How To Tell A Good War Story with Randy Surles

About this episode

Randy Surles discusses how veterans can effectively tell their stories through writing.

Send us Fan Mail Randy Surles—retired Army Ranger and Green Beret turned editor, ghostwriter, and Story Grid-certified book coach—joins Joe to talk directly to veterans who feel called to tell their story but don’t know where to start. After 25 years in Special Operations, Randy transitioned from the military to the writing world, studying under Shawn Coyne and helping dozens of veterans turn their experiences into memoirs, leadership books, and fiction. Along the way, he’s seen what works—an...

People in this episode

Host: Joe Byerly

Guest: Randy Surles

Topics covered

• storytelling
• veterans
• memoir writing
• leadership
• transitioning careers

Keywords

• war stories
• veteran memoirs
• writing tips
• military transition
• storytelling techniques

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Story Grid, Army Ranger, Green Beret, Shawn Coyne

More episodes of From The Green Notebook

• Steve Jobs in Exile with Geoffrey Cain · June 7, 2026 · 55 min
• When Your Brain Won't Turn Off with Dr. Tommy Shavers and Carlos Perez · May 31, 2026 · 1h 19m
• Developing a Monk's Mindset with Sam Yo · May 22, 2026 · 43 min
• Military Barracks, Accountability, and the Cost of Ignoring Small Problems with Rob Evans · May 9, 2026 · 49 min
• Dopamine and the Problem With Always Chasing What’s Next with Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman · April 24, 2026 · 59 min
• The Hidden Markets Shaping Your Career with Judd Kessler · April 11, 2026 · 53 min