We often view power as a matter of personality or elective office. However, this conversation reveals a more structural reality. True power lies in the systems that build our world—and the people who learn how to manipulate them. In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, comedian Adam Conover discusses how The Power Broker…
Adam Conover built a career on dismantling popular misconceptions. However, his own worldview shifted radically after he read The Power Broker by Robert Caro. Before discovering this biography of Robert Moses, Conover viewed politics as simple electoral theater. The book revealed a hidden reality instead. It showed that true authority often resides in “unelected” infrastructure…
When a book changes how you see yourself — and where you come from. In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, host Chris Collins talks with Kimberly Ann Harrison — executive producer and showrunner (Friends, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, The Crossover). Kimberly shares how Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred…
Success is often framed as an upward climb toward a better view. However, this conversation reveals a more complex reality: True leadership is defined by empathy, not height. In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, Valerie Bertinelli reflects on how Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss reshaped her understanding of authority, personal responsibility,…
Valerie Bertinelli’s life in the public eye began with a role that made her “America’s Sweetheart.” Yet beneath the fame, a simple children’s story with a complex message guided her: Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss. Before finding her voice, Valerie navigated a childhood as a self-described “peacekeeper.” She grew up in a household that…
We’re doing something brand new. In this special episode of Books That Changed My Life, host Chris Collins welcomes Andrew—alongside his wife and partner, Jihi Bustamante. Like Andrew, Jihi is a veteran of the CIA and co-founder of EverydaySpy. Together, they’ve co-authored a powerful new spy thriller called Shadow Cell, and they’re here to talk…
Success is often viewed as a series of lucky breaks. However, this conversation reveals a more gritty reality: Success begins with a mental pivot. In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, Lisa Rinna reflects on how The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale reshaped her understanding of persistence, resilience, and the…
Lisa Rinna’s journey to stardom began far from Hollywood. A specific mindset fueled her rise, which she later solidified through Norman Vincent Peale’s classic, The Power of Positive Thinking. Before her global fame, Rinna faced a “rude awakening” in Medford, Oregon. After moving from California at age seven, she became an outsider. School bullies teased…
In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, host Chris Collins sits down with the wildly talented ND Stevenson—author, illustrator, and creative force behind works like Scarlet Morning, Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and the Oscar-nominated adaptation of Nimona. ND shares how D.M. Cornish’s Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy profoundly influenced his creative…