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…

Freedom often feels external. However, this conversation reveals something deeper: Freedom begins with permission. In this episode of Books That Changed My Life, David Archuleta reflects on how The Alchemist reshaped his understanding of courage, identity, faith, and personal agency. More importantly, he explains how questioning long-held beliefs transformed his life. About the Guest: David…

This episode explores one clear idea: we shape our lives through choice, not fate. In a personal and honest conversation, David Archuleta reflects on how The Alchemist changed the way he sees purpose and direction. The book challenges what it calls the world’s greatest lie, the belief that life eventually takes control away from us….

This episode explores one core idea: freedom begins in the mind. In a personal and honest conversation, Lachi, a musician, writer, and disability advocate, shares how reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass reshaped her understanding of freedom, identity, and self-acceptance. Through Douglass’s lived experience, the episode highlights how mental liberation can exist even…