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In this episode of The Alignment Show, I sit down with returning guest Jeff West, one of our “stars in alignment,” to talk about his newest book, The Hidden Heist, co-authored with Bill Cates.

Jeff has built a reputation for crafting business parables, stories that don’t just explain principles but draw you in through characters and plot. The Hidden Heist may be his boldest yet: a personal finance parable set entirely during a bank robbery. With humor, tension, and unexpected twists, Jeff and Bill tackle the money myths that hold so many people hostage, while showing the habits that can change a financial future.

We also dig into the craft of writing parables—how flawed characters, lived stories, and surprising turns make lessons stick more than any how-to guide could. Along the way, Jeff shares insights about co-authoring, weaving personal experience into fiction, and the unique role of storytelling in an age of AI.

Whether you’re curious about money, storytelling, or simply living in closer alignment with your values, you’ll find both encouragement and practical wisdom here.

You can hear audio versions of this podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon podcasts, and Substack. Catch the show notes at DonnKing.com/97.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

* Our sponsor, Butterfly Copywriting. Check it out at https://DonnKing.com/Butterfly.

* Donn King’s books. Find out about his latest and all his others at https://DonnKing.com/Books.

* All about Jeff’s new book written along with Bill Cates at https://TheHiddenHeist.com.

* A free resource from Bill Cates at https://TheOrdinaryMillionaire.com.

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