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You know the type. You share good news and they top it. You tell a story and they hijack it. You ask a question and suddenly they're the expert on everything. 😅 This week I'm breaking down the four kinds of Spotlight Snatchers: the Hijacker, the One-Upper, the Humble Bragger and the Know-It-All. We'll talk about what's really going on underneath (hint: it's usually a heart that wants to feel seen), how to respond with grace and a little backbone, and the uncomfortable question we all need to ask: is it ever me? Grab your coffee and let's talk about it, then tell me in the comments which one you've met this week. Watch or listen on YouTube, Facebook, Rumble, X and wherever you get your podcasts. #TheElsaKurtShow #SpotlightSnatcher #FaithAndLife #Relationships #ChristianPodcast Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A person is found alive on a waste dump, carrying clues that shouldn’t exist and suddenly a secret agency, a powerful corporation, and a global web of exploitation snap into focus. That’s the spark behind Chasing Zodiacs to Repair the Soul of Humanity, and author Max Solo joins us to unpack how a thriller can be entertainment and a wake-up call at the same time. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We get into the unexpected origin of the book: Max’s day job building AI-driven trucking and logistics software, including mapping, GPS, route planning, and security features. While working in that world, he started seeing patterns that pointed toward modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor moving through the same transportation systems that keep everyday life running. We talk about what “modern-day slavery” can look like, why people often live near it without realizing it, and how poverty, drugs, and exploitation can stack together until hope feels impossible. Then we zoom in on craft and character. Max explains why he built a cast shaped by zodiac archetypes and why he wanted readers to wrestle with moral grayness, not simple villains. We also dig into the protagonist named Max and the deliberate way the story invites assumptions about identity, pushing us to notice how bias changes what we think we know. Along the way we explore the subtitle’s core question: what would it take to repair the soul of humanity, one choice at a time? If you care about ethical technology, human trafficking awareness, and thrillers that don’t flinch, listen through to the sequel teases on rare earths, robots, and what happens next. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what part of modern slavery do you think most people still refuse to see? Get Max's book here: https://link.amazon/B077M0CYX INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A leader with the army behind him. A fragile new nation drowning in debt. A world where strongmen rarely step down. Then George Washington does something so unnatural to politics that people across Europe can’t believe it: he gives up power, and he does it twice. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We sit down with Richard Lim, PragerU’s resident historian and host of This American President, to unpack the true story behind “refusing a crown” and why Washington’s restraint becomes one of America’s greatest sources of credibility. We talk through the near-break moments most of us never learned in school, including what it meant for Washington to resign his commission, defend civilian control of the military, and later walk away after two terms as the first U.S. president when he easily could have stayed. We also get into the messier side of leadership: public attacks, betrayal inside an administration, and the temptation to use popularity to crush opponents or handpick a successor. Richard connects Washington’s choices to faith, providence, character formation, and the long-game mindset in the Farewell Address. Along the way, we tackle the modern debate over whether Washington was a Christian or a deist, and why reading primary sources changes the conversation. Richard Lim is the cofounder and host of the This American President podcast and the resident historian at Prager University. He previously served at the White House, the Association of the United States Army, and George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Find Richard's book here: https://link.amazon/B04nTdlXj Author website: https://www.richardmlim.com Podcast website: https://www.thisamericanpresident.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisAmerPres/ X: https://x.com/thisamerpres IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisamericanpresident https://www.youtube.com/@thisamericanpresident If you care about American history, presidential leadership, the peaceful transfer of power, and the habits that keep a constitutional republic healthy, this conversation will challenge you in the best way. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves (or hates) history, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Paris isn’t just “having a moment” and we can’t treat it like a distant spectacle. We walk through what’s being shown, what’s being downplayed, and why the France riots and looting story keeps getting framed as anything except the policy choices that set the stage. When borders go unsecured, schools and public services get stressed, and leaders argue about optics instead of outcomes, the cleanup becomes the only plan. The uncomfortable question we keep coming back to is simple: how close is that same pattern to showing up in the United States? Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. From there, we pull the thread on media trust and why so many people feel like they are being managed instead of informed. We talk about CBS News infighting over investigative reporting, sponsor pressure, and the broader problem of newsrooms resisting the very journalism they claim to value. Then we get practical about how algorithms shape your worldview, why your feed becomes a closed loop, and how “breaking news” turns into background noise that makes real accountability harder, not easier. We also shift to geopolitics and security, including Iran’s ongoing escalation, regional threats, and what it means when leaders publicly reference striking an underground nuclear site with a MOAB type weapon. Finally, we bring it back home with the Ilhan Omar investigation claims, the bizarre timing of fundraising amid scrutiny, the United Airlines CEO calling for wealth and inheritance taxes he can likely structure around, and a WNBA that keeps making the conversation about everything except the sport. We close by tying the week together with the NFL’s business-first choices, including pressing ahead with plans near Paris, and why discernment matters more than ever. If you got value from this, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people find the show. What headline do you think is being intentionally misframed right now? Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A nurse offers compassion. A patient becomes obsessed. And a hurricane makes an already terrifying situation even more dangerous. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Former travel nurse and suspense author Cindy L. Johnson joins me to talk about Stalking the Storm and The Storm Within, the nursing experiences that inspire her fiction, and the human resilience at the heart of her stories. We explore compassion, boundaries, survival, and finding the courage to begin a new chapter, on the page and in life. Explore Cindy’s books on Amazon: 📖 Stalking the Storm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWHXLXYV 📖 The Storm Within: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZBG3566 INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

We move from real life updates to the week’s biggest flashpoints and keep coming back to one idea: facts and incentives matter more than viral outrage. Along the way, we challenge the instinct to turn violence, scandal, and celebrity into content while pretending it has no consequences.  Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. •Behind-the-scenes stories from the Reacher set and what it reveals about teamwork and professionalism  •Why live-streaming a Fort Hood execution risks propaganda, martyrdom, and more desensitization  •The practical difference between supporting the death penalty and rejecting a public spectacle  •Cornell fraternity allegations and why partial evidence fuels reckless certainty online  •How campus investigations differ from criminal investigations and why jurisdiction matters  •The Ilhan Omar search warrant and the “no one is above the law” hypocrisy test  •James Talarico’s disappearance, campaign optics, and why silence invites speculation  •Katie Zachariah’s first press briefing and why day-one nerves are not a verdict  •Kimberly Guilfoyle’s ambassador exit and what patronage appointments say about diplomacy  •Kelly Clarkson’s store dispute and the reality that celebrity images are curated  Come back every week, right?  Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

The American Dream used to feel like a simple promise: work hard, buy a house, build a family, and slowly climb toward stability. Talk to a lot of 25 and 30-year-olds today and that same promise can sound like science fiction. Housing affordability is collapsing, interest rates are punishing, and even “doing everything right” does not guarantee financial independence anymore. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Mark Deluzio joins Elsa to dig into the hard questions behind that shift: what actually happened to the buying power of the dollar, why the cost of living keeps outrunning wages, and how deficit spending and the Federal Reserve change real life outcomes for renters, homeowners, and anyone trying to save. We also break down the gold standard versus fiat currency in plain English, then connect the dots to why assets like homes and stocks inflate faster than paychecks, fueling a quiet transfer of wealth away from the middle class. From there, we zoom out to accountability. We talk tribal politics, why the founders feared party allegiance, and what happens when Congress stops guarding the power of the purse. We also touch tariffs, NATO, executive power, and why young adults are increasingly drawn to “democratic socialism” when the traditional path to stability disappears. If you care about the American Dream, the housing market, inflation, constitutional limits, and a practical way to think about solutions, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who is feeling the squeeze, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A 57-year marriage doesn’t end neatly. It leaves an echo in every room, in every routine, and in the simple comfort of knowing someone is nearby. Author Harper Law joins us to talk about what happened after he cared for his wife through the final stretch of her life and then had to figure out who he was on the other side of that loss. What surprised me most is how honest he is about grief: you don’t “get over it,” but you can adjust, and you can still build a life that feels alive. This is a sponsored interview. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We dig into the unexpected things that helped him rebuild, including writing memoir while the emotions were still raw and discovering how powerful presence can be. Harper shares how a relationship that began as a caregiver arrangement grew into a meaningful platonic friendship, and why companionship is not the same thing as romance. He also explains his personal philosophy of “retire and rewire” and why a second act can include travel, opera, theater, and new risks even at 80. His stories from Georgia, especially time in Tbilisi and the pull of tradition and culture, make the idea of reinvention feel tangible. From there, we widen the lens to the world Harper keeps wrestling with on the page: technology and modern loneliness, the uneasy feeling that we are constantly connected yet emotionally farther apart, and what it means to stay grounded in history as it repeats. We also talk through his reflections from The Nine Stages of Man, including why adolescence is often the least understood stage and what he believes actually makes a good man: respect, trust, emotional honesty, self-knowledge, and the courage to speak the truth. If you want a conversation about grief, aging well, purpose after retirement, and real human connection, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope for their next chapter, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re carrying forward. Find Harper's books on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0fYMe3zA ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Pandas, power, and superintelligence shouldn’t belong in the same conversation, yet that’s exactly where we land as we sort through a week of headlines that feel like politics as performance. We start with Xi Jinping’s Washington visit and the kind of symbolism that gets dismissed as fluff but still moves relationships: flyovers, state dinner visuals, and panda diplomacy. Underneath the smiles are real stakes, including trade timelines and the careful, evasive language the US uses around Taiwan that can deter conflict or invite miscalculation depending on who’s listening.  Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. From there we zoom out to what’s starting to dominate every serious national security conversation: artificial intelligence and superintelligence. We talk through why the AI race between the United States and China increasingly resembles a Cold War style competition, except this time the technology can scale faster than policy and the failures might be accidental, not intentional. We also react to the Pope weighing in on AI risk, and why “global committees” can sound comforting while creating the very slowdown that hands advantage to an authoritarian system that can move overnight.  We then hit energy and security where normal people feel it first, at the pump. Iran still sits near the world’s oil faucet through the Strait of Hormuz, and even when shipping improves, prices don’t always follow. We also dig into Pentagon reform promises, including cuts to general officer ranks, and ask the uncomfortable question: does it matter if the bureaucracy stays? We close with culture and memory, from the discomfort of watching a legend struggle onstage to the gut punch of losing Mr Belding from Saved by the Bell and what that says about nostalgia.  If you like smart debate with zero patience for spin, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people find the show. What headline are you most tired of being lied about? ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

AI is moving into the workplace whether we feel ready or not, and the real question isn’t just what it can do. It’s what it does to us. I sit down with Dr. Christopher Warren, a nationally recognized safety and risk management leader and the author of “Artificiomics: Mitigating Human Risk of AI Technologies in the Workplace Using Industrial Hygiene Principles,” to talk about what happens to human judgment, trust, and workplace safety as companies rely more on AI systems, robots, and automation. If you’ve ever felt equal parts excited and uneasy about AI, this conversation puts language and structure around that feeling. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We dig into the risks most people miss, especially the psychological hazards of AI at work: fear of job replacement, loss of autonomy, cognitive overload from constant dashboards and alerts, and “algorithmic anxiety” when monitoring systems score workers and quietly influence pay, promotions, or even employment. We also talk about skill degradation and how over reliance on AI tools can shrink critical thinking, plus the very real danger of AI being confidently wrong when the stakes are high. Then we get practical. Christopher shares a framework built on industrial hygiene principles and a simple step leaders can take now: create an AI committee that includes workers, not just the C-suite, and run a risk focused assessment that considers both physical and mental health impacts. We close with a balanced, neutral approach to AI governance and how you can participate before technology reshapes your work without your input. If this helped you think more clearly about AI and workplace risk, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find it. What part of AI at work do you want guardrails for first? Find The Book here: https://link.amazon/B0iKlhUPx Visit Christopher's website here: https://artificionomics.com/ INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A violin maker connects two lives, and that chance connection helps spark a spy thriller where music can give you away. I’m joined by Gerald Schoeltzel, a professional musician turned attorney and screenwriter whose résumé is as gripping as the fiction he writes. Gerald shares how he and co-author Leonid Prymak found each other through matching Italian instruments, then built Heard a Ghost: Love, Murder, and Revenge, a Russian espionage story set against Washington, DC power, opulence, romance, betrayal, and a spy hiding in plain sight. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We get into the real-life gravity behind the story, including Leonid’s Cold War escape from the Soviet Union and the family history that informs the book’s realism. Gerald also breaks down the craft side: why they started with an award-winning screenplay, how a writers retreat in Spain pushed him to adapt it into a novel, and what that change unlocks for character development, historical detail, and protecting your work in the film and TV world. Find the book here: https://link.amazon/B00LS7Mbv One of my favorite moments is the twist only a lifelong musician could write: the idea that elite performers carry a recognizable musical signature, and that sound can become evidence. We also talk about writing strong female characters, creating a non-stereotypical woman spy, and what Gerald is working on next. If you love spy fiction, thriller writing, and behind-the-scenes author process, hit play, subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

They can block a camera from the Oval Office, but they can’t block the argument that follows. We dig into the White House press pool standoff and the question underneath it: is this a necessary pushback against editorialized “journalism,” or a precedent that will boomerang the moment power changes hands? We also walk through the real legal wrinkle people miss when they shout “First Amendment,” and why optics matter even when something feels technically defensible. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Then we pivot to Trump TV, launching at the exact moment trust in traditional media is under open attack. We talk through what it actually is right now (a YouTube-style, 24-hour administration highlight feed), what it could become, and why unfiltered access cuts both ways. If you’re tired of chopped-up clips and selective edits, direct messaging sounds appealing. If you’re worried about propaganda, the same setup feels dangerous. From there, we go wide: the Greenland security agreement and why Arctic strategy matters for US defense, Russia, China, and polar routes; Trump’s UN speech on sovereignty and Iran; and the diesel price surge that hits everyone through shipping, groceries, and heating oil. We also look at whether Democrats are losing Jewish voters, how antisemitism concerns show up in polling, and why local endorsements can turn national fast. Finally, we wrestle with the 1619 Project’s personal backlash and a chilling Canada MAID case that forces a hard question about consent when death is irreversible. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your take: where do you draw the line on access, messaging, and accountability? ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Change shows up whether we invite it or not, and the hardest part is rarely the ending or the fresh start. It’s the stretch in between, when the old identity doesn’t fit anymore and the new one hasn’t arrived. That’s where so many of us feel lost, especially in midlife, retirement, or the later chapters of adulthood when the culture quietly tells us to fade out.  Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We sit down with Dr. Elaine Yarbrough and Dr. Bob Benson, authors of *Roadmap for a Brilliant Life via Haiku, Pros and Photography*, to talk about what it really means to keep living instead of simply getting older. Elaine brings decades of work in communication, personal growth, and human well-being, along with haiku that distills big truths into a few sharp lines. Bob brings an analytical mind shaped by technology, management, and academia, plus a photographer’s devotion to beauty. Together, they offer a grounded approach to purposeful aging built on real experience, not airy theory.  We get into the themes that make or break a transition: letting go of old roles and the stuff we cling to, facing the neutral zone without panic, and learning to notice what brings joy before you can even name your next goal. We also talk about self-awareness, old patterns that keep us stuck, and why suffering and beauty both belong in a meaningful life. If you’re searching for purpose, clarity, and a practical roadmap for life stage transitions, this conversation will meet you where you are and nudge you forward. Find the book here: https://link.amazon/B0etdPxi0 and website here: https://elaineandbob.com/ INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] Subscribe for more honest conversations about growth and reinvention, share this with someone in a season of change, and leave a review telling us: what are you letting go of right now? ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A child gets labeled “behind” and starts believing it. A parent gets told what “good” looks like and starts chasing it. Then life breaks the script, and you either cling tighter to the box or learn to see what was there all along. We sit down with Lindsey Erin Vesnic, author of the Amazon number one bestselling memoir Raising Light, for a raw and hopeful conversation about faith, family, and the miracles that shape how we parent. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Lindsey shares what it was like growing up with severe dyslexia, including the shame of being underestimated and the turning point when a professor reframed it as a gift instead of a sentence. From there, we get practical about parenting: why she values being assertive over being aggressive, how she teaches accountability, and what changes when you stop trying to raise “perfect” children and start protecting the light already inside them. We also dig into screens, boredom, manners, and the surprisingly powerful ripple effect one kid’s mood can have on an entire household. The conversation turns deeply personal as Lindsey talks about suffering, prayer, and trust, including miscarriages and her daughter Lucy’s scoliosis diagnosis. She walks us through bracing, fear, nightly prayer, and a follow-up X-ray that shows an improvement doctors did not expect. If you’re navigating Christian parenting, homeschooling, learning differences, or simply trying to hold onto hope in a chaotic season, this one offers both perspective and next steps. Find Lindsey's Book here: https://link.amazon/B0bPv9u6a and her website: https://raisinglightmama.com/ Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs encouragement, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re putting into practice. INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Imagine a world three centuries from now where the map has changed, the weather has changed, and “home” becomes a moving target. That’s the jumping-off point for my conversation with Norman Westhoff, a former medical doctor who now writes climate fiction (cli-fi) that feels less like a lecture and more like a lived reality. We start with the experiences that built his sense of scale, including early travel that made it easier to picture humans migrating, adapting, and rebuilding when the environment stops cooperating. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. From there, we dig into the premise behind his trilogy, starting with Stoned Fever: a first contact moment in Antarctica after a crash landing, except the contact is between two very different human groups. One side carries advanced technology hundreds of years into the future. The other survives as nomadic herders who have lost writing and depend on oral tradition. We talk about why opening “in the middle” pulls readers in, how he builds character-driven stakes, and why Kelton, a young geologist chasing iridium near Mount Erebus, needs both brilliance and rough edges to feel real. We also get honest about the long timeline of writing and publishing, the role of good editing, and the part so many authors struggle with: marketing and visibility on platforms like Amazon. Later books widen the scope into environmental activism, sabotage, and power struggles that raise a hard question for any era: what changes when civilization changes, and what stubbornly stays the same in us? If you’re into climate change fiction, post-apocalyptic science fiction, Antarctica settings, or simply great craft talk from someone who took the long road, you’ll find a lot here. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a reader who loves speculative worlds, and leave a review with your favorite cli-fi title so we can build the list together. Find the books here: https://link.amazon/B05CFx6Ru *INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING: This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis. Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages. Professional booking inquiries: [email protected] ——— 📚 Elsa's books: elsakurt.com/books 🎁 Free first chapter of Mae's Café: elsakurt.com 🎙 Be a guest on the show: calendly.com/elsakurt_official/thirtymin ⭐ Enjoyed it? Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps! ❤️ Support the show: buzzsprout.com/614722/support Support the show Elsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKS Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.  Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...