When it comes to providing information to the public or introducing a brand, a radio interview is one of the best mediums to use. That is why Citi of Books Publishing cooperated with People of Distinction CBS Radio’s host, Benji Cole, for the inspiring and amazing stories behind every author’s work to be heard.
People of Distinction is a platform for professional and even enthusiast authors to engage in a genuine discussion and learn on inspirations, themes, and narratives from blossoming authors.
This program is hosted by Benji Cole, son of Al Cole, and is the ideal platform for authors who want to widen their readership. Benji Cole is an awesome Los Angeles actor and filmmaker who conducts interviews with guest authors. Take part in the CBS Radio Interview and become a notable guest on one of the most renowned radio shows in the country.
This extensively broadcast talk show has already conducted interviews with 2,000 of the most remarkable people in America over the past few years, including NBC producer Ken Corday and former CBS Morning News anchor Bill Kurtis. Authors who land a spot on this radio interview program will undoubtedly reach millions of listeners who could end up being book customers courtesy of CBS’ prominence and extensive national reach.
The author of the book “What Lies in the Truth,” Elizabeth R. Barbiere, was interviewed by Benji Cole of CBS Radio. They talked about the in-depth nature of the book’s theme and inspiration during the interview. As she shared in her interview, her aim is to humanize the headlines—to reveal the life behind the story. Through a compassionate yet unflinching lens, she portrays David Lewis not merely as a criminal, but as a deeply flawed man shaped by poverty, instability, and broken family ties. Growing up in rural Louisiana, Lewis’s life was marked by hardship and survival—a childhood without basic utilities, an absent father, and a community defined by struggle. These early trials, Barbiere suggests, sowed the seeds of both his ambition and his downfall.
In “What Lies in the Truth,” author Elizabeth R. Barbiere takes readers deep into the life of a man whose journey from rural obscurity to televised fame was eclipsed by an unthinkable scandal. Based on a factual story and a real person, this
compelling narrative explores the life of David Lewis, a once-celebrated reality television star whose success story took a dark and devastating turn. Through Barbiere’s empathetic yet unflinching lens, readers are invited to move beyond tabloid headlines and enter the complex, often painful truth behind a life marked by hardship, ambition, and moral collapse.
Elizabeth R. Barbiere approaches this controversial true story with courage, compassion, and depth, transforming what could have been mere sensationalism into a sobering examination of truth, justice, and redemption. Through her storytelling, she invites readers to grapple with uncomfortable questions: How do circumstances shape character? Can one separate the man from the myth—or the sinner from the system that made him? And most hauntingly, what really lies in the truth?
David Lewis rose to national prominence as the star of a hit Discovery Channel series that aired from 2011 to 2014. The show was an astronomical success, earning devoted fans and thrusting its lead into unexpected celebrity. But when a shocking scandal emerged—accusing Lewis of transgressions involving two young girls, one of whom was his own daughter—the spotlight that once celebrated him became a searchlight exposing his darkest secrets. Quickly branded a pedophile and later found guilty of aggravated rape, Lewis’s fall from grace was swift, public, and irreversible.
Professionally, Lewis was sharp, entrepreneurial, and innovative. After leaving the Marines, he began working for a refrigeration company before founding his own successful business selling firearms. His savvy as a businessman caught the attention of television producers, and soon he was offered a reality show documenting his entrepreneurial journey. The opportunity promised fame and fortune—but also brought new challenges. As money and personalities clashed behind the scenes, tensions over profits and control added strain to an already volatile life.
Ultimately, “What Lies in the Truth” asks us to look inward as much as outward. Beneath every scandal lies a story, and beneath every truth lies complexity. Through this harrowing yet human account, Elizabeth R. Barbiere compels us to confront the frailty of our own assumptions and the powerful reminder that truth—like humanity—is never simple, and never without shadow.
In a world quick to point fingers, this book reminds us that truth is rarely one-sided—and that the hardest truths often lie within ourselves.
Watch the full interview below: