A quiet paragraph about a coffee pot lit the fuse. Years later, Sheila Lawrence—career programmer, minister, and lifelong Birmingham local—has turned that spark into a distinctive mix of cozy mysteries and inspirational nonfiction that entertains without grim details and still delivers a satisfying jolt of surprise. We talk through the heart of her craft: how a body can already be on the floor yet the story remains warm; why clean, puzzle-first mysteries feel urgent right now; and how flipping the classic attorney-sleuth archetype opened space for fresh representation and a strong sense of place.

Sheila walks us inside her process, from outlining “bones” to honoring the moments when characters hijack the wheel. She shares why cold cases fascinate her, how she balances believability with that essential jack-in-the-box reveal, and where her minister’s voice subtly plants seeds of hope even when the plot turns dark. The conversation turns practical as we dig into the power of community: Sisters in Crime write-ins, submission calendars, and prompts that transformed constraints into creative oxygen. You’ll hear how culinary cozies led to “killer chili” and spiced-cider mischief, how historical guidelines reframed her own memories, and how flash fiction nods from Alfred Hitchcock’s magazine built momentum.

We also explore the life around the writing: the Magic City’s arts scene, on-call programming nights, devotional projects like A Sip from the Well, and the Alabama Writers Cooperative’s upcoming Birmingham conference. Sheila’s message is simple and generous—plant good seeds, finish the draft, and let stories offer light where you can. Ready to rethink what a mystery can feel like and how your routine can actually work for you? Press play, then share your biggest takeaway, subscribe for more conversations with working writers, and leave a review to help others find the show.

A candid, wide-ranging conversation with DA Lennise Washington reveals how a prosecutor can be both tough on violent crime and tender toward people caught in the system. We trace her journey from a solo law practice to the first black woman elected DA in Alabama, then into a role she’s actively redefining: coordinating multi-agency crackdowns, reviewing potential wrongful convictions, and standing with families at a yearly vigil that calls each loved one by name.

We dive into Operation Python, a targeted public safety task force that removes illegal guns and drug money while raising investigative standards. From there, Lennise opens up about the Conviction Integrity Unit, created to examine serious cases involving claims of actual innocence using advances in DNA and a modern understanding of eyewitness error. She shares how prevention holds the line too: the Helping Families Initiative interrupts the school-to-prison pipeline with assessments, services, and simple acts that keep kids learning and teachers informed. We also explore second-chance hiring fairs where a bell rings for every job offer, plus firearm buybacks that pair gift cards with gun locks and safety training to prevent tragedies before they happen.

Her most personal chapter is a breast cancer diagnosis discovered mid-campaign and a double mastectomy that she endured quietly while pushing forward. The experience sharpened her focus on purpose, service, and the belief that power equals choice—especially for young people and survivors of violence. By the end, you’ll hear a clear blueprint for justice that blends accountability, prevention, dignity, and measurable impact, all rooted in faith and a commitment to leave the office stronger than she found it.

If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others discover the show.

A single performance inside a women’s jail changed everything. When a character’s confession cracked the room open, Tina Witherby saw how acting can say the words people carry but can’t voice. From that moment on, the craft stopped being a chase for credits and became a practice of presence, courage, and care.

We trace Tina’s path from a tight-knit Alabama community and church recitations to Atlanta’s sets, where “hurry up and wait” is a daily rhythm. She shares how a prayer for change led to a new city, an agency, and the long game of building a career without a perfect plan. On a Tyler Perry set, she learned the discipline of focus as a stand-in—absorbing blocking, lighting marks, and camera shifts—while protecting the inner stillness that keeps a performance honest. We get practical about critique, too: why the best notes sting, how to find the why under every line, and what it means to “go deep” without getting louder.

If you’re navigating auditions, Tina’s toolkit will help. Read the sides as a story before you act them. Define relationships, objectives, and stakes. Bring professional headshots, skip predatory “agency” fees, and treat each audition like a rehearsal that keeps your instrument tuned. Beyond craft, we talk balance—decompression after 7 a.m. call times that end at 11 p.m., breathwork and stretching instead of burnout, and The Artist’s Way habits like morning pages and weekly artist dates to refill the well. Her mantra is simple and liberating: create a beautiful life between roles so the work doesn’t have to carry everything.

You’ll also hear about late blooming, motherhood, and trusting timing in a business obsessed with now. Tina appears in Morality on Prime and Tubi and shares where to follow her work next. Press play for a grounded, faith-forward take on creativity, resilience, and the quiet power of truthful acting. If this story resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review telling us your biggest takeaway.