Uncorking a Story
In-depth conversations with storytellers including authors, filmmakers, comedians, and podcasters.
Believe in Yourself, with Moshe Mikanovsky
When I worked at the consumer products giant Unilever, I got an insider’s view into how products go from the idea stage all the way to being available for sale on the store shelf. It’s a long and comprehensive process characterized by different stages and gates a team...
Don’t Waste It, with Laura Trujillo
I have another confession to make, I hated reading newspapers when I was younger. They were always in black and white and just seemed so boring. Then I discovered the USA Today. They had pictures in color, and it was much easier to read than other newspapers. And...
So, How do we Begin? With Steve Fretzin
When I was early in my career, I had this recurring anxiety dream where all my teeth would fall out, one at a time. Later in my life, that dream morphed into being thrust back into high school unprepared for a test while naked (Freud would have a field day with me)....
Igniting Empathy, with Rob Volpe
When I was a kid, I used to dread gym class. My Physical Education teacher was fond of picking two captains for opposing teams, typically the most athletic kids in the grade, and then they’d hand select their team members. I was typically picked at the bottom of the...
Lightning Strikes, with Chandler Bolt
I remember being in business school and learning about successful founders who left college to start their businesses without a degree. People like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs. There’s another name to add to the list—Chandler Bolt, and I had the pleasure...
Mother and Child Reunion, with Laura Engel
All families have secrets. The big one in my family, at least for me anyway, was the fact that my older brother Greg was adopted. When I was in high school, I was sitting in room with extended family and my auntie Joan, who really wasn’t my aunt but rather a very...
Dear Mom, with Kim Dower
I was able to spend some time with my parents earlier this week. A last-minute business trip brought me down to Florida and, instead of staying near my clients in Miami, I decided to take advantage of the very reasonable rates at my parent’s condo on the beach in Ft....
We’ll Always have Paris, with Juliet Blackwell
When I was in college, I studied psychology because I was fascinated by the mind-body connection. I wanted to understand what made people tick and why they do what they do. My guest today had a similar curiosity into the human condition, although went about indulging...
The Invisible Places, with Matthew Fray
Matthew Fray is a relationship coach and writer who leans on the lessons of his failed marriage and divorce to help others avoid making the same mistakes he did. His writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Huffington Post, Babble, and...
If You Were Me, with John Saunders
Imagine that one simple, humbling question could change the trajectory of your career forever. By simply asking his clients, “What would you do if you were me?” today’s guest, John Saunders, uncorked the guidance he needed to excel in his role as a Wall Street SVP and...
Finding Your Path, with Linda Griffin
One of the biggest challenges for a new author is to find their voice while writing something that will make a difference in the world. That's why Linda Griffin decided to become a book coach and help new authors find their path through the publishing process. Linda...
Following the Human Herd, with Beth Anstandig
Every now and then I get a reminder that I’m only human, and that reminder came in the introduction to this episode where I mispronounce the title of my guest’s book. Thankfully, Beth Anstandig had a sense of humor about it, and we had a good laugh. It is someone...
First Time Fiction, with Matthew Necci
Over the years on Uncorking a Story, I’ve interviewed many lawyers who have tapped into their creative side and written a debut novel and I can now add Matthew Necci’s name to that list. Who is the inspiration behind the story? What motivates him to write? How...
Just Do It, with Karen White
The stories my father has told me about his childhood are ones that have stayed with me. There are stories about the ice cream shop he worked in, the pranks he played on his bus driver, and the trouble he used to get into with his partner-in-crime Bobby MacGyver, but...
Life’s a Beach, with Carol Finizza
Imagine walking into a newspaper editor’s office, interviewing for a job as a sportswriter having never written a sports related article before, getting the gig and totally rocking it. That’s just what Carol Finizza did and I’m very excited to share her story with you...
Meet the Un-Writer, with Debby Applegate
I have a confession to make–I always wanted to be a gameshow host; unfortunately, I have a face for radio. I always saw myself hosting Jeopardy and if there was a clue about today’s guest it would be, A Pulitzer Prize winning author who does not identify as a writer....
Make Love, Not Porn, with Cindy Gallop
I’ve been following Cindy Gallop for some time on LinkedIn—she’s one of those LinkedIn influencers who certainly takes the boring out of the platform. If there is one word that I would use to describe her, it’s provocative, and I know that I’m not alone in feeling...
Life is the Curveball, with Aileen Weintraub
Many of you long-time listeners know that I’m the proud father of triplets—the fact that they are turning twenty in a few short weeks is mindboggling to me. What many of you don’t know is that my wife was on supervised bedrest in the hospital for six weeks before...