Host Nadia Gilkes interviews author and engineer Rhonda Green about her Sunrises and Sunsets trilogy and her new memoir Behind the Smile: Depression is Real. They discuss storytelling, mental health, leadership in STEM, and how personal honesty can heal and inspire.

Rhonda shares candid moments from her life, practical resources for recognizing and responding to depression, and lessons from Toastmasters and a 45-year aviation career on resilience, mentoring, and how to turn hard experiences into purpose.

In this episode Nadia Gilkes interviews Len Tran about his escape from Vietnam, 21 days at sea as a refugee, and the path that led him to the United States. Len shares the memories behind his memoir "Split Up by the Sea" and why he decided to record his family’s legacy.

They also discuss Len’s career as a chemical engineer and supervisor at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, his self-help book "Break the Bricks," martial arts teaching, YouTube coaching, and his growth as a Toastmasters semifinalist. Len offers practical insights on resilience, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the power of sharing your story.

Host Nadia Gilkes walks through her step-by-step editing process—from resting the draft and reading it like a novel, to big-picture revisions (story, characters, pacing), then line edits and formatting. She explains using beta readers, text-to-speech, writing groups, or hired editors to catch what you miss.

Practical tips include printing and redlining, selecting thoughtful beta readers, vetting editors, and setting deadlines; the episode encourages writers to polish their work, trust their editing choices, and release their book into the world.