The Chris Voss Show

Run Robbie Run by Jon Pepper

https://www.amazon.com/Run-Robbie-Jon-Pepper/dp/B0H116JL73

Jonpepperbooks.com

Indelable.com

Jon Pepper’s political farce Run Robbie Run is a razor-sharp satire of an American political party at war with itself— and it’s wickedly funny.

Set during an election year nomination process, the novel follows two spectacularly unfit candidates: Dewey Fenwick, an 87-year-old former president who can barely stay conscious, and his successor Robbie Crowe, a lazy, self-absorbed billionaire who stumbles into the nomination without earning a single vote.

Pepper’s comic gifts are immediately on display.

The opening scene, in which campaign aides frantically try to rouse Dewey from a Golden Girls dream before television journalists arrive, is a masterclass in political absurdity. But the novel’s real engine is Robbie — a man so thoroughly unprepared for the presidency that when asked about his vision for America, he offers a few lyrics from What a Wonderful World and tells his aide to write it down.

The satire cuts in all directions.

The party machine, corrupt billionaire puppet-masters, a fawning media, campus radicals planning “mostly peaceful” firebombings at the Chicago convention — no faction escapes unscathed. The fictional surveillance program “America’s Just Rewards,” essentially a social credit system dressed up in loyalty-points marketing, provides the novel’s chilling undertow beneath all the comedy.

The supporting cast is superb: Dinda, the idealistic campaign intern who slowly realizes the party has no actual principles; Senator Hiram Fry, a straight-talking old warhorse who delivers the novel’s most sobering warnings; Lady Janice, the former First Lady desperate to return to the White House; and Marty, Robbie’s long-suffering aide whose deadpan exasperation carries the humor throughout.

Pepper writes with the confidence of someone who has watched Washington up close, and it shows.

Run Robbie Run is sharp, fast, and bracingly cynical — a comic novel that lands its punches because the absurdity never strays too far from reality.

About the author

Jon Pepper’s six novels form distinctive set of modern satirical fiction—mainly focused on business, politics, and popular culture. They have won praise from critics and readers alike for their humor, insight, clear prose, and brisk pacing.

Jon’s newest novel, “Run Robbie Run,” debuts June 16, 2026. It’s a fast, sharply comic political satire that aims its barbs at the modern campaign machine, media incentives, and the wealthy “do-gooder” class. One review observed: “What makes this work is the voice: brisk, confident, and unapologetically satirical. Pepper writes with a comedian’s timing and a columnist’s eye for hypocrisy.”

“Run Robbie Run” is Jon’s sixth novel. It follows his five-book series, “Fossil Feuds,” centered on the wealthy Crowe family’s New York-based energy empire. Intra-family warfare, executive rivalries, crosstown competitors, government regulators, and climate activists threaten to bring it all down. The Crowe family’s battles are sometimes petty, sometimes mean, but they’re always lively, amusing, and deeply human.

The Chris Voss Show Podcast – The Trust Factor with Kim Bohr: Unlocking Higher Revenue and Employee Retention

Sparkeffect.com/chrisvossshow

About the Guest(s):

Kim Bohr is the President and CEO of Spark Effect, a national leadership advisory firm specializing in working with Fortune 1000 and mission-driven organizations as they navigate restructuring, leadership transitions, mergers, and AI integration. With a wealth of experience as a CEO through planned succession, Kim has successfully led cultural integration following mergers. Additionally, she serves on the board of Cascade Public Media and has chaired governance for Susan G. Komen’s national board. Kim is also the host of the Courage to Advance podcast, where she discusses leadership challenges and how to build and maintain trust within organizations.

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss is joined by Kim Bohr of Spark Effect to explore the intricate dynamics of organizational trust. Trust, as Kim emphasizes, is quantifiable and essential for thriving businesses, particularly amidst dramatic disruptions like AI advancements. The conversation delves into Kim’s extensive research featured in the “2026 State of Organizational Trust” report and sheds light on the pivotal role trust plays in impacting an organization’s revenue, retention, and reputation.

Throughout the episode, Kim explains how organizations can navigate the challenges posed by AI anxiety and organizational disruptions. She argues that trust and communication must be foundational elements in any strategic plan. Kim shares compelling findings from her research, revealing that high-trust organizations exhibit significantly higher revenue, employee retention, and reputation scores. The conversation offers valuable insights into how leadership can foster trust through clear communication, supportive management, and a strategic approach to embracing technological innovations without alienating employees.

Key Takeaways:

Trust is a critical element for organizational success, measurable and manageable like any other KPI.

Organizations with high levels of trust report higher revenue, employee retention, and customer reputation scores.

The introduction and ongoing use of AI represent significant disruptions but offer opportunities for innovation if navigated strategically.

Effective communication and transparency from leadership are paramount in managing disruptions and building trust.

Leadership development and executive coaching are crucial for managers to address current and future disruptions effectively.

Notable Quotes:

“Trust has a direct connection to retention, reputation, and revenue.” – Kim Bohr

“Trust isn’t a squishy thing; this is real business.” – Kim Bohr

“When trust shatters, it’s often because people feel like their leader doesn’t have their back.” – Kim Bohr

“AI is by far the most disruptive factor right now, and personal crises are right behind it.” – Kim Bohr

“We have agency, we have control, and there are ways to take action that allows us to get through this time more productively.” – Kim Bohr

The Boy Who Could Smell Warming by Patrick Fleming

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963844572

There was always something exceptional and different about ten-year-old Reuben Otis O’Brien, but no one, including Reuben Otis himself, can figure out quite what it is. All that he knows is that he can smell something very strange that no one else can, and sometimes it makes him sick.

The Boy Who Could Smell Warming is the story of Reuben Otis’s quest to discover his special ability and its purpose. Since, as he describes himself, Reuben Otis is a “nerd in a cool guy’s body,” he does his own scientific investigation and finds out that he possesses a very unusual superpower which is vital for the whole world and will make him a true superhero. As he starts to use his superpower with the help of his family and two neighborhood friends, he learns he can change things vital to his hometown and to the entire planet. This gives Reuben Otis a newfound pride and a whole new direction to his life.

About the author

Patrick Fleming, M.Div., L.C.S.W., C.S.A.T. is a psychotherapist and spiritual coach in a private practice in St. Louis, MO, Double Rainbow Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting, with his wife, Suzanne Lauber-Fleming. He is the principal co-author, with his wife and other colleagues, of a trilogy of books on psycho-spiritual trauma recovery. He has also authored a number of articles on psychological, spiritual, recovery, and social issues for a variety of national and international publications As a psychotherapist, Patrick specializes in the treatment of abuse and trauma, sexual addiction and compulsivity, couple counseling, and the integration of spirituality and psychology. He has been a hospital chaplain, a hospice counselor and a psychotherapist for over thirty years.

Unapologetically Daring to Inspire by Petronely Grindea

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLJB9G8H

Petronelyempowers.com

In this powerful memoir, I bare my soul, sharing the unvarnished truth of my life’s journey to spark a conversation about women’s empowerment. With unflinching honesty, I explore the complexities of womanhood, offering a beacon of hope and solidarity for those seeking to find their voice and claim their strength.

About the author

“Petronely Grindea is a trailblazing entrepreneur, innovator, and author who has revolutionized the spa and wellness industry. As the founder of LifeBotanica and co-founder of Innovative Wellness 360, she pioneered the ‘beauty from within’ concept, empowering countless individuals to achieve holistic wellness. With over 25 years of experience and collaborations with industry giants like Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder, Petronely’s expertise has been featured in top publications and media outlets, including Spa Management, Cosmopolitan ,Vogue, and CNBC.

Now, as an author, Petronely is sharing her unvarnished life journey and insights on women’s empowerment through her memoir, “Unapologetically Daring to Inspire.” With unflinching honesty, she explores the complexities of womanhood, offering a beacon of hope and solidarity for women seeking to find their voice and claim their strength.

Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness by Mrs Alexis A Acker-Halbur

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Give-Up-Connection-Between/dp/1494984245

If stress and anger are making you sick, Never Give Up: Break the Connection Between Stress and Illness can help you find peace and joy in your everyday life or give you the courage to open a new door to a healthy and fulfilling future.Alexis Acker-Halbur offers anyone who has suffered trauma or loss not just one way forward, but many. A survivor herself—of an astonishing number of traumas, including abuse, cancer, and a severe car accident—she describes the connection between mind, body, and spirit and shows how the stress and anger she has experienced connect to her life-threatening illnesses.Alex tells just enough of her own story to quickly become an inspiring companion for people who are struggling to heal. But her focus is always on sharing the perspectives and practices that have helped her survive and thrive, and the insights that made them possible. Every chapter contains accessible activities and practical tools geared toward managing the dark moments in your life and changing the way you think and act. After completing each activity, you will find yourself a few more steps down a new road toward healing.