In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with Cristian Lopez, better known as The Traction Coach — a U.S. veteran, bestselling author, and transformation strategist who lost over 150 pounds in just five months and turned his breakthrough into a life-changing system.

Cristian shares his emotional journey from near-death diagnosis to total reinvention, revealing how facing hard truths, rewriting limiting beliefs, and committing to consistency helped him reclaim his health, confidence, and purpose. He discusses how his new book How to Lose Weight gives readers the exact blueprint behind his success, and how he now helps others transform their bodies, beliefs, and income through his Traction Protocol.

Susie and Cristian dive into topics like the emotional roots of change, building lasting habits, turning adversity into purpose, and how authenticity and intuition play a role in both personal transformation and authorship.

Takeaway: True transformation isn’t just about losing weight — it’s about gaining your life, owning your story, and helping others do the same.

Finish the Damn Book Podcast is for writers who know they have a book in them — and are ready to finally get it done.

Hosted by Susie Schaefer, this show cuts through perfectionism, overwhelm, and publishing myths to focus on what actually moves a book forward. Through honest conversations with authors, editors, ghostwriters, and industry insiders, Susie explores the craft, mindset, and real-world mechanics of writing books readers finish and share.

Each episode offers a blend of:

• Practical writing and revision strategies
• Clear-eyed insight into publishing, platform-building, and promotion
• Encouragement for writers stuck in the middle (or avoiding the hardest chapter)
• Permission to write imperfectly — and keep going

Whether you’re working on memoir, nonfiction, or a book that defies categories, Finish the Damn Book is here to help you stop circling the idea and start delivering the work.

Because the world doesn’t need another unfinished manuscript, it needs your finished book.