This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira chats with Rusty Austin — a veteran reality television producer with over three decades behind the camera and now, the author of "An Awesome Bird: The Pelican."

Rusty shares how he made the leap from shaping unscripted TV hits like "Hell’s Kitchen" — one of the toughest shows he ever tackled — to writing playful, poetic stories for kids. A lifelong storyteller who started making movies in eighth grade, Rusty now blends clever rhymes, parenting wisdom, and fascinating animal facts, all brought to life with illustrations from middle school students.

He talks about how posting short poems on Facebook led to a book series that inspires creativity in children, complete with a hands-on “do-it-yourself” section for young readers. From elephants to pelicans, Rusty Austin proves that whether on screen or on the page, the story always comes first.

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