The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

Social media phenom turned author, Liz Tenuto aka “The Workout Witch”, spoke to us about how she discovered somatic healing and being courted by publishers to write her first book WHEN THE BODY SPEAKS. Liz Tenuto is a somatic instructor specializing in healing practices that release the physical effects of stress and trauma. She has a degree in Psychology from UCSB, certifications in Pilates and Reiki, 6 years of mentorship in teaching Feldenkrais by Augusta Moore, and 15 years of hands-on teaching experience. Liz has helped over 200,000 women heal from trauma and long-term stress with her viral online courses, over five million followers across platforms on social media, and over 30 million views on some of her TikTok videos. She has received thousands of testimonials from students. Her first book "Moving Through Trauma: A Somatic Guide To Healing" will be published on April 7th, 2026 by HarperCollins. It’s described as “... a comprehensive guide to understanding how trauma and stress are stored within the body—and how somatic exercises can provide a powerful tool for healing.” Liz has been featured in USA Today, BBC News, Harper's Bazaar France, MSN, NY Weekly, LA Weekly, Shoutout LA, among others. New York Times bestselling author Tori Dunlap said of the author, "Liz has helped millions of women connect to their bodies, relieve pain, and change their lives—[her] book has the ability to do the same for you." [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Liz Tenuto, Milena and I discussed: Her journey from contemporary dance to somatic healing How she went from zero followers to owning a business with 11 employees and 240,000 students A primer on somatic healing and “bottom up” therapy Her community first approach to her practices How she breaks down advanced neuroscience into bite-sized pieces in a relatable way Why publishing a book is the opposite of social media And a lot more! Note: Be sure to listen to the end of the podcast for a sample somatic exercise for relaxation! Show Notes: When the Body Speaks: How Somatic Healing Sets You Free – April 7, 2026 by Liz Tenuto (Amazon) ⁠theworkoutwitch.com Liz Tenuto on TikTok Liz Tenuto on YouTube Liz Tenuto on Facebook Liz Tenuto on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY. Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages. Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.” NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY #1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Straub, Milena and I discussed: How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book" Why you can’t reverse-engineer the perfect novel What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda And a lot more! Show Notes: American Fantasy: A Novel – April 7, 2026 by Emma Straub (Bookshop.org) ⁠emmastraub.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and author, Ellen Huet, spoke with us about the expose that set off an FBI investigation and the resultant book, EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, and has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering… a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology. Her first book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (2025), is about the rise and fall of alleged sex cult OneTaste, and “…explore[s] how the group's former employees and customers alleged it was a sex cult that exploited its members financially and sexually.” New York Times bestselling author Ashlee Vance said of the book, “This isn’t just a tale of one cultish company―it’s a mirror held up to tech’s dark side, so full of greed and self-delusion.” Ellen was also featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary about OneTaste called Orgasm, Inc., and her reporting about OneTaste has been cited in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate and many other outlets. Trigger warning: This episode includes some explicit descriptions of OneTaste’s practice of orgasmic meditation (OM). [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Ellen Huet, Milena and I discussed: Hitting the Crime beat for the SF Chronicle straight out of college The company at the heart of her investigation dubbed "The Whole Foods of sexuality" Why OneTaste is different than many cults What it was like to finish her passion project after six years of work How to change your mindset about busy work And a lot more! Show Notes: ellenhuet.com Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult by Ellen Huet (Amazon) Ellen Huet on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with us about why truth is stranger than fiction, what it’s like to teach at Yale, and his non-fiction narrative podcast “The Secret Life of Roald Dahl.” Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” as well as “Narrative Podcasts” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, and The Tap which Aaron produced alongside one of his heroes, the legendary late Rob Reiner. He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy), and Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. His latest production is the hit narrative podcast, “The Secret World of Roald Dahl,” a new series from iHeartMedia, Imagine Entertainment, and Parallax. Created and hosted by Aaron Tracy, it goes beyond the pages of Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG to uncover the stranger truth behind the author himself. Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Aaron Tracy, Milena and I discussed: How a former spy and struggling screenwriter became one of the most successful writers for children of all time His evolution from screenwriter to narrative non-fiction podcast An update on Yale’s Narrative Podcasts course in its 3rd year Exciting news about his debut novel The Honeymoon Period Why Roald Dahl was kind of a jerk And a lot more! Show Notes: The Secret World of Roald Dahl – listentoparallax.com/shows/secretworldofpodcast ⁠How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Yale University – Aaron Tracy⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Aaron Tracy Audible Page⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Aaron Tracy on IMdB⁠⁠ Aaron Tracy on Twitter⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In anticipation of the third part in our series! Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at Yale, and his latest audio thriller on Audible, Nowhere Man, starring Lee Pace and Zosia Mamet. Aaron Tracy also teaches “The Art and Craft of Television Drama” at Yale University, and his TV credits include Law & Order: SVU, Fairly Legal, The Tap, and Sequestered, a serialized thriller that ran two seasons, for which he was Creator and Executive Producer. He is also a Creator, Director, and Exec. Producer of scripted audio dramas for iHeartRadio, Audible, and Spotify, with various production partners including: Supreme: The Battle For Roe, his 9-part audio drama starring Eva Longoria (feat. Maya Hawke and William H. Macy); Murder in Bermuda (feat. Mary-Louise Parker); and many others. His most recent is Nowhere Man, a noir political thriller Executive Produced by and starring Lee Pace, with co-stars Zosia Mamet, and Chazz Palminteri. “Set in the mid-1980s, Nowhere Man is a dark, paranoid thriller about temptation and obsession through the prism of a profession most people don’t even know exists.” Aaron’s debut audio drama, The Coldest Case, a detective thriller starring Aaron Paul, Krysten Ritter, and Alexis Bledel, premiered as the #1 download on Audible in 2021, and has since become the most downloaded show in Audible Plus history. [Discover ⁠The Writer Files Extra⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at ⁠writerfiles.fm⁠] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please ⁠click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Aaron Tracy and I discussed: Why he loves the ‘80s period pieces How his directing experience has shaped his writing Why he teaches the narrative podcast the same way he teaches Television Drama The two greatest innovations of the modern TV art form What aspiring TV writers should be reading And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One⁠ ⁠Yale University – Aaron Tracy⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy Audible Page⁠ ⁠Amazon Author Page for William Goldman⁠ ⁠Story by Robert McKee⁠ [Amazon] ⁠Save the Cat by Blake Snyder⁠ [Amazon] ⁠Aaron Tracy on IMdB⁠ ⁠Aaron Tracy on Twitter⁠⁠ ⁠Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠⁠ ⁠⁠diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kelton Reid Instagram⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices