The Munn Avenue Muse Podcast

This week on the Munn Avenue Muse , Charlie Levin sat down with author John Kuendig to discuss his new technothriller, The Good Club , a novel built around a question that refuses to go away: What if some of the things dismissed as conspiracy theories turned out to be true? For John, that question wasn’t born in a writer’s room. It started during heated debates with his brother, who followed QAnon...

Most people grow up hearing the same thing about anger: Control it. Calm down. Let it go. But after listening to clinical psychologist Dr. Mitch Abrams talk about anger on the Munn Avenue Muse , I kept thinking about how backwards a lot of that advice feels in real life. Abrams has spent more than two decades as a psychologist working with athletes, high performers, and people in high-conflict env...

In 1950, a young boy stood at the Hungarian border as his life changed in an instant. Within minutes, everything familiar was gone, and a completely new chapter began. That boy was Tom Herskovits. Years later, his path would lead him to leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, General Foods, and Kraft. In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , he sat down with Charlie Levin to talk about the mome...

Most careers are presented as straight lines. You study the right subject, get the right job, make the right moves, and eventually arrive where you were always meant to be. Don Kurz’s life is a useful reminder that almost no meaningful career actually works that way. In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , Charlie Levin sat down with Don Kurz, entrepreneur, former CEO, and author of Do the...

Charles LevinApr 6, 2026 We tend to think of sleep as a shutdown, a biological necessity, a reset button at the end of the day. But what if it’s something else entirely? What if, each night, you’re stepping into a different layer of consciousness—one that holds insight, emotion, and creative material you can’t access while fully awake? In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Le...

Charles Levin We tend to believe that success is decided in the spotlight. But what if it’s actually decided in the quiet moments just before it, when no one is watching, and nothing has happened yet? In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , host Charlie Levin sits down with legendary basketball coach Sherry Levin to discuss her book Pregame: A Winning Mindset . While her stories come from...

Charlie Levin · Mar 17, 2026 In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , host Charlie Levin speaks with HR leader, consultant, and researcher Dr. Roz Cohen, author of The Engagement Dilemma . The conversation pulls back the curtain on one of the most uncomfortable truths in modern leadership: Many workplace culture initiatives aren’t meant to solve problems. They’re meant to look like they are...

Charles Levin · Feb 4, 2026 We often think of storytelling as an act of reflection. But what if it’s something deeper—something evolutionary? A survival mechanism. In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , host Charlie Levin sits down with Karen B. Gerson, author of the gripping memoir I Should Not Be Here . This isn’t just another trauma narrative. It’s a revelation. Karen’s story weaves th...

Few debut authors can claim a creative process that spans over half a century, but that’s exactly the story behind Craig Garner and his novel I Came to Play Your Game . If you’re a writer stuck in the “mushy middle” of your draft, or a reader who finds joy in tales that straddle humor and heart, this one is for you. Garner’s journey, equal parts unlikely and inspiring, reminds us that storytelling...

We live in a world constructed by systems designed for doing — output, achievement, and measurable results. From the global economy and legal frameworks to the very foundations of the coaching industry, success has historically been defined by male‑oriented paradigms: manifestation, goal setting, and an outward drive to “hunt” for results. But what happens when women fully adopt these systems? Too...

What does it take to turn a decade of emotional upheaval into a book that helps others navigate one of life’s most difficult transitions? In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , Charlie Levin sat down with Christina Marie Calderwood, a licensed counselor, wellness coach, and former finance executive, to discuss her new book, Protecting Children Through Divorce: 12 Self-Guided Reflections . C...

What turns a lifetime of adventure into a story that lasts? In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse , Charlie Levin sat down with Todd Gustafson , a wildlife photographer, PBS documentarian, and composer whose memoir, Tales from the Ends of the Earth: My Adventures in East Africa and Beyond , has already reached #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list. Todd’s story isn’t just about breathtaking encount...

Turning an idea into a book isn’t just about having something to say. It’s about how you say it, how you shape it, and who helps you along the way. Charlie Levin recently caught up with Sarah Escobar and Corinne Murray, co-authors of Work Then Place: Navigating Modern Work and Where It Happens . Their approach to writing and publishing offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes t...

Welcome back to Munn Avenue Muse, the corner where storytelling meets memory, and where writing becomes a tool for truth, legacy, and connection. In our latest podcast episode, Charlie Levin spoke with Robert Merrick Fuller , author of the quietly powerful memoir A Horsedrawn Sicklebar Cutter . What started as a conversation about his book unfolded into something much larger, a moving reflection o...

When you think of scientists or tech experts, you might picture complicated data or dire predictions. But Peter Solomon, scientist, entrepreneur, and Amazon best-selling author of 100 Years to Exctinction , brings a refreshingly human approach to the future of technology. With experience in both science and storytelling, Solomon helps readers make sense of overwhelming topics like AI ethics, clima...

When you picture a Marine with seven combat tours, the image that comes to mind is probably rigid command and barked orders. Yet, retired Marine Scott Stalker , author of Left of Leadership , has built his entire philosophy around something different: preparation, humility, and care for people. His story is filled with lessons that reach far beyond the military. Whether you’re leading a team, rais...

Welcome to a special episode of Munn Avenue Muse, featuring Charlie Levin’s conversation with the incredible Kiki Keating , founder of The Kiki Network, a global PR firm, and former Director of Public Relations at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Kiki brings over 15 years of experience building reputations and helping authors achieve their publishing dreams, from her time at Tuck School of Bus...

Welcome back to the Munn Avenue Muse, the place where books and the people behind them come alive. We’re closing in on 30 podcast episodes (wild, right?), and this one is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever thought about turning real-life chaos into something meaningful on the page. Charlie Levin welcomes Amy Lamb , a certified health and wellness coach, and her mom, Shirley Lamb . Together, they...

What if the history you thought you knew was only part of the story? For Tom Mauser, that question wasn’t just curiosity. It was a mission. His bestselling Civil War novel This Leavened Land : A Novel of the Civil War in East Tennessee started as one story, became another, and took ten years to bring to life. Charlie sat down with Tom on The Munn Avenue Muse podcast to talk about the spark, the de...

Why do people write memoirs? It’s a question we’ve explored with many authors and the answers are never quite the same. For some, it’s about legacy, passing down stories to future generations. For others, it’s about unpacking trauma, making sense of life’s hardest moments. Some write for pure entertainment, others to settle unfinished business with themselves. Recently, we sat down with Rob Tonkin...

Welcome back to the Munn Avenue Muse! Today’s episode features a conversation that’s equal parts heart, craft, and future-thinking. Our guest is Daniel Greenberg educator, ecovillage pioneer, and the voice behind Charlie Levin’s Not So Dead audiobook series. What does a globe-trotting climate advocate have in common with a career in narration and storytelling? As it turns out: everything. Daniel’s...

Welcome back to the Munn Avenue Muse ! Today, we're spotlighting a conversation that’s a masterclass in niche positioning, strategic growth, and the underrated power of authorship. Our guest is Emil Abedian , founder and CEO of Council CPAs , and author of the recently released book, Counsel to Counsel . You might be wondering what does a CPA have to do with book publishing and strategic storytell...

In this episode of the Munn Avenue Muse podcast, host Charlie Levin talks with Elizabeth Patterson, a speaker, nonprofit founder, and author of My Life After Death , a memoir that redefines what it means to beat the odds. At just 18, Elizabeth survived a devastating car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. Doctors told her she wouldn’t walk, speak clearly, or live independently ag...

In this insightful episode of the Mun Avenue Muse podcast, Charlie Levin welcomes Carolyn Monaco , founder and CEO of Monaco Associates, a firm specializing in helping authors and experts launch their books and build their businesses. Drawing on extensive experience in consumer marketing and book publishing, Carolyn highlights that while authors expect much from publishers, realistic expectations...

In this episode of the Munn Avenue Muse podcast, Charlie Levin welcomes Pat Alacqua , a renowned business growth strategist, author, and founder of the Entrepreneur to Enterprise program. While rooted in the business world, Pat shares valuable insights applicable to authors navigating their own creative and professional journeys. Pat discusses his background, starting with a concrete business out...