In this episode host Nadia interviews Jesse Oakley, III — a civil engineer, longtime Toastmaster and former Toastmasters International Director, Red Cross volunteer, author of Greetings, Happy People, and host of the Sunday Morning Chat Series. They discuss leadership growth, the power of positivity, service, lifelong learning, and practical stories that reveal how to show up and lead with purpose.

Listeners will hear personal anecdotes, book and podcast insights, and actionable ideas for staying resilient, serving others, and finding the silver lining in challenging times.

Host Nadia Gilkes interviews award-winning speaker, coach, author, minister, and musician James Jeffley about leadership, change, and the human side of organizations. They discuss his latest books, including Misdiagnosed and Un-FEC'd, the FEC framework (Fear, Ego, Culture), the importance of listening and diagnostics in solving organizational problems, and the role of creativity, spirituality, and Toastmasters in his leadership journey.

James shares practical advice on adapting to technological change, building multiple income streams, writing and publishing, and how to lead with empathy to make change initiatives succeed.

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.

Host Nadia Gilkes interviews Joi A. McMillon about her 30-plus year healthcare journey from bedside CNA to healthcare executive and author. They discuss Joi’s new book, Survey Ready Every Day, which blends memoir, practical leadership tools, and reflective exercises designed to help caregivers and leaders lead with compassion, accountability, and resilience.

The episode covers mentorship, building and retaining teams, self-care practices for busy leaders, adapting leadership across generations, and actionable strategies to support staff and improve patient care.

To contact Joi, you can visit her website: jadicc.com. To follow her, she can be reached at Joi A. McMillon on all platforms.

Host Nadia Gilkes celebrates the first chapter of Authors & Espresso with a year-end recap: the podcast launch on her authorversary, twice-monthly author interviews, and festival flashbacks. She spotlights featured guests, their books, and practical publishing and writing tips shared throughout the year.

The episode highlights memorable interviews (including Angela Findley, Sheila Kennedy, Cheryl Baker, Joel Plummer, Liz Del Signore, Diane Windingland, Kala Gause, and Verde Arzu), a pre-vision-board workshop, and resources for independent authors.

Looking ahead, Nadia outlines goals for 2026 — more author interviews, a newsletter, YouTube improvements, and her own upcoming legal guide for couples — and invites referrals, subscriptions, and community support.

Author and teacher Verde Arzu discusses her novels Rainbow and Promise Keeper, her work as a middle school special education and English teacher, and her commitment to centering Black queer lives and HBCU culture in her storytelling.

She also shares insights on indie publishing and placing books in independent bookstores, using AI as a creative tool, and how listeners can follow her work at VerdeArzu.com and on social media.