The Storyteller CEO

What does a biotech CEO who has brought eight orphan drugs to market have in common with a bestselling novelist? In this case, they are the same person. Today's guest is Fredric Price, who writes award-winning fiction as David Hirshberg. His newest novel "Crossing the Bronx" completes a trilogy that began with "My Mother's Son" and continued with "Jacobo's Rainbow." Price is living proof that remarkable lives show up everywhere. He’s been a CEO for decades, founded a biotech firm after he thought he had retired, is a book publisher, and only started writing fiction past middle age. In this conversation we talk about why storytelling is the real skill behind both raising millions for a drug and writing a novel, the unforgettable 30-second video he showed the FDA that changed everything, why he uses 1952 and 1955 to talk about 2026, and why he has no desire to write a pharma thriller. This is an episode about second acts, about never actually retiring, and about the idea that the technical details are just the skeleton — story is the muscle, flesh, and eyes.Get your copy of Crossing the Bronx by Fredric PriceAs an Amazon Associate, Now I've Heard Everything may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:51 Fredric Price's Diverse Career and Passions 05:00 The Skeleton and Flesh of a Good Story 07:41 Using History to Reflect the Present 11:11 Themes of Family and Rivalry in His Novels 13:24 Writing Without Being Handcuffed by History 14:45 Comparison of Satisfaction: Novels vs FDA Approval 16:13 Recognition and Success in Writing and Pharma 17:35 Future Projects and Reinventions 18:47 Closing Remarks and AppreciationGuest InformationFredric PriceWebsite1999 interview with Barry Gibbons For more intriguing and engaging interviews each week, subscribe now on:Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube