Noah Leo Blog – Stories & Thoughtful Articles for All

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals adhered to strict guidelines on patient care. While guidelines help create order, some people believe that strictly following them without considering individual patient needs may have unintended consequences.  In They Call Me Harriet: Stories From The Underground , Patricia Gilliano-McClung shares her personal experiences as a nurse and a COVID-19 patient. In this book, she discusses hospital policies, alternative treatments, and the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients. The Role of Medical Guidelines Gilliano-McClung shares many reflections and reservations on government health agencies like the CDC and NIH. There are concerns that some COVID-19 treatments may not have been the best option for all patients.  She also discusses alternative treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, having been overlooked or dismissed. Gilliano-McClung, in her book, raises questions about whether medical decisions during th...

  Some stories are about escaping. Others are about burning the cage down. Paul Liimatta Jr.'s Splice This doesn't follow the standard arc of a sci-fi thriller. It doesn't just offer you high-stakes missions and genetically enhanced characters with superhuman strength. What it delivers is a gut punch of a narrative about what it takes to rise over and over again in the face of a world that would rather see you disappear. This is a book about resistance—not the shiny, heroic kind, but the kind built in the mud, in the jungle, in broken safehouses, in whispered plans and sleepless nights. It's about fighting for a world that doesn't exist yet and learning how to survive long enough to build it. When the World Breaks You  Bren and Dren, the protagonists, aren't just survivors of human trafficking. They're proof of what happens when people turn pain into power. After escaping a facility where children are spliced, drugged, and sold like property, the sisters be...

  Let's be real for a moment: most of you are tired. Not just physically drained, but soul-level, "I can't even people right now" tired. And if no one has told you lately, you don't have to do it all. In fact, you were never meant to. That cape you've been wearing? It's overdue for retirement. Deloria Nelson-Streete—aka Coach Dee—knows this truth intimately. In her powerful, heart-forward journal Rest, Resilience and Resistance: A Journal that Invites You to Take Off Your Cape and Save Yourself, she declares rest as a form of resistance. The author uses soulful storytelling, reflection prompts, and bold truths to remind Black women, especially, that we don't need to hustle for worthiness. We need rest. Reclaim Your Power… by Laying It Down Rest, Resilience and Resistance isn't your average self-care pep talk. This is a revolution wrapped in self-love. Coach Dee redefines REST as reclaiming energy, self-confidence, and time. She writes with the warm...

  At the United States Military Academy, the cadet motto is: Duty, Honor, Country. But what happens when personal conviction challenges the very foundation of military service? In A Wrinkle in the Long Gray Line: When Conscience and Convention Collided, author Cary Donham recounts his unprecedented journey as the first and only West Point cadet to seek conscientious objector status. He made this decision during the height of the Vietnam War, which was considered highly controversial and unthinkable. The Weight of Tradition vs. the Power of Conscience West Point is an institution rooted in discipline, loyalty, and a deep-seated commitment to the U.S. military. Cadets are soldiers-in-training, preparing to lead troops into battle. The academy’s rigorous environment is designed to instill unwavering dedication to military service. Donham’s story disrupts this narrative. After excelling academically and ranking in the top 10% of his class, he battled with a fundamental question: Can on...

  Some books challenge you, and others gently return you to yourself. Love, Inspire Life by Lee Knox belongs to the latter kind — not because it lacks power, but because it chooses intimacy over intensity, stillness over spectacle. This poetry collection reminds us that life’s greatest marvels are rarely loud. They’re often a whisper, a glance, a moment nearly missed. From the very first page, Love, Inspire Life invites readers to slow down. The poems are short, deliberate, and spiritually charged, reading like prayerful meditations or inner conversations. Let’s discuss some of them in detail. A Divine Current Flow  Take the poem “Catalyst of Creation,” for example. It captures that split second when the music moves from background noise to revelation — when sound becomes spirit. It speaks of creativity as a divine current flowing through us, smoothing rough edges and birthing new visions. It’s a poem that enacts wonder. In “Perfect Rose,” what first appears to be a flaw in a ...

Let’s be honest: clicks don’t vote, impressions don’t organize, and vanity metrics won’t flip a district. Yet so many campaigns still mistake “going viral” for actually making a difference. That’s where progressive digital outreach programs need to evolve and fast. Because if you’re only measuring engagement without connecting to actual impact, you’re not building a movement. You’re running a popularity contest. Joe Gallina has spent years changing this paradigm. As the founder of Call to Activism, Joe’s digital platforms have mobilized millions, not just with viral content but with intentional outreach that amplifies underrepresented voices, pushes action, and fuels grassroots power. His approach to digital advocacy is built on connection, not just clicks. What Digital Outreach Really Means in 2025 Digital outreach isn’t about bombarding people with content. It’s about designing experiences that inform, inspire, and invite them to act. That means understanding the platforms people are...

  Older men are having a moment in romance novels, and honestly, it’s about time. While the genre has always been filled with dreamy dukes, billionaire bad boys, and charming rogues, there’s something undeniably magnetic about a seasoned hero who’s been through some life and lived to tell the tale.  So, grab your wine, tea, or whiskey, and let’s break down exactly why older men are the hottest romance heroes on the page (and maybe off the page, too.) 1. They’ve Got That Quiet Confidence There’s nothing sexier than a man who knows who he is. Older heroes tend to have this grounded, no-BS kind of confidence that comes from life experience. They don’t need to peacock around to prove their worth—they are the worth.  Whether he’s a rugged cowboy with silver at his temples or a brooding professor who’s seen a few heartbreaks, he walks into a room and owns it. And you just know he’s going to be devastating in a slow-burn romance. 2. They Actually Listen (And Know What to Do With...

  Fiction may be set in faraway galaxies or alternate dimensions, but at its core, it always reflects the world we live in. Alyssa's Relic (Book 2) by Paul Liimatta Jr. is no exception. Beneath the adrenaline-pumping combat and cosmic mysteries lies a stark examination of the world we live in. The novel not only entertains but holds up a mirror to our global conflicts, moral choices, and the high cost of power. Power, Corruption, and the Burden of Leadership The book centers around Alyssa King and her team as they uncover ancient alien artifacts, battle corruption, and confront a shadowy organization known as the Syndicate. Alyssa, gifted with supernatural abilities tied to a mysterious meteor, is a leader struggling to balance justice with mercy, which mirrors the real-world tension between ethical leadership and necessary force.  Whether it's confronting cartel violence or navigating betrayal within her ranks, Alyssa's journey raises critical questions: What are we willi...

Mystery books have a remarkable ability to spark the imaginations of young readers. For children and teenagers, these stories are windows into exciting worlds filled with adventure and intrigue. These books introduce captivating characters, mysterious settings, and thrilling plots that captivate young minds and leave them eager to explore what happens next. At this stage in their lives, young readers are beginning to discover who they are and what they want to become. Mystery books give them the perfect opportunity to venture into new worlds alongside characters who face challenges, solve problems, and learn valuable life lessons.  As a result, these books foster personal growth, help young readers reflect on their own lives, and encourage them to embrace their imaginations. Take, for example, the thrilling world of Sounds of Silence by Marina Che. This adventure romance takes readers through an exciting mystery of ancient secrets and hidden treasures. Let’s explore this further....