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"Memory without responsibility is just nostalgia. We have to really be responsible — responsible adults — and make sure that the world doesn't forget what happened." — Doron Keren
"I really wanted to know about the numinous. I went to Burma to sit with a master. I got my master's degree. I did all kinds of things looking to find out what happened. And then I came back to realize that yes, in fact, I knew — I touched death. I saw death." — Sally Dukes
"On the outside, I too looked like a pretty picture. Inside, I was dying. I had so much pain and shame and suffering. Pretending isn't enough to make it go away." — Andrea Leeb
“You don’t need to find your ikigai—you already have it. You just need to notice it.” — Nick Kemp What if purpose isn’t something you chase—but something you already have? In this episode, Mike sits down with Nick Kemp, founder of Ikigai Tribe and...
“We suffer as humans—and writing gives us a place to put that pain, to understand it, and maybe even transform it.”— Priya Hutner What happens when the life you’ve built—your beliefs, your community, your identity—suddenly falls apart? In this...
“If you want to be a writer for money, you’re in the wrong place. The authors who last are the ones who truly love the craft.” — Christian Toms-Arbel Christian Toms-Arbel has been telling stories since childhood. Born with a disability that required...
“The story came out of me when it was supposed to come out of me—after living a whole life.” – Leigh Shalloway In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike Carlon sits down with novelist and holistic care practitioner Leigh Shalloway to explore the...
“Maybe what Jesus really wanted was to show us what we’re all capable of—and that we’ve simply forgotten our own power.” — Kris Land In this mind‑expanding conversation, Mike sits down with author, spiritual thinker, and serial entrepreneur Kris...
"Writing made me feel like I mattered, like I was taking up space in the universe that could be shared..” In this episode, Mike uncorks the story of historical fiction author Jane Loeb Rubin , whose career as a writer began with an unexpected...
“The more you unpack something—or uncork it—the less power it holds over you.” In this powerful episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with cultural and medical anthropologist Mimi Nichter , whose new memoir Hostage revisits the...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "Medicine knows a patient’s disease, but it does not know the patient — and that is where the real crisis lies." — Dr. Robert Smith In...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “It’s never too late — never too late to heal, to learn, to evolve, or to create a relationship built on something truer than what you...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “There’s always another way of looking at things. Collaborators win bigger—in business, families, communities, everywhere.” In this...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "When your world feels like it’s falling apart, that’s when your story is beginning." – Jason Reid In this episode of Uncorking a Story ,...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “People can see themselves in Jane’s journey — that everyday person who realizes they can build wealth by investing in entrepreneurs.” In...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ In this moving and deeply personal episode of Uncorking a Story, Michael welcomes debut memoirist Carol Kennedy, who shares the...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “I love having written more than I love writing. The process is work, but the result is joy.” — Rabbi Alon Ferency In this episode of...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "The Book of Reservations is about a woman navigating a dubious gift in a world that doesn’t always believe in it." — Laura Buchwald...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "Writing is work. It’s challenging, it’s hard—but it’s a skill, and it takes time. If you have patience with yourself, you’ll get there."...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "I took my parents’ stories from the Manhattan Project and wove them into a fictional spy subplot—because I’ll never know the real...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ “I didn’t write The Waiting Room — it came through me. In the middle of grief, in the middle of the night, the story wouldn’t let me rest...
Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "I thought by using entertainment, I could get people to understand medical issues and change health policy. It didn’t work out that...
"Technology isn’t good or bad—it just is. How we choose to use it defines everything." — Robbie Bach Robbie Bach, the visionary behind Xbox and now a bestselling author, joins Mike Carlon on Uncorking a Story to share his journey from tech executive...
"I love to read, I devour books—wouldn't it be nice if I wrote something that somebody else would love to read?" — Lewis Bowling In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with Lewis Bowling—author of 14 books, columnist, and...
"We eat from a thousand different hungers—and most of them aren’t about food." — Jane McGuinness In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Jane McGuinness—registered clinical counselor, mother of three, and author of the memoir Always...
“The Lady on Esplanade is about ghosts, grief, and flipping murder houses.” — Karen White In her third appearance on Uncorking a Story , bestselling author Karen White uncorks the story behind her 37th novel, The Lady on Esplanade . From her...
“I realized my family’s secrets had written my biography—and my biology. I wanted to take back the pen.” — Wendy Correa In this deeply moving episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with author, yogi, and former music industry...
"What felt like the darkest night became the beginning of something brand new." — Sarah May In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon speaks with yoga instructor, Reiki healer, and debut memoirist Sarah May about her...
"Grief doesn’t end—it lives alongside joy, love, and purpose. You can carry both." — Stacy Bass In this deeply moving episode of Unquarking Your Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with author and photographer Stacy Bass to explore her memoir...
“Innovation isn’t just about process—it’s about emotion. If you’re not feeling resistance, you’re probably not stretching far enough.” — Brianna Sylver In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Michael Carlon sits down with nationally recognized...
"Write the book you want to read. That’s when everything changed for me." — Miranda Smith In this episode of Uncorking Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with bestselling author Miranda Smith, whose psychological thrillers and domestic suspense...
“Energy cannot be destroyed. So where does it go? The energy is the soul, and the soul goes on. Heaven isn’t up through the clouds—it’s right here, a different dimension.” — Anna Raimondi Spiritual medium, intuitive, and author Anna Raimondi joins...
“Whether or not money comes out of this is yet to be seen. The main thing is—does it help people? Is it spreading a good message? That’s ultimately why I’m doing this.” — Heather Snodgrass Actor, author, and debut novelist Heather Snodgrass joins me...
“My trauma is no longer telling me what to do every day the way that it once was.” Vanessa Carlisle Dr. Vanessa Carlisle (they/them)—author, coach, educator, and longtime advocate for sex-working communities—joins me to explore healing after trauma,...
“There really is enlightenment and awakening in the intersection between trauma and spirituality—if you go into it and don’t push it away.” — Kristina Amelong In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike sits down with Kristina Amelong —artist,...
Fiction is the only way I know to get to the truth of human experience.” — H. Lee Barnes In this episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with award-winning author H. Lee Barnes , whose life journey has taken him from the battlefields of Vietnam to...
“Sometimes you need someone outside of your family and friends to tell you, ‘This part doesn’t make sense,’ or ‘Try it this way.’ That honest feedback is what makes your writing stronger.” – Christine Devane Christine Devane spent 13 years as a...
Two attributes of being an author are humility and perseverance. You have to push through a whole lot of no’s and believe you have something there—and have the humility to step back, receive critiques, and let your story grow.” — Camille Di Maio In...
“Don’t look around—just run your own race. That’s what I’d tell my younger self about writing.”-Melanie Anagnos Melanie Anagnos has worn many hats—waitress, attorney, stay-at-home mom—but her true calling emerged when she pursued her MFA at Sarah...
From Commune to Courage: Deborah Rudell on Memoir, Healing, and Sailing Across the Pacific “Being disillusioned is a very hard place to be in… but I realized my master’s job was to set me free. In the end, that heartbreak gave me the freedom to...
On Craft and Character, with Jackie Thomas-Kennedy “When it goes well, writing feels the way it did when I was eight years old—immersed in the story, not thinking about outcome, just the pure joy of language.” – Jackie Thomas Kennedy Jackie...
“I wanted to write a character who was a relatable superhero—someone a woman today might connect with, not a god or an alien, but a real person with real struggles.” — Caitlyn Grabenstein In this episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with author...
“From the very outset, people thought, ‘This can’t possibly be true.’ But it was—and the deeper we dug, the stranger it became.” — Jerry Jamison In this episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with award-winning advertising copywriter turned...
“This is not about rejection—it’s about sacrifice.” – Edward Di Gangi Adopted at birth and raised as an only child, Edward Di Gangi never sought the details of his adoption—until a quiet moment in a New Jersey cemetery at age 69 set him on a journey...
“It took me 12 years to write it and get it to a publisher… writing a book was a lot harder than an Ironman.” In this heartfelt episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with Betsy Armstrong—writer, mom, athlete, and philanthropist—to explore the...
“I flipped twice…my seatbelt wrapped around my neck, so my airway was cut off and I was blue… Doctors called my family in for my last rites that evening.” — Lisa Labozzo In this moving episode of Uncorking a Story , Reiki Master, intuitive healer...
“I realized I couldn’t write sex scenes, so I went darker. Turns out, murder is more my thing.” — Kaira Rouda Bestselling author Kaira Rouda returns to Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest psychological thriller Jill Is Not Happy —a twisted,...
“The pain of carrying the weight of this secret for so long was more damaging than the reveal.” – Rob Tonkin At age 14, Rob Tonkin entered the world of radio and climbed his way to the top of the entertainment marketing industry, producing iconic...
“Once you start understanding someone as a person, not a role, it’s impossible to make them a villain anymore.” — Christina Adams Today’s episode of Uncorking a Story shines the light on co-authors Anthony and Christina Adams—writing as A.C....
“You have to start walking the path before the path is revealed to you.” – Samantha Greene Woodruff In this lively episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with bestselling author Samantha Greene Woodruff to unpack her unexpected journey from...
“There’s never been a movie or TV series about Casey Stengel—and he’s the most animated, fun-loving, Robin Williams-type of character ever. And I intend to change that.” — Mark Galley In this very special episode of Uncorking a Story , I’m joined by...
“I don’t want to tell anyone what to think—I want to expose things and say, here’s what’s going on. What do you think about it?” — Jacqueline Friedland In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike Carlon sits down with bestselling author and former...
“I want women to feel seen, supported, and connected—this chapter of life isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of something new.” — Lauren Tetenbaum Lauren Tetenbaum is an author, therapist, and advocate who helps millennial and younger women navigate...
“The essence of art is taking life’s randomness and shaping it into something meaningful.” — Lina Chern Lina Chern’s debut mystery Play the Fool earned major acclaim, winning the 2024 Mary Higgins Clark Award. Now she’s back with Tricks of Fortune,...
“You have to believe before you see—if you believe your body can rebuild itself, it will surprise you.” — Dr. Grazyna Pajunen Dr. Grazyna Pajunen never set out to be an author—but after 14 years of helping clients in the anti-aging space, she...
This episode is brought to you by Mike Carlon's latest novel, the Waiting Room. Check out that #1 New Release in Inspirational Spiritual Fiction Here We all have resources inside ourselves. We can get through just about anything. — Kirsten...
“Each time I speak, someone comes up crying, saying they finally feel seen. That’s how I know the healing matters.” —Babs Walters Babs Walters has spent her life helping others find their voice—first through corporate training, and now through the...
If you remove the rule of law, the dark side of human nature is very powerful—and in this period, there was no law. — Jeffrey Konvitz In this riveting episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike chats with entertainment attorney, screenwriter, producer, and...
Storytelling, Conscious Creation, and Joyful Living, with Jackie Lapin “Visibility is the gateway to opportunity—you can’t grow your influence if people don’t know you exist.” — Jackie Lapin In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike sits...
“Nobody writes alone—and if they do, I don’t think they write well.” In this riveting episode of Uncorking a Story, debut novelist and former fashion exec Kay Smith-Blum shares how a haunting dream, buried Cold War secrets, and a real-life...
“If I accept that I’m his victim… can I even say I’m a wife? If my child’s DNA is evidence of a crime… can I say I’m a mother?” – Brandi Dredge In this emotional conversation, author Brandi Dredge shares the raw and redemptive journey behind her...
“I really wanted to reach the parents who might be crying in their kitchen and feeling alone—to let them know they’re not alone in those feelings.” – Jennifer Celeste Briggs In this moving episode, Jennifer Celeste Briggs opens up about her powerful...
“All love is risky. People die, they leave, they don’t listen to you—but you love them anyway.” — Virginia DeLuca When Virginia DeLuca’s husband unexpectedly walked out on their marriage in his 60s—claiming he wanted children—her gut reaction wasn’t...
“We spend so much of our life trying to put the pieces back in the dollhouse… the furniture changes, the people change.” — Beverly Jean Armento In this emotional episode of Uncorking a Story , Michael Carlon sits down with author and educator...
“I’ve always believed that within the realm of what’s possible, I can do it—and fiction was just another challenge to embrace.” — Iris Mitlin Lav In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Michael Carlon uncorks the remarkable second act of Iris Mitlin...
My dad looked at me and said, ‘It just went so fast.’ I asked what did, and he said, ‘Life.’ That moment changed everything—I knew I had to write the book.” — Jennifer Griffith On this special Mother’s Day episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down...
“Your marriage can be anything you want it to be—you don’t have to just follow a supplied script.” — Wayne Scott In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode of Uncorking a Story , writer and psychotherapist Wayne Scott opens up about the...
“I learned that I’m dogged… I didn’t abandon it, and that became very important—not giving up.” — Janet Constantino In this soulful and insightful episode of Uncorking a Story , psychotherapist-turned-novelist Janet Constantino shares the winding...
“The whole idea of historical fiction is to fill in the gaps in the emotional feeling of the participants in the crisis.” — Barbara Southard In this episode of Uncorking a Story , historian and debut novelist Barbara Southard shares the emotional...
“We’ve got to start thinking of ourselves as the Earthling tribe.” — Dr. Peter Solomon In this eye-opening episode of Uncorking a Story , scientist and author Dr. Peter Solomon shares how his passion for physics, sparked in a college classroom, led...
“Don’t be your own no—if the answer is no, let someone else say it. Don’t take yourself out of the race because of your own insecurities.” – Joanne Howard In this episode of Uncorking a Story , we sit down with debut novelist Joanne Howard, author...
“The writing is the easiest part. It’s everything after that—the marketing, the visibility, the noise—that makes this business so tough. But you’ve got to keep going.” — Rochelle Weinstein Bestselling author Rochelle Weinstein joins Uncorking a...
“We all have a light to shine, and today more than ever, the world needs us to shine those lights in all the different areas that are there.” – Julie Wignall In this illuminating episode of Uncorking a Story , Julie Wignall shares her unconventional...
Each book has its own trajectory and process… The things that are meant for you come to you.” – Kristen Arnett Bestselling author Kristen Arnett joins Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One , a book about...
"Believe in that inner voice. Trust it, no matter what anyone else says. Just keep pursuing what’s important to you." – Robert Steven Goldstein Robert Steven Goldstein spent decades in the corporate world before making good on a lifelong...
"Only you can tell your story, and only you can tell it in the way you tell it. And that's critical." – Barbara Boyle For years, Barbara Boyle crafted stories for some of the biggest brands in advertising. But after decades in the corporate world,...
“I realized that storytelling was something I had to do—not just something I wanted to do.” – Jenn Bouchard Award-winning author Jenn Bouchard joins the show to talk about her journey from being a dedicated high school teacher to a published, award...
"Don't be afraid to fail and just do what you want to do. The fear of failure holds so many people back." – Jonathan Small Award-winning author, journalist, and podcast host Jonathan Small joins the show to share his fascinating journey through the...
"When we seek to benefit others, we’re at our best and happiest."— Janet Ettele Meet Janet Ettele, author of How Joyous Effort Works . In this episode, Janet shares how her deep appreciation for music evolved into a passion for Buddhist philosophy,...
Life gives us a lot of lessons that we don’t know how we’re going to use, and then all of a sudden, we’re called to the challenge and we pick it up. – Julie McGue In this heartfelt episode, author Julie McGue returns to discuss her latest memoir,...
"Good fiction exposes us to people we don’t understand—and makes us care about them.” — Mary Camarillo In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we delve into the writing journey of award-winning author Mary Camarillo. From her early days as a voracious...
“She was the light in our chaotic home, the anchor in our storms. And yet, Lee’s story was a mystery even to her.” — Sandra Schnackenberg In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon welcomes Sandra Schnackenberg, author of the compelling...
“Life is stranger than fiction. I use the things I’ve experienced—the pain, the joy, and even the ghosts—in my writing.” — Kevin Moore In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon sits down with Kevin Moore, the author behind the captivating...
"The same things about me that made others uncomfortable are what I’ve come to love most about myself." – Jenna Tico In this deeply honest episode, we dive into the world of writer, performer, and community builder Jenna Tico as she discusses her...
Unlocking High Vibrations: Lainie Sevante Wulkan on Intuition, Food Healing, and Wellness "We are the walking embodiments of nature—what we feed our body feeds our soul." – Lainie Sevante Wulkan In this inspiring episode, we explore the...
Writing my story helped me process resentment, discover hidden truths, and find peace—it’s cathartic in ways I never expected." – Francine Falk Allen In this episode of Uncorking a Story , we sit down with Francine Falk Allen, author of A Wolff in...
"Fear was a huge thing for me, but I reached a point where I thought, if I don’t do this now, I’m never going to do it." – Ellen Birkett Morris In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author Ellen Birkett Morris to discuss her fascinating...
From Pop-Punk to Epic Fantasy: Tim Facciola’s Decade of Dream-Weaving "I don’t know if I’m too stubborn or too stupid to give up—but either way, I couldn’t stop until the story was exactly what it deserved to be." — Tim Facciola Tim Facciola, an...
“We all deserve to meet the most real, confident version of ourselves—and the world deserves it too." – Pat Broe On this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike Carlon uncorks the powerful journey of Pat Broe, author of The Real Confident You: Advice...
"I think one of the reasons that I wrote the book was I wanted her to be proud of me." — Helen Charov In this compelling episode of Uncorking a Story , we sit down with Helen Charov, author of Tatiana's War: Escape and Survival on the Eastern Front...
“Life’s tragedies can light the way to our greatest stories.” — Barbara Nickless On this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike Carlon welcomes Barbara Nickless, a #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose journey into writing...
"Choosing my own freedom felt like a radical act—like breaking every rule I’d ever known." – Ashleigh Renard In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon reconnects with Ashleigh Renard, bestselling author and social media sensation, for...
"The crime wasn’t the abortion—it was the sex outside of marriage. Let that sit with you for a while." – Pat Suprenant On this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon welcomes Pat Suprenant, author of Behind the Scarlet Letter . Pat’s debut...
"I realized that science alone couldn't answer my deepest questions—there had to be something more." – Ganesh Venkataramanan In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon uncorks the extraordinary journey of Ganesh Venkataramanan (AKA...
“I think that being a writer, in a certain sense, made me a better doctor, because being a writer, you have to constantly be thinking about characters and characterizations, et cetera. So I became even more kind of interested in my patients.” — Dr....
"The darker it gets, the more I enjoy it." – K.K. Weakley K.K. Weakley returns to Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest novel, Whispers from the Grave , the fourth book in the Sekhet Saga. Born in Wexford, Ireland, K.K. shares her fascination with...
"Books have always meant more to me than breath—writing them is my way of making sense of the world and connecting to others." — Randy Susan Meyers In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike sits down with international bestselling author...
"I couldn’t let the secrets that controlled my past control my future." — Bridey Telen-Heidel In this compelling episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike Carlon interviews author and TEDx speaker Bridey Thelen-Heidel about her powerful memoir, Bright...
“ Writing is a solitary endeavor, but creating community can transform the experience—it reminds us we're not alone in our stories.” — Laura Buchwald In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike pops the cork on Laura Buchwald, a New York City-based...
"I thought I was saving others, but it was my own soul that needed saving." — Dr. Lisa Cooney In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon sits down with Dr. Lisa Cooney, a therapist, healer, and author who has dedicated her life to...
"Grief is actually a guru that guides us, taking us through the dark night of the soul and transforming us—even when it feels like it’s breaking us down." Listen in as Cindy Finch, a seasoned therapist, cancer survivor, and author of the powerful...
"I think we’re always trying to heal ourselves, whether it’s through fiction or not." In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon chats with Mary Keliikoa, an award-nominated author whose journey to becoming a published crime novelist took...
"Food had controlled me. The grocery store controlled me, restaurants controlled me—and I wanted to break free of that." In this mouth watering episode, Mike Carlon uncorks the story of Jared Gleaton, a nationally certified school psychologist and...
"I had no idea how big this was...over 80 percent of people you see in the alley were once you and me—soccer moms, CEOs—pulled into addiction by something that was supposed to help." In this episode of Uncorking a Story , host Mike Carlon sits down...
"If you feel you have something worth saying, why not take the effort and pursue it?" — Jude Berman In this episode, host Mike Carlon uncorks the story of Jude Berman, an award-winning author and former editor who made the leap from publishing other...
"I think emotional intelligence invites us to slow things down and really take pause in relation to who we are in the world." – Patrick Kilcarr In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with Patrick Kilcarr, PhD, the Director...
“Writing is not just putting your fingers on the keys. Writing is thinking, imagining, and playing games in your head.” — Fiona Barton In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with New York Times bestselling author Fiona...
“My desire is to be for others what I needed when I was at my lowest.” – Kristina Kuzmic In this powerful episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon sits down with renowned author, comedian, and mental health advocate Kristina Kuzmic. Kristina shares...
"As a Secret Service agent, I was a secret writer... I kept my writing hidden for about five years." – Richard Podkowski In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Richard Podkowski, a former U.S. Secret Service agent turned author....
"Resilience isn't just bouncing back—it's finding new purpose after everything changes." — Jonathan Bogner In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with Jonathan Bogner, a seasoned film and reality TV producer who...
"Perseverance is probably the most important skill or quality to have. Stick with it, and eventually you'll cross some kind of finish line." – Linda Moore In this episode, Linda Moore, a late-blooming fiction writer and art historian, shares her...
“There's so much literature in cannabis... I'm kind of acting a little bit like a translator for the general public and for the medical community." — Dr. Benjamin Caplan In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon sits down with Dr....
"I felt really alienated before, but when I started walking on the streets and all these people started sharing their stories, I slowly started to heal." — Varuni Sinha In this compelling episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon interviews...
"I wasn't interested in writing about my own cancer journey, but I was interested in the idea of what if my situation had been flipped." — Ann Bancroft In this heartfelt episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Michael Carlon sits down with Ann...
"Writing is like therapy; it reveals the soul and heals the heart." — Holly LaBarbera In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," Holly LaBarbera, an accomplished author and psychotherapist, takes us through her fascinating journey from childhood letter...
"Writing is like staying in shape; even when things aren't going well, sitting at the desk and writing keeps you ready for the day when the right ideas and words come." - Philip Cioffari Today we dive deep into the world of storytelling with special...
"I like the idea of thinking of it as a gift, although it certainly doesn't feel like it at the time." — Hannah Mary McKinnon In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Michael Carlon welcomes back internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary...
“When your fears disappear, your dreams appear.” —Gamma, from “Closet of Dreams” In this episode, we dive into the enchanting world of childhood imagination and creative collaboration with brother-sister duo, Mark Ukra and Tara Masalaik McMahon....
"It's okay to not be okay. Writing has been my way to let things out, to release the constriction of emotions, and to heal. I don't hold back in my poetry, and I encourage others to find their own way to express and release their feelings." –...
"Magic finds us in our darkest times." — Christina Bacilieri Christina Bacilieri’s life and career were profoundly shaped by her Italian grandmother and a dream that inspired her to write her first novel, "The Last Refuge." In this episode,...
"Marriage can hold more difficulty than you believe and still move forward and evolve into something positive." – Anna Monardo How does an arranged marriage spanning continents and generations reveal the hidden strengths and vulnerabilities of a...
"Being chosen doesn't mean being whole; it means navigating a journey to find yourself.” — Adoptee Lisa Ann In this heartfelt episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon welcomes Lisa Ann, the host of the "Wandering Tree Podcast." Lisa Ann...
"The idea of found family and the hope that you have a pod of people out there who will accept you for who you are is central to my story." — Mary Carol Moore In today’s episode, Author Mary Carol Moore discusses her journey from being a food...
"Poetry is a gift from the Divine, a voice from ancestors, expressing profound truths and deep emotions." - Lauren Martin In today’s episode of Uncorking a Story we sit down with Lauren Martin, a psychotherapist, poet, and a devoted Ìyânífá. She...
"We have a lot to learn from them. It's really about the survival of the human spirit." - Dr. Stephanie Covington In this informative episode of Uncorking a Story, we dive into the life and expertise of Stephanie Covington, Ph.D. who shares wisdom...
“Be quick to forgive yourself. It's hard to do, but be quick to forgive people around you. We're going to disappoint ourselves, and people are going to disappoint us. Just forgive, get over it. Don’t let a mistake ruin a relationship—it's not worth...
“Be your own fool. You’ve got to be a little bit crazy to believe your writing matters, and it does!” Today, I chat with author Joe Di Prisco who shares the mosaic of his life, from a Brooklyn childhood shadowed by mob connections to his spirited...
"It's like a honey badger; dementia doesn't give a shit. It doesn't care about what you want to do." — Kitty Norton Tune into this episode of Uncorking a Story for an honest and inspiring exploration of the highs and lows of caregiving, the power of...
"Right, you'll forget it ever happened. That's what my social worker told me and other girls at the Florence Crittenton home for unwed mothers. But yeah, you don't forget that you are a mother. And also, how does one keep the secret from oneself?...
“I found writing almost an unbelievably incredible way to deal with the grief. It was a way to channel my energy in a really productive way that ultimately led to this book that I've written. And it was therapeutic. It was really helpful for me in...
"It's interesting to compare the process of creating an image with writing. In photography, I find myself editing the scene to highlight what draws my interest, focusing on the essence and minimizing distractions. This approach is similar to...
"I have my wife as my ultimate support system. But as a man, it feels like you shouldn’t show weakness or talk about things that might make you vulnerable because you worry about what others will think. That’s why I decided to just go for it, to...
"The day my dance instructor had her jaw wired shut to lose weight was the day I realized how deep the rabbit hole of body image issues really went. It wasn't just about being thin; it was about battling your body at war with societal expectations."...
"I kind of almost became an author by accident. It was a case of rediscovering a love of fiction, and then, on idle weekends, working on things purely to entertain myself. It grew from there." — Richard Roper In this episode, author Richard Roper...
Join us in this intriguing episode as we dive into the creative world of Peter Malone Elliott, an award-nominated screenwriter and author of the captivating novel "Blue Ridge." From the mysterious allure of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the complex...
In this episode, we delve into the captivating world of Julee Balko, an author renowned for her intricate portrayal of complex female characters and her bold exploration of themes like grief, personal growth, and the transformative power of...
"Embracing the reckless part of me, saying 'yes' to what resonates deeply despite insecurities, has been a pivotal part of my journey. It's about integrating every piece of life into a narrative that compels not just me, but also my characters to...
Suzette Mullen is a memoir and nonfiction book coach and retreat leader. Her essays have appeared in the New York Times and Today.com, among other outlets. As a book coach, Suzette focuses on amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ writers as she guides...
Boo Trundle is a writer, artist, and performer whose work has appeared across various platforms and publications, including The Brooklyn Rail, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and NPR’s The Moth. She has released three albums of original music with...
Jared N. Michaud is a devoted fiction writer driven by a passion for writing that began before he reached age seven. Influenced by literary giants like C.S. Lewis and Orson Scott Card, he discovered the transformative power of storytelling, and at...
"In writing, what’s really crucial is persistence. Every 'no' brings you closer to a 'yes'. And when you infuse your personal experiences into your stories, you're not just writing; you're breathing life into your characters. That's when your...
Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán is a dedicated educator with over 30 years experience in Westchester County, New York. She serves as an Executive Board member for the One Circle Foundation and her personal passion lies in addressing social and economic...
Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. She has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years developing material for both film and streaming, has taught screenwriting at UCLA, and is an advocate...
Carrie Rickert’ life-threatening accident and related complications started her down a path of examining what was, what is, and what could be. Her’s is a story of hope, of possibility, and of embracing the fight to become something new. She joins me...
Kendra Petty is a woman who has succeeded in an all-male industry, becoming an executive vice president at two firms. She is a dynamic public speaker, powerful negotiator and dealmaker. She loves bouldering and scrambling in the mountains of...
Diane Gilman found her greatest success at age sixty, when she sparked a denim revolution by designing blue jeans for real women with real bodies. She’s sold nearly nineteen million pairs of her DG2 jeans on HSN and created a sisterhood of seven...
Allen Mendenhall is a lawyer and university administrator in Alabama who edited Southern Literary Review for over a decade. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his latest book, A Glooming Peace this Morning. Key Themes Allen’s experiences...
Writer, actor and storyteller, Don Futterman has written for a variety of publications including the Daily Beast, The San Francisco Chronicle and the Haaretz, Israel’s newspaper of record. A graduate of Brown University, Futterman is a co-host of...
Florence Reiss Kraut is a native New Yorker, raised and educated in New York City. She holds a BA in English and a Master’s in Social Work and worked for thirty years as a clinician, a family therapist, and CEO of a family service agency while...
Joan Meyerson is an award-winning writer/director/producer of documentaries and television programs for which she won two Writers Guild of America awards. The dramatic accounts she wrote about vets and military families reconfirmed her belief that...
Richard Deming is an award-winning poet and critic, whose work explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, and visual culture. He’s the author of five books, including Day for Night and Art of the Ordinary. Richard teaches at Yale...
Peggy Townsend is an award-winning journalist who has panhandled with street kids, taken to the skies with pararescuers, and once chased an escaped murderer through a graveyard at midnight. Her first mystery, "See Her Run," was listed as one of "13...
Shelley Fraser Mickle is an award-winning author who has published over a dozen books, which, along with her commitment to literacy and the power of story, led to her being nominated to the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014. Her books have been...
Justin Woodbury was raised on a small farm out in the country on the west side of Ann Arbor, Michigan. A child survivor of church abuse, Justin began advocating for victims of abuse after he held his son in his arms for the first time and realized...
Chrissy Holm is a writer, editor, and project manager and is the host of the podcast Stirred By Words, where she talks about words, writing, and wellness. Her writing has been featured on Everyday Health, National Council on Aging, Gizmodo,...
Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California, where he played basketball in high school and junior college. In 1969, he entered the Air Force but subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and served time...
Natasha Daniels is an anxiety and OCD child therapist and has published multiple books including How to Parent your Anxious Toddler, Anxiety Sucks: A Teen Survival Guide, Social Skills Activities for Kids and It is Brave to Be Kind. She also hosts...
Ginger Pinholster’s first novel, “City in a Forest,” won a Gold Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She is a volunteer member of Florida’s Volusia Turtle Patrol and resident of Ponce Inlet, near Daytona Beach. She...
Lynne Golodner is the author of eight books and thousands of articles as well as a marketing entrepreneur, writing coach and host of the Make Meaning Podcast. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her first novel, Woman of Valor. Key...
Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, Looking Glass, The Girl in Red, The Mermaid, Lost Boy, Alice, Red Queen, and the seven-book urban fantasy Black Wings series. She joined...
Ellen Yashinsky Chute is a clinical social worker, consultant and educator who has dedicated her life to helping individuals, families and teams unlock their potential. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, What Drives...
Audrey Gale long dreamed of being a writer, but never anticipated the circuitous road she’d take to get there. After twenty-plus years in the banking industry, she grew tired of corporate gamesmanship and pursued her master’s in fiction writing at...
Diane Danvers Simmons is a born-and-raised Brit who moved to America in her late twenties for business and success. After an accomplished career as a senior vice president at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising and then Omnicom Media in London, New York,...
Carissa Orlando has a doctorate in clinical-community psychology and specializes in work with children and adolescents. Prior to her career in psychology, she studied creative writing in college and has written creatively in some form since she was...
Donna Marie Hayes is a SAG-AFTRA actress and cabaret singer who can be found on a stage or in front of a camera and has been featured on the Dr. Oz Show, Orange Is The New Black, Black Girls Rock, Celebrity Ghost Stories, as well as in several other...
Edward Carey is a novelist, visual artist, and playwright. His previous novels include The Swallowed Man, which was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Little, Alva & Irva, and Observatory Mansions. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to...
Bill C. Potts is a motivational speaker, business leader, and community builder who has held executive roles at IRONMAN Group and Clearwater Marine Aquarium. He is co-founder and managing director of marketing agency Remedy 365 and a lecturer at...
Will Harris is on a mission to help save the world. He inherited a highly profitable, conventionally run farm from his ancestors. After many years, he found himself disgusted with the excess, cruelty, and small-town devastation. He decided to make a...
Authors often tap into their past experiences and memories and plant them in our stories. Speaking from experiences, anecdotes that my parents shared with me decades ago will wind up in a story, not in a self-indulgent way, but more as a way of...
Sometimes I interview someone and we just don’t click. There are those interviews where we just fail to find a groove and I think to myself, that could have been better. I am happy to report that today’s interview is not one of those! Maybe it’s...
When I was a kid, my brother Jimmy and I would watch the original Clash of the Titans over and over and over. It had everything a young boy would love; heroes, Gods, magical weapons, and a young Maggie Smith. When offered the chance to interview the...
This episode is the result of mistaken identity. Somehow I got it in my head that comedian Mark Schiff was in the room next to my brother’s at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Not only does Mark live in LA and not New York, but he doesn’t have cancer—which...
What do Andy Warhol and Julia Child have in common? They were both in Marilyn Moss Rockefeller’s life! Listen in as I uncork Marilyn’s unexpected journey into business, her resilience in facing challenges, her transformation from a mountain girl to...
Everything I know about the criminal justice system I learned from Law and Order. Seriously, I’ve watched so much of it I feel as if I have a JD from L&O University! Well, what do you do when the police show up at your door with a search warrant...
Though it sounds unintuitive, experiencing grief can be a good thing. All of us suffer losses at various points during our life—it could be the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even seeing your kids go off to college. Grief often...
I love it when conversations go to unexpected places and today’s does just that. I didn’t anticipate speaking about the passing of my brother but doing so with today’s guest, author Jane L. Rosen simply felt right given one of the core themes of her...
I’ve long believed that curiosity is one of the most powerful superpowers that authors wield. Thinking it through more, curiosity may help us craft interesting plots, but its nothing without relatability. If our storylines are not relatable to...
Carl Ficks has introduced me to many fantastic guests who have appeared on Uncorking a Story over the years. Today, it is his turn to sit in the hot seat! Listen in as we discuss his contribution to an anthology of essays on loss, courage, and...
Tim Murphy is the author of Correspondents and Christodora, which was long-listed for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and named a Best Book of the Year by The Guardian. He has also been a journalist for the past 25 years and...
Imagine sitting with an acquiring editor who just offered you a multi book deal to write a series based on your first book and telling them that you will think about it. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s just part of prolific writer Craig Johnson’s...
I’ve long believed that writing is therapeutic but for author Lynn Hightower, it became her path of survival during a difficult period in her life. She explains that writing helped her escape the real world and allowed her to express her opinions on...
Writing is a dynamic and ever-evolving process. By embracing change and finding inspiration in unexpected places, you can breathe new life into your writing. Just ask Stephanie Cowell, whose latest book, A Boy in the Rain, was started over forty...
Today, we have the fabulous Wendy Holden, a British journalist and novelist with global success, joining us to spill the tea on her latest book, "The Princess." We're talking about the ultimate royal celebrity, Diana Princess of Wales, and a...
I was once eating dinner alone at a bar in Petaluma, CA when a fellow solo diner started a conversation by saying, “I’m no conspiracy theorist but…” and what came out of his mouth would make Dan Brown raise an eyebrow. When I was offered the chance...
Given my love of Columbo, I love it when a guest has a good Peter Falk story, and Alison Gaylin doesn’t disappoint. She doubled down when expressing her appreciation for The Love Boat—and now I think I have to marry her. Don’t tell our spouses. Meet...
My twin brother and I are very close—so close in fact that we can finish each other’s sentences. That said, I couldn’t imagine writing a book with him, let alone a series of books. That’s just one of the things that amazes me about sisters Lynne and...
While many of us dream of being writers from a young age, the truth is, not all of us can do it early on in our lives and find that we have to defer that dream for another time. Jenny Jackson, whose debut novel Pineapple Street is quite possibly the...
Today’s guest, Peter Maeck, inspired me with his words of advice for his younger self—”If you have an impulse and are young enough to start at an entry level, do it! Don’t worry about the risks and the outcomes.” These were words that I wish I heard...
They say you can never go home again, but no one told that to Andrew Ridker. During the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, Andrew left his apartment in Brooklyn, NY to head back to his childhood home in Brookline, MA. It was being back in his...
Sometimes it takes a while to find out who we truly are, particularly if we didn’t give ourselves the time to explore life prior to settling down and starting a family. Those of us who did that young may find that, after our kids have grown, we...
Giving yourself the right to write badly is excellent advice for aspiring and established authors. Writing is a muscle which has to be exercised in order to get stronger. Not everything we write will be gold, but every rep serves a purpose—to make...
Josh Winning is the author of the critically acclaimed The Shadow Glass. He is a senior film writer at Radio Times, has written for Total Film for over a decade, and is the co-host of movie podcast Torn Stubs. During his years as a film journalist,...
Elevator pitches are critically important when selling your book. Ideally, you’d answer the question, “So, what’s your book about?” with a one sentence description that gets the agent/publisher/reader interested in knowing more. Today’s guest, Karen...
I loved connecting with Whitney Hanson and hearing her path to publishing. Originally independently published, Whitney caught the attention of an acquisitions editor at Penguin Random House after achieving, what Borat would call, great success on...
Lynne Hugo is a National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship recipient who has also received repeat individual artist grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Her publications include ten novels, as well as a memoir,...
Karen Mangia is a WSJ Best Selling Author and one of the most sought after thought leaders in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. She is the author of four books including:...
Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. Her suspense novels include THE NEIGHBORS, bestsellers HER SECRET SON and SISTER DEAR, YOU WILL REMEMBER ME, and NEVER COMING HOME. She joined me on...
Adam Mitzner is the critically acclaimed Amazon Charts bestselling author of Dead Certain, Never Goodbye, and The Best Friend in the Broden legal series, as well as stand-alone thrillers A Conflict of Interest, A Case of Redemption, Losing Faith,...
Dementia is something that has touched my family in a terrible way. My mother, whose memory was always sharp as a tack, has been battling dementia for years. While her long term memory is still very much intact, she struggles to remember anything in...
Who would play Lion-O in a live action adaptation of Thundercats? Today’s guest, Sara Staggs, needed the eye of Thundera to help answer that question, but you didn’t come here for 80’s cartoons, did you? Meet Sara Staggs Sara is an epileptic who had...
Jenell Jones and her family opened up their home to foster, and later adopt Mercy, an eight year old girl in need of a home. Mercy came with a secret, though—her traumatic past. The traumas experienced by this young child started to manifest itself...
I love hearing how authors come up with the ideas for their books and today’s guest, bestselling author Lindsay Cameron, doesn’t disappoint. Listen in to hear about how the Ashley Madison data breach and Lindsay’s own experience on a neighborhood...
I’m thrilled to welcome Andrea Bartz back on Uncorking a Story. This time we discuss her latest novel, The Spare Room, and a big revelation! Meet Andrea Bartz Andrea is a Brooklyn-based journalist and the New York Times bestselling author of the...
When I was a kid, my brother Jimmy and I would watch wrestling all the time. The colorful characters, soap opera like drama, and high flying action had us hooked on the WWF like most of its superstars were hooked on Colombian marching powder. When...
What happens when "in sickness and in health" becomes "in sickness"? Today’s guest, author Suzanne Marriott addresses that question, and many others, in her memoir Watching for Dragonflies: A Caregiver’s Transformative Journey. She joined me on...
I’m thrilled to welcome author and executive Emmanuel Probst on Uncorking a Story. Emmanuel’s background combines over 16 years of market research and marketing experience with strong academic achievements. He joined me to discuss his career and...
In this podcast episode, Mike interviews author Hanna Halperin about her latest novel, I Could Live Here Forever. Meet Hannah Halperin Hanna is the author of Something Wild, which won the 2021 Edward Lewis Wallant Award and was a finalist for the...
On today's episode of Uncorking a Story, Author Shannon Duncan discusses the use of psychedelics as a tool for healing trauma, particularly childhood trauma and complex PTSD. The conversation revolves around the idea that psychedelics can be used to...
In this podcast episode, Mike interviews Karen White, a successful author of Southern women's fiction with a paranormal twist. Karen shares her journey as a writer and how she got started in the industry. She emphasizes the importance of reading and...
Have you ever felt like, at times, you are the black sheep of your family? You know, those times when you question why you are so different from everyone else in your life or even your community? Many of us who turn to the arts have a little bit of...
If there is one thing I’ve noticed that all pastors share in common, it’s the ability to tell a story, and Rev. Kenneth Nixon is no different. Kenneth joined me to talk about his debut memoir Born Into Crisis in which he discusses the necessary...
When she was in high school, Brittany Butler didn’t have dreams of working for the Central Intelligence Agency—she was a cheerleader and was in beauty pageants. Nevertheless, she had a successful career at the CIA and is now working hard to promote...
Jane Healey isn’t just a successful author, she also has great taste in TV. During the course of this entertaining conversation, I uncorked her love for The Greatest American Hero, which took us on a fun tangent. Believe it or not, I was walking on...
Like many people of my generation, I grew up watching Hogan’s Heroes in reruns. Also like many people of my generation, I was shocked that Bob Crane, Colonel Hogan himself, met such a violent end, likely a result of his extracurricular hobby of...
Just like the classic Let it Be by The Beatles, author Lauren Destefano shares many words of wisdom for authors in today’s episode of Uncorking a Story. Meet Lauren DeStefano Lauren DeStefano lives in Connecticut, where she was born and raised. When...
Susan and I have three things in common; we are authors, we have a great sense of humor, and we both root against Duke basketball regardless of who they are playing against (Sorry John Nardone and Brent McGoldrick but that buzzer beater by Laeettner...
I’ve interviewed many authors who were signed to muti-book deals very early in their careers—typically two or three book deals. Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Audrey Carlan, must be an overachiever because her book deal was for twenty-seven....
Many of us define wealth by what we can quantify in our bank accounts, but today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Tom Suvansri, thinks that’s way too limiting. His story is a wakeup call for anyone who thinks wealth can be measured solely in dollars...
Charlotte Maya’s life was turned upside down when she arrived home from a hike with her children to find a police officer and priest waiting at her home. They took her aside to tell her that her husband committed suicide and that’s where this story...
Rose Patruno grew up in a very patriarchal society where her brother enjoyed many more freedoms than she did. Over time, this impacted her mental and physical health and she had no choice but to leave her home in Puglia, Italy to find love and work...
There is one thing that Lina Chern and I can wholeheartedly agree on and that’s the importance of having fun during the writing process. If what you are writing isn’t bringing you joy then, chances are, you aren’t going to want to see it through. It...
Sometimes, beauty comes from tragedy, which is the backstory to Jill Santopolo’s debut novel The Light We Lost, which she penned after going through a traumatic breakup. Well, life has come full circle for Jill as her latest book, Stars in an...
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Lyn Liao Butler, is the type of person who likes to have many irons in the fire. While working as a professional ballet and modern dancer in New York City, she ran her own gym. After retiring from dancing, she...
One of the expressions my father is very fond of saying is, “Everything happens for a reason.” He’s also fond of saying, “If a problem can be solved with money, it’s not really a problem,” which is easy to say when one has money, but I digress. Over...
The sparks that ignite story ideas are almost always rooted in experience, emotion, and curiosity. Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, award winning author Cheryl A. Head, discusses how the murder of George Floyd served as the flashpoint for her...
If you are like me, when you hear the term lunch lady you immediately think of Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, but today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Vanessa David, smashes that stereotype. But this episode really isn’t about lunch ladies—it’s the...
We can add today’s guest, William Landay, to the growing list of former lawyers turned authors who have come on Uncorking a Story to promote their work. While digging into this dynamic with William, it became clear to me why so many lawyers,...
Long-time listeners know that I’m the proud father of triplets and anyone who has seen me perform stand-up knows that I lean on my experiences raising them heavily when I perform. Well, today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Cort Casady is also a...
Some may believe that an author’s superpower is in the ability to string the right words together, in the right order, and use correct punctuation. While all of that is important, I believe that their real superpower is in their ability to...
As a small business owner, I’m always interested in how I can get better at sales, which is why I was so excited to speak with today’s guest, Anthony Iannarino. We had a fun conversation about how a daily blog turned into a book, his writing...
Today’s episode will leave you questioning whether or not the events that my guest Vincent (Vinnie) Tolman discusses actually happened. I’m okay with that (and so is he). When his publicist reached out with the opportunity to interview someone who...
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Donna Loughlin, and I were both involved in the early days of the 90s dot.com bubble, in similar roles. I was working to understand what consumers wanted in digital technologies and she was tasked with uncorking...
For anyone out there who feels crippling stage fright before having to perform in front of an audience, this episode is for you! Today’s guest, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and author Elma Linz Kanefield, not only opens up about her own history...
What if it was easy to stop living for money? To have the health, wealth, and life you dream of? And the solution had nothing to do with politics or outside forces? Well, these are some of the questions today’s guest on Uncorking a Story,, Kristen...
I share a few things in common with today’s esteemed guest on Uncorking a Story. Glenn Kaplan and I both worked at Foote, Cone, and Belding and we both live in Connecticut, but only one of us has made the New York Times Bestseller List (hint, it’s...
I love stories that involve cemeteries and libraries and today’s guest on Uncorking a Story has a one that involves both. Meet Ed Di Gangi Ed was adopted at birth in New York City. An only child, he made no effort to explore his heredity until, at...
I love a good story about people who break conventions and today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Jessica Weaver, does just that. Shortly after getting started in the financial planning business, Jessica felt a calling to focus her efforts on women,...
Today, we have a real treat for fans of US History. Today’s guest, Sewall Menzel, Ph.D., drops a bombshell about how President Roosevelt, playing the role of the Fox, provoked the Japanese to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor. More...
We are often told to always look on the bright side of life—at least those of us who grew up watching Monty Python movies were told that. But how can we look on the bright side when the world around us appears to be so incredibly dark? Throughout...
Melissa Payne is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Secrets of Lost Stones, Memories in the Drift and The Night of Many Endings. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her career and latest book, A Light in the Forest. Set in the...
New York Times, USAToday, and Wall St. Journal bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park, and reading her mother's favorite books...
S.E. Boyd is the creation of veteran journalists Kevin Alexander and Joe Keohane, and editor Alessandra Lusardi. All lightly damaged Catholics prone to extensive over-analysis, Alexander, Keohane, and Lusardi have, between them, authored four books,...
When I was a kid, I had dreams of joining the PGA tour; the only problem was, I really didn’t show a tremendous aptitude for the game of golf, which is kind of a precursor for playing professionally. In this way, I couldn’t be any more different...
Susan Combs is President of Combs & Company, a full-service insurance brokerage firm based in New York City. She started the company at twenty-six years old with a drive to “Do more, better.” This internal mantra has resulted in numerous successes...
Nick is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of one of Asia’s premiere networking organizations. He built a caring community that provides hundreds of executives a safe haven to share their challenges, and receive support and learn from each other....
We have a tradition in my house on Christmas Eve where the five of us head to the family room after dinner and watch The Polar Express . Even though the kids are now twenty, they still want to gather together and watch this uniquely animated film...
K.K. Weakley was born and reared in Wexford Ireland. She has written 11 books and plays for stage. K.K. loves to read historical fiction and a good love story kind of book and writes tales of castles, warriors, hell demons, witches and whatever else...
Tori Whitaker is a bestselling author who also belongs to the Bourbon Women Association and the Historical Novel Society. Her work has appeared in the Historical Novels Review and Bookmarks magazine. She graduated from Indiana University, is an alum...
What’s wrong with being a little weird? I am fortunate in my career to meet new people every week through the work that I do and let me tell you, I definitely get a chance to see a good cross-section of humanity. Who do I remember the most? The ones...
I like to tell people that I started Uncorking a Story as a way to give authors a platform for promoting their books, but the reality is that I had an ulterior motive behind starting the show—I wanted the opportunity to pick the brains of successful...
Over the course of my career I can point to three people who were excellent mentors for me—people who really helped shape who I am not only as a qualitative researcher, but as a person. They are Susanne Heincke, Liz Moore, and Paul Jacobson. Each...
My eighty-nine year old mother has a catch phrase. When she doesn’t know what to say, she’ll typically belt on, “It’s all good.” Even though her age has robbed her of her short-term memory, she remains very optimistic and, in general, happy. Growing...
This is going to sound funny coming from the author of eight novels, but there was a time I didn’t consider myself to be creative. Growing up, I dreaded art class because I can’t draw to save my life and I always linked creativity with the ability...
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Karen Winnick, reminds me so much of my mother. Both are from Brooklyn and are animal lovers who would rather set a spider free than squish it. But unless my mother has been hiding the fact that she is a...
When I was a kid there were a few things I thought would be more of big deal in adulthood including quicksand, killer bees, and satanists. Now I am not saying these things don’t exist, just not at the level we were scared into believing as children....
My guest today, Nathanael Garrett Novosel, was just six years old when he started questioning the meaning of life. When I was younger, I questioned it as well, but we went about it in different ways. For example, Nate asked big existential questions...
I believe that, no matter how old we are, we never stop trying to secure the approval of one or both of our parents. While my twin brother was always searching for our father’s affections, I was always trying to vie for my mother’s approval in...
Most people who now make their living as authors had a day job at some point. It is common for me to interview former teachers, professors, journalists and, interestingly, lawyers, but today was the first time I got to interview a former theoretical...
For so many of us writers, the actual act of writing is a solitary process. We write alone and maybe, after a while we will share something with a confidant or perhaps our agent. Of course, at the end of the first draft it will go to an editor and,...
How well do you remember high school? Chances are you are more likely to remember the big events that happened—prom, the homecoming dance where you spilled spiked fruit punch all over your crisp white shirt*, and graduation, but would you remember...
Parenting is supposed to come naturally to us, right? Especially moms! After the baby (or babies in my case) arrives, those motherhood instincts are supposed to kick in and you are supposed to know exactly what to do, right? Wrong! Postpartum...
In my opinion, werewolves don’t get enough attention in the horror genre. Vampires are a bit higher on the food chain as are traditional slashers, but when was the last time you could point to a good werewolf character in a horror novel? Well, the...
After interviewing almost two hundred authors on Uncorking a Story I’ve come to believe that the real superpower authors wield isn’t their ability to string words together, but to find stories simply by paying attention to everyday occurrences and...
Today’s guest, Clare Pooley, and I share a few things in common. We both have backgrounds in advertising, we were both bloggers before becoming authors, and we both appreciate the music of Abba, which my inner heavy metal loving teenager would never...
I remember being called home from school during my senior year in High School because my grandmother, who lived with us at the time, had slipped into a coma. When I got home, I wanted to see her but my cousin said not to get my hopes up as she had...
U2’s seminal album Achtung Baby was released during my senior year in high school. At the time, I was a huge fan and didn’t know what to make of this new release as it was so different from their earlier work. Once I heard the song Mysterious Ways,...
I spent most of my corporate career working in the area of market research. In short, I talk to consumers for a living and then turn their stories into narratives my clients can use for better decision making. When I think about it, Robert Kerbeck...
As writers, we are eager for feedback and validation that something we’ve birthed has value and waiting for it, to paraphrase the late Tom Petty, is sometimes the hardest part. Today’s guest, Ali Michael, Ph.D. echoed that in something she said...
I remember being a kid never rushing away after big holiday dinners as I enjoyed listening to the adults tell stories. My twin brother was always bored by such things, but I loved hearing the stories of my grandmother coming to America from Italy...
I love connecting with fellow marketers. I love it even more when those fellow marketers are also fellow podcasters! I’m not ashamed to admit it, when today’s guest, Sarah Panus, started talking about upper funnel content strategies and how data is...
Way back in 1985, my sister Mia took my twin brother Jimmy and me to see Back to the Future. Shortly after leaving the theater, her car ran out of gas and my brother started balling his eyes out as he thought we’d be left for dead on the side of the...
I remember the days before our triplets could read and I’d spend at least an hour between the three of them reading stories every night. By the time I got to my son, who always wanted to be last so he could get “more daddy time,” my eyes would be so...
One thing stayed with me after my conversation with Joy Jordan Lake. She opened up to me about how a fear of failure as a writer prevented her from fully embracing it as a career. Don’t get me wrong, most authors have a challenging time making ends...
Prior to meeting Nobel Prize winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah a few weeks ago, the only thing I knew about his home country of Zanzibar was that Freddie Mercury was born there and Billy Joel wrote a song by that name, though I’m pretty sure it was...
Do you wonder why bad things always seem to happen to good people? Do you want to know how to overcome adversity and become successful despite terrible odds? Would you like to know what a parkway on Long Island has to do with two evil dictators?...
Many years ago I was taking guitar lessons with a great teacher named Ken Volpe, or Master Ken as I liked to call him. When shooting the breeze over a song one day, I said to him, “I don’t like the solo. I would do something differently.” He said,...
When I was eighteen, I was very clear on what I wanted to be when I grew up—a psychologist. Two people are to blame for my fascination in this social science; Mr. Michael Roper, who taught Intro to Psychology at my high school and Thomas Harris, who...
I’ll admit it, I became a subscriber to Sirius XM when Howard Stern left terrestrial radio for satellite. One evening, though, on a long drive from Boston to Connecticut, I came across The Catholic Channel and listened to a program called The Busted...
Sometimes when I’m writing I get into what I call "The Zone." Time seems to stop and I’m only pulled out of it when my presence is missed, which is a nice way of saying someone is yelling at me to rejoin the family. Lauren Forsythe calls this...
I’ve interviewed a lot of lawyers turned authors on Uncorking a Story but who I haven’t interviewed is a lawyer turned author who received a call from former President Bill Clinton to shoot the breeze about his work. That all changed the day I...
For the past twenty years, I’ve been the father of triplets and so much of my identity is tied to my role as father. But what happens when they fly the nest and begin living independently? I’ll admit it, I had a bit of an identity crisis when they...
About Sangu Mandanna: Sangu was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. She joins me today to talk...
Allison is an award-winning journalist and author of numerous books including Passed and Present and Parentless Parents. Her forthcoming book, Listen, World!: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman, is the inspiring story...
I’ll admit it, I love watching The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. Here’s the thing, though, I can’t draw to save my life, but I am drawn to that show the way some people are drawn to watching fish swim in a tank. He was a talented artist, no doubt,...
About Ava Glass: Ava Glass is a former civil servant and journalist who once worked closely with spies. She lives in the same town in the south of England as Christopher Steele. But this is, of course, a coincidence. She joined me on Uncorking a...
Every now and then I uncork a story that just won’t leave me and Annette Libeskind Berkovits’ story is exactly one of those. While this is a story about a person growing up in the shadow of the Holocaust, I want to be clear, as does Annette, that...
About Jim Young: Jim is on a personal mission to help men defeat burnout. He does this through his coaching business where he is known as The Centered Coach, and is also doing it through his new book entitled Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys...
About Carrington Smith: Carrington Smith is a single mom, attorney, business owner, and executive search professional. Despite being born with a silver spoon in her mouth, life gave her a hard kick in the tail. She has survived sexual assault, two...
About David Bell: David is the USA Today-bestselling author of twelve novels from Berkley/Penguin, including THE FINALISTS, KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS, THE REQUEST, and LAYOVER. His work has been translated into numerous foreign languages, included on...
About KJ Dell'Antonia: KJ is the author of The Chicken Sisters, a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon book club pick, and a timely, humorous exploration of the same themes she has long focused on in her journalism: the importance of...
About Sophie Irwin: Sophie has spent years immersed in the study of historical fiction, from a dissertation on why Georgette Heyer helped win World War Two, to time spent in dusty stacks and old tomes doing detailed period research when writing this...
About Annabel Monaghan: Annabel is the author of two Young Adult novels: A Girl Named Digit , optioned by the Disney Channel, and the sequel, Double Digit . She is also the author of Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?, a selection of...
About Ashleigh Renard: As a figure skating coach and choreographer, Ashleigh Renard spent two decades building trust and fostering teamwork, growing her synchronized skating organization to one of the biggest in the world. Now she offers support and...
Every now and then I uncork a story that simply inspires the hell out of me—and this is one of those stories. Meet Johnny Spirilla As Founder and CEO of Encourage LLC, Johnny Sirpilla specializes in leadership development. Every year he addresses...
About Sandra Butler: Sandra is the author of several books, each designed to identify something unspoken and move those issues into the public conversation. Over the past three decades, Sandra has written dozens of articles, reviews, and essays that...
Anastasia Zadeik is an author, editor, and narrative nonfiction storyteller. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her practicing yoga, hiking, biking, swimming, or hanging out with her husband and her empty-nest rescue dog, Charlie. She’s...
Eleanor Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters and The Light of Paris, and the editor of the anthology, A Paris All Your Own. She holds an M.A. in Literature and teaches writing workshops at writing conferences and...
Dr. Carl Marci is a leader in the fields of social and consumer neuroscience and serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Cava Capital. Formerly the Chief Neuroscientist at the Nielsen Company, he’s also on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and is...
About David Winkler: David comes from Hollywood royalty and is a very successful film producer. His work includes the films Creed, Rocky Balboa, and The Mechanic. He joins us today to talk about his memoir, The Arrangement, a Love story, in which he...
Robert Harris (JR) has been exploring and backpacking long distance for more than 60 years in some of the most remote and inhospitable wilderness areas in the world, unsupported and mostly alone, and he has written numerous articles about his...
As the president of Paperback Expert, Michael DeLon helps business owners publish a book that positions them as the expert in their field. He recently joined me to talk about how and why he became an expert in credibility marketing. What role did...
May Cobb earned her MA in literature from San Francisco State University, and her essays and interviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Rumpus, Edible Austin, and Austin Monthly. She recently joined me to talk about her latest novel, My...
About Eileen Brill: Eileen is a painter, writer, and Sign Language Interpreter who grew up outside of Philadelphia and graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a B.S. in Economics. She has written professionally for the restaurant, hotel, and commercial...
Elissa Grossel Dickey is a former journalist who now works in higher education communications. She has shared her journey of living with multiple sclerosis through blog posts for the National MS Society and is the author of The Speed of Light. Her...
Rochelle Weinstein is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of emotionally driven women’s fiction, including This Is Not How It Ends, Somebody’s Daughter, Where We Fall, The Mourning After, and What We Leave Behind. Her latest book is entitled...
Jade Beer is an award-winning editor, journalist, and novelist who has worked across the UK national press for more than twenty years. Most recently, she was the editor-in-chief of Condé Nast's Brides. She also writes for other leading titles...
Sandra Feder is a graduate of Stanford University and is an MFA candidate in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a black belt in Taekwondo, likes to paint, and has a sweet tooth —...
About Allison Raskin: Alison is a New York Times best-selling author. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast, Just Between Us and co-creator of a YouTube channel of the same name. Allison has written and developed multiple TV shows and...
Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City. He began his Second City career in 1988, eventually becoming producer of Second City in 1992 and Executive Vice President through 2015. He has produced...
E Lockhart is the author of We Were Liars, Genuine Fraud, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and a number of other novels. She joins me today to talk about her latest book, Family of Liars. What is the importance of community when it...
Polly was in the second wave of women ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Her book, American Blues, is available wherever books are sold. Why did she become a priest? What obstacles did she have to climb on her path to ordination? What moved...
As the director of educational outreach at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center for twenty-six years, Merle Saferstein worked closely with hundreds of Holocaust survivors helping them pass along their Legacy of Remembrance to hundreds of...
About Marilyn Simon Rothstein: Marilyn is the author of Lift and Separate and Husbands and Other Sharp Objects. She is the winner of the Star Award presented by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for Outstanding Debut. She joins me today to...
Kristan Higgins has sold 4.5 million books worldwide, scored nine New York Times bestsellers, and is published in more than two dozen languages. Her novels have received rave reviews from the New York Times and NPR and regularly receive national...
Shaun Phillips is a Christian author, speaker, coach, and pioneer. His first book, Flappy and Whiskers go to the Park, was published August 2021, ten after writing it for his two young daughters. Through the experience of getting that book...
About P. David Ebersole: He is an award-winning independent filmmaker and television director working in both narrative and documentary. His credits include the documentary HIT SO HARD (2012) about drummer Patty Schemel of the seminal grunge band...
About Kurt and Ellie: Kurt and Ellie are a father daughter combo team who have authored the book The Barrens: A novel of love and death in the canadian arctic. In this episode, Mike, Kurt, and Ellie discuss: Ellie's trip in subarctic Canada and how...
About Farhoud: Farhoud is an award-winning writer, director, and executive producer focused on storytelling projects that inspire mass culture change. In this episode, Mike and Farhoud discuss: Near death experiences Not wanting to disappoint your...
In life, we often have to pivot to become the person we are meant to be. This insight hit me like a slap in the face when I spoke with Lauren McBrayer about her debut novel. About Lauren: Lauren McBrayer is a graduate of Yale with a law degree from...
About Carleton Eastlake: Carleton graduated from UCLA with degrees in political science and psychology and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School with a concentration in law and the social sciences. After a career in public policy and consumer...
About Kathleen and Liz: Kathleen is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novel Girl in Pieces, How to Make friends with the dark, and You’d Be Home Now. Her books have been published in more than 24 countries. Liz Lawson is the author of The...
About Sascha: Sascha is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter, who has written and produced lauded shows such as GLOW, The Bold Type, The Baby-Sitters Club, and The Carrie Diaries. In 2015, she was named one of Variety's “10 TV Writers to Watch.” Rothchild...
About Tess: With over forty million copies sold, New York Times bestselling thriller writer Tess Gerritsen is widely known for her Rizzoli & Isles novels, which inspired the hit TNT television series that aired for seven seasons. The iconic...
About Michelle: Michelle Huneven is the author of four novels: Round Rock, Jamesland, Blame, and Off Course. Her books have been New York Times Notable Books and finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle...
About RaeAnne: RaeAnne Thayne is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly's bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She graduated from college with a degree in journalism and quickly rose through the ranks of the local newspaper,...
About Colleen: A native of New England, Colleen Hubbard now lives in the U.K. with her family. She wrote her debut novel, Housebreaking, while on maternity leave from her job with the NHS. She graduated from the University of East Anglia’s MA...
I seriously thought I was the only person on the planet who remembered the show Small Wonder, but today’s guest proved me wrong! As part of getting to the story behind the story, I ask my guests a series of questions about what they were into as...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
I’ve always been fascinated by tales of demonic possession. I fully realize that is an odd thing to admit, but it’s true. I’ve seen The Exorcist more times than I can count and include similar movies such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Rite, and...
Have you ever had a chance encounter with someone who changed your life forever? Nita Prose did and wrote a bestseller about it. Allowing herself to follow her curiosity was key and it paid off—The Maid is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and is...
Imagine having a tool at your disposal that could help spark innovation and that this magical tool didn’t require capital investment. Now imagine that we are all capable of possessing this tool, if only we were able to open ourselves up to the...
INTRODUCTION Are you someone who has a hard time putting themselves first? Do you have a hard time vocalizing what your needs are? Many of us who answer yes to both of these questions often struggle with our interpersonal relationships, especially...
Growing up without a father figure can be difficult for someone who has no other male role models in their lives. Author Kendall Smith, son of a single mother, joins me to share the wisdom he has gathered from his own experience as a father, from...
William Sullivan, known as Sully to his friends, is a former Division 1 basketball coach who discovered a love of Shakespeare later in life. He penned his first novel back in 2001 and kept his fans waiting for two decades before publishing his...
An editor should be an author’s best friend, but oftentimes authors view editors as taskmasters. Editor and author coach Claudia Volkman wants to smash this notion! Editors not only help correct errors in grammar and spelling but can also provide...
There is a rise in anxiety and depression among teens resulting from several factors including increased pressures on kids to succeed, unrealistic expectations set through social media, and, of course, social restrictions due to the pandemic. In...
Is it possible that a simple phone could change your life? This is where Lori Jean Glass’ story begins, in a Chicago hotel room where she had suicidal thoughts and a timely call to her therapist saved her life and started her on the path to becoming...
One of the biggest misnomers in publishing is that there are overnight successes. Being a writer requires hard work, creativity, and persistence. All authors, including new and experienced, will face setbacks and many challenges. Rea Frey was a...
Is it possible to experience healing after having a traumatic childhood characterized by neglect, sexual assault, and crime? The answer is yes, but it takes a brave soul to stare down the trauma of their past only to come out the other side stronger...
In this first episode of our second season, Mike and Jim discuss the 1980 comedy The Nude Bomb—the first feature film based on the 1960s TV comedy Get Smart. Original creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry had nothing to do with this film, and it shows....
As the daughter of a college professor, Kaira Rouda moved around a lot as a kid. Being constantly thrust into new environments helped her develop the resilience that she’s carried with her throughout her life; which is a good thing because it's a...
What happens when you skip doing your chemistry homework so that you can read historical romance novels? You might not learn about the substances of which matter is composed, but if you are Jill Shalvis it just might set you up to become a...
Authors get to play God when writing a character. We shape them, give them characteristics to make them memorable, and ultimately control their destiny. Elizabeth George knows this well, and takes the role of God seriously when writing her...
Art is medicine—that’s the core message that poet, musician, and artist Aliana Kann Michals wants to convey with her forthcoming poetry collection entitled In Defense of Science. What valuable life lessons did a relationship coming to an end during...
I’ve had many different types of storytellers on Uncorking a Story including authors, comedians, and filmmakers. What I haven’t had yet is one of the most popular types of storytellers these days—fellow podcasters! That changes with today’s episode...
Out of the many guests I’ve hosted on Uncorking a Story, Michael Macari may have one of the most varied tales to tell. The son of immigrant parents, he was in Adonis, an up and coming rock band that was just about to feel the sensation of stardom...
Nadine Crocker survived a suicide attempt when she was 23 years old. After leaving home at 16 to pursue a career in front of the camera, maybe she thought she could leave the intense feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety back in Fresno....
Nadine Crocker survived a suicide attempt when she was 23 years old. After leaving home at 16 to pursue a career in front of the camera, maybe she thought she could leave the intense feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety back in Fresno....
Cindy Finch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in helping people through their darkest times. She trained at the Mayo Clinic and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, and CURE magazine. A survivor of...
In her 30+ year career as an author, Laura Davis has written seven non-fiction books that have changed peoples’ lives. The Courage to Heal paved the way for hundreds of thousands to heal from the trauma of sexual abuse. Becoming the Parent You Want...
Kris Clink is the author of Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy and Sissie Klein is Completely Normal , which have received praise from Bustle , Midwest Book Review , Kirkus Reviews , Women.com , Lone Star Literary , Brit + Co, Travel and Leisure Magazine , and...
Have you ever wondered why there are so many legal dramas on TV? I know I’m dating myself here but off the top of my head I can think of LA Law, Boston Legal, Law and Order, and Night Court. Okay, so maybe that last one isn’t a drama, but it was...
When I was presented with the opportunity to interview J.M. Thompson about his memoir, Running is a Kind of Dreaming , I sprinted to say yes for two reasons; I’m an avid runner and wanted to know what inspired the title and it deals with mental...
Imagine you are a father of two young children going through your morning routine of getting them—and yourself—ready for the day when there’s a knock at the door and the intimidating people right out of central casting on the other side are about to...
This has been a hell of a week...and it’s only Tuesday. A little over three months ago, I set a personal goal to do a half-marathon by October. I spent 16 weeks training for it by completing 5 workouts per week, every week, over that time period....
This has been a hell of a week...and it’s only Tuesday. A little over three months ago, I set a personal goal to do a half-marathon by October. I spent 16 weeks training for it by completing 5 workouts per week, every week, over that time period....
After a brief hiatus between seasons, I’m happy to report that Uncorking a Story is back for its 5th season. Our first episode features a great conversation I had with Heather Frimmer whose second novel, Better to Trust , will be released on...
I was introduced to Dani Klein Modisett by my friend Megan Harvist, who you might know as Autumn Harvist—the stage name she employs while making people laugh as a stand-up comedian around Connecticut and New York City (I like to refer to her as the...
Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and author of the forthcoming WE WERE NEVER HERE. Her second thriller, THE HERD, was named a best book of 2020 by Real Simple, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, CrimeReads, and other outlets. Her LA-Times...
Lea Konen is the author of All the Broken People and of several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics . She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied journalism and...
Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of the thrillers The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, and The End of Her, which have all been New York Times and The Sunday Times (London)...
Jessica Chiarella is the author of And Again . She holds an MA in writing and publishing from DePaul University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside. In this interview, I learned that she wanted to be a writer...
A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary...
Nigerian born and raised debut mystery author Noel Obiora watched the George Floyd video and said to himself, That could have been me. Having come to the United States when he was 17 in 1983, and having attended the University of Texas Law School,...
Mary Dixie is the daughter of Designing Women star Dixie Carter and step-daughter of Hal Holbrook. Her writing has appeared in Time, The Economist, San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer , and more. She worked at The...
Anne Basting, Ph.D. is an artist, scholar, and educator committed to the power of the arts and culture to transform our lives as individuals and communities. She is Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and founder and...
Marilyn Peterson Haus’ story begins when she was born in 1941 on a farm on the Minnesota Plains. Twins, mental illness, sexism/favoritism, religion, farm life in the 40s and 50s, forgiveness and reconciliation are all topics she meticulously weaves...
David Yoon grew up in Orange County, California, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, novelist Nicola Yoon, and their daughter. He drew the illustrations for Nicola's #1 New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything. He is the author of...
Alta Ifland was born in Transylvania (Romania), took part in the overthrow of Romania's communist dictatorship, and experienced two years of post-communism before emigrating to the United States in 1991. After a PhD in French language and...
Laura Hankin is the author of Happy & You Know It and A Special Place for Women. Her musical comedy has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. She splits her time between NYC, where she has performed off-Broadway, and...
Christina Sweeney-Baird lives in London where she works full-time as a corporate litigation lawyer. Listen in as we discuss her debut novel, The End of Men, which will be available wherever books are sold on April 27. Listen in as we discuss her...
Joshua M. Greene Joshua M Greene is a popular lecturer on Holocaust History and an author whose biographies have sold more than half a million copies worldwide. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his books and films. He sits on the board of...
Julie Ryan McGue Julie Ryan McGue was born in Chicago, Illinois. She and her identical twin sister were adopted together. Her debut memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging is about the search for birth relatives. Host...
Jim Carlon Part 2 of my interview with Jim Carlon about his book Conversation with a Desperate Man: A book for any man on the brink; and anyone who loves him. Host & Guest Mike Carlon Jim Carlon Resources Follow facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram This...
James Carlon"I had people in my life and people I worked with who looked at me and said, ‘you don’t look right.’ — Jim Carlon Host & Guest Mike Carlon Jim Carlon Follow facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram I have easily interviewed a few thousand people...
Olga Grushin "The Charmed Wife is a modern take on the story of Cinderella, marriage, divorce and love that’s surprising, darkly comedic and enchanting."— CNN Host & Guest Mike Carlon Olga Grushin Resources Olga Grushin Follow...
Jess Stainbrook Jess is known for building successful media teams and championing significant visual storytelling efforts through innovative programming and strategic business initiatives. In the broadcast television field, Jess has received 8 Emmy...
Nick Braccia is a Cannes Lions- and Clio-winning writer, director, and producer. In 2018, he co-created and co-executive produced the horror podcast Video Palace for AMC Network's streaming service Shudder. While working at the marketing agency...
Otto Penzler is regarded as the world's foremost authority on crime, mystery and suspense fiction. He founded The Mysterious Press in 1975, which he later sold to Warner Books (1989). He reacquired the imprint in 2010 and it now publishes original...
There is no doubt that the combination of Covid and what is going on in cities throughout the country has created more than the usual amount of stress in most of us. Add to that politics – not matter what side of the aisle you are on – and you have...
It’s not every day that I get to talk to someone as interesting and, dare I say, enlightened as author Dustin Lawson. I’m excited to announce that today was one of those days! Throughout high school and college, Dustin worked as a lion and tiger...
Matt Haig is a British author for children and adults. His memoir Reasons to Stay Alive was a number one bestseller, staying in the British top ten for 46 weeks. His children's book , A Boy Called Christmas , was a runaway hit in his own country and...
Dan Hill is the author of eight books including Famous Faces Decoded: A Guidebook for Reading Others ; Two Cheers for Democracy: How Emotions Drive Leadership Style ; and First Blush: People's Intuitive Reactions to Famous Art . His specialty is...
All I had to do was love them. That observation perfectly sums up Diane O’Connell’s perspective on how she was able to bond with so many kids who passed through the halls of Stamford/Trinity Catholic High School. In this interview you will hear...
Over the past few years, I’ve used the Uncorking a Story platform to highlight the work of authors, comedians, and entrepreneurs. I’ve become increasingly interested in uncorking the stories of people who are doing inspiring work in their local...
Nick Breen is a Connecticut Based comic who, on the surface, appears to be a passenger on the crazy train, but once you get to know him you realize he’s in complete control of the ride. He’s one of the most ambitious comics on the Connecticut...
Murgalo, (right) as Prince Imir Assad with Jerry Rubin (left)Sit tight and strap in because this inaugural episode of the Open Mike Podcast starts in Brooklyn, takes a trip to Paris Island, and involves hookers, practical jokes on a national scale,...
David Bell is the USA Today-bestselling author of eight novels from Berkley/Penguin, including Layover , released on July 2nd 2019. Listen in as we discuss how he went from working gigs in restaurants and in telemarketing to becoming a published...
From as far back as she can remember, Colleen Georges, Ph.D. felt a calling to help others. It led her to pursue a doctorate in counseling psychology and serve as a Therapeutic Assistant for teens in foster care experiencing emotional/behavioral...
Early in her career, Karen Mangia followed a very conventional formula for success—say yes to everything, deliver with excellence, and never let them see you sweat. It worked wonderfully for a while, until it didn’t. At the age of 33, Karen faced an...
Laura Vanderkam helps people spend more time on what matters, and less on what doesn’t. She is the bestselling author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and Off The Clock , among others. Her 2016 TED talk, "How to Gain Control of...
Look up the term Renaissance man in the dictionary, and I’m sure you will see a picture of Kevin A Knight. He started his own company and serves as an independent marketing research consultant to many leading global corporations. He’s also an avid...
Zaida Alfaro is the youngest of six children and was born into art. Her mother is a painter, composer, and musician who taught Zaida how to play the piano at the age of twelve. She became a professional musician at eighteen and, having been burned...
Tony Pavia is a retired American history teacher and the former principal of Stamford High School, Trinity Catholic High School, and New Canaan High School. Matt Pavia, his son, teaches English and American studies at Darien High School in...
Jane Green is the author of nineteen novels, including seventeen New York Times Bestsellers, one cookbook, and various short stories. She is published in over 25 languages and has over ten million books in print worldwide. Even though all of this is...
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Linwood Barclay is a former columnist for The Toronto Star and the author of several critically acclaimed novels including Too Close to Home and No Time for Goodbye , a #1 Sunday Times (UK) bestseller. He lives near Toronto with his wife. Listen up...
Christopher Ryan has always been a storyteller. Whether "ranking" on friends as a teen, covering street crime a nd dirty politics in The Bronx as an award-winning reporter, or teaching High School English, he serves the story above all else. I...
This time of year, the Carlon family welcomes a regular visitor to our house, well, to the door of our house. We call her mamma bird and every year she builds a new nest in the wreath that hangs on our front door. She builds these wreaths twig by...
Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past his house. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of...
“They don’t hire girls into the FBI,” these were the words Tess Gerritsen heard from her guidance counselor after expressing an interest in the Federal Bureau of investigation. While that sentiment feels like a dark cloud that hovered over our...
Dr. Warren Farrell is the author of the just-published The Boy Crisis (with co-author John Gray). It exposes the boy crisis worldwide, as well as the causes and solutions that can be implemented by parents, schools and policy makers. Dr. Farrell has...
Laurie Handlers is a Sex and Happiness Coach and the author of the Amazon #1 International Bestseller Sex & Happiness: The Tantric Laws of Intimacy . Through her company Butterfly Workshops , she offers sexual health and awareness courses plus...
Lou Aronica didn’t intend to be a writer; born on Elvis Presley’s birthday, Lou felt it was his destiny to be a rock star, but that all changed after a teacher encouraged him to develop an evident talent for writing. After graduating college with a...
As many of you know, I write novels and a few weeks ago I did an email promotion with an author services company to get the word out about my first mystery Uncorking a Murder . While that promotion was running, I received an email from a fellow...
Wayne Lavender is the Executive Director of The Foundation 4 Orphans (F4O); an international organization dedicated to supporting the emotional, educational, physical and spiritual needs of orphans in some of the world’s most poor and war torn...
Shortly before her daughter was to begin kindergarten, Allison heard the words that no parent wants to hear – your daughter has cancer . As treatments progressed, and hair was lost, her daughter Meredith was eager to find some item of clothing that...
In the course of my job, I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people who have shared their stories with me (and my clients) over the past 20 years. Of course it is fair to say that some of these stories stand out more than others. About...
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dave Mezzapelle, a serial entrepreneur who founded the Contagious Optimism movement (www.contagiousoptimism.com). He truly believes that we all have the capacity to make optimism contagious just by...
How important is curiosity in business? Andy Greenfield has a point of view. In 1996 I was a 22-year-old kid working in the new field of digital marketing while Andy was pioneering new ways of conducting business online. By that point in time, he...
Jim Bryson is the founder and CEO of 2020 Research; a Nashville based qualitative research firm with facilities in Nashville, Charlotte, and Miami. In addition to traditional facilities, 2020 is a leading provider of online qualitative solutions...
When I was 21 years old I thought I knew it all and that my parents knew absolutely nothing. By the time I turned 22 and was working in my first job with real bills to pay, I was amazed at how much my parents learned in just 12 short months. Since...
In 1996 I was barely 22 years old when I started my career in advertising. I worked for a company called FCB direct, which was owned by a holding company known as True North Communications. No offense to Brian Rafferty, my boss at the time, but the...
When I woke up this morning, I never could have predicted that one of my elementary school teachers, a Catholic nun named Dorothy Collins, would be introducing me to a man named Cynthia, a former Harvard Student now homeless, or a man who rides the...
I first met Shelley Zalis when I was working for Unilever and she was invited to speak at an offsite meeting. She broke two rules during her presentation; 1. She divulged her age and 2. She quoted Yoda. Most women don’t do those kinds of things;...
He knows everything about everything. Michael Carlon interviews Michael Carlon. Have I finally lost my mind? Should they come and take me to South 1 (the psychiatric ward of Stamford Hospital)? Don't judge me too quickly! In this episode I interview...
He creates ideas out of hot air. Bryan Mattimore is one of America's top experts in applied creativity, ideation facilitation and innovation management. In his career, he has facilitated more than 1500 marketing and business strategy ideation...
This guy is the real deal - he's the guy that Chuck Norris is afraid to Google! Listen up as Mike and Manny talk about the importance of accountability, why you don't always want to be your child's "friend," and why you need to plant your seeds...
Listen up as Mike and guest co-host Wendy talk to Sirius XM Radio Personality Dave Dwyer about his early days at MTV, his time at Comedy Central, and what can best be termed about his higher calling. This episode pairs well with a nice crisp white!...