Today, we’re heading to Australia to welcome Duncan Toombs—one of the country’s powerhouse vocalists and storytellers. Duncan’s music reconnects us to our humanity and reminds us of the importance of love, life, and family. I first heard Duncan live this summer when I visited Sydney and stopped into Jolene’s country bar and I was blown away by his performance.

Then, I learned Duncan appeared on Channel Seven’s The Voice, where his raw, powerful vocals won over the hearts of millions. His original song, Steel on Steel, went viral with nearly 3 million viewers tuning in, and it has since reached audiences worldwide on TikTok and Instagram.

Duncan is also a nine-time Golden Guitar Award winner, an ARIA #1 album artist with Steel on Steel, and a Hands of Fame inductee.

Duncan's Website

@duncantoombs on Instagram

Duncan's Facebook page

Duncan on YouTube

Here is an overview of our conversation, plus you'll hear samples from 3 of Duncan's songs:

The Voice & Viral Breakthrough

• Duncan, your performance of Steel on Steel on The Voice captivated millions and went viral globally. What was that moment like for you—and how did it change the way people connect with your music?

Storytelling Through Song

• Your songs are deeply rooted in love, life, and family. How do you translate personal experiences into stories that resonate so universally with listeners?

Crafting an Album

• Your album Steel on Steel reached ARIA #1. What was your creative process in pulling that project together, and what makes it different from your earlier work?

Sustaining a Career in Music

• With nine Golden Guitars and a Hand of Fame induction, you’ve already built an incredible legacy. What has kept you inspired to keep writing, performing, and pushing your artistry forward?

The Other Creative Pursuit: Filmmaking & Content Creation

• Many of our listeners are creatives themselves—writers, musicians, makers—trying to find their voice. What advice would you share about staying true to your craft while navigating other creative pursuits and an ever-changing industry?

Duncan, what’s one message you’d like to leave with listeners about the role of music in keeping us connected to each other and to what really matters in life?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we welcome Kay Smith-Blum, an author whose journey has taken her from the world of fashion to education leadership and now to award-winning historical fiction.

Kay's Website

@discerningKSB on Instagram

Kay's Facebook page

A longtime Seattle resident, Kay has recently been honored with multiple awards for her debut novel TANGLES, including Best Historical Mystery/Suspense at the 2025 American Fiction Awards, Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards, Best Regional Fiction/West by the National Indie Excellence Awards, and Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards.

Inspired by the mid-20th century and the haunting realities of leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Site, Kay brings history, suspense, and humanity together in her storytelling.

The Spark for TANGLES

• You’ve said that the recent controversies around radioactive waste tanks at Hanford compelled you to write this story. What was the moment or piece of history that made you say: this has to become a novel?

From Fashion to Fiction

• Your background includes running a successful fashion business and serving as Seattle School Board President. How did those experiences shape your perspective as a writer—and ultimately lead you to TANGLES?

Historical Suspense & Craft

• TANGLES blends mystery, suspense, and historical detail. How did you balance historical accuracy with narrative drive? What were the biggest challenges in weaving fact with fiction?

Writing Process & Rituals

• You describe yourself as a sunrise writer who works out writer’s block in gardens and lap pools. Could you share more about your creative process—and how these routines fuel your storytelling?

Recognition & Next Steps

• With TANGLES winning so many awards—including Book of the Year—what has this recognition meant for you personally and professionally? And what’s next on your creative horizon?

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to aspiring authors who feel drawn to tackle historical or regional stories, but maybe hesitate to take the leap?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

Also, as a thanks to you for listening, I’d like to offer you a free download of my e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we welcome Gail Straub, author of Home Inside the Globe, her new memoir that reflects on a life of travel, activism, empowerment, and creative exploration.

Gail 's Website

Gail is the author of eight other acclaimed books, including the best-selling Empowerment, co-authored with her husband David Gershon, as well as The Rhythm of Compassion, Returning to My Mother’s House, and The Ashokan Way. She has won multiple Nautilus and Foreword Reviews awards for her writings on feminism, nature, and healing.

Beyond her books, Gail cofounded the Empowerment Institute in 1981 and later IMAGINE: A Global Initiative for the Empowerment of Women, which has impacted millions of lives across Africa, India, and the Middle East. She is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on empowerment and continues to blend personal storytelling with global activism.

Here's an outline of our conversation:

Home and Belonging

• After a lifetime of travel across cultures and causes, what does “home” mean to you now—and how did writing Home Inside the Globe help you integrate your inner and outer journeys?

Empowerment Across Generations

• Since cofounding the Empowerment Institute in 1981, how has your definition of “empowerment” evolved, particularly as you’ve worked with women around the world?

Global Voices, Local Lessons

• Through IMAGINE, you’ve supported women in Africa, India, and the Middle East. What have you learned from their resilience, and what lessons could Western feminism draw from those experiences?

Balancing Activism and Storytelling

• You’ve written nature meditations, feminist memoirs, and now a life-spanning reflection. How do you balance personal storytelling with activism in your work—and what role does compassion play in sustaining that balance?

Legacy and Future Changemakers

• With Home Inside the Globe, what legacy do you hope to leave for readers—and what message do you want to pass on to the next generation of changemakers, especially those searching for purpose later in life?

Gail, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to listeners about finding both courage and compassion on their own creative and activist journeys?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.