Best Christopher Tallon Podcasts (2025)

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Ep.92 | Cocoon ArtSpace - The Collaborative "Growth" Exhibit 48:24

10d ago48:24

48:24

Cocoon Art Space is a vibrant art gallery and studio located at 327 S. Division Ave in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded by artists (and married couple) Josie Garcia and Tedd Smith, the space serves as a hub for local creativity, offering a rotating selection of exhibitions, handmade goods, and community events. The "Growth" exhibit celebrates nine d…

1
Ep.91 | Pablo Eskobear - Jammie Award Winning Producer (Best Instrumental Album) 55:25

24d ago55:25

55:25

Pablo Eskobear is well known in Grand Rapids, Michigan, having recently won INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the Jammies. He produced tracks for a bunch of artists locally and nationally, including past guest Sonny Ski (listen to "The Grandest"). Among other things, we talk about: Pablo's "standard" musical beginnings his deviation from school ban…

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Ep.90 | Chris LaPorte - From Theme Parks to ArtPrize Glory 1:03:01

2M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

In this episode Chris LaPorte, the Grand Rapids-based artist who won the second ArtPrize competition and currently teaches at Aquinas College, shares the personal and creative journey that led him from one year of being an engineering student to award-winning artist—and yes, there’s an '80s cover band involved. Chris opens up about his decision to …

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Ep.89 | Hot Sauce Challenge! - w/ Ivan Labra 30:00

2M ago30:00

30:00

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE on Ivan's youtube channel. Ivan who, you ask? Ivan Labra, the photographer from episode 78 (who also took my author photo for my most recent book, Sleepwalker Angel), returned with the Hot Ones Season 25 hot sauces. We consumed hot wings at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filming and recording audio as we went along. …

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Ep.88 | Working GalaxyCon Richmond with the Pop-Up BookShoppe 38:50

2M ago38:50

38:50

The GalaxyCon in Richmond, Virginia, was a ton of fun. I carpooled with Rich Hosek, and together we drove through the night—taking shifts at the wheel—until we arrived in Richmond, Virginia, at day one of this four-day event to sell books with the Pop-Up BookShoppe for the first time. The Pop-Up BookShoppe is run by an author I first met at the Gal…

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Ep.87 | Carlos "Los the Artist" Sampson - painting and tattoos 52:34

4M ago52:34

52:34

I sat down with Carlos Sampson--also known on social media as Los the Artist--at the tattoo shop he works at, Cielo Ink in Jenison, Michigan. We were joined by our good friend (and Carlos' old neighbor) Mike Logan (comedian, actor, producer, and VO artist). We chatted about Carlos' journey as an artist, including winning Art Battle, live painting i…

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Ep.86 | Chelsea Rice aka C.R. Rice - author and founder of the Popup Book Shoppe 44:36

5M ago44:36

44:36

Chelsea Rice, known professionally as C.R. Rice, is a fantasy/sci-fi writer, currently immersing you in the Realm Series. She also founded the Pop-Up BookShoppe, which helps authors sell book (and make money doing it!) at GalaxyCons across the country. If you're an author looking to expand your audience, this might be the best way to do it. If you'…

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Ep.85 | Sonny Ski - Artist of the Year Nominee ('25 Jammie Awards) 37:42

5M ago37:42

37:42

Sonny Ski met me at HAS HEART coffee shop downtown Grand Rapids to talk creativity. Sonny Ski's album, States of Mind, features a song called "Grand Rapids, Michigan" (that I refer to as Welcome to GR to avoid confusion) that is the new anthem for the city. Sonny Ski has been nominated for the Jammie Awards best album and artist of the year. Help h…

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Ep.84 | Tylor Paige — author of the whorror novel Slash Or Pass 42:13

6M ago42:13

42:13

That's right, I said whorror. It's a term one of her fans came up with to describe the blending of the romance and horror genres in Tylor's books.Now she uses it to lovingly address her fans as her Whorror Babies. Her most recent novel, Slash Or Pass, has sold a ton of copies, forcing/allowing her to build a small team of professionals to help her …

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Ep.83 | Jody J. Sperling on Becoming a Household Name 42:53

6M ago42:53

42:53

Jody J. Sperling is an author (the Luke in Time Series (and others)) and podcast host (Becoming a Household Name). Together we've traveled around the country a bit going to Comic-Cons and Galaxy-Cons to sell books. This is a great episode for authors trying to find ways to get their books out to more people, but also for anyone interested in market…

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Ep.82 | Alex Anest - Music, Connection, & Creativity 49:11

7M ago49:11

49:11

Alex Anest is a guitar player based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Currently touring with his jazz trio, Alex is a skilled musician in many genres, a band leader, and a music teacher. Through our discussions--favorite bands, musical influences, legendary musicians, and the creative process--you'll learn a bit about music history (like who influenced Paul …

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Ep.81 | Marcel Fable Price - Life, Being a Creative, & His Book "NEW AMERICAN MONARCH" 42:24

10M ago42:24

42:24

Marcel Fable Price (former poet laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan) is the author of the book "New American Monarch". This is his third time on the podcast. This time he's here to promote "New American Monarch", but this is a great episode with insights for being the best version of yourself, how to be the best creative (including the "non-creative…

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Ep.80 | Michelle Dunaway 56:11

10M ago56:11

56:11

Michelle Dunaway is her station's Community Relationship Manager, host of the FOX 17 Morning Mix, and an Emmy-award winning storyteller. Michelle has worked in television journalism since her internship where she logged VHS tapes. We talk about her journey from intern to hosting the Fox17 Morning Mix, which is on weekdays in the greater Grand Rapid…

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Ep.79 | Alfie DaGreat - Rapping, Writing, & Creativity 54:06

1y ago54:06

54:06

Hear the full song "Different Clout" by Alfie DaGreat at the end of the episode! Alfie DaGreat is one of the most powerful voices to come out of the Grand Rapids music scene. Strong lyrics and an amazing voice make his music stand out above the rest. Listen in as we talk about his history with music, his writing process, how he got involved in The …

1
Ep.78 | Ivan Labra - Photographer, Videographer, and Coffee Maker 1:16:28

1y ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself! Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff …

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Ep.77 | J.B. Velasquez - author of "Tourist Trapped" and "Every Last One" 1:09:33

1+ y ago1:09:33

1:09:33

J.B. Velasquez is an author in Arizona. He's written two novels, so far, and they're both worth a read. Whether you like metaphysical stories of people doing drugs and getting stuck in the afterlife, or futuristic dystopian stuff, give J.B. a try. We discuss his books, his process, publishing, promotion, and writing about drugs. This was fun and in…

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Ep.75 | Tyler D. Way - Custom Shoes, Painting for LeBron James, & HAS HEART Coffee Shop 1:26:31

1+ y ago1:26:31

1:26:31

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimately led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee bu…

1
Ep.74 | Foster - The Emory & The Diatribe: Improvement without Displacement 1:31:00

1+ y ago1:31:00

1:31:00

I met Foster for coffee and a podcast conversation. This episode was recorded at The Last Mile Café, which is a black & female owned, b-corp certified business, and they have the best “miel” of all time. (Try “the last miel.”) Foster is officially listed as the “Vibe Manager” of The Diatribe. He’s a poet, father, and a voice for his community. We m…

1
Ep.73 | SCOOB - The Trauma Project (Art, Music, Immersion) 59:30

1+ y ago59:30

59:30

If you enjoy Creative Ops, please rate and review it wherever you listen to help the show grow! If you dig the vibe, also consider supporting the host by buying a paperback or ebook copy of his novel, Switchers. Thank you. . . . Today's guest is SCOOB, an artist, originally from St. Louis, MO, now living in Grand Rapids, MI. He's the mastermind beh…

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Ep.72 | Shayna “Akanke” Marie - Creativity, Culture, & Community Activism 1:04:54

1+ y ago1:04:54

1:04:54

Shayna is a writer, poet, activist, radio host, filmmaker, and—in her words—a “textbook weirdo trying to figure things out." Shayna uses her creative powers to entertain as well as uplift. She’s a teaching artist with The Diatribe, runs an open mic, and is working on having a birthday party with Oprah Winfrey. We talk about creativity, culture, com…

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Ep.71 | Dante Cope Returns - GRAMMOTONES Grand Opening & Creating Cultural Spaces 52:59

1+ y ago52:59

52:59

Dante Cope returns to discuss the grand opening of Grand Rapid, Michigan's newest business and cultural space, Grammotones. Grammotones is located at 120 S. Division in Grand Rapids, MI, and it is part clothing store, part music store, all cultural space. You can shop, listen to records, enjoy beautiful art, and pick up high quality used clothing a…

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Ep.70 | Tara McCrackin - ”Crisis President” of Kendall College of Art & Design 49:00

2y ago49:00

49:00

Nothing is impossible if you have dreams, ideas, and a willingness to work towards them. And my guest, Tara McCrackin (president of Kendall College of Art & Design (KCAD) AND vice president of Ferris State University), has an inspiring creative journey which showcases that. She shares a bit about what her school has coming up, then we dive into her…

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Ep.69 | Adam Truckey (AJT Design) - A Figure-It-Out Mindset 1:05:48

2y ago1:05:48

1:05:48

After this one, this idea will resonate with you: You can figure it out; it's only over when you quit. Whether or not you're an engineer, thinking like one can help you as an entrepreneur, a creative, or just as a person. Adam Truckey's story embodies that. Adam is an engineer who successfully started his own business, AJT DESIGN, centered around s…

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Ep.68 | Trohpy Husbands - new music video! (”PINK”) 35:10

2y ago35:10

35:10

This one's a fun listen that will inspire you to call a buddy and make something silly together. Kirk Ross (host of our brother podcast, A Talk in the Attic, and one half of Trophy Husbands) and Christopher Tallon (host of Creative Ops, and the other half of Trophy Husbands) talk about Trophy Husbands' latest music video, "PINK"--now out on Youtube…

1
Ep.67 | Dr. Lester Efianayi - Eyes, Athletics, & Diversity in Medicine 40:34

2y ago40:34

40:34

This was a fun and fascinating conversation. We start with eye training and vision therapy as possibly the next big evolutionary step in athletic achievement. Starting out on the east coast with parents that immigrated from Nigeria, Dr. Lester has since given up his shoulder pads for a lab coat, which, ironically, may have greatly extended his care…

1
Ep.66 | Trino - Magic in the Golden Age of Entertainment! 1:00:31

2y ago1:00:31

1:00:31

"Trino the Magician" is the coolest. A super nice guy, talented, ambitious, and laser focused. You're going to want to get up and go do something cool after you listen to this. And you might have an itch to see a magic show. If so, check out www.trinomagic.com for info on Trino's monthly show "AMAZE & AMUSE", as well as anything else he might be up…

1
Ep.65 | Abbey Hunter - Death & Coffee 1:02:22

2y ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Abbey Hunter is the owner of The Mortals Cafe + Confection in Grand Rapids, MI. They serve Vietnamese coffee drinks (as well as popular American coffee drinks) with an overall theme of death. They host grief groups, death talks, as well as a number of other regular and one-off events. Visit The Mortals online, then visit the store at 111 Division A…

1
Ep.64 | Jason Tieri - Podcaster Extraordinaire 1:10:49

2y ago1:10:49

1:10:49

Jason Tieri (TEER-ee) is a podcaster from west Michigan. Actually, he's kinda my podcast mentor. (And beard guru.) He got me into podcasting. Hear what it takes to start a podcast, some techy stuff, some how-to, and us just kickin it. This was a fun one, especially if you're a podcaster, you're thinking about podcasting, or you just like a peek at …

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Ep.63 | ZERO - Reigning Beat Battle Champion (Woo!!!) 55:56

2+ y ago55:56

55:56

ZERO is a fantastic beat producer in Grand Rapids, MI. His energetic performances are mesmerizing. I liken watching him play his drum machine to watching Stevie Wonder play the piano. Those performances, coupled with award winning music, are a can't-miss. Follow ZERO on his Instagram @zerodgaf to keep up with what's going on and to see some example…

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Ep.62 | Jody J Sperling - Author of ”THE 9 LIVES OF MARVA DELONGHI” & Host of TRBM 56:40

2+ y ago56:40

56:40

Jody J. Sperling came on to talk about creative stuff, including (but not limited to) his amazing novel, THE 9 LIVES OF MARVA DELONGHI. It's a story in a time loop, with a lot of cool characters, murder, booze, murder, psychopaths, murder, sacrifice, and...MURDER! Some characters die. A lot. It's a lot of fun. Jody also hosts a podcast called TRBM,…

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Ep.61 | David Hayward (aka The Naked Pastor) 1:07:53

2+ y ago1:07:53

1:07:53

David Hayward is a former pastor turned full-time artist and he shares his story of becoming an artist, leaving the church, and moving into art as his main hustle. David makes art from a very welcoming place of spiritual freedom. If you're looking for a good follow on Instagram, check out @nakedpastor, and consider buying his book, sort of a "best …

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Ep.60 (pt2) | Mike Salt -horror author & neat fella 41:19

2+ y ago41:19

41:19

Here's the second half of my conversation with Mike Salt. If you don't already know, Mike is an author worth reading if you're into being scared like a helpless baby in the night. He thrills and chills readers with his creepy novellas, which you can peruse on your own at www.mikesaltauthor.com. You can also click here for ALL Mike's links! . . . Th…

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Ep.60 (pt1) | Mike Salt, horror author and cool dude 48:24

2+ y ago48:24

48:24

This is part one of a a two-parter with horror author Mike Salt. Salt is more than just a fantastic writer from Oregon, he's a smart and creative guy with a knack for marketing and social media. He talks about writing to get attention, how many more followers he has than I do, and how he's glad he's not bald like me. And we explore his creative pro…

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Ep.59 | Jason Demmon - music, creativity, cancer, & cannabis 53:05

2+ y ago53:05

53:05

Go to www.jasondemmon.com! Jason Demmon and I go back to his Michigan State University days (I was a townie). Jason talks about growing up with music, how music got him into college, gigging, composing music and sound production for film and... Getting testicular cancer! (Spoiler: he's now cancer free!) Through a few twists and turns in his healing…

1
Ep.58 | Marcel ”Fable” Price - A Shameful Showing from the Kent County Commissioners Board 29:29

2+ y ago29:29

29:29

The Diatribe uses performing arts to empower young people to share their stories, raise awareness of social issues, and create change within their communities. They were recently screwed over for political reasons by the Kent County Commission, which deprived them of 2 million dollars of federal funding because they were afraid of getting challenge…

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Ep.57 | Mallory Shotwell - Founder and Director of CULTIVATE 48:48

2+ y ago48:48

48:48

As a former Montessori teacher, Mallory Shotwell's interest in art and business make her a great person to start a group like CULTIVATE, a collection of artists, teachers, and industry folks. With the acquisition of their new space in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they'll be able to highlight contemporary artists and teach community-based art & business …

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Ep.56 | Josh Adams is funny as f--k! 1:15:26

2+ y ago1:15:26

1:15:26

Seriously though...Josh Adams really is funny as f--k! Get your weekly creative inspiration as we hear from a Detroit kid who had NFL dreams, but wound up in the locker room and on the field with the Lions, AND had a highlight on the jumbotron at Ford Field as the comedian who roasted the Detroit Lions on HBO's Hard Knocks. He's got jokes, but also…

1
Ep.55 | Andrea Shaner - How to Be on TV! 1:08:09

2+ y ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Andrea Shaner is the producer of the Fox17 Morning Mix in Grand Rapids, MI. It's a "West Michigan lifestyle show with a little bit of everything from weather to local shops to crafting" that's on every M-F starting at 9am EST. Andrea started in high school AV, dreamed of being a meteorologist, became a news producer, then developed the Morning Mix.…

1
Ep.54 | Brandon Dante Copeland does EVERYTHING! 59:22

2+ y ago59:22

59:22

Some call him Brandon, some call him Dante, some call him Dante Cope. I'll introduce him by his full legal name, you call him want you want, I guess... Brandon Dante Copeland is a multi-talented musician (mainly sax, but other wind instruments, too), beat maker, rapper, producer, who also plays guitar, keys, and a little drums. Originally from Jack…

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Ep.53 | Jacqueline Gray Miller - Writer, Producer, & Creative Chameleon (So Many Things...) 1:06:22

3y ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Jacqueline Gray Miller is a writer, producer, educator, humanitarian, environmentalist, intimacy coordinator, law scholar, media professional, and a ton of other stuff. You may know her from Roy's Job Fair, the podcast she co-hosts with Roy Wood, Jr. (from two of my favorite shows: The Daily Show and This Isn't Happening), where a group of funny, i…

1
Ep.52 | Jody Sperling & Kenny MacKay - Networking & Marketing 36:36

3y ago36:36

36:36

Three podcasts are represented on this one: The Reluctant Book Marketer, Author Your Dream, and (duh...) Creative Ops. Jody Sperling, Kenny MacKay, and I let you in on a marketing meeting between podcasters. Jody and Kenny are both in the business of helping authors grow their audience. Now we're trying to grow our own. . . . Jody Sperling, THE REL…

1
Ep.51 | Marston Hefner - Author of ”High School Romance” Reflects on Writing, Gaming, and His Famous Last Name 1:00:27

3y ago1:00:27

1:00:27

Marston Hefner (yes...son of Hugh Hefner) is an extremely talented writer. His upcoming book of flash fiction is called High School Romance. I was fortunate to get an advanced copy. It's fantastic. Yes, you get an insight into the private lives of famous people, but more than that, you get to see them as real people. And you get to see straight up …

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Ep.50 | Shawn Burgess, horror writer and author of THE TEAR COLLECTOR and its new prequel SOUR ROOTS 1:01:30

3y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Shawn Burgess is a horror writer from Jacksonville, FL. His first novel is The Tear Collector. I read it. It's fantastic. You should, too. He just release a prequel and has a sequel coming out in the fall of '22. This should be in your TBR (to be read) pile. Listen to us talk about horror as a genre, how we approach writing, and you might just catc…

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Ep.49 | Ashley Nash - Illustrator & Muralist on Passion, Purpose, and Event Planning 1:22:12

3y ago1:22:12

1:22:12

Ashley Nash is a talented visual artist (illustration/painting/murals) with a degree in art (focus on illustration) from GVSU. She's originally from Muskegon, now living in Grand Rapids, and freelances as an artist while also working as the Head Creative Designer at Pharmhouse Wellness (which you already know of if you've been listening). She's par…

1
Ep.48 | Megan Smith & MOSS ART!!! 1:19:14

3y ago1:19:14

1:19:14

Megan Smith is an artist who mainly works with natural materials and does beautiful stuff you can check out on Instagram @mossberrymarvels. We talk art, process, social media, mental health, events, tv (the name of the show was Wilfred...) and movies, run-ins with the law, local coffee, and other stuff! We recorded in bean bag chairs outside, so yo…

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Ep.47 | The Pharmhouse Wellness Art Market: A Podumentary... 50:32

3y ago50:32

50:32

Pharmhouse Wellness, Grand Rapids, Michigan's only locally owned and operated dispensary, had another art market. Again I sold books and (someone else's (my daugher's!)) art. This time, however, I brought my podcast gear and made a whole thing of it, talking to a little bit of every kind of person around: pot smokers, local celebrities, art enthusi…

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Ep.46 | Alfonso Civile of HEARTSICK on Stage Presence & Getting Main Stage Honors (Upheaval Festival ’22) 19:51

3y ago19:51

19:51

Get your tickets for the Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids using this link with the promo code HEARTSICK at checkout and you'll A) Support the band directly, and B) Get $5 off admission! . . . Alfonso and the guys from Heartsick, a hard rocking band from Lansing, Michigan, are old friends of mine. On top of being an incredible group both musically …

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SWITCHERS RELEASE CELEBRATION | Brandon Scott, my super-talented writer buddy & supporter 52:23

3y ago52:23

52:23

Hey everyone! This is the last "book celebration" episode. After this it's back to normal. On that note, go to www.christophertallon.com/about-switchers/ for info, Amazon links, and even links for signed copies! You can hit the social links, too, and reach out that way. Aaaaaanyway--here's my writer buddy for today's episode... . . . Brandon Scott …

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BOOK RELEASE WEEK | Jennifer Soucy - awesome writer, great giver of notes, and a badass lady! 46:56

3y ago46:56

46:56

It's been a week since my book, Switchers, released for purchase. Jennifer Soucy really helped me get my sh*t together in regards to that novel. She was somewhere between beta reader and editor. Then she introduced me to fellow writer (and my ACTUAL editor) TJ Tranchell. We talk about other creatives like Brandon Scott, Kirk Ross, and Shawn Burgess…

1
BOOK RELEASE DAY | TJ Tranchell - my editor! 59:55

3y ago59:55

59:55

Switchers is available to the masses! And here to discuss this is TJ Tranchell. TJ is an author, professor, and editor. The last one is the focus today as we get together to chat about my book, Switchers, which is available for purchase as of today on E-BOOK as well as PAPERBACK. Go to www.christophertallon.com for more about the book, and follow m…

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