SE25-35. Sue William Silverman’s Mercy of the Reader

September 1, 2025August 31, 2025Sara Troy Leave a comment

Sensual Expression with Sara Troy and her guest Sue William Silverman, on air from September 2nd

The award-winning voice behind Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey Through Sexual Addiction (which was adapted into a Lifetime movie) and How to Survive Death and Other Inconvenience now new book Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader, Sue Williams Silverman.

A master of metaphor and a longtime teacher of creative nonfiction, Silverman uses each essay in Selected Misdemeanors to reveal a kind of emotional misdemeanor—a misstep, a moment of contradiction, a wound we give ourselves while yearning for something more.

In this collection of flash nonfiction “misdemeanors,” she explores small yet shimmering moments where home and belonging weave themselves through life’s contradictions. The brevity of the flash form allows her to capture meaning with precision—each piece a distillation of memory, metaphor, and subtle irony. She chose this form for its ability to hold something so short yet resonant, a space where metaphor deepens the emotional truth and irony reveals the complexity of human experience. These stories often pivot on contradictions—those universal tensions we all contain—and invite readers to see themselves within them. As she says, “I never wanted to drink crème de menthe, I just wanted to admire it. Some things are better left imagined,” a line that reflects both the restraint and the richness at the heart of her storytelling.

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Silverman is best known for Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey Through Sexual Addiction, which was adapted into a Lifetime movie, and Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, winner of the AWP Award for Creative Nonfiction. Her previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the gold Foreword INDIE Book of the Year Award and the Clara Johnson Award for Women’s Literature. She is also the author of the craft book Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul, which won the IPPY Silver Award and was a finalist for two Foreword INDIE Awards.

Sue William Silverman is an award-winning author known for her fearless explorations of trauma, identity, and personal transformation. Her latest book, Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader, showcases her signature blend of lyricism, insight, and unflinching honesty. She co-chairs the MFA in Writing Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and has appeared on The View, Anderson Cooper 360, and PBS Books.

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IG25-34. Laila Woozeer is Not Quite White

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Ignite your heart and soul with Sara Troy and her guest Laila Woozeer, on air from August 26th

Laila Woozeer, author of the memoir, Not Quite White. Neither here, nor there; neither one, nor the other. What does it feel like to be an indescribable shade somewhere in between? Can you even exist in a binary world that seems so black-and-white? Why is there no easy way to describe someone who is a Welsh-French-Scottish-American-Indian-Mauritian?
Laila Woozeer, a mixed-race 28-year-old London-born writer and musician, shares a personal story of growing up in a rural white village in North Wales. Laila takes readers on a funny, vivid, and profoundly moving journey of discovering one’s own identity and belonging through her travels between Mauritius, the US and the UK, to make sense of the world and one’s place within it.

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This is the real-life story of Laila Woozeer trying desperately to understand how to exist, how to survive, and what it might mean to thrive. From childhood memories of self-discovery to an identity crisis of adolescence, to a misunderstood existence in adult life, Not Quite White charts Laila’s struggle to finally find a meaningful place in the world.

Laila Woozeer is a writer, musician, and performer, born and based in London. Laila’s work has been published in the Guardian, Mashable, and Stylist. Notable projects include producing and directing the award-winning contemporary music performance collective WOLF PACK and authoring the blog TAPE PARADE. Not Quite White is Laila’s first book.

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AK25-28. The Fire Concerto by Sarah Landenwich

July 14, 2025July 14, 2025Sara Troy

An Authors Kiss with Sara Troy and her guest Sarah Landenwich, on air from June 17th

THE FIRE CONCERTO (Union Square & Co.; June 10, 2025) is a riveting literary debut by Sarah Landenwich that blends mystery, music, and forgotten history. When Clara Bishop—a once-celebrated pianist now tending bar in Texas—receives a mysterious metronome from her estranged former mentor, she’s pulled back into a world she thought she’d left behind.

The metronome may be tied to her ancestor, famed composer Aleksander Starza, and the woman accused of murdering him, brilliant 19th-century pianist Constantia Pleyel. As Clara and her childhood rival Tony travel to Poland in search of the truth, they uncover dangerous secrets, lost compositions, and a narrative far more complex than the one history has recorded.

With echoes of generational trauma, artistic obsession, and redemption, THE FIRE CONCERTO is a lush, suspenseful novel that reclaims the voices of extraordinary women long erased from memory. Through pain, Clara must find beauty, and perhaps, a way back to herself.

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SARAH LANDENWICH is a writer, a writing instructor, and a classically trained pianist. Her debut novel, The Fire Concerto was inspired by her love of music of the Romantic period and pays tribute to 19th-century female musicians, artists, and scholars who have been largely forgotten. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit:

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GV25-26. Dr Josh McConkey on Fatherhood

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Our Global Veterans with Sara Troy and her guest Dr Josh McConkey, on air from July 1st

It is critical to highlight a growing crisis that’s often underreported and often ignored: the decline of strong, engaged fatherhood, and its impact on the future of our nation.

Dr. Josh McConkey, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, combat veteran, emergency physician, author, and dad of three kids, argues that restoring fatherhood is essential to reverse rising youth anxiety, fractured families, and weakened communities. His new book, ‘Be the Weight Behind the Spear, calls on men to re-embrace their role as present, purposeful fathers and leaders, both at home and in society.

Dr. McConkey brings a unique, boots-on-the-ground perspective. With experience leading soldiers in war zones and caring for patients on the front lines, Dr. McConkey is uniquely suited to provide a perspective on resilience and leadership. He’s seen what happens when young people lack guidance, and the impact when military dads come home from the battlefield to raise kids with discipline, resilience, and heart. He believes America’s healing starts with men who lead their families with strength, honor, and emotional presence. “Fatherhood is not optional — it’s foundational,” believes Dr. McConkey.

Be the Weight Behind the Spear is more than a book—it’s a mission to restore character, courage, and conviction in today’s fathers, sons, and mentors.

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Military dads have a unique perspective on leadership that extends far beyond the battlefield. Their experiences teach us valuable lessons about leading with integrity, purpose, and calm under pressure — qualities that are just as vital at home as they are in combat. Communities can play a powerful role in supporting and inspiring men to show up with courage and compassion, creating spaces where vulnerability and strength walk hand in hand. By embracing practical steps to rekindle the American spirit of fatherhood — from active presence to emotional resilience — we strengthen not just our families, but the very fabric of our nation. There is a deep and undeniable link between fatherhood and national resilience; when fathers are empowered, connected, and engaged, the ripple effect is felt across generations. The battlefield may be far away, but the mission at home is just as vital, and the lessons learned in the service can guide us all toward stronger, more loving families.

Dr. McConkey’s credentials include:

Commander, 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base
Combat flight surgeon with 340+ flight hours (90 in combat zones)
Author of the award-winning book “Be the Weight Behind the Spear,” recently nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Founder of The Weight Behind the Spear Foundation
Recently announced candidate for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina

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C25-17. Ivana Chubbuck. “Power of the Actor”.

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Ivana Chubbuck, on air from April 29th

Renowned acting teacher and bestselling author Ivana Chubbuck. The updated edition of her book, THE POWER OF THE ACTOR(Avery/Penguin Random House), was published on April 29th. Ivana speaks to anyone who is serious about overcoming hurdles, hardships, and inner demons to achieve their goals. Ivana will share with your listeners tools and exercises to turn conflicts, traumas, insecurities, fears and shame into positive forces to fuel achievement, with a focus on winning.

What do Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Gal Gadot, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone, Eva Mendes and Shia LaBeouf have in common besides fame and fortune? They can all credit a significant part of their skills to acting teacher Ivana Chubbuck.

THE POWER OF THE ACTOR is a revolutionary guide that unlocks the secrets of her transformative Chubbuck Technique. In addition to star-studded stories, The Power of the Actor offers a panoramic map for anyone serious about professional transformation. Her dynamic 12-step approach shows, actors, writers and directors how to unlock emotional depth and create performances that ring with authenticity. It’s also for anyone who is serious about overcoming hurdles, hardships, and inner demons to achieve their goals.

Drawing on psychology, behavioural science, cultural anthropology and examples of real-life heroes, Ivana takes the search for rich inner emotional information to the next level by focusing on winning. Ivana teaches people how to access their emotions to not just feel them, but also use them with dimension and power.

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IVANA CHUBBUCK is the creator of the widely adopted Chubbuck Technique, an acting method taught in universities and in accredited studios all over the world. Her students — Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Gal Gadot, Sylvester Stallone, Eva Mendes and Shia LaBeouf, among thousands, have gone on to win major awards, including Oscars, Emmys and Tonys. She lives in Los Angeles, where she runs the Ivana Chubbuck Studio. Her daughter, Claire Chubbuck, an award-winning filmmaker and Chubbuck teacher, is the legacy for furthering Ivana’s mission of empowerment through the arts.