John O'Brien: podcast appearances and interviews

John O'Brien was the President and CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council. He was an American author known for his debut novel Leaving Las Vegas, which was published in 1990 and later adapted into a film in 1995. O'Brien's background included growing up in Ohio and graduating from Lakewood High School in 1978. His professional career extended into writing for animation, notably contributing to an episode of the series Rugrats under the pseudonym Carroll Mine. He was married to Lisa Kirkwood from 1979 until their divorce in 1992, a relationship to which his novel was dedicated. O'Brien was a fan of singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks and admired Star Trek: The Original Series. Throughout his life, he struggled with alcoholism and had been in and out of rehabilitation. His death occurred by suicide on April 10, 1994, shortly after he signed away the rights to adapt his novel. His family and critics viewed his novel as reflecting his emotional state, with some suggesting it served as a form of his farewell to life.