Audiobooks narrated by George Newbern

Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous W

A riveting, deeply researched, blood-on-the-spurs biography of Belle Starr, the most legendary female outlaw of the American West. On February 3, 1889, just two days shy of her forty-first birthday, Myra Maybelle Shirley—better known at that point by her outlaw sobriquet “Belle Starr”—was blown from her horse saddle and killed by a pair of shotgun blasts, delivered by an unseen assailant, only a few miles away from her home in the Indian Territory of present-day Oklahoma. Thus ended the life of one of the most colorful, authentic, and dangerous women in the history of the American West. While today’s household names like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane had dubious criminal bona fides, Belle’s were not in any doubt. She led a gang of horse thieves (a very serious crime in an era when horses were often the basis of one’s livelihood); was romantically involved with two of the West’s most legendary outlaws, Cole Younger and Jim Reed (her first husband); and participated in stickups and robberies across present-day Texas and Oklahoma. When Reed was murdered, Belle crossed into Indian Territory, where she assimilated into the Cherokee tribe, a matrilineal society, and soon married Sam Starr, a direct descendant of Nanye’hi, the greatest female warrior in Cherokee history. Dane Huckelbridge, acclaimed author of No Beast So Fierce, probes a life rich in contradictions and intrigue. Why did a woman who had considerable advantages in life—a good family, a decent education, solid marriage prospects, a clear path to financial security—choose to pursue a life of crime? The life of Belle Starr is one of almost endless trauma: the horrors of the Civil War, which destroyed her hometown and killed her beloved brother, Bud; the untimely deaths of her first two husbands, both of them murdered; a stint in Detroit’s notorious women’s prison. Her career coincided with those of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and yet Belle Starr was a very different sort of feminist icon. Queen of All Mayhem is a triumph of biography, revealing one of the most-mythologized figures of Western lore as she truly was.

Dane Huckelbridge (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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How The Jester Became King: Dave Portnoy and the Unauthorized Real Story of Barstool Sports

The rags-to-riches tale of controversial media personality Dave Portnoy. '17 years ago, I started a little gambling rag in my parents' basement called Barstool Sports. I had no idea, nobody could predict, the wild ride that it would set my life on.' —Dave Portnoy, January 2020 Dave Portnoy's unpredictable rise to fame and fortune didn't happen overnight. And as Barstool's Kevin Clancy explained, 'It'll never happen again.' From handing out newspapers alone in a dirty subway station, to selling his digital media company for half a billion dollars, and then buying it back for $1, Portnoy's twenty-year, controversy-filled Barstool Sports adventure is one you have to hear to believe.

Charlie Stanton (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder

From the bestselling author of The Taking of Jemima Boone, the unbelievable true story of a real-life Swiss Family Robinson (and their dog) who faced sharks, shipwreck, and betrayal. On December 10, 1887, a shark fishing boat disappeared. On board the doomed vessel were the Walkers—the ship’s captain Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, their three teenage sons, and their dog—along with the ship’s crew. The family had spotted a promising fishing location when a terrible storm arose, splitting their vessel in two and leaving those onboard adrift on the perilous sea. When the castaways awoke the next morning, they discovered they had been washed ashore—on an island inhabited by a large but ragged and emaciated man who introduced himself as Hans. Hans appeared to have been there for a while and could quickly educate the Walkers and their crew on the island’s resources. But Hans had a secret . . . and as the Walker family gradually came to learn more, what seemed like a stroke of luck to have the mysterious man’s assistance became something ominous, something darker. Like David Grann and Stacy Schiff, Matthew Pearl unveils one of the most incredible yet little-known historical true stories, and the only known instance in history of an actual family of castaways. Save Our Souls asks us to consider who we might become if we found ourselves trapped on a deserted island.

Matthew Pearl (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work (2nd Editio

In the latest, freshly updated edition of Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work, renowned keynote speaker, improv actor, and comedian Joel Zeff delivers a unique, interactive, humorous, and highly entertaining blueprint to create a new approach to work that is inspiring, fun, and infinitely more effective. Filled with self-contained chapters that will make you laugh and nod your head in agreement, this book has everything listeners need to increase engagement, communicate more effectively, and create a positive and successful work environment. You'll find hilarious and insightful observations on everything from 'The Six Sprinkles on the Leadership Cupcake' to seven underappreciated—and effective—ways to create a culture of fun and enthusiasm at work. This book is inspired by Zeff's extensive experience playing improvisational games with thousands of employees, managers, and corporate leaders at companies like Walmart, KPMG, and PepsiCo. In this book, listeners will learn how to make the choice to be fun, passionate, and happy and stay in the game when the going gets tough; create magic chemistry to success through positivity and opportunity and communicate in the moment; and start utilizing the creative mind more effectively and establish a foundation for seamless teamwork.

Joel Zeff (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation

Jim O’Heir, who played Jerry (or Garry or Larry) on Parks and Recreation and co-hosts the hit podcast Parks and Recollection, brings fans a heartfelt behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most beloved sitcoms, brimming with never-before-told stories featuring the cast and crew, along with dozens of unseen photos! For seven seasons, Leslie Knope and the Parks and Recreation gang charmed millions of viewers with their quirky antics and unwavering positivity. The sitcom continues to be a fan-favorite for streaming services today, nearly a decade after its finale. Now for the first time, Jim O’Heir, who played the lovable Jerry (or, well, Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry, depending on the episode), invites readers back to Pawnee for an exclusive look behind the scenes. Joined by some of his Parks and Rec pals, including Chris Pratt, Retta, Rob Lowe, and showrunners Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, O’Heir reveals how this “little show that could” came to be, thanks to the tireless dedication and comedic genius of Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, and the rest of the gang. As the show found its footing, the cast quickly bonded into a tight-knit family. Here O’Heir shares all his favorite unforgettable memories both on and off camera, from hilarious unscripted moments and epic dance-offs in the hair and makeup trailers, to iconic birthday parties at Rashida Jones’s house and quiet bonfires in Nick Offerman’s backyard. Welcome to Pawnee is O’Heir’s loving tribute to Parks and Recreation, imbued with the same warmth and humor that endeared the show to millions.

Jim O'heir (Author), Adam Verner, Eva Kaminsky, George Newbern, Janina Edwards, Jim Meskimen, Jim O'Heir, Roger Wayne, TBD (Narrator)

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Hitler's Atomic Bomb: History, Legend, and the Twin Legacies of Auschwitz and Hiroshima

Who were the German scientists who worked on atomic bombs during World War II for Hitler's regime? How did they justify themselves afterward? Examining the global influence of the German uranium project and postwar reactions to the scientists involved, Mark Walker explores the narratives surrounding 'Hitler's bomb'. The global impacts of this project were cataclysmic. Credible reports of German developments spurred the American Manhattan Project, the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in turn the Soviet efforts. After the war these scientists' work was overshadowed by the twin shocks of Auschwitz and Hiroshima. Hitler's Atomic Bomb sheds light on the postwar criticism and subsequent rehabilitation of the German scientists, including the controversial legend of Werner Heisenberg and Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker's visit to occupied Copenhagen in 1941. This scientifically accurate but non-technical history examines the impact of German efforts to harness nuclear fission, and the surrounding debates and legends.

Mark Walker (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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The Journey of Soul Initiation: A Field Guide for Visionaries, Evolutionaries, and Revolutionaries

Soul initiation is an essential spiritual adventure that most of the world has forgotten—or not yet discovered. Here, visionary ecopsychologist Bill Plotkin maps this journey, one that has not been previously illuminated in the contemporary Western world and yet is vital for the future of our species and our planet. Based on the experiences of thousands of people, this book provides phase-by-phase guidance for the descent to soul—the dissolution of current identity; the encounter with the mythopoetic mysteries of soul; and the metamorphosis of the ego into a cocreator of life-enhancing culture. Plotkin illustrates each phase of this riveting and sometimes hazardous odyssey with fascinating stories from many people, including those he has guided. Throughout he weaves an in-depth exploration of Carl Jung’s Red Book—and an innovative framework for understanding it.

Bill Plotkin (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe and What We Experience

For anyone who feels the weight of injustice, trauma, and suffering, the founder of the Jude 3 Project invites you to discover how pursuing godliness in a broken world can heal your heart and your life. Living as a Black woman in America, Lisa Victoria Fields understands the tension of relying on God in a broken world. While pursuing her calling in full-time Christian ministry-an often white, male-dominated vocation-she saw the contentions many people have with Christianity. She heard the theological questions, but instead of arguing for her faith, she listened to the barriers and heard the pain in their hearts: I'm not welcomed or wanted. There is no justice in this world. God didn't intervene and protect me. Doesn't God want me to be happy? Lisa saw the gap between their expectation of Christianity and their experience of it. Now, in her debut book, Lisa invites Christians and skeptics to reconsider the promises and truth of Christianity. She reveals seven pain points people frequently experience-a lack of personhood, power, protection, provision, peace, purpose, and pleasure-and unpacks how, for some, Christianity may have failed to meet those very valid needs, so they turned to various counterfeits to deal with the pain points. While Lisa acknowledges and wrestles with the pain in a fallen world, she also reexamines the pages of Scripture in search of how Christianity alleviates each of those pains. Through vulnerability, powerful storytelling, and thoughtful use of Scripture, Lisa tends to your hurting heart and offers hope and resolve to move forward, clinging to a faith that works-a faith that brings relevance and value to your life in the here and now.

Lisa Victoria Fields (Author), George Newbern, Lisa Victoria Fields, TBD (Narrator)

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Fierce Resilience: Combatting Workplace Stress One Conversation at a Time

Discover the science-based secrets to reducing workplace stress, building unwavering resilience, and achieving success through the power of conversation. Technology, isolation, and increasing demands for productivity are making the workplace a hotbed for stress—it's no surprise employees are abandoning traumatic workplaces in unprecedented numbers. Ed Beltran, the CEO of a powerhouse leadership communication company, believes the antidote to stressed-out workplaces starts with conversation. Beltran has developed a science-based model to reduce stress and help people build what he calls fierce resilience. By leveraging the power of conversations, individuals discover their unique stressors, master skills to neutralize stressors, and build unwavering resilience that elevates their emotional well-being. This is no ordinary self-help book. The transformative process of fierce resilience goes well beyond developing mere coping skills. It helps people take control of their emotional health, become more resilient, and build organizations with resilience as a core part of their DNA.

Edward Beltran (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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Florida's Space Coast: The Impact of NASA on the Sunshine State

Florida's Space Coast tells the compelling story of America's half century in space exploration from the successful launch of the first two-stage rocket in 1950 through the space shuttle missions of 2000. Told from the unique viewpoint of the people who built the Spaceport, this book shows how the space program transformed the east central Florida coast from a traditional citrus production and tourist area to one of the most influential high-tech centers in the nation. Cape Canaveral was chosen as a missile launch site because of its many geographical advantages. However, in the early years of the space program, the area was far from an ideal place for NASA employees to raise their families. NASA brought in thousands of space-related workers, who, besides sending machines and people into space, had to meet the challenge of moving their families from urban environs to a rural southern county. This book engagingly recounts the parallel stories of the establishment of America's space program and its impact on the development of Brevard County.

William B. Faherty (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

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A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up

An artful and contemplative tribute to the late actor famed for his role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210. Best known for playing loner rebel Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210, Luke Perry was fifty-two years old when he died of a stroke in 2019. There have been other deaths of 90's stars, but this one hit different. Gen X was reminded of their own inescapable mortality, and robbed of an exciting career resurgence for one of their most cherished icons—with recent roles in the hit series Riverdale and Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time In Hollywood bringing him renewed attention and acclaim. Only upon his death, as stories poured out online about his authenticity and kindness, did it become clear how little was known about the exceedingly humble actor and how deeply he impacted popular culture. In A Good Bad Boy, Margaret Wappler attempts to understand who Perry was and why he was unique among his Hollywood peers. To do so, she uses an inventive hybrid narrative. She speaks with dozens who knew Perry personally and professionally. They share insightful anecdotes: how he kept connected to his Ohio upbringing; nearly blew his 90210 audition; tried to shed his heartthrob image by joining the HBO prison drama Oz; and in the last year of his life, sought to set up two of his newly divorced friends. (After his death, the pair bonded in their grief and eventually married.) Amid these original interviews and exhaustive archival research, Wappler weaves poignant vignettes of memoir in which she serves as an avatar to show how Perry shaped a generation's views on masculinity, privilege and the ideal of "cool." Timed to the fifth anniversary of Perry's death, A Good Bad Boy is a profound and entertaining examination of what it means to be an artist and an adult.

Margaret Wappler (Author), George Newbern, Jennifer Jill Araya, Margaret Wappler, TBD (Narrator)

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The Power of Going All-In: Secrets for Success in Business, Leadership, and Life

In The Power of Going All In, serial entrepreneur and sales leader Brandon Bornancin delivers a first-person account of what it takes to build, lead, and manage a world-class company. The author draws on his many years of experience launching and managing successful companies to present effective strategies for inspiring your people to do more, be more, and achieve more. You'll discover a customizable framework you can apply to your own environment to create your own unique path to leadership greatness, at school, at work, and anywhere else you're responsible for the performance of those who follow you. You'll find: tried-and-tested methods for unlocking the potential of the people you lead; effective alternatives to counter-productive leadership 'strategies,' like micromanagement; and reasons why leadership isn't about the letters behind your name or fancy titles on your office door. A practical and effective toolkit for entrepreneurs, managers, executives, board members, founders, sales professionals, and other leaders looking for ways to harness the full potential of the people they lead, The Power of Going All In is also perfect for those looking for a leadership methodology that's been proven to work in the real world.

Brandon Bornancin (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by George Newbern