Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Hosted by Shawn Langwell

Tanya Thompson, Founder Level Up Coaching and Creator of The Storyboard Method tm

Challenging systems takes courage and tenaciity as well as humble curiosity and a willingness to look in the mirror to connect with who we really are.

Join me and Tanya in this unedited and real conversation about working for the State of California under Governor Gavin Newsom, and how she has leveraged social advocacy through goodtroubleforchange.com and her coaching practice to help people identify, clarify, and replace old stories with new ones.

 

Tanya M. Thompson, MPA, CPM, is the founder of Level Up Coaching and creator of The Storyboard MethodTM, a framework that helps individuals, leaders, and organizations transform lived experience into strategy for growth and resilience. With 30 years across law enforcement, education, and social work, Tanya brings expertise in personal empowerment, cultural transformation, and organizational change.

Her work bridges the personal and the systemic: guiding individuals to reclaim their voice and purpose, equipping leaders to foster inclusion and integrity, and supporting organizations to
unlock shared knowledge and build thriving, future-ready workplace cultures.

She holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on Organizational Change and Counseling, and is a Certified Public Manager, a national designation for leaders in public service. Through her coaching, speaking, and advocacy, Tanya challenges systems while equipping people at every level to step into freedom, power, and possibility.

Her coaching website is under construction but you can reach Tanya by email: tanya@levelupcoaching.info

 

or through her other website: goodtroubleforchange.com or on IG https://www.youtube.com/@WWB-Good-Trouble; @levelupcoaching2023
(Instagram)

_______________________________________________________

# Gratitude

Downloads of the Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Podcast have increased by 500% in the past 30 days. I have to assume it's because people are liking what we talk about on the show.

If you liked this episode, please share it with friends, and colleagues or leave a review and follow the show. 

If you want to learn more about what I have going on, including events, my latest books, and more, please visit: www.shawnlangwell.com. 

 

Ralph Scott- Introducing Mini-Multicasting for Audiobooks

Taking Audio Book Production to new heights!

 

Join me for an insightful and enaging conversation with Audiobook producer, Ralph Scott

 

ABOUT RALPH 

He's an award-winning producer with a get-it-done (with a smile) attitude, Ralph Scott produces audiobooks, audio theatre, scripted entertainment, commercial spots, or pretty much anything within the live or recorded audio arena.

 

The characters Ralph creates on the spot (we lost count just north of 83) are only bested by the number of children’s verses he has written since he was handed a cocktail napkin on a dare back in 1993. (That would be just north of 1,700.) Give him three words and he’ll compose a witty poem for you in under five minutes.

 

Give him a studio and your manuscript and he’ll vibrantly breathe life into any character you craft.

 

Together with his roster of expert thespians, Ralph turns the studio into a theatre for the ear. Be sure to grab a chair the next time you download one of his audiobook productions. Dim the lights. And don’t forget the popcorn.

You’ll swear you’re in a movie.

 

URL: www.squeakycheeseproductions.com  PH: (707) 971 9419

 

Connect above and learn how to infuse your novel or nonfiction story with authentic characters and narrators through the power of radio theatre.

Why use one narrator to tell your story…when you can now afford three, four…even ten!

(Of course, for the Purists, we also produce Solo; Duet; Dual; and Dual-hybrid audiobooks, tapping an entire troupe of award-winning talent.)

“All I can say is WOW! YOU ARE SO AWESOME! That is amazing! You…captured my characters so perfectly!”

– Miller Thomas, Author –

Wolf Hunter Inquisition

 

To find out what else I have going on, please visit shawnlangwell.com

 

 

 

Crissi Langwell, Steamy Romance Author

 

Author of 18 Books While Working a Full-Time Job

Crissi Langwell is a romance author who writes heartfelt stories filled with humor, emotion, and a heavy dose of angst. She has been publishing books for over a decade, including her beachy Sunset Bay romance series, and now her steamy small town romance series, Lahoma Springs. When she’s not writing, Crissi stays busy as president of her local writers’ club Redwood Writers, serving as Communications Director of Oakmont Village Association, and getting lost in a good book (everything from romance to fantasy to thriller). She lives in Northern California with her writerly husband, Maine Coon cat Cleo, and a chair of laundry she swears she’ll fold any day now.

 

Join our conversation about writing process, fun backstory insights, and recent success with her recent Sunset Bay series and current release, The Jilted Lovers Club. in the Lahoma Springs Series.

 

Recent release (Summer 2025)

The Writer’s Healing Reset

 

The Writer’s Healing Reset is a gentle companion for burnt-out creatives, offering essays and journal prompts to help you untangle creative block, rediscover your voice, and return to the page with clarity and compassion. Whether you’re stuck in self-doubt or simply weary from the grind, this book invites you to reset on your own terms.

 

Find all her books here:  Crissi's full library, including the Sunset Bay Series, of published books.

 

Find her here:

Contact

facebook

Insta

PS: she is also is an outstanding Editor, Book Formatter, and Cover Desiger. Learn more at North Coast Stories.

 

On a personal note, she has done the covers and formatted every one of my books and is a dynamite human being I am proud to call my best friend and wife!

MaryEllen Whitton- Author Lean Into Your Light

"I didn't know what I didn't know," said MaryEllen when making the decision to write her first book, Lean Into Your Light

 

What started as a way to connect to her young adult daughter as an act of love and support, became somethng magical and much bigger.  

Join us as we "Lean Into Our Light" with her first ever podcast episode talking  about her process and her first book, an award-winnng gem that has been featured in several publications including The New York Telegraph Women's Reporter, CEO Times and Women's Insider.

One of the joys about this show is having raw, unedited conversations with my guests and trusting that what is supposed to happen will happen and the questions and answers that come out of it are what people will want to hear.

The irony is both MaryEllen and I have written books about trusting this process and learning how to overcome self-doubt while also building self-confidence. 

There are no mistakes! Only opportuities to learn, grow and improve.

Learn more about MaryEllen here: Lean Into Your Light

MaryEllen@leanintoyourlightbook.com 

MaryEllen moved from New York to Northern California to attend San Francisco State University. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing and enjoyed many years in sales.

As an entrepreneur, she has started several businesses and most recently Co-Founded a nonprofit and serves on the Board of Directors.

She’s also a dedicated fitness enthusiast, having discovered yoga after the birth of her daughter. It became a huge passion, and she enrolled in an Advanced Studies/Teacher Training program. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with the Yoga Alliance and has been leading classes, workshops, and retreats for over 23 years.

When not on her yoga mat, she loves traveling to explore new cultures. Closer to home, she can be found hiking the local hills, walking her dogs, and spending time with family.

Find her on here: Facebook Page

 

 

Find me at Shawn Langwell Author | Speaker | Teacher | Coach

 

 

 

Elaine Rock, Author of Dusty Roads (The hidden figure who ignited the women's movement.)

Gloria Steinem put it simply:

Dusty Roads “started it all.”  

 

Elaine Rock is the author of Dusty Roads: Meet the Hidden Figure Who Really Ignited the Women’s Movement, a groundbreaking biography that brings to light the untold story of a trailblazing stewardess who reshaped history. A lifelong advocate for women’s rights, Elaine draws on her experience as a history teacher and technology executive to illuminate stories that inspire and empower. Elaine is passionate about uncovering the lives of courageous, unsung women and men whose persistence and resilience help change the world.

When released on Amazon, Dusty Roads immediately became a #1 Hot New Release in Biographies and Memoirs, Social Activist Biographies, and Feminist Theory. The audiobook will be available soon.

Elaine and Dusty Roads were featured in the PBS American Experience documentary Fly With Me, a history of flight attendants, broadcast in 2024 and March 2025 for Women’s History Month. Elaine lives in Sonoma County, California.

 And just for fun (FYI), here’s a short blurb on the book:

Barbara “Dusty” Roads was a trailblazing stewardess and union leader who challenged the airline industry’s sexist policies in the 1950s and ’60s. Fighting against marriage bans, age limits, weight restrictions, unequal pay, and humiliating girdle checks, she refused to back down. As one of the first female union lobbyists to Congress, she advocated for workplace equality and later made history by filing the first-ever Equal Employment Opportunity Commission discrimination complaint in the United States. Her efforts helped prevent a nationwide strike, transformed airline policies, and opened doors for employment for both women and men nationwide.

 

 

Website:  ElaineRock.com

Social Media links:

Instagram: @ElaineRockAuthor

Facebook: ElaineRockAuthor

LinkedIn: in/ElaineRock/

Pinterest: ElaineRockAuthor

 

If you like this episode, please share it, like it and spread the word.

One of the great joys in my life is getting to have personal, meaningful, and impactful conversations like this one with Elaine, on topics that matter.

to learn more about what I have going on, please visit shawnlangwell.com

 

Shawn Langwell - Chill: Embrace the Space Between Extremes

New Release From Shawn Langwell

Chill: Embrace the Space Between Extremes

 

Contrary to popular false narratives, the world isn’t out to get us. We are not all victims of circumstance. We owe it to ourselves to learn healthier ways of taking responsibility for our own lives and to start cultivating compassion with ourselves, others, and the world.

At its core, Chill is a self-awareness relationship book that reveals a deep secret you already know, but often are too scared to put into practice. The path to true freedom, connection, and happiness is found when we learn how to Chill and embrace the space between extremes.

 

Available now: https://a.co/d/3kOE76B

 

Shawn Langwell is an inspirational author, speaker, marketing mentor, and confidence coach who is passionate about helping others dare to take a chance on themselves. The author of Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness, and Morning Motivation, he lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi and their Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find Shawn at www.shawnlangwell.com

Lance Cottrell - Start-Up Coach & Angel Investor For Entrepreneurs

Hey Entrepreneurs!

Don't miss this episode...

Lance Cottrell helps overwhelmed founders become confident and capable CEOs through Feel the Boot, an educational platform he launched in 2019 to guide entrepreneurs on their journey.

A serial entrepreneur, Lance founded Anonymizer, the world’s first internet privacy company, in 1995 and led it to a successful exit in 2008. He is also an active angel investor, president of the North Bay Angels, a venture partner with multiple funds, and a Global Entrepreneur in Residence with the Founder Institute.

Drawing from decades of experience, Lance blends practical advice, strategic insight, and hands-on support to empower early-stage founders to achieve their goals.

Join us as we unpack the little known nuances of coaching start-up entrepreneurs. Discover valuable insights on what it takes to be seriously considered by angel investors so you can raise capital to launch or scale your fledgling business.

 

Find Lance here: 

 

Website: www.FeelTheBoot.com

Social Media links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancecottrell/ 

Barbara Cottrell - The Horror Mistress

Barbara Cottrell is a former professor who gave up her career to pursue her true passion: writing weird fiction. The first book in her series of supernatural thrillers, Darkness Below, won a gold medal at the Book Fest, was named best first novel by Indie Reader and was an editor’s pick for BookLife. She is also an active member in the Horror Writer’s Association and has presented her work alongside New York bestselling authors Gabino Iglesias and Tananarive Due. She has also served as judge and editor on several Redwood Writer anthologies. When she isn’t exploring her dark side, she makes wine with her husband Lance.

Join us as we dive into the back story and heart of writing and what makes its scary and fun.

 

Find Barbara at www.barbaracottrell.com

Promo:

The third book in my series is coming out soon so now’s a great time to start your adventure! The first book in the series, Darkness Below, is available as an ebook for 99 cents on Amazon. My newsletter subscribers get added perks, so consider joining my group. You can enroll at www.barbaracottrell.com/subscribe.