Writing & Influence

🎙️ Writing & Influence Episode Title: Designing Your Voice: From Corporate Guardrails to Entrepreneurial Freedom Guest: Kristiana Corona – Design Leader, Coach, and Entrepreneur Host: Elaine Acker ✨ Episode Highlights In this episode, Kristiana Corona shares her journey from corporate leadership to building a purpose-driven brand and coaching business. With experience at Amazon and a backgrou...

Beyond Performance: How to Show Up Authentically in Your Brand and Life with Lisa McGuire 🔗 Episode Summary: In this episode, Elaine sits down with Lisa McGuire , an Authenticity Architect and Reinvention Strategist, to explore what it truly means to build a brand — and a life — rooted in identity, not performance. Lisa shares her Four Rs framework for rediscovering your voice, insights on journa...

An epic journey with Christine Sadry Summary Christine Sadry discusses her memoir “Thirteen Years Lost” which chronicles her journey from leaving Poland at age nine to becoming a UN diplomat. She shares her experiences of early trauma, including losing her mother at five and a difficult adoption in America, followed by a thirteen-year separation from her family. The conversation explores her remar...

Ta-Da! Leadership: How Joy, Improv, and Celebration Fuel Better Teams with Joel Zeff What happens when you bring laughter, improv, and a whole lot of heart into leadership? You get Joel Zeff. In this episode, Joel joins Elaine Acker to talk about the power of “Ta-Da!” moments, how celebration drives confidence, and why fun is not just nice to have—it’s essential to great leadership. From the impro...

Go For No: Rewriting the Rules of Rejection with Andrea Waltz Andrea Waltz discusses the 25th anniversary sequel to her bestselling book Go For No and explores how embracing rejection leads to success. She shares insights about the new book’s storyline featuring a 20-year-old protagonist, discusses the evolution of the Go For No philosophy, and offers practical advice about overcoming fear of reje...

Your Hidden Advantage: Breaking the Broken Cookie Effect with Patty Block Business advisor Patty Block discusses how women business owners often undervalue their services and sacrifice their own interests, a pattern she calls the “broken cookie effect.” She explains strategies for value-based pricing, building business value, and preparing for potential exits. Patty emphasizes the importance of st...

Making Work Fun Again with Jake Brown: ADHD, Bad Bosses, and the Power of Doodling Author, coach, and self-proclaimed workplace fun-bringer Jake Brown joins Elaine for a refreshingly honest and wildly insightful conversation. From surviving toxic bosses to teaching thousands how to doodle their way into hyperfocus, Jake shares practical tools and laugh-out-loud stories for thriving at work—especia...

Turning Years of Experience Into a Valuable Resource with Bruce Rosenthal Looking to harness the full potential of corporate sponsorships? Join Elaine as she sits down with Bruce Rosenthal, author of 'Mastering Association Corporate Sponsorships.' Discover how Bruce leveraged decades of experience to transform how associations engage with corporate sponsors. They explore the evolving landscape of...

How does a writer turn everyday experiences into bestselling novels? Join us as we chat with Susan Wiggs, the acclaimed author of over 50 novels, including favorites like 'The Apple Orchard' and 'The Lost and Found Bookshop.' Susan shares her insights on the writer's journey, the power of storytelling, and the elements of fiction that nonfiction writers can use to enhance their work. We dive into...

How do you find and capture the unseen beauty of the wild? Wyman Meinzer, the official state photographer of Texas, shares his remarkable journey from a degree in wildlife management to publishing iconic images in prestigious magazines like National Geographic and Smithsonian. Discover the biggest obstacles he faced, how the rise of digital photography transformed his career, and why his powerful...

What happens when you or your company is going through a crisis? How do you communicate with customers and your team? Join us as we sit down with Kristi Piehl, the founder and CEO of Media Minefield. Kristi shares her journey from Emmy award-winning TV news reporter to successful entrepreneur. Learn key insights about managing crisis situations, the importance of proactive planning, and the role o...

Are you struggling to navigate a business transition or feeling stuck with your current branding? Meet Sarah Sears, the visionary founder of S Design, who's been pivotal in shaping the look and feel of iconic sites in Oklahoma City and the state's branding. Learn how Sarah combines design, strategy, and mentorship to help businesses manage growth and change. From launching Oklahoma's AIGA chapter...

What if the biggest obstacle to your success is your own fear? On this episode I’m joined by Scott Ballard, a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and author who turned his childhood struggles with dyslexia into a career of empowering others. From coaching CEOs and NFL players to making strides in personal growth, Scott shares the transformative power of encouragement and how he helps individuals confr...

Keira and Elaine are back with a deep dive into their experience at Grow 2025, Catherine Brown’s incredible conference in Galveston. They share insights on prosperity, money mindset, and the powerful connections formed in the room. From overcoming introvert resistance to embracing the transformative conversations at the event, this episode is packed with takeaways. Keira reflects on the impact of...

Summary In this enlightening episode, Elaine and Keira Crooms discuss the complexities of tech stacks and the impact they have on expressing influence online. They focus on the benefits of consolidating tech tools, specifically highlighting the all-in-one capabilities of Kajabi. Keira shares valuable insights on how business owners can maximize their content and streamline their operations using K...

Episode Summary: In today’s crowded market, how do you differentiate yourself and sell more? The answer: Thought leadership and strategic content. In this episode, we dive deep into how you can establish trust, build authority, and create content that not only elevates your brand but also drives sales. We’re pulling insights from experts like Catherine Brown and Elaine Acker to explore the power o...

In this episode, Jeffrey Schlissel, author of Craveable Obsessed, Journals of a Food Addicted Chef , shares his unique insights into the intersection of mental health and the culinary industry. Jeffrey discusses his personal experiences with mental health challenges, thought leadership, and the importance of setting boundaries. He also highlights the need to support local farmers and collaborates...

Summary In this episode, we sit down with Sean Patton, author of “A Warrior’s Mindset: The Six Keys to Greatness.” Sean shares insights from his extensive military background and discusses how leadership and self-discipline are pivotal in personal and professional success. The conversation explores the themes of gratitude, self-leadership, and the significant role veterans can play as unifying for...

Summary In this episode, we step away from our usual discussions on nonfiction publishing to explore the dynamic world of fiction publishing with author J. D. Barker. Barker shares his experiences navigating the publishing industry, from his early days as a ghostwriter to collaborating with big names like James Patterson and the family of Bram Stoker. Discover how Barker strategically markets his...

Elevate Your Influence at Conferences Show Notes Summary In this interview, host Elaine Acker and guest Pandora Hodges, founder and CEO of Sharpline Sales, discuss strategies for elevating your influence and making the most of conference experiences. They cover topics like crafting a compelling value proposition, building referral networks, and preparing ahead of time to connect with the right peo...

Episode Description/Show Notes: In this episode, Keira Crooms, Elaine Acker, and Bill Gannon dive deep into the art of effective presentations and everyday communication. Bill, a seasoned expert in presentation skills, sheds light on how impactful presenting goes beyond the big keynote stages—it’s about showing up powerfully in our daily interactions, from team meetings to sales calls. Together, t...

Important : Register for the free workshop HERE . It's LIVE on Tuesday, October 29 at 1:30 PM Central! Summary In this episode of Cover-to-Cover Influence, Elaine Acker and Keira Crooms discuss the parallels between publishing a book and creating an online course. They take listeners behind the scenes of the course: Your Book, Your Rules, and share insights on developing a course, the importance o...

Ep 1 Mastering Your Signature Introduction Summary In this introductory episode, Elaine Acker and Keira Crooms, talk about what they learned at the recent Sell Well conference in Houston. Thye reflect on the value of a strong referral network and how critical it is to craft an engaging Signature Introduction. They also share specific frameworks that can help you craft yours. Guests •          Keir...

Summary In this episode, Elaine is joined by Catherine Brown, author of How Good Humans Sell and founder of the Good Humans Growth Network. They discuss the process and challenges of writing a book, the importance of having a clear purpose for your book, and how it can lead to unexpected opportunities like keynote speaking engagements and creating supportive business networks. Catherine shares her...

Summary Elaine Acker introduces “Cover to Cover Influence,” a podcast designed for business leaders and aspiring thought leaders who want to amplify their voice through effective content creation. As a publisher, Elaine emphasizes the immense power of words in expanding influence, enhancing marketing efforts, and sharing compelling stories through content and books. Each episode serves as a short...