What does it actually take to turn raw, lived experience into a published book without losing your human core?

In this episode of the Madpo3t Podcast, host Alex Murdoch sits down with multi-published author, keynote speaker, and strategy specialist Cassie Welford. Stripping away the academic pretension and corporate gatekeeping of the literary world, Cassie shares her journey from a working-class background and single parenthood to publishing nine books—proving that you don't need a formal writing degree to leave a legacy; you just need the courage to tell your truth.

This conversation cuts straight to the bone of what it means to create authentically in an age of social media noise and comparison.

What We Explored:

The Head vs. Heart Battle: Why first-time authors stall out, and how to silence imposter syndrome by shifting the focus from self-protection to actually helping others.

The 60-Day Blueprint: How a simple daily discipline (500 words a day with zero distractions) compounds into a fully realized 30,000-word manuscript.

Write How You Speak: Ditching the author voice, staying true to your authentic cadence, and why your first draft doesn't need to be pristine.

Happy Ever Now: Why readers don't want a distant, unobtainable happy ever after-they want proximity to someone who is just a few steps ahead of their darkest days.

The Philosophical Shift: Writing as a private, cathartic act of survival that transforms into public community and universal connection.

If you’ve been sitting on a story, wrestling with your own internal friction, or trying to figure out how to put your message into the world on your own terms, this episode is your green light.

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Connect with Cassie Welford: Explore her work, frameworks, and resources designed to help first-time authors cross the finish line to the last page.

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Cassie Welford

Podcast Strategy Specialist

Pikkal & Co | Podcast Guesting Pro

emailAddress

cassie@pikkal.com

website

https://www.podcastguesting.pro

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SOAS night:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-night-with-the-madpo3t-showcasing-po3tryvent-before-i-self-destruct-tickets-2001069470654?af

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