The Art of Excellence

Hosted by Glenn Zweig

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125

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Art of Excellence is an in-depth interview-style podcast about people who have accomplished great things in their lives. The goal of the show is to deliver inspiring stories from ultra-successful entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers, authors, thought leaders and anyone doing something extraordinary. We will explore the backgrounds, talent, work ethic, sacrifices, mental outlook and serendipity that led to their success.

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August 18, 20261 hr 25 min

Rahm Emanuel: What It Takes to Lead, Win, and Get Things Done

Rahm Emanuel most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Japan. Previously he was the 55th Mayor of the City of Chicago. Prior to becoming Mayor, Emanuel served as President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff. In addition to being the President's top advisor, Emanuel helped the Obama administration secure the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Before serving as Chief of Staff, Emanuel was elected four times as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th Congressional District (2002-2008). From 1993 to 1998, Ambassador Emanuel was a key member of President Bill Clinton's administration, rising to serve as Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Politics. During this time, Emanuel served as a legislative liaison to Congress and spearheaded efforts to pass several of President Clinton's signature achievements, most notably the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, and the historic Balanced Budget Act, which created the Children's Health Insurance Program that expanded health care coverage to 10 million children. Emanuel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981 and received a Master's Degree in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985. He is married to Amy Rule, and they have three children. Summary Rahm Emanuel has spent his career at the center of American politics, from the Clinton and Obama White Houses to Congress, Chicago City Hall, and the U.S. Embassy in Japan. In this conversation, he reflects on the forces that shaped him, the leadership lessons he learned along the way, and why he believes America has become too willing to accept failure on issues it has the power to fix. Rahm traces his intensity back to a childhood defined by spirited debate, fierce competition, high expectations, and a strong sense that opportunity should never be wasted. He also shares how ballet taught him discipline and independence, and how a near-fatal accident before college changed his relationship with life and gave him a deeper sense of purpose. That drive became both a strength and a liability throughout his career. Rahm discusses his "take no prisoners" reputation, what he learned about pacing change as mayor, and why great leaders need to project strength, confidence, and optimism without losing touch with reality. The conversation closes on America's future. Rahm argues that the country's strongest periods of growth have come when it invested in its people, particularly through education, and that many of today's biggest challenges are self-inflicted. With speculation building around a possible 2028 presidential run, he also explains why he now feels freer to tell voters what he believes they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. For Rahm, excellence ultimately means leaving nothing on the field and using your life to leave the world better than you found it. Takeaways · America's anxiety is rooted in more than politics. Rahm sees families struggling to afford the basic pillars of a middle-class life while feeling that those in power are not paying attention. · Leadership requires more than policy or competence. A chief executive has to project strength, confidence, and optimism and make people believe that the leader is running the office rather than being overwhelmed by it. · High expectations were embedded in the Emanuel household. Family debates, public report cards, sibling competition, and the stories of relatives who never made it to America reinforced the idea that opportunity came with an obligation not to waste it. · Nearly dying before college changed the trajectory of his life. Seven weeks in the hospital gave him a new appreciation for time and a determination to use his life purposefully. · Our greatest strengths can also become our weaknesses. Rahm credits his intensity and refusal to accept "no" with helping him accomplish difficult things, while acknowledging that the same instinct sometimes caused him to run over people. · Education is at the center of Rahm's vision for America. He sees literacy, stronger high schools, modernized community colleges, and clearer pathways into careers as essential to expanding opportunity and restoring competitiveness. · America's biggest competitive threat may be self-inflicted. As Rahm puts it, China does not determine whether American children learn to read, whether the country invests in scientific research, or whether it modernizes its infrastructure. Those are choices America makes for itself. · Experience has given Rahm a different relationship with political risk. If he enters the 2028 race, he says he is at a point in life where he would rather tell people what he believes they need to know than shape his message around what they want to hear. Notes : Brookings interview: Rahm Emanuel: Both parties are failing American students Dartmouth: Rahm Emanuel Proposes Higher Ed Reforms in Dartmouth Talk Tel-Aviv speech: The US-Israel relationship: where it stands today and the road ahead Watch it Read it

June 15, 20261 hr 1 min

John Paul DeJoria: The Co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón tequila on why success unshared is failure

John Paul DeJoria epitomizes the American dream, rising from adversity to become a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is best known for co-founding iconic brands John Paul Mitchell Systems and The Patrón Spirits Company. John Paul has made philanthropy his core mission, establishing JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Family Foundation in 2011 to contribute to a sustainable planet by investing in people, animals, and the environment. This year, he was recognized as #24 on Forbes' list of the 250 Greatest Self-Made Americans. His motto, "Success Unshared is Failure," which is also the title of his new book, reflects a lifelong commitment to sharing success and fostering positive change. Summary John Paul DeJoria's life story has the shape of the American dream, but in this conversation he keeps pulling it back from myth into practice. He begins with a lesson from his mother, who had very little after his father left but still taught him and his brother to give a dime to the Salvation Army because someone else always needed more. That early ethic becomes the foundation of his book, motto, and operating philosophy: success only matters if it is shared. The discussion then moves through the formative hardships that could have made him bitter: foster care, homelessness, odd jobs, and door-to-door sales. John Paul does not romanticize those moments, but he does turn them into practical leadership lessons. When you are down, don't relive what got you there; look for the next constructive step. When you are rejected, be prepared for it, refuse to personalize it, and knock on the next door with the same enthusiasm. From there, the episode turns to entrepreneurship. John Paul explains why Paul Mitchell was built for the "reorder business," not the selling business: make the product so good that customers come back again and again. Scarcity forced the company to become lean, direct, and deeply customer-centered, teaching hairdressers how to use and sell the products instead of relying on advertising. The same playbook carried into Patrón, where education, quality, and grassroots selling helped create a premium tequila category that many distributors initially said was too expensive to scale. Finally, the conversation becomes a meditation on values, leadership, and legacy. John Paul talks about refusing to test on animals, stripping out unnecessary middle management, learning to let go as a leader, and building a culture where people know the mission without constant supervision. His philanthropy follows the same logic as his companies: not just giving money away, but investing in dignity, self-sufficiency, and a chance for people to move one notch higher. His definition of excellence closes the loop beautifully: excellence is what you do when no one is looking and the desire to keep finding something you can do a little bit better. Takeaways · "Success Unshared is Failure" was not a slogan for John Paul; it started as a childhood lesson in generosity when his family had almost nothing. · Adversity only becomes useful when it teaches you to look forward. You cannot change "yesterday's newspapers," but you can decide the next step. · Rejection is survivable when you expect it. The trick is not to avoid the closed doors, but to keep your energy intact for the next one. · Great businesses are built for reorder, not just first purchase. Quality has to be strong enough that customers come back without being chased. · Scarcity can sharpen a company. With no advertising budget, Paul Mitchell had to win by educating hairdressers and helping salons create retail revenue. · The real product was the system: the bottle, the stylist education, the salon relationship, and the customer experience all worked together. · Values become real when they cost something. Refusing to test on animals was not positioned as a marketing tactic but as a line John Paul would not cross. · The best partnerships have clear lanes. Paul Mitchell brought the hairdressing and creative credibility; John Paul brought the business building and go-to-market engine. · Scaling as a leader requires letting go. John Paul had to learn that having time to think was as important as personally overseeing every detail. · The best philanthropy is a hand up, not a handout. John Paul frames giving as an investment in someone's ability to become self-sufficient. · Excellence is not status or achievement. It is the standard you hold when no one else is watching and the commitment to keep growing. Notes : Book: Success Unshared is Failure Foundation: JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Family Foundation Businesses discussed: Paul Mitchell Patron Tequilla Bandero Tequilla

February 17, 20261 hr 19 min

Frank Weisser: High trust at mach speed

Frank Weisser is a two-time Blue Angels Pilot who was deployed in combat three separate times, including to Afghanistan and Iraq. He has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours and nearly 500 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Strike Flight Air Medals and various personal and unit awards. Because of his experience flying at extreme low altitudes and inverted, he was the pilot for the most complex and memorable air combat scenes in Top Gun: Maverick . His book is titled Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator . Summary Frank Weisser's career sits at a rare intersection: Navy fighter pilot, two-time Blue Angels pilot, combat deployments, and the low-altitude stunt flying that helped make Top Gun: Maverick feel real. Early in the conversation, Frank reframes what looks like "crazy risk" from the outside into a disciplined craft: aviation is inherently dangerous, but the real skill is identifying known risks and systematically mitigating them through the right people, the right preparation, and the right standards. The episode then rewinds to a formative disappointment: Frank entered the Naval Academy intent on becoming a SEAL, didn't get selected, and had to confront a painful identity-level failure. What changed his trajectory wasn't a new goal, but a reframing of motivation from "how I serve" to "that I serve," even if the role wasn't what he originally wanted. That lesson becomes a through-line for everything that follows: mission first, ego second, and meaning found in the sacrifice itself. From there, Frank breaks down what makes the Blue Angels such a high-functioning team. "Glad to be here" isn't a slogan; it's a culture-building mechanism rooted in gratitude, humility, and the idea that the work is bigger than the individual. The team reinforces that culture through small, repeatable behaviors and through the "great equalizer" effect of an environment that demands confidence without cockiness. Finally, the conversation translates elite aviation into practical leadership. Frank shares specific approaches to focus (compartmentalizing distractions), decision-making under pressure (the discipline to "underreact in the extreme"), trust-building (earned trust through vulnerability and consistency), and learning velocity (a debrief culture that prioritizes what went wrong so tomorrow gets better). Woven through it all is his definition of excellence: pushing past comfort, taking measured risks, being willing to fail, and then rebuilding smarter. Takeaways · Risk isn't eliminated in high-stakes work; it's acknowledged upfront and managed through preparation, expertise, and process. · "Mission first" is a practical operating system, not a motivational poster. It keeps ego from quietly taking over. · Gratitude can be engineered into culture through small rituals, and those rituals compound into trust and performance. · Confidence is required, but cockiness is actively corrected by a team that refuses to let anyone go rogue. · Compartmentalization is a skill: name the distraction, surface it with the team when needed, then "do not disturb" your mind for the task. · When you're solo, focus comes back to priorities: stop saying "I didn't have time" and tell the truth about what wasn't a priority. · Fear shrinks when you're properly prepared: know the systems, memorize the critical failures, rehearse in simulation, then execute. · The best operators train themselves to underreact. Even one second of composure can be the difference between solving the right problem and making it worse. · Trust is built fastest through earned vulnerability and consistency, not "blind trust." · Excellence, in Frank's words, is helping yourself and others attempt what feels out of reach, being willing to fail, and restarting with better intelligence. Notes : Book: Lead Solo: Learning Life's Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviator Frank Weisser leadership consulting: https://frankweisser.net/

January 6, 20261 hr 18 min

Aron Ralston: Turning Boulders into Blessings

Aron Ralston's extraordinary story of survival after an 800-pound boulder trapped him in a remote Utah canyon captured global headlines in 2003. In his New York Times best seller, Between a Rock and a Hard Place , the Oscar-nominated film, 127 Hours , and on stage, Ralston takes audiences vicariously through those six days without water, means of communication, or hope of escape, to the ecstatic moments when he freed himself by severing his own arm. Aron later returned to his outdoor passions, completing elite mountaineering projects which remain unrepeated even to this day. Aron's incredible triumph in the face of insurmountable odds inspires audiences to harness the power of their deepest motivations, relationships, and mindset to transform personal and professional "boulders" into their blessings. Summary In this deeply reflective conversation, Aron Ralston revisits the defining experience of being trapped alone in Blue John Canyon in 2003 and the six days that ultimately forced him to amputate his own arm to survive. Rather than retelling the story as a tale of shock or heroism, Aron reframes it as a profound exploration of identity, meaning, and choice. Aron traces his journey back to childhood, his move to Colorado, and his early draw to the mountains as both refuge and proving ground. He explains how intellect, ambition, and a desire to test his limits led him away from a conventional career path and deeper into solo adventure. The canyon, he reflects, was not a random accident but the culmination of a long-standing internal question: Who am I when everything is on the line? Inside the canyon, Aron describes the psychological evolution from panic and rage to stillness, problem-solving, and ultimately love. His survival hinged not just on technical reasoning, but on meaning-making: connecting to family, future relationships, and a vision of life beyond the canyon. Love became the fuel that allowed him to endure pain, deprivation, and fear long enough to find a way out. The conversation moves beyond survival into what came after. Aron reflects on fame, recovery, fatherhood, depression, loss, and how the experience reshaped his understanding of adversity. Rather than seeing the canyon as trauma alone, he describes it as a teacher that clarified values, revealed hidden capacity, and reframed suffering as a catalyst for growth. The episode ultimately becomes less about the moment he cut off his arm and more about how humans meet their hardest moments and decide who they will become on the other side. Takeaways · Extreme adversity reveals identity rather than creating it; pressure exposes who we already are. · Problem-solving alone is not enough. Meaning and emotional connection often provide the real fuel for endurance. · Panic narrows possibility. Stillness, breath, and perspective reopen options when everything feels lost. · Love can be a practical survival tool, not just an abstract emotion. · We often create the challenges that ultimately shape us, even when we don't recognize it at the time. · Trauma is not the end of the story. What matters most is what we choose to do with it afterward. · Adversity can become an asset when it is integrated, not avoided. · Gratitude does not require the situation to be resolved; it can coexist with pain and uncertainty. · Asking for help is not weakness. Even the most "solo" journeys are never truly alone. · The real transformation happens after the crisis, in how we live ordinary days with greater awareness and intention. Notes : Book: Between a Rock and a Hard Place Speaker page: Aron Ralston motivational speaker

October 12, 202558 min

Aimee Boorman: Coaching Simone Biles beyond medals and perfection

Amy Boorman is a decorated and globally respected gymnastics coach, whose career included twelve years coaching the sport's all-time greatest, Simone Biles. She was named USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year four times and US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year in 2016. She was head coach of the US Women's Gymnastics Team at the Rio Olympic Games and coached for the Dutch Gymnastics Federation in 2021, including at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Her book is titled: The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles . Summary In this conversation, Aimee Boorman reflects on her evolution from a competitive gymnast to an elite coach, including her 12-year journey coaching Simone Biles. She talks about how her early experience with harsh, unsupportive coaching shaped her belief that great coaching starts with empathy, communication, and trust. Aimee focuses on coaching the whole person, not just the athlete, and explains how vulnerability, collaboration, and giving athletes room to fail safely build both performance and character. She describes how she nurtured Simone's extraordinary natural ability, what she calls "air sense savant," while helping her develop emotional maturity and self-accountability. The discussion also explores the mental challenges elite athletes face, including the "twisties," and why protecting mental health must come before medals. Aimee's approach shows that excellence is less about winning and more about integrity, growth, and joy in the process. Takeaways · Great coaches lead with empathy and see athletes as whole people, not performance machines. · Trust grows through honest communication and vulnerability, which create psychological safety and resilience. · Allowing athletes to fail safely teaches self-awareness and accountability more effectively than control or punishment. · Real confidence comes from ownership—shifting from performing for approval to performing for yourself. · Success follows when the focus moves from outcomes such as scores or medals to inputs like effort, attitude, and preparation. · Pressure and anxiety block performance, while freedom and presence unlock it. · Mental health should always take priority over results because well-being sustains excellence. · The best coaches are remembered not just for producing champions but for helping young people grow into strong, self-directed adults. Notes : Book: The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles

September 14, 20251 hr 14 min

Elizabeth Rowe: Former Principal Flutist on Redefining Excellence Beyond the Spotlight

Elizabeth Rowe is a leadership and executive coach whose career sits at the unique crossroads of world-class performance, leadership coaching, and advocacy. For two decades, she was the principal flutist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, she made national headlines with a landmark equal pay lawsuit — an act of courage that earned her recognition as one of The Boston Globe's "Bostonians of the Year," calling her "The Fighter." During her TEDx talk The Lonely Onlys , she shared how imagination and vulnerability can help us build connection and community. In her coaching work, Elizabeth works at the intersection of personal and professional development, helping high achievers thrive in high-pressure environments and navigate major career or life transitions with ease and confidence. Summary In this conversation, Elizabeth Rowe shares her journey from being a principal flutist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra to transitioning into leadership coaching. She reflects on the emotional farewell to her music career, the challenges of maintaining passion, and the importance of quality over quantity in practice. Elizabeth discusses the pressures of live performances, the significance of emotional expression in music, and her experiences with mistakes and internal pressures. She also addresses her lawsuit under the Equal Pay Act, the courage to explore new paths, and the evolution of her definition of excellence. Ultimately, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of trusting the process and finding fulfillment beyond the spotlight. Takeaways · Resilience is forged through setbacks and failures. · Quality and focus in practice matter more than hours logged. · Success comes from focusing on inputs, not just outcomes. · Perfectionism can protect but also isolate. · Vulnerability creates connection and growth. · Most obstacles for high achievers are internal, not external. · Excellence evolves from proving worth to providing value. · True fulfillment comes from connection, purpose, and service. Notes Websites: I Am Elizabeth Rowe Sign up for newsletter

August 3, 20251 hr 24 min

Stanley McChrystal: Four-star General (Ret.) on character and leadership

General Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general and former commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), where he led the nation's most elite counterterrorism efforts. With 34 years of military service, he's recognized for reshaping modern warfare and pioneering team-based leadership approaches in high-stakes environments. Today, he is the founder and CEO of the McChrystal Group, a leadership advisory firm that helps organizations adapt and thrive in complex, fast-changing environments. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, and his most recent work, On Character: The Choices That Define Us , explores how leaders are remembered—not just for what they achieve, but for who they are. Summary In this conversation, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal reflects on the qualities that define meaningful leadership, focusing on character, culture, and personal growth. He shares how he almost got expelled from West Point for disciplinary issues and poor study habits, and how that period of immaturity helped shape his evolution as a leader. He talks about his famously intense morning routine, including waking up at 4 a.m. and working out for 90 minutes, and how these habits are rooted in self-discipline and clarity of purpose. McChrystal defines character as a combination of convictions and the discipline to live by them. He makes the case that it's not enough to believe in the right things if you don't act on them. He also challenges the idea that someone can be one kind of person in private and another in public. To him, character is consistent, and integrity either holds up across all domains or it doesn't hold up at all. He speaks openly about moral ambiguity in leadership, including moments when he disagreed with decisions made by the administration but chose to follow orders because they were legal and within the boundaries of his role. He warns of the dangers of rationalizing small compromises over time, which can slowly erode a person's values. McChrystal also explains why elite military units like the Rangers are not necessarily made up of elite individuals. What sets them apart is a shared commitment to high standards. He believes the same principle applies in business and argues that a strong organizational culture drives performance more than talent or strategy. The conversation touches on charisma, humility, and how leadership style evolves over time. McChrystal admits he wasn't always consistent in his early years and had to learn to lead in a way that built trust and clarity. He also discusses the importance of critical thinking, especially in an era where media narratives often distort reality. Finally, he reflects on the abrupt end to his military career following the Rolling Stone article and how he chose to move forward rather than dwell on the past. He credits his wife and close friends for helping him shift his focus and find new purpose in civilian life, including launching a leadership advisory firm, teaching at Yale, and writing multiple books. His latest, On Character , is a deep exploration of what it means to live by your values and be someone others can count on. Takeaways · Morning routines and physical discipline help create structure and momentum · Character comes from having strong convictions and the discipline to live by them · Integrity in your personal life matters just as much as in your public role · A strong culture built on shared standards can outperform raw talent · Good leadership means knowing how to handle moral complexity, not just following orders · The best leaders combine confidence with humility and know when to show each · Charisma only matters if it's backed by substance, courage, and consistency · It's easy to be misled by the media, which makes critical thinking more important than ever · Leadership styles change with experience, but consistency builds trust · Moving forward after setbacks starts with choosing not to live in the past Notes Books: On Character: Choices That Define a Life Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World My Share of the Task: A Memoir Organizational consulting: McChrystal Group

June 23, 20251 hr 16 min

Dr. Kwane Stewart: CNN Hero of the Year and Founder of Project Street Vet

Dr. Kwane Stewart is a veterinarian and the co-founder of Project Street Vet, a non-profit that provides free veterinary care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness in cities across the country. His work earned him CNN Hero of the Year in 2023. His book is titled: What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian's Quest for Healing and Hope. Summary In this conversation, Dr. Kwane Stewart, a veterinarian and co-founder of Project Street Vet, shares his journey from a successful veterinary career to providing free care for pets of the unhoused. He discusses the importance of empathy, the challenges faced by both animals and their owners in the homeless community, and the emotional toll of veterinary work. Dr. Stewart emphasizes the need for kindness and understanding towards those experiencing homelessness and highlights the strong bonds between them and their pets. His mission is to expand Project Street Vet to more cities, advocating for both animal welfare and human dignity. Takeaways · Powerful childhood experiences, like watching The Black Stallion, can create powerful emotions that inspire career paths. · Bullying can lead to empathy and a desire to protect others. · The suicide rate among veterinarians is notably high due to emotional stress. · Project Street Vet was born from a desire to help animals in need. · Building trust with the unhoused community is essential for effective care. · Many unhoused individuals have strong bonds with their pets, often prioritizing them over their own housing. · Funding and volunteer support are crucial for sustaining veterinary care for the unhoused. · Kindness, compassion, and empathy are vital in addressing homelessness and animal welfare. Notes Book: What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian's Quest for Healing and Hope Veterinary care charity: Project Street Vet Personal Website: Dr. Kwane Stewart

June 3, 20251 hr 2 min

Michael Grab: Rock Balancing Artist on Making the Impossible Possible

Michael Grab is one of the world's premier rock balancing artists. He has created rock art all over the world and has inspired a global movement for stone balancing art. Summary In this conversation, Michael Grab, a renowned rock balancing artist, shares insights into his creative process, the philosophy behind his art, and the technical aspects of balancing rocks. He discusses how he finds inspiration in nature, the evolution of his hobby into a professional pursuit, and the meditative state he enters while creating his sculptures. The conversation also touches on the ephemeral nature of his work, emphasizing the beauty in its temporary existence. In this conversation, Michael Grab discusses his journey as a rock balancing artist, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of his work and the meticulous process of capturing it through photography and film. He reflects on the transition from a conventional job to pursuing his passion full-time, driven by a desire for creative fulfillment. Grab shares insights on self-competition and the personal standards he sets for his art, ultimately defining excellence as the ability to inspire himself through his creations. Takeaways · His creative process is organic, often allowing the rocks to dictate the final arrangement. · He finds inspiration in nature and specific locations that resonate with him. · Rock balancing started as a hobby influenced by a psychedelic experience. · The art form is highly technical, requiring a deep understanding of gravity and balance. · Michael practices for hours, often pushing his limits to create more complex structures. · He experiences a flow state while working, feeling deeply connected to the environment. · The process of balancing rocks is meditative and exists solely in the present moment. · Michael embraces the ephemeral nature of his art, often dismantling structures after photographing them. · He believes that the journey of mastery in rock balancing is ongoing and never truly finished. · He doesn't set strict standards but rather focuses on the process and his growth.

May 11, 20251 hr 23 min

Dean Koontz: 500 million books sold and counting

Dean Koontz is an author with fourteen number one hardback bestsellers and sixteen number one paperback bestsellers. His books have sold more than 500 million copies in thirty eight languages. His latest book is titled: Going Home in the Dark . Summary : In this engaging conversation, Dean Koontz shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of genre blending, and the impact of his childhood on his career. He discusses the importance of character development, the role of fear in creativity, and the necessity of maintaining a unique voice in writing. Koontz reflects on his journey to success, the influence of supportive relationships, and the balance between creative freedom and market expectations. Dean shares insights into his creative process, daily writing routine, and the importance of character development. He discusses overcoming writer's block, the role of revision, and the impact of his upbringing on his writing themes. Koontz emphasizes the significance of resilience in the face of early career challenges and defines excellence in art and writing. Takeaways : Dean Koontz has sold over 500 million books worldwide. He emphasizes the importance of character development in storytelling. Koontz believes in blending genres to create unique narratives. His childhood experiences shaped his perspective on happiness and resilience. He faced challenges with publishers regarding genre labeling. Koontz advocates for writing in one's own voice and style. He highlights the significance of support from loved ones in his career. Fear of failure drives him to push creative boundaries. Koontz believes talent is a grace that must be polished through hard work. He finds joy in overcoming challenges in his writing process. Writers should embrace different ideas, even if they are unfamiliar. Flow state allows for deep immersion in writing. Characters can take on a life of their own. Trusting characters' free will enriches the story. Self-doubt is a common struggle for writers. Revision is key to achieving perfection in writing. Resilience is crucial in overcoming early career setbacks. Notes Book: Going Home in the Dark Personal Website: Dean Koontz