For decades, UC Berkeley-trained engineer and high-tech executive Lena Fein lived as a master of survival disguised as success, using academic achievement and corporate ambition as armor to mask the deep trauma of a violent, controlling childhood. But at age fifty-one, standing at the deathbed of her abusive mother, a profound moment of connection sparked an unexpected journey toward reckoning, release, and midlife reclamation. In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with Lena to discuss her deeply moving and redemptive new memoir, Shattering the Mirror, exploring how healing doesn't follow anyone else's timetable—and why it is never too late to reclaim your true voice.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• 🪞 The Metaphor of the Distorted Mirror: How a childhood amusement park memory and a harrowing, glass-shattering window accident became symbols for living with a distorted self-image and a fear of "falling" into love.
• 🚪 Ambition as Armor: How academic perfection and a corporate career in high-tech served as a refuge and a survival mechanism to bypass emotional pain.
• 🌾 Generational Trauma & Cruelty: Understanding the hidden history of her parents' generation—marred by the Depression and the Holocaust—and how Lena and her sisters eventually compared notes in midlife to discover they were not alone in their abuse.
• 💃 Reclaiming the Heart in Midlife: Lena’s evolution after quitting her high-tech job, from working as a hospice caregiver to embracing freeform dance, singing, and finding genuine presence with her grandchildren.

About the Guest

Lena Fein is a UC Berkeley-trained engineer, former high-tech executive, and past hospice worker. After decades of navigating life out of her head, the passing of her mother catalyzed a profound emotional awakening, leading her to trade corporate metrics for creative and somatic healing. She is the author of the redemptive new memoir, Shattering the Mirror.

About Terry Shepherd

Terry Shepherd is the host of In Conversation, a podcast dedicated to deep, insightful dialogues with authors, creators, and thinkers who share powerful personal narratives and life-changing truths.

Links & Resources

• Visit Lena Fein’s Official Website: shatteringthemirror.com
• Buy the Book: Shattering the Mirror
• Connect with Host Terry Shepherd: [Terry Shepherd's Official Website]
• Listen to More Episodes: [In Conversation Podcast Archive]

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Some books arrive as guides; others arrive as lifelines. In this episode of In Conversation, host Terry Shepherd sits down with author, educator, and keynote speaker Dr. Katie Rose Pryal to discuss her profoundly necessary new book, Your Kid Belongs Here: An Insider's Guide to Parenting Neurodiverse Children. Together, they explore what it means to dismantle rigid social norms, unlearn internalized shame, and build a world where neurodivergent children can truly thrive as their authentic selves.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• 🧠 The Myth of "Normal" & Institutional Penalties: Why neurodiversity represents normal variations in human neurological function, and how society systematically penalizes and excludes these differences from public life.
• 🎭 Masking vs. Social Acting: The deep cognitive toll of subconscious "masking" to survive neurotypical expectations, and how parents can teach "social acting" as a conscious, optional tool free from shame.
• 🎒 The Canary in the Coal Mine: Why traditional school systems and rigid social rules often fail neurodivergent kids, and how Katie’s family embraced homeschooling to foster independent learners.
• 🏡 Finding Your "Here": Practical strategies for parents to validate their children's emotional needs, accommodate asynchronous development, and find spaces where their children genuinely belong.

About the Guest:

Dr. Katie Rose Pryal is an AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) writer, keynote speaker, and educator holding both a JD and a PhD. She is one of today's clearest voices writing about mental health and neurodiversity, with a distinguished body of work featured in Psychology Today, Slate, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and NPR. She is the author of Your Kid Belongs Here: An Insider's Guide to Parenting Neurodiverse Children.

About Terry Shepherd:

Terry Shepherd is the host of In Conversation, a premier interview series dedicated to deep, insightful dialogues with authors, creators, and thought leaders shaping our cultural landscape.

Links & Resources:

• Buy the Book: [Insert Book Link Here]
• Visit the Author's Website: [Insert Author Website Here]
• Connect with Terry Shepherd: [Insert Terry Shepherd Link Here]

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

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What happens when a crime writer decides to take back total creative control of their work? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with Heather J. Fitt, an accomplished author, editor, and the General Coordinator for the Crime Writers’ Association, to explore her journey from the motor trade to the heart of the crime writing world. Together, they dive into the realities of traditional versus self-publishing, the deep research required to write unsettling thrillers, and why a sense of belonging is the quiet theme connecting all of her stories.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• 🗺️ The Power of Reinvention: How a passing teenage dream of journalism was crushed by a classmate, only for Heather to reclaim her voice and write her first novel at age 38.
• 📈 Taking Books Back: The strategic decision to transition her three successful crime novels—Open Your Eyes, The Flight, and The Boat Trip—from traditional publishing to self-publishing on KDP to reclaim her royalties and control her marketing.
• 🔍 The 10% Rule of Research: Why deep-diving into the dark corners of the internet, interviewing pilots, and learning Atlantic seafaring protocols makes her fiction undeniably accurate (even if she only uses a fraction of what she learns).
• 🧛 Blending Crime with Horror: A sneak peek into her upcoming novel, Day Walker, a dark crime thriller with a sharp horror twist set in the historic streets of Edinburgh.

About the Guest:

Heather J. Fitt is an author, editor, and publishing professional who spent six years as a commissioning advisor for Bloodhound Books before taking on her current role as General Coordinator for the Crime Writers’ Association. She is the author of three gripping crime novels: Open Your Eyes, The Flight, and The Boat Trip. When she isn't managing prestigious literary events like the Dagger Awards, she can be found writing from the south coast of England or holidaying in Barbados.

About Terry Shepherd:

Terry Shepherd is the host of the In Conversation podcast series, where he interviews leading voices in the literary and creative spaces, exploring the triumphs, trials, and trade secrets of successful authors.

Links & Resources:

• Visit the Author's Website: Heather J. Fitt Official Website
• Buy Heather's Books: Heather J. Fitt on Amazon
• Connect with the Host: Terry Shepherd Official Website

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

What happens when an investigative journalist shifts from documenting true crime to crafting psychological suspense? You get the gripping, multi-layered world of the Katrina and Goode series.

In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with New York Times bestselling author and veteran journalist Caitlin Rother to discuss Staged, the taut second book in her acclaimed fiction series. From pulling emotional truth from personal tragedy to navigating the "incredible shrinking media" landscape, Caitlin pulls back the curtain on how she weaves intricate webs of corruption, suspense, and raw human chemistry.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Secret to Author Longevity: How Caitlin has published 17 books by channeling her impatience and creative drive into a relentless "just keep going" work ethic.
• The Evolution of Staged: A deeper look into the amorphous, dangerous "cabal" pulling the strings in La Jolla's glittering underworld, and the fictional, high-stakes sexual enhancement drug at the center of the corruption.
• Katrina & Ken's Dangerous Dynamic: The intense psychological bond and ethical boundaries that keep an investigative reporter and a homicide detective fighting their natural chemistry while dodging a lethal stalker.
• Verisimilitude in Fiction: How Caitlin relies on her 20 years of newsroom experience and real-world law enforcement consultations to ensure her stories never feel cartoonish.
• The Reality of "Success": A candid conversation on why even a New York Times bestseller list placement doesn't erase the daily pressure of the publishing industry and changing social media landscapes.

About the Guest

Caitlin Rother is a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and writing coach. Across 17 books spanning true crime, memoir, and psychological thrillers, she has explored the machinery of justice with a reporter’s eye and a storyteller’s soul. Her latest series follows reporter Katrina and Detective Ken Goode as they untangle parallel trails of murder and corruption in San Diego.

Connect with Caitlin:

• Website: caitlinrother.com
• Featured Books: Hooked (Book 1) and Staged (Book 2)

Enjoyed the show? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow thriller lovers!

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Can we actually fix a broken world by tackling our crises one by one? Investigative journalist and author Fons Burger says no. In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with Fons to discuss his deeply provocative new book, The Only Possible Solution. Fons argues that the defining crises of our century—from climate change to mass immigration—are not isolated events, but symptoms of a single, systemic failure.

We dive into Fons’ fascinating background as a veteran reporter who witnessed the fall of Saigon and the Watergate scandal first-hand. He shares how his work in both fiction (2125: The Hibernator) and non-fiction serves as a vehicle for systemic change, why "active hope" is required to design a world fit for our children, and why the ultimate chapter of our collective human story must always return to love.

If you are tired of quick fixes and comforting slogans, this conversation will completely reshape how you look at the future.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• The Connectedness of Crises: Why you cannot solve one global problem without solving the others, and why we need a "systematic blueprint" for the next century.
• Fiction vs. Non-Fiction: How storytelling and creative arts reach a broader public to spark transitions that dense academic science cannot.
• Active Hope vs. Passive Optimism: Borrowing from eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, Fons explains why real hope means standing up, protesting, and making small daily changes.
• The Power of Socratic Dialogue: How to build bridges and learn from people with whom you completely disagree.
• Standing on the Right Side of the Line: Practical ways ordinary individuals can influence corporate and political change through conscious daily living.

Chapter Markers

• [00:00] Intro & Welcoming Fons Burger.
• [01:45] Waking up in 2125: The inspiration behind Fons' thriller, The Hibernator.
• [05:15] The Seven Core Systemic Failures of the modern world.
• [11:10] Embracing "Active Hope" amidst threats of reality collapse and climate change.
• [16:40] The Son of a Butcher: Changing daily habits and moving corporate markets.
• [21:15] Reaching Gen Z and Millennials through audiovisual art and media.
• [26:30] The ultimate purpose of life: Why it all ends with love.
• [30:45] Reflecting on history: From Vietnam and Watergate to the present day.

About the Guest

Fons Burger is an investigative journalist, system thinker, and author of nine books spanning thrillers and thought-provoking non-fiction. A lifelong reporter and part-time farmer in Mallorca, Fons dedicates his creativity to highlighting unique voices and ideas that drive peaceful global transitions.

Connect with Fons:

• Website: fonsburger.com
• Featured Books: The Only Possible Solution & 2125: The Hibernator

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

In this episode of In Conversation, award-winning broadcaster Terry Shepherd sits down with UK-based author MJ Dyer to dive deep into her debut psychological thriller, We Are Monsters.

Set against the brooding, atmospheric backdrop of Bodmin Moor, the novel follows Elara, a young woman who has spent her life eclipsed by her identical twin half-sisters. When one of the twins is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Elara’s hunt for the truth spirals into a dark, dangerous descent into rivalry, identity, and the fragile line between victimhood and monstrosity.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• The Nightmare Behind the Book: How a severe brain inflammation illness, vivid hospital hallucinations, and a haunting old photograph inspired the eerie premise of the novel.
• The Allure of the Morally Gray: Why MJ Dyer loves writing "unlikable" characters and how Elara’s desperate desire to be noticed drives her ambiguous motivations.
• A Style Reborn: How recovering from a brain injury unexpectedly transformed MJ's writing style from plot-driven fantasy into poetic, lyrical, and deeply psychological prose.
• The Reality of the Publishing Business: MJ shares her transparent, twisty journey through the querying trenches, dealing with rejection, and how she ultimately landed her third literary agent.
• A Sneak Peek at What's Next: Inside the writing process of her second psychological thriller, Toxic Girls, arriving this November.

Connect with the Author:

• Website: mjdyerbooks.com
• Featured Books: We Are Monsters (Releasing July 7th) and Toxic Girls (Coming November).

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Deconstructing the Whodunit: A Conversation with Bestselling Author & Renaissance Man Lee Goldberg.

What happens when you take the classic, eccentric detective formula and turn it completely on its head?

In this episode of In Conversation, host Terry Shepherd sits down with bestselling author, television producer, and media renaissance man Lee Goldberg to celebrate the launch of his highly anticipated new mystery novel, Murder by Design.

Known for his masterful ability to balance laugh-out-loud humor with high-stakes plotting , Lee gives us an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of his fascinating new protagonist, Edison Bixby. Unlike the reclusive, celibate, or socially inept sleuths of classic detective fiction, Bixby is wealthy, handsome, and highly successful —but a traumatic brain injury has stripped away his internal filter, leaving him with a hilarious and dangerous knack for saying exactly the wrong thing at the absolute wrong time.

Lee and Terry dive deep into:

• The Architecture of Murder: How Murder by Design explores the terrifying ways the built environment, layout, and lighting can be manipulated to shape human behavior—and become instruments of crime.
• Twisting the Tropes: Why Lee deliberately paired his brilliant "design sociopath" with Wally Nash, a struggling actor hired as a social buffer, to honor and simultaneously subvert the classic "Watson" tradition.
• The Cinematic Writing Secrets: How Lee’s extensive career writing and producing for television (including his hit new series You're Killing Me) led him to an unconventional noveling process—writing his books as top-secret screenplays first to lock down pacing and dialogue.
• The Reality of the Writer's Life: A candid, humorous look at the rhythms of storytelling, navigating collaboration in Hollywood versus solo writing, and why Lee still feels like the same 10-year-old kid fueling his imagination with junk food and Diet Coke.

Whether you are a die-hard mystery fan, an aspiring writer curious about script-to-novel structures, or just love a witty conversation about how the literary "sausage is made", this interview is packed with creative wisdom, Hollywood anecdotes, and plenty of laughs.

About the Guest:Lee Goldberg is a two-time Edgar Award nominee and a prolific author and TV producer whose work spans decades of hit print series and television blockbusters. He is also the co-founder of Brash Books. Learn more about Lee and purchase your copy of Murder by Design at Leegoldberg.com.

Connect with Us:

• Follow In Conversation with Terry Shepherd for more deep dives into the writer's craft with the artists who create the stories you love.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo