Today’s guest is a man who has lived at the intersection of faith, service, and storytelling. Keith Madsen is a semi-retired minister, an AmeriCorps worker, a mentor to young minds through chess, and an author whose work dares to confront life’s hardest realities while still holding onto hope.

From building schools in Haiti to educating communities about the opioid epidemic, Keith has seen firsthand thebrokenness in the world—and yet, through his writing, he invites us to believe in something more. His stories don’t shy away from loss or suffering. Instead, they transform those moments into seeds of renewal, redemption, and resurrection.

With four published novels through Quill Hawk Publishing—The Sons and Daughters of Toussaint, Searching for Eden, The Bridles of Armageddon, and Fallen Angels—Keith challenges us to ask: What if the world can be better than it is? And what role do we play in that transformation?

This is a conversation about truth, faith, loss, and the quiet, powerful ways hope refuses to die.

https://www.keithmadsen.net/

Keith Madsen writes fiction that combines adventure and romance with stories that dare to think the world can be better than it is. In his writing, the characters are real, but at the same time, they dare to transcend their reality. Keith believes that fiction, to be truly inspirational, must first acknowledge the hard realities of life. The inspirational aspect comes not from such cold realities, but as they become seeds which lead to the renewal of life and resurrection. Keith writes fiction which combines some of the lyrical description of literary fiction with the plot-driven tensions of a thriller. While the central character in his novels is generally male, strong women also play important roles. You will find yourself really liking the people you meet on the journey!

Today’s guest has lived a story shaped by discipline, disruption, and ultimately, deep healing. Charlie Peters wasonce an Olympic hopeful, a young man driven by purpose and promise—until his path was abruptly altered by the Vietnam War. Like so many who served, he returned home carrying invisible wounds, navigating the long and often lonelyroad of healing from PTSD.

But Charlie’s story doesn’t end there—it evolves. Through poetry, he found a voice for the pain that words alone couldn’t capture. His book, Returning Vet’s Saga: The Healing Power of Poetry, stands as a testament to resilience and thetransformative power of creative expression.

And just when you think you understand the arc of his life, another chapter emerges—at age 50, Charlie discovered thatthe identity he had always known wasn’t the full truth. The name he carried, the family he believed was his own—none of it was what it seemed.

From a student who once struggled in school to a published author, from craftsman to creator, from searching toself-discovery—Charlie’s journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim your story.

Charlie Peters has been married for 50 years and has four children, nine grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. He accidentally started writing poetry in 1990 and discovered that poetry proved to be an outlet to release the frustration of PTSD symptoms. He wrote poetry for about ten years. Two of his poems were runner-ups in national poetry contests: “A Man Less Than His Best” and “Stairway.”

Then he shifted his writing efforts to political commentary and satire, and two of his published books resulted from those commentaries: “The National Debt? The Sinking of America!” (2008) and “TEA Time Has Arrived ‘We the People’ Versus Washington Bureaucracy.” (2009).
“Returning Vet’s Saga: The Healing Power of Poetry” is a work that may appeal to those suffering from unexplained moments of anger, frustration, frightening nightmares, and unexplained moments of depression, which a downpouring of tears may accompany. The author experienced all of those symptoms after returning from the military, and the symptoms lasted for about fifteen years before those symptoms even had a name, which we now call “PTSD.” The author found that a sound, a smell, a spoken word, another person's voice inflection, or something as simple as a commercial on television can trigger an episode of PTSD.
There is no magic in poetry. However, the magic comes in putting feelings to paper, coming directly from the heart and completely bypassing the brain. We may not think of ourselves as poets, but if we just let the words flow, we may find that we are, in fact, poets of a special kind.
This book ends with the poem that got it all started.

https://quillhawkpublishing.com/pages/author/charles-peters

Today’s guest has made it his mission to connect readers with stories—and storytellers—within the Oklahoma community.

J Hall is an author, educator, and the host and producer of the Okie Bookcast, a show dedicated to introducing curious readers to their next great read. Since launching the podcast in 2021, he has released more than 150 episodes, interviewing authors across genres and building a vibrant literary space rooted in Oklahoma.

In 2026, he expanded that mission by launching Read LOKal, a platform that champions Oklahoma authors and booksellers and strengthens the state’s literary ecosystem.

Beyond podcasting, J is the author of God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need and College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College.

Professionally, he serves as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College, where he works daily at the intersection of education, mentorship, and lifelong learning.

J Hall is an author, podcaster, and educator with over 15 yearsof experience in higher education. He is the host and producer of the Okie Bookcast (okiebookcast.com), a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read through interviews with authors and storytellers. Since its launch in 2021, J has released more than 150 episodes across several series, including a monthly book chat show co-hosted with his daughter, author and screenwriter Hannah Herron. In 2026, J launched Read LOKal, a newsletter andbrand designed to promote Oklahoma authors and booksellers.

J is the author of God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need and College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College. A frequent podcast guest and speaker, he talks about topics ranging from books and pop culture to podcasting, education, and fatherhood. J currently serves as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College and lives in Newcastle with his wife and their two dogs.

okiebookcast.com

jhallwriter.com

@okiebookcast on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook

Our guest is someone who has been on the front lines of the hiring world for years. Frances Moore is a seasoned career consultant and recruiter who has reviewed thousands of resumes, conducted countless interviews, and coached professionals at every stage of their careers on how to land not just a job, but the right job.

She has seen what works, what fails, and what truly makes a candidate unforgettable. In a world where algorithms screen resumes before humans ever see them, where competition is fierce and attention spans are short, Frances brings clarity, strategy, and hard-earned wisdom.

Frances Moore is a seasoned Human Resources and Talent Acquisition leader with extensive experience driving impactful recruitment strategies and optimizing HR operations across corporate, government, and entrepreneurial environments. Known for her people-first approach, she is a trusted advisor to both organizations and job seekers.

Frances has led large-scale hiring initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, bringing a powerful blend of corporate expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and a passion for education. She is recognized for building strong, long-lasting relationships grounded in transparency, trust, and integrity.

Whether delivering strategic workforce solutions or coaching individuals through career transitions, Frances leads with compassion, clarity, and a steadfast commitment to helping people and businesses grow with purpose.

Email: smoorecc@live.com

Cathy Nesbitt is a self-proclaimed Laughter Ambassador, leading online laughter clubs and embracing laughter yoga tohelp people reduce stress, boost resilience, and reconnect with joy. But she’s also been selling worms by the pound for more than 20 years as the founder of Cathy’s Crawly Composters, helping people turn kitchen scraps into living soil through indoor vermicomposting.

It may sound quirky at first — but Cathy’s mission is deeply serious: healthier soil, less waste, stronger communities, and a more hopeful planet.

Cathy Nesbitt is a Health and Wellness Advocate dedicated to promoting joy and vitality through laughter and energy techniques. Cathy is a Laughter Yoga Teacher appointed Laughter Ambassador in 2017 by the founder of Laughter Yoga. She incorporates tapping, brain gym, and other healing modalities to help people get out of stress and into joy. When we feel good, we do good, and she inspires others to lead a more joyful and fulfilling life.

Cathy is also the founder of Cathy’s Crawly Composters (est 2002) and Cathy’s Sprouters

https://www.cathyscomposters.com/

https://www.cathysclub.com/

https://www.cathyssprouters.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/

https://www.youtube.com/@CathyLaughter

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559438955975

Cathy's Chuckle Club (est. June 2020)

9:30 AM Eastern Time, Every Tuesday

30 minutes of super fun self-care.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtd-6prjsvG90wmlw3tRazNqiTzSG4Qq_s

Today’s guest is a woman who turned a life-altering diagnosis into a creative awakening. When Renée Hill was diagnosed with breast cancer, she didn’t retreat from life — she leaned into it. In the midst of treatment, uncertainty, and fear, she made a bold decision: she would finally get serious about writing. What began as a deeply personal distractionbecame something far more powerful.

Her first book, BOBBY & PATRICIA JO, was written as a gift for her mother’s 90th birthday — a tribute to legacy, love, and the sacred gift of still being here. Her second book, B0UND, continues her journey as a storyteller unafraid to explore what holds us captive and what sets us free.

Before becoming an author, Renée spent 20 years as a local radio on-air personality, performed in local theater, sangwith choral groups like Steadfast Love, worked briefly in newspaper, and devoted over two decades to preteen ministry — writing curriculum and shaping young hearts and minds. Storytelling has always been in her bones.

Renée Hill is a member of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and Invite to Write. B0UND is Renée Hill’s second book, but she has always enjoyed putting words together, beginning with her 20-year career in local radio as an on-air personality, on stage in local heater, singing with choral groups like Steadfast Love, a brief stint in newspaper, andfinally her work in preteen ministry, where she wrote much of the curriculum and taught young people for over 23 years.These days, Renée spends most afternoons in her writing nook with a cup of Earl Grey, typing away on her computer. She is also a very active wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her family, getting together with friends, gardening, playing her guitar, and wrestling with her miniature poodle.https://quillhawkpublishing.com/pages/author/renee-hill

https://www.facebook.com/reneehillwrites

https://www.instagram.com/reneehillwrites/

Welcome to Quixotic Heights—the podcast where we explore the winding paths that lead us to who we are becoming.

Today’s guest is award-winning romantasy author Jennifer Lees, creator of the Arlan’s Pledge series and the Community Chronicles.

Jenn’s road to writing is anything but conventional. She spent decades serving others: as a nurse in outback Australia; training in midwifery in the UK; living in Nairobi with her husband helping to run a children’s home; then serving in Christian ministry in regional Australia while also working as an oncology nurse.

Without formal training in creative writing, Jenny taught herself the craft—through courses, conferences, and sheer determination—eventually turning lived experience, compassion, and courage into richly imagined fantasy worlds. After retiring from nursing and returning to Scotland in 2023, she now writes full-time, bringing stories of love, resilience, and hope to readers around the world.

Website: https://jennleeswriter.com

Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/c/jennleesfantasyauthor/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennleeswriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennleeswriter

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jenn-Lees/author/B07KGN6G7S

Map maker: JI Rogers with Myth Spinner Studios

⁠https://jirogers-author.com⁠

Jenn has travelled extensively and lived on three continents. Although Australia is the land of her birth, Scotland has always called her back. This land remains her source of inspiration, where she now lives with her husband and close family nearby.

Jenn loves walking through a forest and climbing a mountain to experience the view. Or exploring a castle ruin and soaking in the history. Her only disappointment in life is that time travel is not possible... apparently.

Award-winning fantasy author Jenn Lees’ latest release, OfHigh Kings and Mages: Arlan's Pledge Book Three, reached the Semi-Finalist stage in the OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction 2024 CIBAs (Chanticleer International Book Awards).

Of Warriors and Sages: Arlan's Pledge Book Two reachedSemi-Finalist in the OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction 2023 (as the manuscript The Quest). Longlisted in the Realm Awards 2025 Fantasy Section. As the manuscript The Quest reached the Top 10 in Ink & Insights 2021.

Jenn Lees' Best Selling novel, Of Myths And Portals: Arlan's Pledge Book One achieved First Place Award (Gold) in TheBookFest Fall 2024 Fiction-Romance-Fantasy, Second Place Award (Silver) in The BookFest fall 2024 Fiction-Fantasy-Magic, Myths and Legends, and Fiction-Christian-Fantasy

The Crossing: Arlan’s Pledge Book 1 (re-released as Of Myths and Portals) achieved the finals in the OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction (previous draft manuscript) CIBA 2021.

Restoring Time (Book 4 of the Community Chronicles Series) reached the finals in the CYGNUS Awards for Science Fiction 2021 CIBA.

An Ink & Insights Competition judge says of Arlan's Pledge: ‘Beautifully crafted, full of rich setting descriptions, tension that caught my attention and kept it, and characters that leapt off the page. This author is a skilled storyteller.’ (Melody Quinn. Ink & Insights 2021 Competition Master Category Judge)