EPISODE 749 - Nicole Ward - Bio-hacking for the Sales Athlete - For Executives, sales leaders, founders, and anyone performing at a high level

Author and corporate executive Nicole Ward joins from Los Angeles to share how a late in life wake up call transformed her health, career, and now her work as an author and podcaster. She describes never really seeing herself as an author until, in her early fifties, inspiration suddenly “volcanoed” into a book idea that connected three areas of expertise in a way she had never seen before. Once she was clear on what she wanted to say, the writing process became energizing rather than intimidating, helped by an editor who protected her natural voice while shaping the manuscript.

Nicole explains why she chose to self publish, after being told traditional publishers might take years to bring her book to market. Encouraged by other authors, she invested strategically in professional editing, book design, and a second editorial review to ensure the book looked and read at a high level. She also built a personal advisory board of thirteen people from diverse backgrounds, asking them for blunt, honest feedback that led to key improvements and helped her refine the final version.

At the heart of the conversation is Nicole’s broader mission: The Executive Athlete. Drawing on her career working with C suite leaders and board members, she is focused on “bringing consciousness to power” by helping high level decision makers regulate their health, manage stress, and extend their healthspan. She demystifies biohacking as simply using data, tools, and targeted supplementation to understand your unique biology and age as well as possible, not as an extreme lifestyle reserved for tech billionaires. Her own journey began when, at thirty five, she was sixty pounds overweight, inflamed, exhausted, and so overworked that after rolling her SUV she worried more about missing a meeting than the accident itself.

Nicole shares practical, accessible strategies for busy professionals, like “exercise snacking” small bursts of movement with bands, light weights, or stairs throughout the day that can add up to real fitness without a 5 a.m. workout. She stresses that supplements are meant to augment, not replace, fundamentals like sleep, nutrition, and recovery, and that meaningful change comes from choosing one or two realistic actions instead of trying to overhaul everything at once. This same ethos shapes her two podcasts: Aon at the Top, where she interviews mid market corporate leaders about their path to the C suite, and The Executive Athlete, focused on executives who prioritize health, wellness, and longevity.

Speaking directly to listeners who feel stuck, unhealthy, or like they always put themselves last, Nicole is candid about once being a “quitter” with her health and pushing it to the bottom of her priority list. She underscores that change is possible at any age by taking small, consistent steps, honoring commitments to yourself, and giving yourself grace when you fall short. Her before and after story, now documented in her book and content, illustrates how rebuilding your health can not only transform your body but also your confidence, leadership, and capacity to show up fully for your family, colleagues, and community.

https://www.nicoleelizabethward.com/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

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EPISODE 747 - Spencer Hixon - Urban fantasy novels and short stories - A Sinister Love and Fate and Fortune

Author Spencer Hixon joins the podcast to discuss his journey as a writer, the creative process behind his novels, and the imaginative world he is building through interconnected stories that blend fantasy, romance, and philosophical ideas about fate and time.

Spencer shares how his life has taken him across the United States, from California to Washington DC, South Carolina, and eventually Indiana. Each move was tied to career and family opportunities rather than a desire to relocate, shaping his perspective and experiences along the way. Today he lives near South Bend while continuing to develop a growing body of fiction.

At the center of Spencer’s writing process is organization and structure. With many ideas constantly forming, he keeps a running system of notes and outlines he jokingly calls “Spencer’s brain.” While he often develops multiple story ideas at once, he focuses on writing one project at a time to maintain continuity and clarity. Detailed outlines, character histories, and color coded notes help him track character motivations, reveal background information gradually, and ensure every scene serves the larger narrative.

Character psychology plays a central role in his storytelling. Spencer approaches scenes by mentally stepping into the perspective of every character involved, allowing each one to act according to their own motivations. This method often leads to unexpected turns in the story as characters evolve beyond their original roles. While he usually knows the ending before he begins writing, the journey toward that ending frequently shifts as the characters develop.

His books often experiment with storytelling structure and genre. While they are generally categorized as urban fantasy, Spencer describes them as hybrid stories that combine elements of romance, adventure, and philosophical exploration. He enjoys challenging traditional narrative frameworks such as the hero’s journey and sometimes reverses familiar tropes to create new dynamics between characters.

Spencer’s fictional universe spans two connected trilogies. The first begins with A Sinister Love, a story about a demon named Scribble who works a desk job in purgatory before being sent to Earth to tempt a human. What begins as a humorous romance evolves into a much larger mystery involving conspiracies and the structure of the afterlife. The second storyline, beginning with Fate and Fortune, explores the consequences of altering destiny. In that story, a man who once made a deal to change his fate must travel back through key moments of his life to prevent disastrous outcomes, while each trip through time costs him precious moments from his remaining lifespan.

Through these stories Spencer explores universal questions about choice, destiny, and the moments in life that shape who we become. His work invites readers to consider how small decisions can create lasting consequences and whether changing the past would truly lead to a better future.

https://www.spencerhixon.com/

Support the show

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https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca