Tag Archives: Non-Fiction

Books & Brews Light 1: The Exciting Life of a Spy Hunter!

Posted on by

FIND ALANI’S INTERVIEW AT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

We are branching out with shorter and more frequent videos in addition to our full hour monthly podcast. Alani Bankhead is our first guest on our new format.

As a special agent, Alani hunted terrorists, traffickers and spies. She has arrested pedophiles, run human intelligence operations against Al Qaeda in Iraq, commanded a unit in Kuwait, and was the senior bodyguard responsible for all bodyguard ops to one of the most senior Pentagon officials.

After leaving active duty, Alani worked for the world’s largest anti-slavery organization overseeing their Latin American investigations, operations, and law enforcement training focused on child sexual abuse and the child sex trafficking.

Despite these accomplishments, as a petite, 5’3” female who looked much younger than she was, she also struggled with Imposter Syndrome. Overcoming that, she has gone on to counsel others to overcome the same feelings. Her book The Least of Us: How Your Imposter Syndrome Points to Your Greatest Power came out a year ago and became a best seller.

Join in to see what drink is perfect for talking about Imposter Syndrome and hear Alani’s story.

IF YOU ENJOYED ALANI’S INTERVIEW YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Forty Thieves of Saipan

Sandy Hanna: First Row Seats to Vietnam’s Coup

How Bob Met Chiang Kai-Shek

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology NEW THEMES: MUSIC; FAITH

Laura will be at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, TN on October 26 and 27

See Laura’s recent interviews at Central Valley Talk and Rob andJoan Carter at INDIE NOVEL SOURCE

Find more about Alani at: https://www.mightysparrowcoaching.com/ 

Coming soon: Alani’s Humble Warrior podcast.

If you’d like to be a guest, contact us at our facebook page or instagram:   / bksandbrews    / booknbrews  

If you enjoy meeting our guests, please like and share our videos and subscribe to help us grow. A $5 tip helps us pay our many expenses: Libsyn hosting, web hosting, Google meets, providing the drinks for the interview and the many hours of preparation and editing that go into each episode.

* Patreon: patreon.com/BooksandBrewswithLauraVosikaandMichaelAgnew

* Tip Jar: paypal.me/booksandbrewsMN

* Books and Brews products: https://www.zazzle.com/store/books_an… (more to come)

* Sponsor an episode to promote your product or service: contact us booksandbrewslive@gmail.com

Our bumper music is from bensound.com

Episode # 63: Hidden Treasure & Atomic Dollars with Frank Warner

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Like any good soldier’s son, Frank Warner moved with his family from fort to fort, accepted each change, and was ready to move again. Then, in 1960, Frank’s father was ordered to Fort Huachuca (WahCHOOka), Arizona. This was the fifth Army post of Frank’s childhood, the first place he never wanted to leave. So when his father was ordered to Vietnam in 1963, sending Frank and the rest of the family to Pennsylvania, the uprooting wasn’t easy. Frank’s book, “Tumbleeweed Forts: Adventures of an Army Brat,” describes the joys of living in Fort Huachuca, and the heartache of leaving it behind. 

Tune in for a fun conversation and great cocktails, including in red, white, and blue for July!

Frank’s Readings:

00:00 Start

10:02 A Bike Race on Base!

30:57 Atomic Dollars

47:01 Leaving Huachuca

Chris’s Cocktail Pairings: 

06:11 Red, White, and Blue

25:40 The Atomic Cocktail

44:09 Goodbye Sunshine

Interview Highlights: 

19:10 This plane is on fii–ire!

23:29 Why Huachuaca? Why it was magical

35:02 Silver Dollars and Stories on Atomic Testing

38:34 Private Jones’ Buried Treasure & the Scientist with Alien Technology

43:31 How Tombstone got its Name

50:15 Finding Old Friends

52:12 Dad going to Vietnam, Saving the Ashes

SEE OUR PATREON FOR OUR AFTER HOURS WITH FRANK WARNER VIDEO.

COMING NEXT MONTH: 

  • Devrie Donalson, comedian and author

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

If you liked our interview with Frank, you might also like:

Episode #35: Ilona Parunakova

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Ilona Parunakova is an author, diversity and inclusion speaker, and founder and CEO of IP Resilience Global and Identity Guru. She penned the best-selling books Opium of the Almond Tree, Am I Godfident, Unfiltered, Unleashed, Unapologetic, Royal Grand Berries, Success without Apology, and In the Front Line with Royal Warriors. Additionally, she has published the International Project book Godfident Voices and the children’s book Bella’s Butterfly. Parunakova is a TEDx international speaker who brings encouragement to audiences whenever she walks on stage.
Parunakova is a direct descendant of survivors of the Armenian Genocide during World War I. She herself survived wartime in the Republic of Georgia after the collapse of the USSR. Parunakova also endured ethnic discrimination, experiencing mocking and rejection by family members, and denied admission to universities.  Through it all, she has succeeded in transforming the obstacles of war, loss, and the struggle to fit in into her superpowers.
Parunakova’s Christian faith has been instrumental to her survival. It allowed her to see things from a positive perspective—that no matter what happens, God will always be in control of her destiny. She introduces herself unapologetically as God’s Masterpiece and puts God as a CEO of her life.
IP Resilience

Ilona’s Readings:

  • Not Naturally Ambitious – 10:50
  • Beauty of the Woman – 29:02
  • Identity and Society – 45:29

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

Interview Highlights: 

  • Optimism after war, earthquake, cold, hunger, and discrimination – 20:22
  • Beauty pageant won and yet there are obstacles! – 30:41
  • What is inner beauty? – 35:35
  • A mother’s influence – 38:56
  • Identity and Legacy – 47:20
  • Keys to Success/Building a strong identity – 51:04

COMING NEXT MONTH: Marian McCarthy, novelist, memoirist, short story writer.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.