Writing Brave Stories for Brave Kids_ A Conversation with Author & Educator Dawn Parks

Writing Brave Stories for Brave Kids_ A Conversation with Author & Educator Dawn Parks

On this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Pam, Jan, Val, and Karen sit down with Dawn Parks—an elementary teacher, marathon‑training runner, avid baker, and middle‑grade author who came out publicly as transgender in 2025, becoming one of the only openly trans elementary teachers in Iowa. With nearly 30 years in the classroom, Dawn has witnessed firsthand the challenges today’s kids face. That experience shapes her writing: honest, compassionate middle‑grade fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. She has published three novels so far, including her newest release—her first featuring a queer protagonist. In this conversation, Dawn shares what it was like to come out publicly as a teacher, how running and biking help her navigate life, why she loves baking pies, and how writing stories for young readers has become a powerful way to support kids who are searching for belonging, identity, and hope. It’s a warm, thoughtful, deeply human episode about authenticity, resilience, and the importance of writing about real life situations in children’s literature. Watch, listen, and join the conversation. A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Preserving Iowa’s Queer History_ Rick Miller & Sarah High of the Des Moines Pride Center S2E10

In this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Jan, Val, Karen, and Pam sit down with two extraordinary leaders from the Des Moines Pride Center: longtime LGBTQIA+ advocate Rick Miller and Pride Center President Sarah High. Rick has spent nearly 50 years shaping and preserving Iowa’s queer history. From his first Pride Week in 1976 to his leadership in organizations like the Gay Coalition of Des Moines and the Gay & Lesbian Resource Center, Rick’s work has helped define LGBTQIA+ community life in the Midwest. This year, he was honored with the opening of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library, a 4,000‑book collection dedicated to queer literature, archives, and community storytelling. Joining him is Sarah High, a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and President of the Des Moines Pride Center. Sarah brings deep experience in mental health, addiction recovery, and crisis response through her work with the Central Iowa VA and UnityPoint Eyerly Ball. Her leadership reflects a commitment to building safe, affirming, and resilient spaces for LGBTQ+ Iowans. Together, Rick and Sarah share powerful insights into: • The creation and impact of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library • The importance of preserving queer history in Iowa • Mental health and crisis needs within LGBTQ+ communities • The mission and future of the Des Moines Pride Center • What gives them hope as advocates and community leaders This is a heartfelt, inspiring conversation about identity, resilience, and the people doing the work to keep community alive. Subscribe to In Other Words Podcast for more conversations with creatives, community leaders, and storytellers. A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Living With Psychic Gifts_ A Conversation with Medium Kristi Campbell S2E9

Psychic medium Kristi Campbell of Tulsa, Oklahoma joins In Other Words for a powerful, grounded conversation about intuition, mediumship, and what it really means to live with psychic abilities in everyday life. Kristi shares how she first recognized her gifts, how she learned to trust them, and why her work centers compassion, clarity, and emotional healing. We explore the realities of connecting with loved ones who’ve passed, the responsibility that comes with mediumship, and the ways intuition shows up for all of us — even when we don’t recognize it. This episode is honest, human, and full of the kind of insight that lingers long after the conversation ends. If you’re curious about psychic development, spiritual connection, or the unseen threads that shape our lives, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Catch more of Kristi on her website at www.kindredinsights.com Listen, subscribe, and share if this conversation resonates. A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Rock n' Roll Ghost Hunter_ Keith Age on his music, films, and 50 Years of Paranormal Truth-Seeking

They call him the Rock n’ Roll Ghost Hunter — and for good reason. With nearly 50 years of paranormal investigation behind him, Keith Age has built a reputation as one of the field’s most grounded, evidence‑driven researchers. Known for cutting through myth and speculation, he approaches hauntings through history, environment, and verifiable evidence, earning respect from skeptics and believers alike. Keith is the host of the Booth Brothers’ acclaimed Spooked documentary series (Christopher Saint Booth & Philip Adrian Booth), and his work has appeared in 40+ television shows across major networks. In 1996, he founded the Louisville Ghost Hunters, one of the region’s longest‑running investigative teams and a cornerstone of Midwestern paranormal research. Now, Keith is entering a new era with Bourbon Spirits, a series blending Kentucky heritage, historic locations, and the lingering mysteries woven into the Bluegrass State’s past. Five decades in, his mission remains unchanged: Strip away the myths. Follow the facts. Let the evidence speak. In this episode, we talk about: His nearly 50‑year journey in paranormal investigation Why he rejects metaphysical explanations in favor of grounded research Behind‑the‑scenes stories from his documentaries The founding and evolution of the Louisville Ghost Hunters His upcoming series Bourbon Spirits What still keeps him chasing the unexplained after all these years If you love paranormal history, documentary filmmaking, or no‑nonsense investigation, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Inside the Crow's Nest_ Updates, Cover Art, and the Creative Pulse of Crimson Crow Press S2E7

With the whole Crimson Crow Press team gathered around the table, we dive into what’s new at the press, what’s coming next, and how we’re shaping the future of our creative ecosystem. We talk through the latest updates to our website, share what we’re building for authors and clients, and walk step‑by‑step through how we chose the cover for our upcoming anthology. It’s a candid, laughter‑filled conversation that opens the curtain on our process, from early story development, to editorial collaboration, to cover design, to marketing support. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a small press that’s hands‑on, heart‑forward, and deeply invested in its creators, this episode gives you the full picture. Relaxed, honest, and full of personality. This Crimson Crow Press at its most authentic. A Production of Crimson Crow Press