destination weddings, alligators, and mystery novels have in common? Author Sandy Malone. In this entertaining episode of The Molten Truth, Zoey Michaels sits down with Sandy Malone, former star of TLC's Wedding Island, journalist, editor, and author of the Gem of the Golden Isles series. Drawing from more than 500 destination weddings she planned...

When A-M Mawhiney retired after a 40-year career as a social worker and university professor, she never expected to become a novelist. During the COVID lockdown, what began as an attempt at journaling turned into a creative journey that produced three books and an entirely new chapter of life. In this episode, A-M Mawhiney shares how her characters often surprise her, why she chose to write hopefu...

What does it mean to truly find home—not just in a place, but in a culture, a calling, and within yourself? In this powerful episode of The Molten Truth , Zoey sits down with Scott Wooster, a South Dakota native whose life journey weaves together family legacy, personal struggle, and deep connection to Lakota culture. What begins as a conversation about his books quickly unfolds into something muc...

In this deeply powerful episode of The Molten Truth , host Zoey Michaels sits down with serial entrepreneur and creative force Caramel Lucas. From a childhood shaped by trauma to building a life fueled by purpose, Caramel shares her journey through writing, comedy, podcasting, and entrepreneurship. She opens up about the importance of therapy, breaking generational cycles, and transforming pain in...

In this episode of The Molten Truth , host Zoey Michaels sits down with first-time guest Ben Leman—an entrepreneur, former Texas county judge and state representative, rancher, and now debut novelist. Ben shares his remarkable path from building a successful manufacturing business from his mother’s garage to serving a decade in public office, all while raising a family and living the rugged ranch...

What does it really take to write and publish a book today? Zoey Michaels chats with author Brad Anderson about everything from sci-fi storytelling and creative inspiration to the realities of indie vs. traditional publishing. They explore how writers use fictional worlds to tackle real-life issues, why genres don’t have to box you in, and the unexpected challenges of getting your work seen. Along...

The conversation explores the impact of artistic expression on personal growth and development, emphasizing the transformative power of art in shaping individuals. Takeaways Art as a means of personal growth Expression through art and its impact on personal development Chapters 00:00 Artistic Expression and Personal Growth

The conversation covers topics related to joy, family, and the impact of art on personal growth. Takeaways Joy can be found in spending time with loved ones and enjoying family moments. Engaging in art and creative expression can contribute to personal growth and development. Chapters 00:00 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

The conversation explores the freedom and safety of exploring themes in science fiction and fantasy genres, the flexibility of genre classification, and the importance of choosing the right genre as a vehicle for the story. Takeaways Freedom and safety in exploring themes in science fiction and fantasy Flexibility and importance of genre classification Chapters 00:00 Exploring Themes in Science Fi...

After a lighthearted opening on names, pronunciation quirks, and the surprising histories behind them, Zoey Michaels reconnects with returning guest Liisa Kovala for a deeper conversation about the writing life. Liisa shares updates on her latest cozy mystery releases and offers an inside look at the fast-paced reality of publishing a series. The discussion expands into the often-overlooked side o...

The conversation explores the idea that inspiration can be found in anything, and stories are everywhere if we are open to noticing them. Takeaways Inspiration can come from anything Stories are everywhere Chapters 00:00 Finding Inspiration Everywhere

The conversation explores the idea of finding inspiration in frustration and the ubiquity of stories in everyday life. Takeaways Inspiration from frustration Stories are everywhere Chapters 00:00 Finding Inspiration in Frustration

The conversation delves into the importance of letting go of negative self-beliefs and challenging them, as well as the idea of exploring new experiences to create the best possible life experience. Takeaways Letting go of negative self-beliefs Exploring new experiences Chapters 00:00 Letting Go of Self-Beliefs

Liisa Kovala shares information about the upcoming event 'Write On 2026' and its registration details. She provides the website name and encourages participation. Takeaways Write On 2026 event details shared Encouragement to participate and register Chapters 00:00 Right On 2026 Event Details

The author discusses the realization of her own midlife experience through writing and the inspiration drawn from personal life events and observations. Takeaways Self-realization through writing Drawing inspiration from personal experiences Chapters 00:00 Midlife Epiphany

The conversation delves into the unexpected outcome of a book that was intended to be a love story but turned out to be something else entirely. It explores the theme of self-love and the humor in the author's attempt at writing a romance. Takeaways Self-love Unexpected outcomes Chapters 00:00 The Unintended Love Story

The conversation explores the practice of making a daily list of accomplishments, regardless of their size, and the impact of acknowledging small achievements on one's sense of productivity and fulfillment. Takeaways Daily list of accomplishments Recognizing small achievements Chapters 00:00 Recognizing Achievements

D.C. Gomez's book was initially intended to be a love story but turned out to be something else entirely. The journey of self-love and the unexpected genre shift are the main takeaways from the conversation. Takeaways Self-love Unexpected genre Chapters 00:00 The Misunderstood Love Story

What do you get when you mix a talking cat, a reluctant “cat lady,” small-town Texas, and a million free books? A wildly entertaining conversation with author D.C. Gomez. In this episode, Zoey Michaels chats with D.C. about her quirky characters, urban fantasy worlds, and the hilarious inspiration behind her Cat Lady series. They swap stories about moving around, finding your voice, and how real l...

In this heartfelt episode, Zoey Michaels sits down with debut novelist Kristine Jensen to explore the journey of writing her first book later in life—and the courage it takes to finally put your story into the world. Inspired by real-life women’s clubs from the 1960s, Wednesday Club celebrates friendship, resilience, and the power of community. From navigating self-publishing and avoiding scams to...

The episode discusses the private battle of an actor with cancer, highlighting the impact of his privacy on public awareness and the misconception of equating fitness with health. Takeaways Privacy and illness Impact of privacy on public awareness Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Content Warning

What the world sees... isn't always the full story. In this powerful bonus episode, the lives of Gilda Radner and Chadwick Boseman reveal a shared Truth about illness that often goes unnoticed. Her symptoms didn't make sense - but she refused to ignore them. His struggle remained unseen - carried with a strength few could comprehend. Different paths. Different choices. But both shaped by something...

An actress, known for her gift of laughter, experienced unexplained symptoms that led to an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Her openness about her illness changed the conversation around diagnosis and increased awareness about ovarian cancer. Listening to the body's signals and the impact of awareness are key takeaways from her story. Takeaways Importance of listening to the body's signals The impact of...

Why We Ignore What We Know Is Right (And How Sci-Fi Exposes It) Award-winning sci-fi writer Lance Robinson joins the show to talk about the uncomfortable truth at the heart of his stories: humans often know what to do—but don’t do it. Through fascinating concepts like nomadic planets and environmental collapse, this episode blends storytelling, psychology, and creativity into a conversation that’s...