Your Voice Is the Revolution: A Raw, Unscripted Conversation About Why We Write ⭐ {ep. 227}

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Some episodes are planned. This isn't one of them. After seeing a friend's heartfelt Facebook post about the fear and grief so many are carrying right now, Alexa sat down and hit record—unscripted, unfiltered, and unapologetically real. In this episode, she reflects on why Women in Publishing Summit was founded in 2017, what it means that the work is still so urgently needed in 2026, and why every author, speaker, and publishing professional who feels called to make a difference needs to lean into that calling right now. From book bans to the power of storytelling to change hearts, from watching her daughter be interviewed on the news to her own moment of self-doubt at an entrepreneurship program, Alexa weaves together a deeply honest message: your words matter, your books matter, and we are better together than we are apart.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

The work is more urgent, not less. When Alexa started Women in Publishing Summit in 2017, she thought it might eventually become unnecessary. Instead, 2026 finds us in a moment where women's voices and diverse stories are more critical than ever.
Every book is an act of power. Whether you're writing a children's picture book, a novel, a memoir, or a self-help guide, the act of publishing your story is, as Alexa was reminded by a fellow entrepreneur, genuinely revolutionary.
Stories change hearts — and minds follow. Book bans, shrinking representation, and social division make it more important, not less, to get diverse, inclusive, honest stories into the world. A good novel can shift someone's entire worldview.
You don't need a "big enough" cause to matter. Even ensuring a children's picture book features children who look like your reader is an act of meaningful change.
Speaking and writing work together. Authors need both the skill to write their message and the confidence to speak it. Learning to show up on stages, podcasts, media interviews, and cameras is part of the work.
A successful business is part of the mission. You can't make the impact you want to make without a financially healthy business. Wanting to earn money isn't at odds with your purpose — it's what sustains it.
Community is essential right now. Surrounding yourself with other women authors and publishing professionals who share your values and your vision is one of the most powerful things you can do in a difficult season.

REFERENCES AND LINKS MENTIONED

Women in Publishing Summit: womeninpublishingsummit.com
WIP Business Bootcamp (August 21–22, 2026): mywipsociety.com / womeninpublishingsummit.com/events
WIP Society Membership: mywipsociety.com
Stages and Pages Conference (San Antonio, October 2026): stagesandpages.com / womeninpublishingsummit.com/events
Speak Up Women: referenced as a partner organization for the Stages and Pages conference
H.E.R. Productions: filmmaking program for young women (local program, Alexa's daughter's program)

Alexa Bigwarfe is the founder of the Women in Publishing Summit, host of Alexa's Publishing Chat podcast, and the creator of the WIP Society membership community. A published author whose nonfiction work grew from personal grief and loss, Alexa has spent nearly a decade building one of the most vibrant communities for women authors and publishing professionals in the industry. She is a passionate advocate for diverse voices, women's visibility in publishing, and helping authors build sustainable businesses so their words can reach the people who need them most.