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)

Welcome to Quixotic Heights —the podcast where we explore the bold ideas, creative journeys, and unconventional paths that shape extraordinary lives.

Katelyn Honigsberg is a writer, editor, and journalist whose career bridges creativity and credibility. Katelyn is an Executive Assistant and Junior Editor at Quill Hawk Publishing, where she helps bring powerful stories into the world.

She’s also a published author, having self-published her first novel, A Tale of Darkness & Light, while still in high school — a feat that set the tone for a career fueled by ambition and storytelling.

In addition to publishing, Katelyn writes breaking news for Channel 4 in Oklahoma, balancing speed, accuracy, and integrity in today’s fast-paced media landscape.

In this episode, we’ll talk about writing young, editing professionally, navigating journalism, and what it really takes to grow as a storyteller across multiple disciplines. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a publishing professional, or just someone who loves a good story, this conversation is for you.

Katelyn Honigsberg is a young, passionate individual chasing her dreams to the best of her ability. Self-published as a Sophomore in high school, Katelyn is dedicated to a career in the literary world with hopes of one day being a bestselling author. Attending the University of Central Oklahoma for a bachelor’s in English and a minor in Technical Writing is onlythe tipping point of all she’s going to do. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys playing card games or binge-watching her favorite shows, such as ‘The Office’ or ‘Brooklyn 99.’ Katelyn is passionate about her faith and wants to recognize God and all His good works for everything He has done for her.

https://sites.google.com/view/katelyn-writes/home

https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Darkness-Light-Katelyn-Honigsberg/dp/1088177433

Welcome to Quixotic Heights—the podcast where we explore the brave ideas, untold stories, and beautiful misbehaviors that live just beyond our comfort zones.

Today’s guest is Rick Lewis—professional speaker, author of five books, and the founder of the writing community Write Hearted. Rick has lived fifty years on nobody’s payroll, delivered more than seven hundred corporate keynotes, performed thousands of comedy shows, logged twelve thousand hours of meditation, survived a year of panic attacks, and somehow found meaning in all of it.

Rick Lewis is a professional speaker, founder of the writing community Write Hearted, and the author of 5 books on spirituality and personal and professional development. Helives in Vancouver, BC Canada with his family and publishes weekly stories from his life experience that includes 743corporate keynotes, 3000 comedy shows, 1 year of panic attacks, 2 marriages, 3 kids, 36 new addresses, 12,000 hrs of meditation, 1 day as Santa Claus, 5 authored books, and 50 yrs on nobody's payroll.

Rick is the creator of a new tool called All My Stories, designed to help authors take inventory of their most notable life experiences in preparation for memoir writing. He describes himself as a slowly, but happily progressing human who believes that everything we want in terms of success, connection, and human flourishing is on the other side of daring to be visible, sharing our stories, and gently challenging our comfort zone on a daily basis.

Rick's book, 7 Rules You Were Born to Break, has been used by Fortune 500 corporations to help their leaders, managers, and teams practice Intelligent Misbehavior and make their highest contribution at work.

Rick’s speaking work can be found at www.ricklewis.co. His weekly writing is at www.honestlyhuman.com. His inventory tool for memoir at www.allmystories.com, and his writingcommunity at www.writehearted.com.

Welcome to the Quixotic Heights Podcast, where we explore extraordinary stories of resilience, memory, and the human spirit. We were honored to sit down with Shira Sebban, a woman whose life’s work spans continents, generations, and some of the most urgent humanitarian issues of our time.

Shira Sebban is a journalist, a registered migration agent who works closely with refugees, and the author of two powerful books: "Vietnam’s Modern Day People: Bridging Borders for Freedom," a bilingual collection amplifying voices of modern Vietnam and "Unlocking the Past: Stories from My Mother’s Diary," a moving exploration of Israel in the 1950s through her late mother’s rediscovered writings. Through her storytelling and advocacy, Shira bridges personal and political histories, revealing the threads that connect us all.

https://quillhawkpublishing.com/pages/author/shira-sebban

https://shirasebban.wordpress.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shirasebban/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shira-sebban-oam-2b817675/

https://x.com/shirasebban

https://www.facebook.com/p/Shira-Sebban-100063211122404/