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Tom Schaeffer
Author & Audience Podcast
Education
Society & Culture
English
A podcast focused on how to think deeper, write better, and build a creative process that produces your best work consistently.
authorandaudience.substack.com
Website
Episodes
11
21 January 2026
From Fighter Pilot to Bestselling Author: Michelle "MACE" Curran
Former Air Force Thunderbird pilot Michelle "MACE" Curran joins the podcast for an in-depth conversation about her three-year journey to publish The Flipside with a major publisher.Michelle shares her path from small-town Wisconsin to the cockpit of an F-16, the rock-bottom moment in Japan that transformed her, and why she walked away from military retirement to become an author and speaker.This...
1 h 51 min
13 January 2026
AI and Writing: Why Human Writers Are More Valuable Than Ever
Published: January 13, 2026Episode SummaryTom gets brutally honest about his evolving relationship with AI as a writer. What started as genuine terror about AI "attacking" traditional writing has transformed into a completely different understanding: AI hasn't made writing easier—it's made it harder. But in the best possible way. This episode tackles the biggest question facing writers right now:...
16 min
06 January 2026
The Analog Revolution: Why Writers Are Putting Down Their Phones and Picking Up Their Pens
Published: January 6, 2026Episode SummaryTom explores a massive cultural shift happening right now: the Analog Revolution. As AI-generated content floods every platform and digital fatigue reaches breaking points, consumers—especially Gen Z—are turning back to physical books, vinyl records, handwritten notes, and tangible experiences. This isn't nostalgia. It's a business opportunity hiding in...
14 min
30 December 2025
5 Writing Trends That Will Define 2026 (And Why 2025 Broke the Old Playbook)
Published: December 30, 2025Episode SummaryTom closes out 2025 and looks ahead to 2026 with a strategic analysis of what's shifting for writers building audiences and platforms. If you felt like the old playbook stopped working in 2025—you weren't imagining it. The game changed. This episode breaks down exactly what's coming and how to position yourself for success in the year ahead.2025: The...
15 min
16 December 2025
It's Not Too Late: Why Age Is Your Unfair Advantage as a Writer
Published: December 16, 2025Episode SummaryTom addresses one of the most common fears holding back aspiring writers: the belief that it's too late to make a career change into writing. Drawing from his own life of constant pivots and reinvention, he makes a powerful case for why age, experience, and maturity aren't limitations—they're your secret weapons in a world drowning in shallow,...
14 min
09 December 2025
The Identity Shift — Why You Must Call Yourself a Writer Now
Published: December 9, 2025Episode SummaryTom tackles one of the biggest psychological barriers that stops more people from writing than even a blank page: the hesitation to call themselves writers. Drawing on research from James Clear, Carol Dweck, and Steven Pressfield, he explains why claiming the identity of "writer" immediately—not after some arbitrary milestone—is the key to actually...
12 min
02 December 2025
From Three Scratch Sheets to Published Author: Daniel Tester's Journey
Published: December 2, 2025Guest: Daniel Tester, Author of Hitting the GAS: Finding Success in Leadership, Life, and BalanceGrab Daniel’s book here: Hitting the G.A.S.: Finding Success in Leadership Life and BalanceEpisode Summary:Tom's first podcast interview features retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Tester, who wrote his debut leadership book during sleepless nights at 3 AM with...
59 min
25 November 2025
Inside LinkedIn Ghostwriting: How to Build a Six-Figure Writing Business
Episode SummaryTom pulls back the curtain on his journey from software engineer and company founder to six-figure LinkedIn ghostwriter in just 10 months. This episode is packed with practical advice for writers considering ghostwriting as a business, covering everything from finding clients to pricing services. Get full access to Author & Audience at authorandaudience.substack.com/subscribe
20 min
18 November 2025
Start Small, Stay Consistent: Rethinking Your Approach to Creative Work
Published: November 18, 2025Episode #003 SummaryTom gets real about the challenges of maintaining creative consistency and shares why most people quit right when things start getting difficult. This episode focuses on the transformational power of starting small and building sustainable habits—not through motivation, but through deliberate, manageable daily practices.Key Topics CoveredThe Reality...
10 min
11 November 2025
The Power of Analog Writing for Creative Thinkers
Episode 2: The Power of Analog Writing for Creative ThinkersPublished: November 11, 2025Episode SummaryIn this episode, Tom explores the surprising benefits of returning to analog practices in our digital-dominated world. He shares his personal experiments with handwriting, physical books, and printed newsletters—and why this shift has transformed his creative process over the past few months.Key...
11 min