Episode Overview:

What if every “no” was actually building you for something greater?

In this powerful episode of The Determined Society, host Shawn French sits down with Brad Meltzer—a man who has transformed rejection into rocket fuel and turned kindness into a daily discipline. From early setbacks to building a mission-driven life rooted in service, Brad shares his raw journey of facing failure, staying true to his values, and becoming a force for good in every room he enters.

This conversation will shift the way you see adversity and give you permission to embrace your whole story—especially the messy parts.

In this episode, Brad shares:

  • How repeated rejection shaped his character and purpose

  • Why kindness is a choice, not a weakness

  • Lessons learned from coaching, fatherhood, and failure

  • How to reframe “no” as redirection toward your calling

Whether you’re in a season of doubt or standing at the edge of your next breakthrough, Brad’s story is the reminder we all need: who you become in the fire determines how brightly you shine on the other side.

Listen to the Full Episode.

 

Bonus Resources:

Here is a list of Brad Meltzer’s notable titles. He also has a lengthy list of Children’s Books as well.

Thrillers & Suspense

  1. The Tenth Justice (1997)

  2. Dead Even (1998)

  3. The First Counsel (2001)

  4. The Millionaires (2002)

  5. The Zero Game (2004)

  6. The Book of Fate (2006)

  7. The Book of Lies (2008)

  8. The Inner Circle (2011)

  9. The Fifth Assassin (2013)

  10. The President’s Shadow (2015)

  11. The House of Secrets (2016)

  12. The Escape Artist (2018)

  13. The Lightning Rod (2022)

 

Nonfiction & History

  1. Heroes for My Son (2010)

  2. Heroes for My Daughter (2012)

  3. History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time (2013)

  4. The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington (2019)

  5. The Lincoln Conspiracy (2020)

  6. The Nazi Conspiracy (2023)

  7. The JFK Conspiracy (2025)

  8. Make Magic: The Book of Inspiration You Didn’t Know You Needed (2025)