Curiosity, Crime Fiction, and the Brave Work of Understanding Others

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“Tell me facts, and I’ll learn. Tell me truth, and I’ll believe you. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” – Native American Proverb

I admit it – I’m a geek. Back in the day I got a lot of props from my fellow geeks when I caught an error in the movie The Net (released in 1995 with Sandra Bullock and Jeremy Northam). They had an Internet protocol address that was bigger than 255 which is the maximum number that can be represented in 8 bits. Yep, I’m a geek.

But I also learn a great deal about technology by how it’s presented in books and movies. Even for technologies that I know well, my focus is on helping people use them effectively so I often don’t truly grasp how they can be used for nefarious purposes until I read about it in a story. It is truly remarkable how much research goes into making a compelling narrative about some of the challenges facing our world.

For instance, Michael Connolly recently released a fantastic legal thriller, The Proving Ground, about the dangers of AI and the ability to hold companies accountable. And one of my favorite bestselling authors, Barbara Nickless, educated me about online gaming and the dangers presented by virtual manipulators in her latest fantastic thriller, A Voice in the Dark.

In this episode of The Life of Try podcast, I talk with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless about A Voice in the Dark. Our conversation moves from the dark corners of online gaming and internet manipulation to the real-world vulnerabilities of teenagers, families, and people searching for belonging.

Barbara shares how deep research, FBI consultants, and her own curiosity shape her fiction, especially as she writes about FBI profiler Helen Belle, criminal humanist Benedict Hoffman, addiction, trauma, and the question of what draws people toward danger.

This thoughtful author interview explores how storytelling can help us understand complicated human experiences, including moral injury, PTSD, addiction, grief, law enforcement, cybercrime, and the healing power of writing. Barbara also reflects on teaching writing to military veterans and civilians, researching dangerous places and difficult subjects, and using narrative to “de-other” people we might otherwise misunderstand.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Voice in the Dark explores the dangers young people can face in online communities, especially when vulnerable teens and young adults are targeted by manipulative influencers.
  • Storytelling can help us “de-other” people by taking us inside their motivations, histories, and struggles in ways that facts and news stories alone often cannot.
  • Curiosity is at the heart of Barbara Nickless’s writing process. Her research into online gaming, FBI investigations, addiction, trauma, and moral injury helps make her fiction vivid, compassionate, and grounded in real human experience.
  • Researching modern crime fiction requires balancing accuracy with readability, particularly when writing about cybercrime, AI, online manipulation, and evolving law enforcement tools.
  • The conversation highlights a core Life of Try theme: trying begins with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to enter unfamiliar worlds in order to understand ourselves and one another more deeply.

If you love conversations about books, personal growth, curiosity, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, resilience, and what it means to keep trying, this episode offers a rich and compassionate look at the stories that help us make sense of ourselves and one another.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What can 200 podcast episodes teach us about betterconversations, meaningful connection, and personal growth? In this milestone episode of The Life of Try, Dr. Vicki Atkinson turns the tables and interviews host Wynne Leon about nearly four years of podcasting—and the courage, creativity, and consistency it takes to keep going.Wynne shares why authentic conversations require bothpreparation and presence, how perfectionism can block openness, and why serving your audience matters more than simply publishing content. She and Vicki explore podcast audience growth, building trust over time, creating meaningful work in the age of AI, finding the right collaborators, and learning from the people who say yes.If you feel stuck, uncertain, or impatient with your progress, this encouraging conversation is a reminder that growth does not have to happen quickly. One thoughtful conversation, one genuine connection, and one brave try can move you forward.In this episode:·       How to have deeper, more authentic conversations·       Why preparation leads to better podcast interviews·       How to let go of perfectionism and stop editing yourself·       Why trust and audience growth take time·       How small acts of courage can help you get unstuckRelated themes: personal growth, authenticcommunication, podcasting lessons, creativity, overcoming perfectionism, getting unstuck, building an audience, courage, resilience, and human connection.
  1. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  2. The Power of Saying Yes
  3. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick
  4. When You Know You're Not Going to Make It
  5. Creating Lift: Leadership, Mentorship and the Courage to Keep Growing

📘 Order A Voice In the Dark from Barnes & Noble , Bookshop or Amazon

🌐 Visit Barbara Nickless’s website: https://barbaranickless.com/

🎥 Watch the Book trailer for A Voice in the Dark

🔔 Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.

Barbara Nickless on A Voice in the Dark, Online Gaming, and the Power of Story transcript

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving

➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive

➡️ How to Finally Write That Book You’ve Been Dreaming About | Writing Motivation with Vicki Atkinson

(featured photo from Pexels)

36 thoughts on “Curiosity, Crime Fiction, and the Brave Work of Understanding Others”

    1. I can understand that, Dana. But in this series Barbara has a character named Benedict Hoffman – a man who was pursuing the priesthood but instead became a criminal humanist who brings literature, philosophy, religion, all of these elements into understanding what drives criminal behavior. I think you would find him a fascinating character but I can also understand if it’s not your genre!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Wow. That’s amazing you caught that error in The Net. You would have to be very knowledgeable and perceptive. We have a friend from Palm Springs, Joseph Bottoms, who starred in the TV show. They filmed in Vancouver B.C. We visited and watched filming which was fun to do with our kids who were young! I guess it’s on Netflix to stream. Your guest sounds so fascinating. I can’t wait to listen.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, what an interesting story. Elizabeth, you guys have done so many wonderful adventures. That’s awesome. I think you’ll really like Barbara – thanks for tuning in!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Wow! What a great opportunity to interview such a prolific writer, Wynne. Fascinating stuff. Barbara comes across so well without a shred of ego. I enjoyed listening to her talk about doing research in gaming. My son used to play a ton of video games while also making time for school, sports, reading, and friends. I can’t help but notice how fatherhood has put a major crimp into that. In fact, I didn’t see him spend one minute on gaming the last time we saw them.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s so interesting about your son, Pete. Right – there are some things that come first! And thank you for your words about Barbara – you are spot on. She’s such an interesting person that brings so much to her writing so that it’s always fun to talk with her! Thanks for tuning in!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Loved this conversation with Barbara and hearing about her research process, perspective on moral injury, and why she prefers to write in the third person. Her deep love for characters and exploring what makes them tick really resonate with me.

    I did have a chuckle over her and her friend’s reaction to witnessing the first missile attacks on Israel. I can only imagine how terrifying that – and Ukraine’s bombing was – and yet, she found levity and humour in the moment. That is a gift.

    I also appreciated the observations on the magic of sci-fi in exploring grief and trauma. I did not know about the Tolkien bit. Fascinating! I feel the same way about good horror stories that hold up a mirror to reflect on societal issues.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, how interesting about the horror films. I can see that too now that you mention it. I didn’t know that about Tolkien either.

      And I love your chuckle about the bombs. I’d be hard pressed to know what to do either. Thanks for tuning in – I value your reaction so much! Good to see you, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. A beautiful reminder of the power of storytelling. Facts inform the mind, truth guides the soul, but stories create connections and memories that stay with us for a lifetime. ✨

    Liked by 1 person

  14. So much good stuff in this interview! This is a such a valuable take away: “Storytelling can help us “de-other” people”… One of the goals of storytelling is to make the world a better place by helping us understand each other.
    Thank you Wynne for sharing this, and for being proud to be a geek! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  15. What a fun conversation! The part about MTV was hilarious. Interesting discussion about trauma and the power of writing. Working through trauma on paper with the help of a professional is powerful, and it accelerates the healing process. Thank you for another awesome podcast, Wynne.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re so welcome. I don’t have cable, but the last time I checked, there were like 3 or 4 MTV channels now, as if more is better in this situation. Have a great weekend, my friend.

        Like

  16. “…Trying begins with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to enter unfamiliar worlds in order to understand ourselves and one another more deeply.” I love this. Storytelling and travel are the greatest tools for “de-othering” and opening our minds and hearts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, I can’t agree more, Natalie. Storytelling and traveling – such powerful tools for helping us see others! Thanks for the great comment!

      Like

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