Author & Audience Podcast

A podcast focused on how to think deeper, write better, and build a creative process that produces your best work consistently. authorandaudience.substack.com

Author & Audience Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Tom Schaeffer, with 11 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Tom Schaeffer hosts Author & Audience Podcast, a education show with 11 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

  From Fighter Pilot to Bestselling Author: Michelle "MACE" Curran

  Jan 20, 20261h 51mS1

  <p>Former Air Force Thunderbird pilot Michelle "MACE" Curran joins the podcast for an in-depth conversation about her three-year journey to publish The Flipside with a major publisher.</p><p>Michelle shares her path from small-town Wisconsin to the cockpit of an F-16, the rock-bottom moment in Japan that transformed her, and why she walked away from military retirement to become an author and speaker.</p><p>This episode pulls back the curtain on the traditional publishing process—from working with a ghostwriter and securing an agent to surviving five rounds of edits and the all-consuming six-month pre-launch campaign.</p><p>...

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  Episode #10

  AI and Writing: Why Human Writers Are More Valuable Than Ever

  Jan 13, 202616 minS1

  <p>Published: January 13, 2026</p><p>Episode Summary</p><p>Tom gets brutally honest about his evolving relationship with AI as a writer. What started as genuine terror about AI "attacking" traditional writing has transformed into a completely different understanding: AI hasn't made writing easier—it's made it harder. But in the best possible way. This episode tackles the biggest question facing writers right now: what does AI mean for the future of writing, and how should you be thinking about your craft in this new landscape?</p><p>Tom's Early Fears About AI</p><p>The Terror: "I was terrified wh...

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  Episode #9

  The Analog Revolution: Why Writers Are Putting Down Their Phones and Picking Up Their Pens

  Jan 6, 202614 minS1

  <p>Published: January 6, 2026</p><p>Episode Summary</p><p>Tom explores a massive cultural shift happening right now: the Analog Revolution. As AI-generated content floods every platform and digital fatigue reaches breaking points, consumers—especially Gen Z—are turning back to physical books, vinyl records, handwritten notes, and tangible experiences. This isn't nostalgia. It's a business opportunity hiding in plain sight. Tom breaks down the hard data, explains why this is happening, and shows you exactly how to capitalize on this trend as a writer building a sustainable platform.</p><p>Tom's Personal Discovery</p><p>Mid-2025: Something shifted. Tom felt...

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  Episode #8

  5 Writing Trends That Will Define 2026 (And Why 2025 Broke the Old Playbook)

  Dec 30, 202516 minS1

  <p>Published: December 30, 2025</p><p>Episode Summary</p><p>Tom closes out 2025 and looks ahead to 2026 with a strategic analysis of what's shifting for writers building audiences and platforms. If you felt like the old playbook stopped working in 2025—you weren't imagining it. The game changed. This episode breaks down exactly what's coming and how to position yourself for success in the year ahead.</p><p>2025: The Year of Audience Fragmentation</p><p>The Breaking Point: If Tom had to summarize 2025 in one phrase: "audience fragmentation reached a breaking point."</p><p>The Platform Chaos:</p><p>Started with the us...

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  Episode #7

  It's Not Too Late: Why Age Is Your Unfair Advantage as a Writer

  Dec 16, 202515 minS1

  <p>Published: December 16, 2025</p><p>Episode Summary</p><p>Tom addresses one of the most common fears holding back aspiring writers: the belief that it's too late to make a career change into writing. Drawing from his own life of constant pivots and reinvention, he makes a powerful case for why age, experience, and maturity aren't limitations—they're your secret weapons in a world drowning in shallow, AI-generated content.</p><p>Podcast Milestone & Updates</p><p>Episode 7 Achievement: We've made it past the typical podcast dropout point (episodes 3-4)! The show is gaining momentum with a growing community of writers, as...

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